Database Info

[APP] Due Today Todo/Project Manager

I generally try not to post notifications about my software in other forums, but if anyone is interested, I've created a new todo/project manager for Android 1.5 and later.
If you're interested, please look here:
http://forum.lakeridgesoftware.com/showthread.php?t=16270
Thanks!

looks very nice and GTDish.
but if it doesn't sync to an online service it is pretty worthless for a lot of people.
I for example use toodledo, because I can access it from my Mac at home and from my PC at work...
good luck, anyways, it looks promising.

What if it syncs to a desktop client? Is that worth anything?

of course that helps, but it would still not solve the problem if you can not install apps on your office PC. Thats a problem a lot of folks have due to managed workplaces

So, I've been thinking about this. If I were to set up a ToodleDo sync, some of the extra fields would have to go into the task's notes. Would that be an acceptable alternative?

Very beautiful and promising. I second the need for Toodledo sync, or it will be unusable to a lot of people.
I really liked the looks of it.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

chmckay said:
So, I've been thinking about this. If I were to set up a ToodleDo sync, some of the extra fields would have to go into the task's notes. Would that be an acceptable alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sure. use Toodledoo fields as far as possible, everything else goes into notes.
but what would you save in the notesfield, for example?
I think about developing a GTD app for webOS and am wondering how to do it well myself

Well, after the data is pulled out of the notes field, the remaining text would just be notes. So, those would be placed appropriately (this is when pulling from ToodleDo). When adding to ToodleDo, I would just place the notes after the extra data.
This gets to be a little complex as I have a few options for contexts which have not been added yet (though the fields exist in my database) and ToodleDo doesn't support contexts as anything other than a text string.
Then there's projects vs goals. I would probably go that route as I don't want to make anyone purchase a pro account on ToodleDo.
After doing all this research, I'm still considering using a WebDAV server sync method with a desktop client as I could guarantee that everything would sync properly.

chmckay said:
Well, after the data is pulled out of the notes field, the remaining text would just be notes. So, those would be placed appropriately (this is when pulling from ToodleDo). When adding to ToodleDo, I would just place the notes after the extra data.
This gets to be a little complex as I have a few options for contexts which have not been added yet (though the fields exist in my database) and ToodleDo doesn't support contexts as anything other than a text string.
Then there's projects vs goals. I would probably go that route as I don't want to make anyone purchase a pro account on ToodleDo.
After doing all this research, I'm still considering using a WebDAV server sync method with a desktop client as I could guarantee that everything would sync properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The software expires today right? Any news on the paid version?

arg! I want to try it.
The biggest thing for me in an app like this is,
Hierarchy: ability to make sub-projects/subtasks (why I love todoist.com)
Widget/cal sync: needs to sync to Pure Calendar or Google Cal
Personally I would not want it to sync to ToodleDo unless the sub-project functionality this seems to have (again can't try it, beta's up) is maintained without needing a pro account of ToodleDo (which supports subtasks)

The beta expired at midnight this morning, so I'm quickly finishing a few things.
What I'm doing right now is adding a few things that make sense with the ToodleDo sync. And, I'm making a few underlying database changes that you shouldn't see if you were using a previous version. Again, this is in anticipation of the ToodleDo sync. The sync won't be available until I release it for the market.
@Hepæstus:
TaskIt has projects and subprojects. Each project and subproject can have an unlimited number of tasks. In the Today view, though, you will only see the tasks. So, when a project comes due, all of its tasks will be added to the Today view (including any subproject's tasks). When you complete the last task, it will mark the project as complete.
As for the syncing, I don't want to make people get a ToodleDo pro account, so I'm setting things up a little differently. The ToodleDo sync will be more of a hack in that the tasks will sync, but any fields unsupported by ToodleDo will be added to the notes field. Projects will be synced with ToodleDo's goals. I know it's not perfect, but I originally designed this app to be synced with a forthcoming desktop client, not an existing web service, so I have a few features that are not supported by either Remember the Milk or ToodleDo.

I forgot to mention that yes, there is a widget. Also, the update will be available later today.

Version 0.9.5 is now up. You can check it out here:
http://forum.lakeridgesoftware.com/showthread.php?t=16286

Hey chmckay, can you see the possibility of syncing with http://my.gtdify.com/ as well? I like the idea of a desktop client, but if I can access my stuff anywhere, that would be even more awesome. I'm eagerly anticipating a paid version.

I'll take a look at that site and see if they have any syncing capabilities.

Instead of using one of those thausands of webservice that offer a gtd-like project/todo-management I would really prefer a sync to my own webspace.
Combined with a simple webinterface, like the one from "Tracks" (which is the base for my.gtdify.com) or MonkeyGTD/mGSD (Tiddlywiki, a dynamic html-File mgsd.tiddlyspot.com).
That would really be great!

@spaboleo:
That was the basis of my wanting to sync to a desktop client: so that you own your data.
However, because very few people are interested in that, I'm looking into ToodleDo and Tracks. Tracks is interesting because you can host it yourself, so that's a plus.
When the desktop client is ready, TaskIt will also have WebDAV syncing so you can sync to your own server and be in full control of your own data.

Ah, ok
I thought that by "desktop client" you ment something like an installable piece of software...which in case would be okay if there is a webclient/webserver-version.
Maybe the installation could be obsolete too by using a portable client.
anyway...thank you for your effort!
sounds really promising!

Actually, I do intend to create an installable desktop client. The WebDAV sync is so that your data doesn't sync via someone else's servers.
The Tracks/GTDify and ToodleDo sync are for those who want web only.

Of course I can only speak for myself, but 70% the software I use is portable and placed on my thumbdrive (even browsers, mail-clients, IM-Tools etc.).
The other 30% include exclusivly larger suites like Office, Graphic-Programs or CAD-Tools.
Mostly an installtion is not really required if you include saved userfiles directly into the programmfolder.
For the less experienced users you could offer a installable version.
But, I would appreciate a ziped version that I can carry around on my thumbdrive, without the need to "make it portable by myself" ;D
I think I'm not the only that prefers portable software.
Best wishes

Finger friendly notes program?

I'm looking at trying to use Outlook notes to stores snippets of important information that I may need on the go. I want to do this because I already have outlook setup through my own Fumambol server to be able to sync OTA all my pin data. (I'd prefer to be able to sync my documents over the air, but Fumambol doesn't have a desktop client that can do this that I'm aware of.)
That said, the built in notes program in Windows Mobile is, like many other built-ins, lacking. I've like something very finger friendly in the lines of ThumbCal or iContacts. Ideally skinable, but this isn't as important. The really important part is that it needs to access and read the default windows mobile defaults.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Not sure it's going to do what you want but have you looked at EverNote.

Have a look on our front page, we posted a notes program lately
Hope it helps

Thanks for the suggestions. Evernote doesn't look like it's going to meet my needs, but I'll take a look.
I did see the notes program on the front screen, but that appears to be a like a notepad editor rather than something that reads office notes.

Evernote looks to be a very nice powerful app... unfortunately, that's not what I'm looking for here.
Actually I'd prefer less powerful. I want something pretty simple, but more finger friendly than the built in notes program.

BIG Software Development Opportunity - Thunderbird and Android

Hello
Forgive me if you’ve read this post in other forums…I’m going to keep posting it in the hopes of getting a solution to an ongoing problem.
I’m not a software designer, IT person or expert. Just a business professional that has a few simple needs in order to be personally and professionally successful. Successful management of personal information on our PC and our mobile phones plays a critical role in our success. With the advent of the smartphone, many of us thought our needs had been met, only to discover serious gaps in ability and performance. For example..trying to connect Outlook or Thunderbird/Lightning with an Android Phone (my personal issue) is either difficult, expensive or limited in ability.
Many of us choose Thunderbird/Lightning and other PIMs (such as Outlook) because of the excellent functionality they provide. Some of us are required to by our workplaces. Most of us DO NOT want to use Google products or have our data synced through Google for personal, security or other reasons. Many of us are restricted from using Google by our workplaces for similar reasons.
Then why do we use Android phones? Simple…for smartphones the operating system choices are limited and Android has one of the biggest market presences. These issues exist for other phone platforms as well…connecting Outlook to an iPhone for example. Android is also an excellent phone overall…with many other features we are looking for.
So…what are we looking for? What are these “needs?”
Personal Information Management software in one package (such as Outlook and Thunderbird/Lightning) on our PCs and laptops. Obviously these already exist and don’t need development per se. Corresponding apps for our Android phones…and most importantly: the ability to sync between the two…using wifi, other “cloud” providers, even USB. The components include:
Email client that can access and send from multiple accounts (already fairly available..although many widget and app designers ignore the alternative email apps and only connect Gmail to their products…a serious omission).
Contact/Address lists that include birthday information, other personal details, and can be grouped or categorized. Somewhat available, but can be troublesome, and data can get duplicated or missed. Thunderbird can only sync contacts through Google currently…as mentioned above, and issue for many.
Calendar that can handle reoccurring events, reminders and alarms, categorize/tag events, meeting planning and invitations (through email client), management of multiple calendars and ability to attach documents to events to name some of the most important. Somewhat available now, except most connections require Google calendar (again an issue).
Task Management (the one critical item that has few solutions/options). Needs to handle reoccurring tasks, reminders/alarms, categorizing/tagging, sub-tasks, delegation of tasks, start and due dates, and proper handling of overdue tasks (items not marked complete move to next day with alerts for example). While Outlook and TB/Lightning have excellent task managers...there are very few options for the phones and in the case of Lightning…no phone app that can sync with it.
Notes, not critical but a “nice-to-have” function
All of the above also need to be connectable. For example…connecting a calendar event with related tasks. A task to a contact.
Aren’t there already solutions available?? The answer, after weeks and months of searching and putting products through a test, is “yes and no.” There are a few “connection and sync” products available for Outlook, but the proprietary or available phone apps that can use it don’t have all the functionality needed, or simple aren’t adequate. There are also complications based on the Outlook set-up…stand alone versus exchange server. Currently, I cannot find a product that can sync and use Thunderbird/Lightning directly and adequately.
So, after telling you all of this…what am I trying to say?
To all you enterprising software and Android phone app developers…there is a HUGE gap that you can fill. If you spend any time on forums for Thunderbird, Outlook and Android, you will see that there are literally thousands of people looking for a solution…something to fill this gap. Most of us would pay handsomely for such a product…I personally would pay “serious money” just to get my Lightning tasks in my phone. In addition…both Mozilla and Android are open-source (if I understand the term correctly) and thus available for development.
To the developer or software engineer that can connect Thunderbird/Lightning email, calendar, address book and tasks to an Android phone…go the spoils and riches. Don’t make me beg….or worse, dump my Android for a Windows phone or back to a PDA <shiver>.
To Google and Mozilla leaders, executives and software engineers…we are asking…have been asking for at least two years…for solutions. We are frustrated, disappointed and completely baffled that this has not been addressed. The perception is that both organizations either simple “don’t care”, are oblivious to our plight or unable to respond. Your reputations are at stake ladies and gentlemen.
Thanks for taking the time to read through this. If you’re like me…searching for the answer as well…cross your fingers and spread the word as much as you can. Maybe SOMEBODY will listen.

Presently if you wish to synchronize Thunderbird contacts and Lightning/Sunbird events with your Android device, you may try BirdieSync. BirdieSync has been successfully synchronizing Windows Mobile devices with Thunderbird/Sunbird for several years and now supports Android devices.
You can connect your mobile device over USB or with a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
BirdieSync runs in background on your mobile device and can automatically synchronize your contacts and events if you are connected.
You'll find more information on BirdieSync web site (sorry I cannot post the link: it is forbidden to avoid spam. Look for BirdieSync on Google).
Presently BirdieSync doesn't support task synchronization. The main reason is that for some reason, Android doesn't provide a native task application with a shared local storage that other developers could access. Note that it is also the case for the iPhone contrary to Windows Mobile devices. I think that this lack is a bit weird. I would have thought that a task application would have been used by a lot of users... So it would be necessary to provide a synchronization solution with other opened third party task applications, but it would force users to use a particular task application.
Although Android is an opened platform, some technologies (official APIs) are still missing to developers. I hope that with time, more features will be available and that the Android platform will easy the implementation of these functionalities.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply....and the suggestion. Unfortunately I have already tried Birdiesync. It made quite a mess out of my contacts I'm sorry to say.
Additionally, the one part of Lightning (and Outlook) that I can't live without also happens to be the part that even Birdisync doesn't work with...and you guessed it...TASKS. My life would crumble (okay, being a bit melodramatic) without my task lists. Google tasks is a bit of a joke, as far as I'm concerned, and I can't function with it. Lightning has a really great task manager...almost as good as Outlooks and yet nobody has made anything to sync with it. You are correct...the IT professionals I know have said , that unlike calendars and contacts (which have some standards that all software companies work within)...everybody treats tasks and task software differently.
I'm with you...I'm stunned that this has been ignored and people aren't more vocal about it. I think most people figure "why say anything, it won't help" and just make do.
Thanks again...

my task solution
I like ASTRID as my task list in Android. I sync that with google tasks which I know you cannot use and does not natively go into thunderbird / lighting calendar (though I have a thunderbrowse tab that goes right to google tasks, again clunky at best). I share your desire for a seamless solution. However, ASTRID also syncs with Producteev, which has just roled out more robust Task sharing and more functionality. I'm going to look at that to try and fill the gap and invite you to look with me.
Once again, smart people, I could have written this original post, though maybe not so clearly... HELP!

Synchronize call log with Outlook Journal

Hi all,
I have searched for this application for a long time and tried whole bunch of them, but I am still looking for SOLID, SIMPLE, and STRAIGHTFORWARD application to save Call log entries into Outlook Journal.
My setup:
Windows 7 32-bit
Outlook 2007 SP2
HD2 with latest T-Mo ROM and Cookie Home Tab installed.
Applications I tried:
Maniac's SmartJournal - so far the best solution and worked flawlessly on the XP. Since I switched to Windows 7 it shows that the SmartJournal reads from the device, the notification disappears and nothing happens. Maniac's website is down, so I cannot find out what is going on.
Pocket Informant Outlook Extension - since it is now free as Informant stopped supporting Windows Mobile, I tried it, it seems that it works and does some synchronizing according to the log, but no entry shows up the Journal.
Jeyo Outlook Extension - they used to support Outlook Journal in their version for Symbian, but in their Windows Mobile they only synchronize SMS.
MobiTNT - I tried that software as well, but I am not able to enable the software on the computer.
I know that there is also some app for syncing call log into calendar but it seems way too akward.
I know that there are many threads about this all over the Xda, but they seem to be old for one and do not end up with comprehensive solution afterall.
I would like to this post to become comprehensive and one stop solution for somebody who is looking for the solution like me.
Any ideas are welcome.

Nobody? Really? Really?

I Feel your pain
I used to use Calls to Journal from Chapura with my windows handheld. Strangely it is now discontinued.
It was slick, and perfect. Dumped all calls to Outlook journal and tagged the outlook contacts (so that they showed up in activites). Was perfect in my business when someone denied that you called them.
I can't find anything that compares. Not even close. The other ones like "missing sync" try to do too much and do not include this very simple functionality.
Have you had any luck?

Well, I finally managed to make the Maniac's Smartjournal work and it works great. It transfers the calls into Journal and tags for the known Contacts so it shows in Activities.
If you would like to try it, I have the .exe files since the website is no longer active. The files are really small and the program is no memory hog by any means. I tried Jeyo and it just crashes Outlook.
Let me know.

Another one
I wish i could be more helpful but there is one applicatoin which i have used in the past but have since forgotten the name whichvery simply adds an appointment into outlook which lasts for the duration of the call, with the title of whoever the conversation was with.
this might be the one i was thinking of. I'm gonna check it now.

kolibrik said:
Well, I finally managed to make the Maniac's Smartjournal work and it works great. It transfers the calls into Journal and tags for the known Contacts so it shows in Activities.
If you would like to try it, I have the .exe files since the website is no longer active. The files are really small and the program is no memory hog by any means. I tried Jeyo and it just crashes Outlook.
Let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
post the files please & details you have on them & any special instructions on getting it working.
One of the biggest mistakes MS made was not having WM & its PC software linking together with complete harmony & user control.
Really are a clueless bunch at redmond HQ ...

I am attaching the rar file. There are two files. One is SmartJournal.exe and the other is SmartJournal Beta.exe Try first the SmartJournal.exe run as admin and compatibility with XP SP2. Sometimes it shows the error that the CallLog.csv cannot be dumped. If that is the case, uninstall the SmartJournal and install the Beta (again as administrator and compatibility mode XP SP2). Maniac had a great forum unfortunatelly that website is no longer active.
Let me know if you have any trouble.

Take 2
I just realised my previous post was totally useless since I never included the link. I've been using Call Calendar for the past few days which works really well, recording the time, duration, who the call was with and who called who silently into outlook, which will then obviously sync over activesync or exchange. you can get it here:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-call-calendar.html
then again while searching for that link i found this program, Phonelog- it's newer and seems to have additional features like recording incoming SMS. I think you can customise what is recorded too, it might be worth a shot:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-phonelog.html
I've never used Outlook journal, so I don't know how much functionality you lose as a result of these being purely appointments. Hope it oculd be useful though.

Thanks for the post and link. I prefere not to use the calendar for syncing, because than the entries eat up the screen when I view my calendar appointments. Also, I always felt siunce the Journal has a Phone log category it is more obvious to use it rather than calendar. Also, I make LOT of calls on given days and then my calendar looks like mess between the actual appointments and the phone call. Also, I checked the review section on freeware.com and lot of people complain about the SMS not working (which would be the only feature why I would consider this software). But great addition to the post and thanks for the links.
Karel

You can try MobileArchiver (mobilearchiving.com) - for me works perfectly and puts all call history in journal every sync.

kolibrik said:
I am attaching the rar file. There are two files. One is SmartJournal.exe and the other is SmartJournal Beta.exe Try first the SmartJournal.exe run as admin and compatibility with XP SP2. Sometimes it shows the error that the CallLog.csv cannot be dumped. If that is the case, uninstall the SmartJournal and install the Beta (again as administrator and compatibility mode XP SP2). Maniac had a great forum unfortunatelly that website is no longer active.
Let me know if you have any trouble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the call history is full, I mean 300 items, there is a great chance that the PC app tries to read the calllogdump.csv on the pda while it is already accessed by the pda (it is written) and therefore paralell reading fails.
Solution: backup call log, and after that, delete some 50-100 entries manually. Sync works then nicely...
Regards, G.

gforg_xda said:
If the call history is full, I mean 300 items, there is a great chance that the PC app tries to read the calllogdump.csv on the pda while it is already accessed by the pda (it is written) and therefore paralell reading fails.
Solution: backup call log, and after that, delete some 50-100 entries manually. Sync works then nicely...
Regards, G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another possible solution is to run Smartjournal.exe on pc, it copies the dump exe to Device\Temp, and runs, and this creates the csv. Navigate to this folder (My Device\Temp) and make the csv read only.
Running the pc side returns an error on the PDA, but the log will be read and data transferred.
Now remove read only from csv, move to pc, leave only the last entry, delete all the rest, save, move back to PDA.
Run pc side, all should be good now. You will have a lastsync.txt created in the PC folder of Smartsync. Sync finished.
Update:
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Mobitnt PocketExport does the job for some days, no errors, I think I keep using this app

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[Q] Attaching file to emails

Long time WM user, fairly new WP7.5 user.
Love the platform and for the most part, don't miss WM at all.
Except, I used to be able to attach files to my emails like MP3 and Wav files but I have yet to see a way to do that under WP7.5.
I have searched and scrolled through this section to see if I could find something however nothing really addressed the question. Based on some of the threads I read, it looks like this cannot be done.
Can it? Does anyone know if it is coming out in a relase fix?
Thanks,
Rick

The EmailComposeTask class does not support attachments which is ridiculous and it's been a long time complaint. Microsoft doesn't seem to bothered by it and I haven't heard anything about them supporting it. I think it's part of their strategy to get devs to start using the cloud more.
Just noticed this wasn't the developer forum. My post is development related and doesn't really apply to question.

I agree about the cloud but you still need to be able to send a link in an expeditious way. Openning windowslive and finding the folder/file and then specifying share and sending an email is a PIA.
I do like the cloud for my contacts and other stuff since it is not taking space on my phone. I like it until I travel into the boonies of Texas and want to make a call but the contact list is not there cause there is not connection to 4G, 3G but to whatever was there before God created cell phones. Not looking forward to that day.

For most things it is done under the application. For example, in office word, you can hit share and choose the email account. Same within most apps. Zune though does not have this option. probably because your not supposed to pirate them to your friends.

Yet more prof that Windows Phone sucks and Windows Mobile still rules. What a damn shame. I tried to email someone and attach my resume but couldn't I had to go through the stupid office hub to do it, what a bunch of B.S. And they wonder why their sales suck ass.

ROCOAFZ said:
For most things it is done under the application. For example, in office word, you can hit share and choose the email account. Same within most apps. Zune though does not have this option. probably because your not supposed to pirate them to your friends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not trying to imply that I would send MP3's that are illegal are you?
Just kidding.
Actually they are my own files and sometimes ring tones that I created and want to share.
As for the resume email... kind of hard to attach a file to an email when it is not located on your phone. I am liking the fact that the cloud has the files and not the phone. There just needs to be a simple way to access and send it. Like Sinister1, I would prefer to have it attached to an email that I authored like we have been doing every since email allowed attachments rather than going to the file on the cloud and sharing it with an individual.

Is there any way to extract files from our phones and store them in Dropbox or Skydrive? for example pdf files or mp3.

Office files will sync on SkyDrive, or if opened on the phone (from email or web) can be saved to SkyDrive or to the phone itself. In either case, you can then send them as attachments (but only that one file at a time) in email.
Sadly, though, that's the only way I know of to send email attachments other than pictures. Microsoft really needs to either add the API for attachments, or they need to allow Outlook Mobile to open files from the public parts of your phone.
Irony-mode: Zune (the hardware, all the way fromt he HD to the original 30GB model) allowed sending files by WiFi - a feature MS has not bothered to add to WP7 even though I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be difficult (both run on some variant of CE, both have WiFi, the HD even used a touch interface similar to the phone...). Instead, forget sending music, forget sending video, and you can barely send a Word doc!

GoodDayToDie said:
Office files will sync on SkyDrive, or if opened on the phone (from email or web) can be saved to SkyDrive or to the phone itself. In either case, you can then send them as attachments (but only that one file at a time) in email.
Sadly, though, that's the only way I know of to send email attachments other than pictures. Microsoft really needs to either add the API for attachments, or they need to allow Outlook Mobile to open files from the public parts of your phone.
Irony-mode: Zune (the hardware, all the way fromt he HD to the original 30GB model) allowed sending files by WiFi - a feature MS has not bothered to add to WP7 even though I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be difficult (both run on some variant of CE, both have WiFi, the HD even used a touch interface similar to the phone...). Instead, forget sending music, forget sending video, and you can barely send a Word doc!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there another way to extract pdfs, zips or mp3s of our phones even through data cable?

My PDF files are adding up. Whenever I open up Adobe reader, the files are pilling up. I know I can press and hold on any one of them and delete the file but some I want on my PC and this just is too funky.

@Rickgig, what phone do you have? Some WP7 devices are able to use apps that will access the phone and move/copy/transfer files.
Alternatively, don't you have other copies of those PDFs? I mean, they got onto the phone from somewhere, so wouldn't it be easier to get them from there? Then you could safely delete the unneeded ones off the phone.

GoodDayToDie said:
@Rickgig, what phone do you have? Some WP7 devices are able to use apps that will access the phone and move/copy/transfer files.
Alternatively, don't you have other copies of those PDFs? I mean, they got onto the phone from somewhere, so wouldn't it be easier to get them from there? Then you could safely delete the unneeded ones off the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Titan with AT&T.
You're right... I can get them from someplace else. They are mostly menu's from restaurants but then they are business documents too. I have since learned to upload them from my PC to Skydrive and access them there.
There's a work around for everything I just wanted some of the WM features to be here. Like the file that prompted me to start this thread in the first place. My son did some work on his car and took a short video of the results and MMS'd to me. I can forward it to others but that is about it. Can't save it, can't email it to myself... if I deleted the text thread, it's gone.