Database Develop

[APP] Google Calendar on Raphael

I am one of those guys that uses Google services for almost everything. One of the most valuable services, for me, is the Calendar. However, keeping it in sync with my Touch Pro is not very easy and although there are some applications to handle the synchronization of calendars, I've not been very happy with them. Also, I have Linux on my laptop, which makes Outlook a little bit hard to use . I believe many people may have the same problems that I have. Having this in mind, I've started the development of a little application that shows the google calendar on the Touch Pro. I've included some screenshots of it.
What I would like to ask you is if this application would interest anyone or if I am already reinventing the wheel and there are better applications already done for the same purpose.
I've also attached the application. Remember that it is in the starting phase and right now only shows the events of the default calendar (except All-day events). If the response is favorable I will add the ability to view multiple calendars, to edit, add and remove events and to notify the user as the "reminder" settings of the events specify (right now I let Google send me a SMS, so it is not that important to me). I have not made an installer yet, so to try the application just unzip it to someplace in your raphael and run the executable (with File Explorer, for instance).
As it is, the application will not store or modify any data in your phone, except storing your username (and optionally your password) in the registry (key HKCU\Software\GooMobiCal).
So, what do you think? Should I continue to develop it? Do you have any other (better) option?
Marco

This looks great. Although I'd like to just see Google Calendar work with the calendar built into the phone. Like it did on my blackberry.

i'm with cladeus101. i would love for gCal to work with the existing calendar on the phone.
but then, i also think that the existing WinMo calendar looks ugly. i like the gCal look more. heh

This app is pretty awesome though! I would love to see the new features you mentioned.

cladeus101 said:
This looks great. Although I'd like to just see Google Calendar work with the calendar built into the phone. Like it did on my blackberry.
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You can use Google .net API to this this. There are some interessting opensource sync tools out there, but the developer stopped developing them Oh and there is no need for a PC to sync!

Yes I use google calendar but I've just been opening it in Opera. Which is fine but if there was something better...

Hi !
Nice application, that is promising.
Maybe that using Mobile Outlook with Google Calendar API will be also a great interesting alternative. (I am using a Mac). Online Google Calendar Synchronization with Mobile Outlook can be so great.
However, If it is too difficult, your application is in the good way. Please continue .

faeArai said:
You can use Google .net API to this this. There are some interessting opensource sync tools out there, but the developer stopped developing them Oh and there is no need for a PC to sync!
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I would like to have a tool like the org. "Google Calendar Sync"4Outook but then for the build in Calendar. I'm using Oggsync now and that works more-or-less. It's a paid programm and the licence you pay for, is only valid for one year. (So i use the freeware version)
In de freeware function, the tool does not sync automatically every X-minutes. (And it supports only one calendar, but thats not a big problem to me)
So what i would like for Christmas is a automatic-calendar-sync-tool that syncs all fields in the calendar (and, if possible, syncs more than one calendar. And² if possible syncs the contacts aswell) Djeez, thats a big question for Santa

I'm with the general consensus .. I would really like to see an app that allows me to sync Pocket Outlook calendar with Google calendar, on an automated scheduled occurrence. As already stated, OggSync kind of works, which means I wont pay to purchase it.
The Google calendar is already available on mobiles (http://www.google.com/calendar/m), which I use occasionally, so I'd see little use in this app for myself.

If there is a possability to add appointments and share the agenda I would like to try it.
Also, it would be nice if the password is stored encrypted.
Hope you will develop it, I'm willing to test if you're looking for testers.

I just found this service that might be everything you already want: http://www.goosync.com/

I found something that is free!
This site is in beta, www.nuevasync.com ...let me sync google Calendar AND contacts for free w/activesync on Windows mobile. It's free for now, but it says "beta" so hopefully it won't change.

bosskoffee said:
This site is in beta, www.nuevasync.com ...let me sync google Calendar AND contacts for free w/activesync on Windows mobile. It's free for now, but it says "beta" so hopefully it won't change.
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I'm impressed... That's exactly what my ActiveSync/Mobilitycentre does. I can even select more items to synchonize there, but wait, i won't!
If i am on the road, i cannot synchronize with my laptop So i would like to synchonize the phone just by using a tool (like the Google Calendar Sync) and my UMTS/HSDPA internetconnection.

Not sure what you mean Daneels. That site does let you sync with only your phone and 3G/data connection, no need for a laptop.
Basically you set up the active sync on your phone to sync with their server settings (that mimic an exchange server) and you can config active sync to do that at intervals of 5 min to 4 hours.
So contacts and calendar, from just the phone, using software already on the phone. Seems to work okay for me, though like I said the web page says "beta" so I'm a little nervous about how long it will last.

bosskoffee said:
...let me sync google Calendar AND contacts for free w/activesync on Windows mobile.
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...With activesync... Activesync runs on both the phone and computer. By this i mean, very local even without internet, over bluetooth/usb. So i tought someone has re-invented activesync (is also free for Windows-users). If it is syncing over internet, than it's something different . If it enables the use of activesync over internet, than it is extra interesting!
So perhaps we we're having some miscommunication

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say, it let me sync Google calendar/contacts over the internet with the phone...no PC/local connection involved! check it out I just hope it's free forever

These are both subscription services... I do not think that we need subscriptions, just a app that does the synchronization directly with Google. Without anybody in the middle.
I would be glad to start something like that... but I was amazed that there is no cheap way to develop for WinMo. Yes, the SDK is free, but you need Visual Studio, which is far far from free...

EnOleEikka said:
These are both subscription services... I do not think that we need subscriptions, just a app that does the synchronization directly with Google. Without anybody in the middle.
I would be glad to start something like that... but I was amazed that there is no cheap way to develop for WinMo. Yes, the SDK is free, but you need Visual Studio, which is far far from free...
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I'd love to see a talented developer coming up with this as well!

please work on this. Taking winmo into a cloud arena is the right direction. Google currently has the best cloud suite out there. This is great. I can not wait to be able to add events. until then those who are interested should use www.jott.com to add events. there is a google calendar plugin.

Version 0.2
Thank you all for your replies. I already knew GooSync, but not the other services, like nuevosync. However, they are either not free or require a third-party to forward my calendar to my ppc. I see no reason to give a third-party access to my own calendar data (Google already knowing my private calendar is enough for me). I was looking for something more direct.
Having not found anything free, I continued to develop my little application and arrived to version 0.2, which now allows viewing multiple calendars simultaneously (including the Outlook calendar) and allows to add new events to those calendars. Synchronization between Google and Outlook is in my to do list, but I prefer to get more familiar with both Outlook and Google APIs before diving into it. Also, there are a lot of little things to do before, such as:
- Remove events;
- Support All-Day events (they are not displayed yet);
- Support Multi-Day events (they are incorrectly displayed so far);
- Allow "Quick Add" events (easy on google calendar, not so easy on Outlook);
- Store the preferences (such as selected calendars) of the application;
- Store locally the google calendar events to access them offline;
- Encrypt the password on the Registry;
- and probably a lot more features and bug corrections.
Anyway, for those who want to check out how it is going, here are some screenshots and the application. As before, you only need to unzip the file to a folder on your PPC and run the GooMobiCal.exe file.
If you try it, please give some feedback on how to improve it and which features you consider more urgent keeping in mind that synchronization will take a while. Also, I'm doing this on my free time, which really isn't much, so the development is not as fast as I'd wish.

Background calendar

I have tried the "background calendar" app from the Market, but it isn't good as I think; first, the notes will interfere with the clock widget, second it take the data from my remote gmail account instead from local calendar (so if I cannot connect, it will not work or I cannot update it) and third (but this maybe a my inability) the background of the application isn't the one what I chose... So I ask: there is a calendar application that works like the symbian or WM one and display the appointment and the other reminder notes correctly in the background without interfere with the other object on the home screen?
Thank you for any answer

Deedend said:
I have tried the "background calendar" app from the Market, but it isn't good as I think; first, the notes will interfere with the clock widget, second it take the data from my remote gmail account instead from local calendar (so if I cannot connect, it will not work or I cannot update it) and third (but this maybe a my inability) the background of the application isn't the one what I chose... So I ask: there is a calendar application that works like the symbian or WM one and display the appointment and the other reminder notes correctly in the background without interfere with the other object on the home screen?
Thank you for any answer
Click to expand...
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You will see this once they release the SDK for Widgets

Shared tasks from gmail

In Gmail I can build several lists of tasks, and name these as I want to.
I can easily add tasks to each list, and simply click them to mark them as "completed".
The GREAT thing is, that the exact same lists are available directly on my Hero, AND with the exact same features as in the web-version
But, unfortunately, there is no option in Gmail, to share any of these task-lists with somebody else.
If that was possible, the task-lists in Gmail would become a fabulous tool. Just imagine that you could share and "realtime-sync" a shoppinglist with your wife. And other tasklists with collegues etc.?
2 Android units could go shopping in separate warehouses, and NOT come home with "2 of a kind".
Ideas anyone? Or is there an Android developer out there, who can see the potential in this idea?

How do you access your Gmail Tasks on your hero? What app are you using?

I connect through Gmail in my browser:
http://mail.google.com/tasks/android
It keeps logged in to my regular Google account, and gives me direct acces the various lists, I made here.

couldn't make soemone a app ? that also can be used as a widget it would be very nice. i looked for a long time but couldn't find it there where apps that said it would sync with gmail but it was synced with calander and not tasks.

commodoor said:
couldn't make soemone a app ? that also can be used as a widget it would be very nice. i looked for a long time but couldn't find it there where apps that said it would sync with gmail but it was synced with calander and not tasks.
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Well, in my case, the sync between tasks work perfectly.
What I need is a way to share a task-list in the same way as I can share a calendar...

Thanks for the tip, but I have to agree with commodoor. The sync works ok as long as you are connected to the internet, once you disconnect you are left in the cold. An app that will allow you to work on your tasks off-line and sync only whenever you want would be useful. Sharing will be also a plus!

Right now i'm using google calendar also for my tasks, only that i can sync it with my phone and viceversa

http://www.rememberthemilk.com
It's an app in the market, can sync with gmail and there is a widget available, although it is rather large.

squirreleater said:
http://www.rememberthemilk.com
It's an app in the market, can sync with gmail and there is a widget available, although it is rather large.
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Yhea but it is only for pro users only, and 25 dollar per year is to much for syncing my tasks only.
if it was 3 dollar i would buy it but noy 25 per year

squirreleater said:
http://www.rememberthemilk.com
It's an app in the market, can sync with gmail and there is a widget available, although it is rather large.
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I tried that. It's no good!
Much too complicated to set-up properly, and sharing a list is a PITA!

commodoor said:
Yhea but it is only for pro users only, and 25 dollar per year is to much for syncing my tasks only.
if it was 3 dollar i would buy it but noy 25 per year
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look at Astrid

electrocat said:
look at Astrid
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we are looking for something to sync with google tasks. astrid is nice and there is an option to sync with remember the milk but i don't want to use remeberthemilk but with google tasks.
if astrid synced with google task it would be a great app. and astrid doesn't have a widget.

gTask
stilghar said:
How do you access your Gmail Tasks on your hero? What app are you using?
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Try gTask. Plain simple, works like a charm.

resita said:
Try gTask. Plain simple, works like a charm.
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Yeah - that looks nice.
But that is not, what I'm looking for. The native Google Tasks already does this.
The problem is, that Google Tasks can't be shared, like the calendar does.

yes you can share task lists
Check out gmailsharedtasks.com

Task management systems?

Since i switched from windows im on the look out for a task&notes management program.
I'm stuck with outlook still, so i would need something being able to sync between outlook, gmail, my phone, all that on the cloud and if there is vista widget to add to the sidebar even better!
What you are using and what's your system to keep everything synced and on the cloud?

ok at least share what do you use for tasks and notes and do you sync it with something at all?

Evernote..

djmcnz said:
Evernote..
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its cool but there is one major problem, doesnt work offline

Astrid + Remember the Milk.

Check out gTask. http://goo.gl/Ib3F

Better calendar app?

I'm not satisfied with the calendar in Galaxy S (is it Samsung's own or Android stock?). Often I need to login into Google Calendar on the web to be able to customize my appointments as I want.
This I miss:
1. Be able to choose what calendar which is the default one. Now "My calendar" is the default, I want one of my two Google calendars to be default.
2. I want to be able to specify "repeat rules" (not sure what the english term is) better. It's not possible to make an appointment appear every second monday for instance. But it's possible to do through Google calendar on the web.
3. Specify notification tone.
And I want to keep everything that does work, like multiple calendars and syncing to my Google account etc.

Hi. I use jorte, free in the market.
Give it a try
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

Jorte is the best, which is not to say it's great.
It also has the best widgets.
Others don't come anywhere close as calendars, although they might have nicer looking skins.

Jorte is very good. But for the widgets i like more agenda widgets. Looks much nicer and has better options.

Gemini Calendar is a nice and free (available in the market) app and has useful widgets, although I've not tried any others bar the original SGS app

Non of them are really good. They do have the functions I'm missing in the original calendar app, but the GUIs are just horrible.
Is it possible to switch the Samsung Calendar to original Android calendar? Or maybe HTC Calendar?

djr83 said:
Non of them are really good. They do have the functions I'm missing in the original calendar app, but the GUIs are just horrible.
Is it possible to switch the Samsung Calendar to original Android calendar? Or maybe HTC Calendar?
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you can switch to stock calendar here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=735035
note: you will have a big "plus" sign on the top of your screen which i find pretty annoying. i just switched to jorte based on opinions here but honestly i use agenda widget most of the time. it's great and scrollable with launcherpro and syncs to RTM tasks as well. love it.

bigdyl69 said:
Gemini Calendar is a nice and free (available in the market) app and has useful widgets, although I've not tried any others bar the original SGS app
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thanks for pointing this out. really cool app with some great features (love the slider for setting event dates/times).
i only wish it had week view on it. really impressive app though!