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Hey folks,
Sorry to post such a 'simple' question, but I can't seem to google up the right words to find what I'm looking for -- and the links I did find didn't give me much personal opinions of different services.
I recently lost Sync options with my work (yay economy and licensing costs).. I loved using Outlook to sync my calender from MS Exchange to my phone... and I could use OWA to enter in my calender events from my computer. It also allowed my calender to survive flashes w/o backups.
I can't survive without my calender syncing, since the change i'm late to work constantly (I used to enter my shifts in OWA w/reminders 2 hours before to make sure I'm moving early enough to get ready & to work on time -- In case I'm watching a movie with the dog and don't notice the time)
I found 2 solutions, but both are around Google's calender, which I'm not super keen on, but could work:
1. Google Calender Mobile Website -- My understanding is it does reminders by SMS(?) and is mostly managed by google -- not the phone.
2. GooSync / OogSync -- Looks like it'll sync right into the phone's native calender -- But I didnt see verification of it syncing with the native calender, and/or if it supports making sure my reminders & other 'extra' information is sync'ed
I don't want to give Microsoft any money for outlook, so what do you all use :-/
Thanks guys, again, sorry for posting this issue without spending 3 hours researching first :-/ but getting a headache from trying to find a solution!
So, My needs:
1) Bi-directional Sync
2) Extra Information (e.g. Reminders) Sync
3) Easy entry/editing of calender info from a computer
Hopes:
4) Can work behind corporate firewalls blocking gmail, yahoo mail, etc.
5) Task Syncing
Thanks guys, love XDA
-Lee
Possible ways to sync
Unfortunately the easiest way would be to sync through outlook.
Though your company may have cut licensing cost ask the IT gurus if your company may have an agreement with MS. It's called Home Use Program (HUP) LINK.
If they do you can buy a full office pack for home use for ~ $20 which is definitely worth doing it. Afterwards simply maintain your contacts at your home PC and sync them through the PC. You may export them out of your office outlook either as PAB or CSV file and import at home. AFAIK this doesn't work with outlook express, you need a full blown office outlook.
You may also look at the link below if this would do it for you.
http://www.tipsfor.us/2008/04/15/sy...ontacts-and-calendar-using-funambol-for-free/
Perhaps you have a friendly IT group. Download the attached file, rename ZIP to PDF and take a look, it may work in your environment.
have you tried mail2web? its outlook (OWA), syncs with your phone (email, contacts, calender, etc..) and you can also manage it on your computer. Best of all, its free http://exchange.mail2web.com/
Hmmm.. with e-mail forwarding from my gmail to this that might actually work out well... save battery life on checking multiple e-mail accounts...
In case someone stumbles on this, link to account setup is: http://services.mail2web.com/Services/exchangesolutions.asp
Took a bit of searchign to find that page, most of their stuff advertises their paid services.... I'll give the free one a try, if I like it I'd be willing to pay (or at least donate) for it
instead of Mail2web try out seven, mail forwarding service. found here, i swear by it, it's been such a good service, you do have to sign up but it remembers you, so if you switch to another phone, ROM, etc your e-mail account(s) will be saved and you can add multiple accounts, and set times for mail forwarding. I'm not sure about contacts, but it asks every time i restart it if i want to import my contacts from g-mail. it's definitely worth a try.
Now I'm already betting I know the answer to this, having tried to do it for so many years on WM, but I thought it's worth trying again now I'm with Android!!
Anyway, what I want to do is be able to sync with two different Exchange servers (my work and home servers, that is). I thought I might be able to do this by using two separate Activesync clients, so I set up the HTC Mail client to sync with my personal email on my own server and then downloaded Touchdown to handle my work account. It's nearly perfect, in that it works and I have two separate Exchange accounts pushing updates to one device. Take that Windows Mobile!
But, whilst I am more than happy having two separate inboxes for my email. what I really want is both calendars appearing in the HTC calandar. I don't want to check for appointments in multiple places, after all. Seeing as HTC's calendar already checks across several different calendar sources, I'm guessing this is, at least technically, possible.
So does anyone know of any other Exchange Activesync applications for Android that would do what I want - or am I still hoping for too much from Exchange?
(On a separate - but related - note, I nearly fainted when I discovered Outlook 2010 could have multiple, active Exchange accounts in the SAME PROFILE! I've only been waiting for that feature since Outlok 2000!)
I've posted a Touchdown feature request about being able to have two different Exchange accounts. I also mentioned that it would be great to sync between the accounts as well.
Please join and post your thoughts at http://groups.google.com/group/nitrodesk/browse_thread/thread/68c0e38c899934d9. The more we are that are requesting this feature the quicker it may be implemented.
Helbore said:
what I really want is both calendars appearing in the HTC calandar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sync your Touchdown account's calendar with your phone through Gmail. Downside is it needs a pc online with Outlook+Google Calendar sync running
Outlook->Google Cal sync -> Gmail calendar -> phone's calendar
Slow response from me, but thanks for the suggestions.
However, as it seems the Hero will be getting Android 2.0 and that supports multiple Exchange accounts, I think I'll just wait for that to come out. Seems the simpler option and I've been waiting for a phone to have this functionality since WM2003 - so I think I can wait a little bit longer!
is there a way to Sync Outlook (Contacts, events, calender) but without the need of Sync first to Google ?
thanks
at the moment no!
maybe on rooted phones with a app..
ariebk said:
is there a way to Sync Outlook (Contacts, events, calender) but without the need of Sync first to Google ?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That depends on if you have use exchange server or if your outlook is used stand alone.
Stand alone, you sync to Gmail from the PC, and your phone should automatically sync to Gmail. Not everything syncs, that way either.
If you can connect to an exchange server, then check out Touchdown. It's a mini suite that has a nice mail program, calendar, contacts & tasts than all work with activesync, and the mail program is a huge step forward from the one supplied by default. It's $20.00 to register after a 30 day trial, but that's beats monthly blackberry charges for BES services all day long. If this is for an activesync capable setup, check it out.
audino said:
at the moment no!
maybe on rooted phones with a app..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need a rooted phone to use activesync and install Touchdown.
Based on what I read on the touchdown site it will not sync with desktop outlook? I couldnt see where they came out and said it but since its not mentioned Im guessing its out. Kind of a weird deal but I need to snyc tethered directly to outlook (no exchange) sans cloud as a work requirement. I saw an application called mylink that purportes to do this but there is little feedback and what there is is contradictory.
What options I know of...
I am also searching for something to link with the stand alone version of Outlook.
Here are the two best options I have found, and neither are great:
www_markspace_com/products/android/missing-sync-android.html
www_companionlink_com/androidusb/ol-android-usb.html
Right now it is sort of a deal breaker that I can't sync fully with Outlook.
P.S. I had to alter the URL's because it won't let me post them as I am a new user.
Thanks for the answers...
looks like missing-sync-android.html and Outlook to Android USB sync will do the job, anybody tried it?
40 bucks? Sheesh, thats a lotta ching for a sync applications. I may try that waveguide mylink. It was 9.99 lbs, about a third of the price.
krabman said:
40 bucks? Sheesh, thats a lotta ching for a sync applications. I may try that waveguide mylink. It was 9.99 lbs, about a third of the price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
waveguide mylink?
MyLink http://www.wavestore.co.uk/index.php/products/mylink-desktop.html
None of these apps have great ratings and this one seems to have little activity so far but such as it is here is a cut and paste....
MyLink Desktop enables the following features:
Wireless OTA Push Mail Synchronization
Emails:
• Sending, receiving, replying and forwarding of emails
• Organization of emails in folders
• Sorting emails by date, size and sender
• Receiving attachments
• Creating email signature
Calendar:
• Adding, editing and deleting of calendar entries
• Sending, accepting and declining meeting invitations
• Sorting by date
Contacts:
• Calling contacts directly
• Adding, editing and deleting of contacts
• Copying contacts to address book on the phone
• Sorting by name or category
Tasks:
• Adding, editing and deleting of tasks
• Sorting by date
Notes:
• Reading and writing of notes
• Sorting by date
Synchronization without the need of a server
POP3 Email supported
No ActiveSync needed
Point-to-Point synchronization without going through Google
MyLink Desktop supports
Mail Clients: Outlook 2003/2007, Lotus Notes 6.xx, 7.xx, 8.xx
Servers: Exchange 2003/2007/2010, Lotus Domino 6.xx, 7.xx, 8.xx and Lotus Live
Operating Systems: Windows XP, XP Professional, Vista, Windows 7, 32 bit and 64 bit
Android phones running on firmware 1.1, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.1
krabman said:
MyLink http://www.wavestore.co.uk/index.php/products/mylink-desktop.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's looking good, with less price, thanks!
I use an app called syncmycal been using it for a couple of years. Been very reliable.
There is a basic free one to make sure you are happy and then it is time to hand over cash.
I use it for:
Personal outlook to personal google calendar SYNC
Work outlook calendar (exchange) to work google calendar SYNC
Work outlook contacts to google contacts EXPORT ONLY
Personal outlook contacts to google contacts SYNC
The export only for work contacts stops my personal stuff ending up on work servers (paranoid about that).
I guess being on Google servers is ok
Zuber
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Sorry, in bed and half asleep. Missed the without Google bit...
Zuber
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Same here, I have just cancelled my order with Amazon for the Nexus One when I found out today that it does not have the inccluded software to sync my standalone version of outlook with the phone. Not everyone who buys Android will want to use gmail. I , for one don't. Just give me a great phone and allow it to sync with my current set up please
I really liked the form factor, the 3.7" screen (IMHO just the right size) and AMOLEd as well with 1GHz processor. Hope HTC brings out Win Phone 7 with the exact same hardware!!
It's true that there isn't a built-in app to sync Outlook that comes with the Nexus One. However, I've been using DejaOffice to sync my contacts and calendar to Outlook without using the Google "cloud". I am also using Splash ID to sync sensitive encrypted data between my Nexus and my laptop. There is a standalone app for the laptop which makes data entry much easier.
Thanks for that . I did have a look but I still feel Google should have supplied their own software to allow for the syncing of data between outlook and their phone. I prefer not to use a third party on the phone to give me contacts and calendar info; looks like the contacts magagement that comes in the phone is not used. I guess this is because it is so tightly linked to gmail. I will continue with my trusty Blackstone for now with latest NRG updates and wait for Windows Phone 7 which will hopefully come out with a 3.7/8" AMOLED screen and other goodies. Pity though I'm sure google could sell a lot more phones had they made this easier for consumers.
Folks - I know there are many threads on this subject and I've gone through them but nothing really comprehensive on how best to sync my contacts. Here's my setup:
1. desktop - Outlook 2003
2. notebook - Outlook 2003
3. Hero - Android 1.5
Obviously my goal is to have the exact same contacts in each computer and the Hero. Gmail (contacts) does a good job in making sure the Hero is synced automatically to the contacts in Gmail but I make my additions/corrections to contacts either on the desktop or the notebook computers. So far I've been manually exporting/importing from notebook to Gmail and from desktop to Gmail but run into problems such as duplicates, and most frustrating, some contacts on the Hero are first name, last name while others are reversed.
I really prefer last name, first name but I can't seem to get it that way in the Hero - both computers (Outlook) are last name, first name.
Anyway, I guess the central issue is how to sync the two computers with Gmail so the Hero gets auto synced?
Next question - if I happen to make a new contact within the Hero, does that get synced to Gmail and become a Google contact? I guess I'm confused between phone contacts and Google contacts - I noticed that either or both can be selected in the view function and you have to check one or the other or both?
Seems like what I'm trying to accomplish should be fairly common as most people have a couple of computers plus their phone. Any advice what be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Jack
jfolliard said:
Folks - I know there are many threads on this subject and I've gone through them but nothing really comprehensive on how best to sync my contacts. Here's my setup:
1. desktop - Outlook 2003
2. notebook - Outlook 2003
3. Hero - Android 1.5
Obviously my goal is to have the exact same contacts in each computer and the Hero. Gmail (contacts) does a good job in making sure the Hero is synced automatically to the contacts in Gmail but I make my additions/corrections to contacts either on the desktop or the notebook computers. So far I've been manually exporting/importing from notebook to Gmail and from desktop to Gmail but run into problems such as duplicates, and most frustrating, some contacts on the Hero are first name, last name while others are reversed.
I really prefer last name, first name but I can't seem to get it that way in the Hero - both computers (Outlook) are last name, first name.
Anyway, I guess the central issue is how to sync the two computers with Gmail so the Hero gets auto synced?
Next question - if I happen to make a new contact within the Hero, does that get synced to Gmail and become a Google contact? I guess I'm confused between phone contacts and Google contacts - I noticed that either or both can be selected in the view function and you have to check one or the other or both?
Seems like what I'm trying to accomplish should be fairly common as most people have a couple of computers plus their phone. Any advice what be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Jack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, yours is a problem that has plauged me since the days of ye olde' BlackBerry. Either you end up with 2 or 3 of the same contacts, or you are SOL.
It seems that you can't use Windows Mobile Device Center to sync from pc to HD7 phone, it has to be done via a hotmail/windows live account. I really cannot understand why many developers and the might of Microsoft deem it a wise move. Apart from security issues of putting lots of data in to the cloud, the process seems to be impossible to use efficiently. I am finding some contacts with a company name longer than a set number of characters will not fully sync, and there seems to be a limit to the amount of information for a contact. Is this really progress? Does anyone know of any third party apps which enable the sync between outlook and a WP7 phone? Even after the initial sync of contacts and calendar to my windows live hotmail account, which itself took ages, it seems a long while before any changes made on one appear on the other. I am seriously thinking of returning my HD7 - a great pity as WP7 seemed to promise so much. It is most certainly NOT aimed at the business user. Nokia, for all its faults, has a much better program for syncing a Nokia with Outlook, as does iTunes! Even Android has some degree of pc-phone syncing. Anyone got any helpful ideas?
Have patience and give it a try. I too didn't like the new method but once I had pruned my contacts removing unwanted stuff from the notes field it did copy over.
I now have it set up using emails and calander from my exchange account, email from 2 hotmail accounts, with contacts comming from my main hotmail account i set up yesterday.
It was strange at first but I've converted quickly.
P.S just discoved the APPLICATION tab in SETTINGS where you can rename the live tiles too
Thanks xma1e, I'm pleased to hear I'm not the only one to find it awkward. Do you know if there is a limit on the number of people you can have, and also what the limit on size of notes is?
Hampshire PDA said:
Even after the initial sync of contacts and calendar to my windows live hotmail account, which itself took ages, it seems a long while before any changes made on one appear on the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I'd give the Windows Live services a try before moving all my emails and contacts from Google Apps.
I set up a couple of accounts on Windows Live Domains to replace my Google Apps accounts and the first hurdle I hit was not being able to setup an alias email address. Email from only one address (primary) can be received. Email forwarding can't be configured from the domain host because Windows MX servers are handling the email.
The 2nd issue, setting up calendar sharing would always fail. And this wasn't just with the new accounts, two test accounts I setup over a week ago were still failing when setting up calendar sharing between the two. So back to Google Apps for me.
The above issue weren't specific to me, Googling showed lots of users affected.
I might be going off topic but I'm annoyed MS are pushing "the cloud" eveywhere yet the features aren't complete or broken. What took me around 8 hours to setup and configure on Windows Live took 8 mins to change back to Google Apps which works 100%.
Also, if you do have shared calendars working on your Hotmail/Live accounts does the HD7 show them? An early beta review of WP7 by Pocketnow showed shared calendars not working.
Inability to sync Outlook from desktop is a massive oversight. Lots of people use Outlook as a PIM on the desktop, without an Exchange back-end. I have been anti-iphone for ages, I gave back my work-issued iphone as not fit for purpose, and bought the TD2 out of my own pocket, but have been anxiously awaiting the HD7.
Whilst the HD7 and Windows Phone OS is blowing me away, it's so quick, slick and easy to use, I am now trying to work out the best option for syncing Outlook automatically.
The standard option from the web, a 4-step sync between
a) Outlook - Google
b) Google - Windows Live in Outlook
c) Windows Live in Outlook - Windows Live Online
Is not an option because I am running 64-bit Outlook that google sync does not support. There are some 3rd-party options to investigate but these will all cost money.
As reply to kougei, I just had a quick scan of Google's website - are you sure about the Google Sync 64 bit Outlook incompatibility, this is what I read off their website...
System requirements:
Requires Google Apps Premier or EDU Edition
Windows XP (32 bit) SP3
Windows Vista (32 bit) SP1
Windows Vista (64 bit) SP1
Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
Microsoft Outlook 2003® SP3
Microsoft Outlook 2007® SP2 (or SP1 with hotfix)
Microsoft Outlook 2010® (32 and 64 bit)
- https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gappssync
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use Google myself, but I was just wondering whether you may have missed an update saving a lot of money and possibly frustration?
kougei said:
The standard option from the web, a 4-step sync between
a) Outlook - Google
b) Google - Windows Live in Outlook
c) Windows Live in Outlook - Windows Live Online
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Outlook Connector to sync between Outlook to Window Live if you don't need your data in Google.
Outlook Connector is part of the Window Live Essentials pack.
Mujja said:
an alias email address
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have moved your own domain to Live as I have, what you have to do is create a new user that is the alias you want, then set that user to forward email to your primary address. That is what Microsoft tell you to do, and it works just fine.
To the OP - you're living in the past! It's all about the cloud now, move all your stuff onto the cloud.
If you move to the Live services (and you can put your own domain into Live for free) you benefit from all the syncing of calendars, contacts and email for no cost. Outlook has the Live connector which you use to push all your existing email, contacts and calendars to Live and then collects new email coming in.
In terms of delivery speed - if someone sends me an email I get it at the same time on my phone, Outlook, live web interface...
If you can't use the Live set of services for whatever reason, you can look at a hosted Exchange server. There are plenty of them about and will give you the best possible experience and integration with WP7, Outlook and web based email. One who I do not use personally but I have recommended to others who find it works perfectly (Though nobody I know who uses it is on wp7 yet, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work as it's just Exchange server) is mail2web, though it isn't free.
DaWolfey said:
If you have moved your own domain to Live as I have, what you have to do is create a new user that is the alias you want, then set that user to forward email to your primary address. That is what Microsoft tell you to do, and it works just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did setup a secondary account to forward email to the primary account. But I couldn't see an option to completely disable junk mail filtering so I could never be sure ALL email was forwarded to the primary inbox for me to filter. And with Live Mail's slow and unreliable POP3 importing from other accounts I didn't trust the secondary account to forward emails as soon as they arrived.
To make sure I was getting all my email from the secondary account I could have added the account to my mobile device but I wanted to keep things simple.
adrian-polglase said:
As reply to kougei, I just had a quick scan of Google's website - are you sure about the Google Sync 64 bit Outlook incompatibility, this is what I read off their website...
I don't use Google myself, but I was just wondering whether you may have missed an update saving a lot of money and possibly frustration?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like a Premiere account costs $50 a year,whereas standard free google calendar sync is definitely outlook 2010 32-bit only at the moment. I dont use any aspect of google services currently,so will look at other solutions rather than spending $50 every year.
Mujja said:
Use Outlook Connector to sync between Outlook to Window Live if you don't need your data in Google.
Outlook Connector is part of the Window Live Essentials pack.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, all that does is allow you to see a view of windows live mail, contacts, calendar entities within outlook, and use them directly in outlook, in sync.
It does not sync or interact with the default outlook entities that are part of your local pst file.
kougei said:
It looks like a Premiere account costs $50 a year,whereas standard free google calendar sync is definitely outlook 2010 32-bit only at the moment. I dont use any aspect of google services currently,so will look at other solutions rather than spending $50 every year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Apps Premier has a free 30 day trial. I've upgraded my wife's account to premier as she prefers to read her email in Outlook. The premier app sync email, contacts and mutiple calendars and even allows Outlook to display the mutiple calendars side by side.
However the OP wanted to sync Outook to Windows Live which can be done free using Outlook Connector instead of paying £40 for a Google Apps Premier account.
kougei said:
It does not sync or interact with the default outlook entities that are part of your local pst file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, forgot to mention that. But the OP can copy and paste all contacts and calendar entries from the local calendar to the live calendar in one go and from there sync to the phone.
I can live with manually maintaining contacts but i work dynamically with my calendar in local pst via meeting requests, etc. not practical to manually maintain a second calendar. Lets hope either microsoft or google release a free update soon.
Others are finding the same problems as I am. It seems to update the contacts OK if I put a new entry or edit an entry in Outlook. But I am having to update the calendar manually. I really can't believe this is what Microsoft intend - does someone have a way of getting the calendar to sync as well please?