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Desktop synchronization of Android just like WM-phones

Hi friends,
Let me put these questions as simple as it can be -
1. is it possible for android to synchronize with the desktop computer
running Win XP?, if yes how? Wm phones can do it seamlessly using
MSActivesync.
2. is it possible to use the desktop's internet connection and browse
the web from the android? (just like WM-phones do with MS Activesync)
3. Is there a way to import all the Windows mobile contacts onto the
Android phone? NOT from google mail-account because I have different
contacts in my phone and gmail. And I would like to import my Phone
contacts onto Android.
THANKS to anyone who answers all/part of the queries.
arefin

arefin said:
Hi friends,
Let me put these questions as simple as it can be -
1. is it possible for android to synchronize with the desktop computer
running Win XP?, if yes how? Wm phones can do it seamlessly using
MSActivesync.
2. is it possible to use the desktop's internet connection and browse
the web from the android? (just like WM-phones do with MS Activesync)
3. Is there a way to import all the Windows mobile contacts onto the
Android phone? NOT from google mail-account because I have different
contacts in my phone and gmail. And I would like to import my Phone
contacts onto Android.
THANKS to anyone who answers all/part of the queries.
arefin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Hopefully google would release a cloud based or an application that allows this, as it would make some lives a little easier.
2. I do not believe there is an app capable of this but it may be possible via bluetooth or use the desktop as an AP. Either way, i don't think you will get any better than you would off of wifi.
3. I found this off a quick search http://www.myhtcphone.com/import-contacts. Dont know if it works or not, but it seems to be like what you want.

1. use google calendar sync.
2. use adb port forwarding with proxy or vpn.
3. export your outlook contacts as csv and import them in gmail.

Not Really!
billc.cn said:
1. use google calendar sync.
2. use adb port forwarding with proxy or vpn.
3. export your outlook contacts as csv and import them in gmail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google calender sync is at it says "for your calender only". No contacts. No idea why they can't just add it. Our lives would be so much easier.

I've had a friend report to me that Google has licensed the ActiveSync technology, so it may be added in a future build of the Android OS.
I believe that the "Hero" version that Haykuro is toying with currently also showed ActiveSync in one of the menus, but I can't vouch for that at the moment.
Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

TooSlo said:
I've had a friend report to me that Google has licensed the ActiveSync technology, so it may be added in a future build of the Android OS.
I believe that the "Hero" version that Haykuro is toying with currently also showed ActiveSync in one of the menus, but I can't vouch for that at the moment.
Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not ActiveSync, that's Microsoft's product. The new Hero build (as well as the stock Magic ROM) have a program called HTC Sync. I don't believe anyone has obtained a copy of the desktop software for that though.

it's two separate things.
google licensed activesync to allow ms exchange clients to sync with google calendar and gmail contacts (see http://www.google.com/mobile/winmo/sync.html). you already have this on android.
the ms exchange option appeared in the mail app can only connect to ms exchange servers (not your desktop activesync clients) and can do email only.
htc sync is the only possiblility. (m$ won't be stupid enough to allow you to use activesync on any other platform.)

Your ideas of sync are outdated on Android.
My phone address book syncs to my gmail account, and my email clients address book syncs to gmail. My phone calander syncs to Google Cal, and I find the web based interface to work just fine. But I am sure you can find something to sync whatever your cal program is to google.
All this syncing happens when the phone is in my pocket and is always up to date.
As for browsing the web from the phone, over the usb connector, why? The phone has 3G and wifi.
You can import your contacts as a group into gmail, then set the phone to only display contacts from that group.

arefin said:
Hi friends,
Let me put these questions as simple as it can be -
1. is it possible for android to synchronize with the desktop computer
running Win XP?, if yes how? Wm phones can do it seamlessly using
MSActivesync.
2. is it possible to use the desktop's internet connection and browse
the web from the android? (just like WM-phones do with MS Activesync)
3. Is there a way to import all the Windows mobile contacts onto the
Android phone? NOT from google mail-account because I have different
contacts in my phone and gmail. And I would like to import my Phone
contacts onto Android.
THANKS to anyone who answers all/part of the queries.
arefin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as everyone else is surely noticing .. google syncs better than the mickeysoft mousesync stuff other people use .. you are automatically synced to the google server and from there you can do anything .. i pull my calendar into outlook or anything else i want .. so .. what was the question again?!?

If you have no 'net connex, 'the cloud' does 2 things: jack & shizzle.
I do, however, wish I could keep my contacts synced with GMail (after my initial .cvs port-over). GCalSync works very well, though!
-bZj

PorchG1 said:
All this syncing happens when the phone is in my pocket and is always up to date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great, but I don't want to be beholden to a corporation, especially not to a single corp using closed protocols. If kinda defeats the purpose of having an open source phone for some of us. A mechanism to sync to my home server (not desktop), would certainly be welcomed.
PorchG1 said:
As for browsing the web from the phone, over the usb connector, why? The phone has 3G and wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ever heard of wireline? I guess you can't conceive of being in an environment without wifi or 3G, they do exist you know? Not to mention that it would be nice to not always have to broadcast everything you do into the ether.

Thanks to everyone who responded
PorchG1 said:
Your ideas of sync are outdated on Android.
My phone address book syncs to my gmail account, and my email clients address book syncs to gmail. My phone calander syncs to Google Cal, and I find the web based interface to work just fine. But I am sure you can find something to sync whatever your cal program is to google.
All this syncing happens when the phone is in my pocket and is always up to date.
As for browsing the web from the phone, over the usb connector, why? The phone has 3G and wifi.
You can import your contacts as a group into gmail, then set the phone to only display contacts from that group.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, many of the suggestions sounds good for me. I am guessing many of you r not on Windows anymore. My problem is there, I am still on Windows just becoz I play lot of games, install a lots of programs which are only possible on win-ground. I do streaming - didnt find lot of freedom in this area on other OSs.
btw, I will apply your ideas considering them expert opinions becoz OI am just a noob in such things.
Thanks friends,

gSyncit Sync the calander and contacts....

arefin said:
Yes, many of the suggestions sounds good for me. I am guessing many of you r not on Windows anymore. My problem is there, I am still on Windows just becoz I play lot of games, install a lots of programs which are only possible on win-ground. I do streaming - didnt find lot of freedom in this area on other OSs.
btw, I will apply your ideas considering them expert opinions becoz OI am just a noob in such things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that didn't make much sense .. "not on Windows" anymore .. my primary OS is Microsoft for the same reason that there is a lot more freedom

MartinFick said:
That's great, but I don't want to be beholden to a corporation, especially not to a single corp using closed protocols. If kinda defeats the purpose of having an open source phone for some of us. A mechanism to sync to my home server (not desktop), would certainly be welcomed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, you're not tied to Google. Android is made so that each of its apps can be replaced by a user-made app (of course, as with the lock screen, that's still in the process of being completed). There's a few calendar applications in the market that can do the same thing that the Google Calendar can. Or you could code your own/hire someone to do so.

I don't get G3. And Wifi is only at home. I am in Edge or GPRS most of the time. I was in GPRS when I typed that message. Syncing works just fine.
I can understand not wanting to trust your data to Google. Apps can read and write to the address book and cal. All somebody needs to do is make an on-line sync app.
After years of living with having to sync my palm, the "cloud" syncing Google provides is the next slice bread. But I do backup my phone, just in case.
I still don't see why you want to browse the web on your phone, wired to your laptop. Just use the laptop then. Or create an ad-hoc connection with ICS and do that over wireless.(Not tried it, but I assume it will work.)

MartinFick said:
That's great, but I don't want to be beholden to a corporation, especially not to a single corp using closed protocols. If kinda defeats the purpose of having an open source phone for some of us. A mechanism to sync to my home server (not desktop), would certainly be welcomed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it starts working for the Android, you could use Funambol (http://www.funambol.com/) on your PC and get both a cloud sync (if you so choose) and a desktop sync. I used to use it to sync my SE P990.
The last time I checked, it wasn't working, but maybe it's fixed now.
http://code.google.com/p/funambol/

PorchG1 said:
I still don't see why you want to browse the web on your phone, wired to your laptop. Just use the laptop then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak for the original poster, but I often want to download stuff to my phone, apps, data, ... This is not surfing so to speak, but it still requires a connection. Sometimes wireless is not available for this.
os2baba said:
When it starts working for the Android, you could use Funambol (http://www.funambol.com/) on your PC and get both a cloud sync (if you so choose) and a desktop sync.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, thanks, I am familiar with that project. Unfortunately I refuse to run a 500MB RAM gorilla (I tried it, it really does use 500MB) on my home server (I run at least 10 virtual servers on my one PC) just to provide a sync framework for one phone. I will not sacrifice that much from the other real server applications that I use. Funambol is really not a good (sane) solution for individuals. I will be investigating the syncevolution framework soon.

Android and Syncing...

My wife and I are swtiching to Android devices (EVO me, Hero or Moment for her), I wanted to setup the sync as follows for the calendar. I am not to worried about the email as she can just do POP for now.
We both use Outlook on our computers setup like this:
She is just connecting to POP mail
Mine is my company mail (via the DAMO LotusNotes Connect)
Both view shared google calendar in outlook
I don't have a clue how to setup the sync, what I would like is:
I would have to sync my work calendar via wire (HTC Sync) or LN Traveler for OTA (they already added me to the server)
I could sync the Google shared calendar OTA
She could sync the Google calendar OTA
The part I want to make sure of is I was trying this with my windows mobile phone and I could wire sync my work calendar and see google calendar in outlook. But as soon as I added to sync to the Google Calendar OTA via ActiveSync, it pushed all my work appointments up to the google calendar. I wanted to keep the google calendar just the family stuff (you know running the kids around)...
Thanks for any and all help, It was pretty easy when it was just me, adding her to the mix will make things better in the long run, just have to figure out how to do it!

I've got a Hero which can sync with Google and with my office calendar/email which runs on MS Exchange. The phone successfully keeps them entirely separate. I can change one or the other, sync OTA, and the each calendar continues to contain only the appointments it's meant to. I realise you aren't going to be using MS Exchange, but if Sense (HTC's customised version of Android) knows how to keep Google and Exchange calendars separate, it should be able to do the same for anything else. Furthermore, it knew how to have a separate 'Outlook' calendar when I tried syncing via USB and ActiveSync. I didn't experiment much with that as I stopped using it as soon as I got OTA syncing to work with the Exchange server, but it considering that it recognised it as a separate calendar in its list, it should still do what you want.
Another option for you may be to completely swap away from Outlook and use Thunderbird. That knows how to sync to Google calendars and address book, but I don't know if your DAMO LotusNotes Connect system will work with it. Both these features are done with plugins, so it's possible that there's also a plugin for your work's system. Thunderbird also handles IMAP messaging better than Outlook; at least, better than Outlook 2003 did. I mention IMAP because your wife will have to stop using POP if she wants to be able to read her emails both on her computer and on her phone - POP isn't designed to have multiple computers accessing the same email account. It wants to download emails off the server and delete the remote copy; you can make it just download them, but I don't think it would then know to mark them as read or unread.

Thanks, sounds like I will have to do some playing.. We are using Outlook 2010 and it is the best update for some time. I have my kids and mother-in-law on Thunderbird, just not us.
You can setup Pop to leave messages for X days unless deleted, this is how I have been running for my one pop account, it works fine but yes you get some dups, not a big deal.
I have thought for some time about making my linux server my mail server as well, heck, I think I could link that to whatever accounts I desire then have it do the push mail, that would be an interesting setup...
Again, thanks, sounds like we have some playing but it should work fine.

tschwenke said:
Thanks, sounds like I will have to do some playing.. We are using Outlook 2010 and it is the best update for some time. I have my kids and mother-in-law on Thunderbird, just not us.
You can setup Pop to leave messages for X days unless deleted, this is how I have been running for my one pop account, it works fine but yes you get some dups, not a big deal.
I have thought for some time about making my linux server my mail server as well, heck, I think I could link that to whatever accounts I desire then have it do the push mail, that would be an interesting setup...
Again, thanks, sounds like we have some playing but it should work fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just pruchased a nexus one and getting it next week. I am wondering will it automatically sync my contacts and mail from outlook 2010 or do I need some sort of additional software on my win 7 PC to do this?
Thanks in advance...

Froyo missing HTC Sync

Is there any solution to get synced with outlook/windows calendar and contact?

The focus is on google applications, so if you search for ways to sync them with google calendar etc it will sync that way.

evilkorn said:
The focus is on google applications, so if you search for ways to sync them with google calendar etc it will sync that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I understand even if, IMHO, they can't loose integration with M$ systems...
However I used google calendar sometimes ago trying to keep synced blackberry, nokia and outlook... it made me a lot of confusion because it duplicates calendar appointments and gave me also other problems...
Now I can give it a try again.
But, what to do to sync contacts?

I found Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook.
I'll give it a try..
If you have any other suggestion you're welcome

Bisis said:
I found Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook.
I'll give it a try..
If you have any other suggestion you're welcome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried.. it requires Google Apps Premier version.. unusable due to 40€/year subscription needed!!
So I need to find another way again.

Bisis said:
Yes I understand even if, IMHO, they can't loose integration with M$ systems...
However I used google calendar sometimes ago trying to keep synced blackberry, nokia and outlook... it made me a lot of confusion because it duplicates calendar appointments and gave me also other problems...
Now I can give it a try again.
But, what to do to sync contacts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try this: http://www.android-sync.com/
It works a lot like htc sync. It does contacts and single calendar entries. they're still working on recurring calendar events.

I'm still looking for a fully working solution.
I tried android-sync but I can't get it working. App hangs during sync and I can't have feedback about sync status.
Actually I can't believe there is no official way to get my device synced with my PC... how anyone can use the phone without contacts and calendars????
Do you think this is why froyo is not an official release?

I use gsyncit http://www.daveswebsite.com/software/gsync/ to sync outlook contacts and calendars with gmail then phone obviously syncs with the gmail server. Gsyncit works very well and is very customisable. At $15 one off cost it's a bargain in my book. (prob the first software I've actually bought)

Diamond Geezer said:
I use gsyncit http://www.daveswebsite.com/software/gsync/ to sync outlook contacts and calendars with gmail then phone obviously syncs with the gmail server. Gsyncit works very well and is very customisable. At $15 one off cost it's a bargain in my book. (prob the first software I've actually bought)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Diamond...
do you need to manually press the sync button or something to sync any changes you made in your outlook?
for wm6.5...when u change something in outlook...it auto sync with the phone
i am a bit hesitant to move to android due to this
thanks
jack

Good (WiFi/3G) Outlook Sync APP, does it exist?

I don't use Outlook but my dad does. As his android tech advisor I am at a loss trying to find a good solution for syncing his Outlook to his phone.
It seems like there would be a good solution for this but everything I've found is either a half-baked email-and-contacts-only job and requires paying for Exchange service (paying for apps or Exchange service is not a problem if it works well, but the reviews are not favorable)
If a good reliable Outlook sync option does not currently exist what would be involved in making one?

I don't understand the need to sync with outlook when one can sync with Google automatically.

The htc sync software syncs with outlook. It comes with new phones on the sd card or can be downloaded from the htc site.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

[email protected] said:
I don't understand the need to sync with outlook when one can sync with Google automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand your point. It sounds like you're suggesting he stop using outlook and switch to google for email, contacts, calendar, notes, tasks, etc.
He uses Outlook (as many people do) and does not see google as a comparable alternative.
While it works fine as the account he uses to manage the phone he has no intention of migrating away from Outlook, at least not to Google, not for such business critical purposes.
johncjenc said:
The htc sync software syncs with outlook. It comes with new phones on the sd card or can be downloaded from the htc site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I edited the thread title..

nebenezer said:
I don't understand your point. It sounds like you're suggesting he stop using outlook and switch to google for email, contacts, calendar, notes, tasks, etc.
He uses Outlook (as many people do) and does not see google as a comparable alternative.
While it works fine as the account he uses to manage the phone he has no intention of migrating away from Outlook, at least not to Google, not for such business critical purposes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what he was trying to say is that you can use Google Sync to sync between Outlook & your android phone via Google's cloud. Something that I do as well. But it may not be as in depth as you're seeking.
Here is an article from PC World. http://www.pcworld.com/article/200654/sync_outlook_with_your_google_calendar.html
For a paid app that does it all, here's a review of an app in the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/15/AR2010071504701.html

Hey Nebenezer,
I realize this may be a bit late for you but maybe better late than never.
I'm in the same boat as you (advisor to my brother).
I found and tested Deja Office by Companionlink (Companionlink USB @ $39.99 - did not see need for pro @$99.99.)
After testing it a bit it looked like it fit the bill. I put my brother on it and he's used it thru the trial well enough and so bought it. I think it's about 3 weeks now. He's happy with it.
I didn't have the same need to stay with outlook but since I tested these are the main points I noted:
Requires using their own suite of apps on the phone
Does not use the stock phone's DBs
DOES sync contacts [optionally] with the phones contacts
NOT SURE if it syncs CALENDAR to phone's calendar (I suspect it does but I didn't test and my brother does not need/want it)
It's up to the user to make sure contacts/calendar dont get sucked into the google cloud (if you don't wan't that as in my brother's case) as a result of syncing with the phone's contacts/calendar
USB cable sync (not wifi as you asked for)
The using of their own apps (which are really a suite in one app so has it's own "launcher" screen) turns out to be less of a pain in the ass than I thought it would be (I found shortcuts to each individual 'app' so no need to deal w/ their 'launcher' screen). My brother does not find it bothersome at all.
The apps also hove a bit more of an Outlook-centric feel and fields mapping so he liked it (you can see the android apps, btw, for free from the Market - search Deja Office - you only pay for the PC Sync side)
I should note that my brother spends most of his time in Outlook on the the desktop rather than on the phone (my usage pattern is the inverse) so let your dad use it and decide if he likes it. As always, ymmv.
Hope that helps you and your dad. It's at least worth giving a look.
Btw, I forgot to mention, it does NOT deal w/ email. Only Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes. I liked that model because email can be easily handled using IMAP or Gmail (which my brother uses) and so no requirement for Exchange.
Conversely, it does not support Exchange iirc, so Exchange users my need a different solution.
hth someone,
J.

Sync Outlook without cloud - some possible solutions?

Hi guys,
I might get a WP7 device soon, only thing that still really bugs me is the missing active sync connection that I oved over the years! I know I could use google or hotmail to sync my Outlook with a WP7 device but I refuse to give in on that one. So instead of argueing why I should or should not want that I'm gonna try to find some solutions. I am not afraid of some not-so-easy way if at least we find one.
The following ideas came to my mind:
1) making use of the pim.vol file in my current winMo Phone.
somehow copying/converting it to the WP7 and than using it. afterwards copying it back to WinMo and sync it with my PC. a bit messy, but how about this? Further info could be found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1072796
2) Host a (free) exchange server.
We all cann't afford MS Exchange for sure. but there's a open source alternative or two: http://oxpedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page_CE#quickinstall
Even better would be to have it running on the same PC so a server of some kind is not required...
3) sending all contacts via mail to the phone and having a seperate emailadress where all outlook appointments are sent to seperatly as invitations. Not really syncing though...
4) Get someone to programm a solution...
Have I missed something? are there limitations I for some reaseons was no aware of?
Thnaks all!

Use the Outlook Connector with your Windows Live ID; when you add a contact in Outlook, copy & paste it into your Windows Live contacts (which appear right in your Outlook on your PC), and then when Outlook sends & receives, it uploads your changes in your contacts to your Windows Live account. As soon as your phone syncs your Windows Live account, the new contact will show up on your phone. I use this method and it literally takes less than a minute from when I add the contact in Outlook until it shows up on my HTC HD7s.
Dennis

dmw_4814 said:
Use the Outlook Connector with your Windows Live ID;
Dennis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read the first paragraph of the post?

thanks for your replies! Unfortunately I'm still looking for some kind of solution so if anyone has a hint of some kind... keep 'em commin'

hi,
you can install zarafa ww w dot zarafa dot com (new user -> you have to fix the link). There's a community edition and an outlook connector which replaces an exchange server and is free for up to three users. I installed it yesterday and my omnia7 could sync the calendar. However, I don't have outlook and could not check if that works. I didn't try to send/receive mails because I already use a separate IMAP account.
Zarafa runs on linux, so you'd have to create a virtual machine or install it on a home/root server.
The manual explains the installation very well and ubuntu provides packages in its canoncial-partners repository. But if you don't have any linux knowledge that might not be the easiest project to begin with.
HTH

You HAVE to assign a live id account to a Windows Phone; that is the only way to use the marketplace, to add social integration etc. That said, you can add the live account to outlook, install outlook connector and your info (calendar, contacts) will be in constant sync. Its a better solution to synchronize than active sync was.
Why are you trying to complicate the process?

@ShakaMan: Thanks! As far as I understood this is basically a exchangeserver (which I could instal on my own PC / Webspace /server), right?
@TechJunkiesCA Jeah, I know that it's easy. I simply don't trust MS or Google to keep my data. I have no problem with said live account But I do not want to give all my caenders and details of my contacts (friends and family) to a company of any kind. Thats the point.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=1608216

U already do whenever u send an email..
Sent from my LG Optimus 7

jpijper said:
Did you read the first paragraph of the post?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I DID read the first paragraph of the post. However, the words "without cloud" went right over my head without being noticed! Sorry for being so careless.
Dennis

hi,
derliebewolf said:
@ShakaMan: Thanks! As far as I understood this is basically a exchangeserver (which I could instal on my own PC / Webspace /server), right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly. probably there's a better solution which doesn't need a virtual machine or server and can be run on windows.
vash_h said:
U already do whenever u send an email..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, when you have (many) contacts with private data (name, home/company address, birthday, ...) you should care what you "publish" about other people. I don't care if others put their own data on the web, but they shouldn't do that with the data of their contacts.

ShakaMan said:
well, when you have (many) contacts with private data (name, home/company address, birthday, ...) you should care what you "publish" about other people. I don't care if others put their own data on the web, but they shouldn't do that with the data of their contacts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totaly agree with you! Glad to se someone having the same attitude Is this a german thing?
I might try a VM after my holidays. That does not sound like rocket science, right?