Related
Hi,
Just as the title says, I am a very long time (since 2002) WM user. My current phone is also a WM device. I will keep it for another year, and I want to be prepared once my phone is due for an upgrade.
I use the phone both for personal stuff and for work - mainly scheduling, working with project related info, task lists, excel spreadsheets etc. Ability to share PIM data and files across multiple computers at work and at home is essential, as well as syncing to online calendar (I use Google).
Most of my work and some personal info was in ListPro database files and Excel spreadsheets. However, ListPro doesn't really work well when one has to joggle info between different computers all running different OS, plus AFAIK there's no Androind app yet. Anyway, to make life simple, and to be able to bring my data with me on a USB stick to any computer, I recently migrated most of it out of ListPro files into DOC files (can be easily converted to RTF) and Excel spreadsheets. So far, I had no problems using it on any Windows or Linux system. I also sync much of this data to my phone where I can quickly access it via Pocket Office. I prefer to use formatted text as it makes it easy to work with information, and applying formatting in Pocket Word is fast.
Finally the next big thing is information backup, especially PIM data. Don't know if this problem is specific to ActiveSync on WM, but every now and then the calendar gets completely out of whack and needs to be restored from backup which I run daily on the phone.
Anyway, sorry for the long winged intro. Here are some questions:
How easy is it to sync files on an Android phone to a computer via a direct connection (USB / BT / WiFi, i.e. not via cloud) ?
I was looking online for a good free Android editor capable of working with either RTF or Word Doc files, and couldn't find any - all I found was some paid soft. It has to be one of these formats so that I could send files to other people. Can you recommend an app ?
Can you work with PIM data on Android phone offline ? (I assume yes). Does it have to be connected to the internet at all time ? (I assume not)
Is there a free Excel compatible application other than Google Docs ? I.e. an app that can work with native Excel files and would output a file that Excel users can open on the computer.
How does backup work on Android - is there a way to automatically backup Google Calendar, Contacts, ToDos ? (I know I can download ICS files manually).
Any other things I may have overlooked ?
Thanks !
1. It is quite easy to sync files between an android phone and pc. It depends on your phone brand.e.g. - If you have an HTC Android phone, you could simply download and install HTC Sync on your pc and easily sync anything.
2. For document editing and excel format dealings, you could download and install quickoffice pro to easily deal with word, excel, powerpoint, and pdf documents.
3. Accounts and syncs (online) can easily be set to run in the background and you can download backup applications.
Good luck.
Your PIM data is backed up to Google contacts and calendar automatically. Any change made on your phone or PC syncs to the other next time you connect. As far as backups go, you can use things like Titanium Backup to back up individual/all system apps, installed apps, and their data to either the local SD card, online to DropBox, or both. And, if you root, you can take backup snapshots of your entire system and restore your entire OS and all the configuration of installed apps and widgets in just a couple of minutes. I do the full app backup nightly and the full OS backup about once a week.
Syncing is easy as your computer mounts the SD card as a drive letter on your device. There are lots of sync options out there that can be used to automatically sync files or entire folders to removable drives when they are connected. You can use them to sync documents to and from as well as things like syncing your phone backups to the computer. Both HTC and Motorola have sync software as well that acts somewhat like iTunes or Windows Media Player in syncing things like music libraries to your device. Personally, I prefer the old file explorer method.
As far as your RTF and Excel files go, there are a couple of different apps out there that work with Google Docs. If you don't want to sync with Google Docs at all or use their editors, your best bet is one of the office suite packages. I know of three or four of them that are available. Some offer free readers, but you need to purchase the pro version to edit. There is an Excel editor that I saw that was only $2 though, so there ARE cheap options out there if you don't want to go the free Google Docs route. Personally, I just sync my docs folder on my laptop with Google Docs and do any small edits I need on the Android using Google Docs. If I want to do a lot of heavy editing, I use the big screen of the laptop anyway.
If you have any other questions, I'll be following this thread and will respond with whatever I know. I know the stress of deciding to move to another platform. I've been on Palm, Blackberry, WM, iOS, and now Android. And, I have to tell you, I like the Android best of all and can't think of a single thing that I used to do on those other devices that I cannot do on this one.
Thanks, guys !
The reason I don't like using Google Docs is twofold. First, and foremost, the access to GD service via our corporate internet is blocked. I work for a major corporation, and as far as I know, at least two of our biggest competiors block GD as well. (We at least can access gmail and calendar). They see it as a potential security issue. Actually for me it's a security issue as well - if anyone ever got hold of my Google password, I definitely don't want them browsing through some of my personal spreadsheets, or any of my work-related stuff. It may be ok for them to see the list of invites to my kids' party, but definitely not my 401K rebalancing sheet . I do use Docs as dropbox, but I upload excel files saved inside AES encrypted zip archive.
Second, I need Doc and Excel since many of my work docs get shared with other people, and I like to be able to email them right away in a useful format.
Thanks ! I will keep reading up on the subject. My wife does have an Android phone but I don't have time to play with it at home.
Added: another thing that bugs me about Android, is that whomever steals your phone has full access to all of your Google services. The way it works on WM, they would only be able to see a few days' worth of emails (I do not save passwords to sensitive sites in browser cookies). The way Android phone is fully integrated into online Google, however, makes it a perfect key to all your Google data. I password protected her phone but I don't put too much trust into a 4-digit PIN.
Upgraded to HC 3.2.1. No complaints. Like the new Supernote app. Just wondering why it and all the other note apps in the market have an upload option to dropbox, google docs, sugarsync, etc, but when you try to upload it says that feature is not working yet (or something similar). I've tried all of the tablet note apps and they all give you the same message, uploading ability, but won't work yet. Supernotes is the same way. What's up with this? Must be something in Android that isn't yet available. All the developers have put the feature in their app, but waiting on the technology to catch up to implement. Frustrating cause I love the Supernote app, but really need to upload to take advantage of cloud storage. My workaround is to use QuickOffice HD which handles uploads to Dropbox, Sugarsync, and Google Docs. Works great, but is more for documents and not notes.
That's strange.
I've never had a problem with any of the note taking apps saving to dropbox.
I just did a supernote test and a paint note and a regular note uploaded to drop box just fine.
might be a dumb quest but do you have qdocs app on your tab? Others have had this prob but also did not know you needed to have the app on the tab for the upload to work.
Are you referring to Google docs?
I don't know what qdocs is....I don't have that loaded on the TF.
No problems sending Supernotes to Dropbox here. Sends it as a JPG. Sends to Google Docs just fine too.
Would be nice to have background web sync of supernotes, but the Android based Sharing is great for the moment.
This app is a real product differentiator... I hope Asus have some more planned.
rpavich said:
Are you referring to Google docs?
I don't know what qdocs is....I don't have that loaded on the TF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what he means is, do you have the apps for evernote, dropbox etc installed on the tablet, as the share to function wont work unless you have the apps for the options installed.
Regarding Supernotes: I tested again. What I find is you can upload a .jpg file but not a text file. It says that the text upload feature is not available yet. Such as, save the note as a .docx file and try to upload. It will not work. So, if you got text document files to upload, then what am I doing wrong??
I need text file upload for work stuff. .jpg does me no good in sharing work file notes between computers. I use the TF to take notes in many work related meetings. The text format is most needed for mobility.
Yes, I have Dropbox, Sugarsync, Google Docs, etc. loaded on my TF. I have yet to find any note app that will upload a text based note to any of these formats. Am I missing something? Also, what is "qdocs"? I can't find that app on the market.
Thanks.
sorry for the confusion...yes i meant Google docs
I can upload as text file tho on mine....Google docs.
EDIT..my bad that was a doc I only used keyboard on in supernote and it was evernote which it uploaded as a txt to.
Thanks for clarifying.
I only use drop box... no google docs.
So I finally got printing all worked out on my captivate. I have a wireless printer and really want to leave the laptop on the desk and use my phone for everything. The one major problem has been printing. Finally, here's an answer...
To Print from your Captivate, it will cost you about $4.50 (or limit yourself to 3 docs a month.)
General Printing - test this first
Get PrintBot from the market (free version to test out - supposed to cover 2700 wireless printers)
Open it and setup your printer. My settings are...
Network Connection : Protocol - Auto Printer - choose your own
Printer : Re-select your printer
And print a test page. If this works, you are in business
Printing an Excel or Word Document:
Printbot is great for pictures and pdfs, but it doesn't print office docs, so those that your coworker emailed you just sit there So here's the great workaround.
First make sure you install these two programs:
From the market, find and install google documents, open it and sign in. Make sure you can use this on your cappy.
From the market, find "My Docs - Google Docs" (by RCS, LLC), install it and sign in.
Now you are about ready! Don't give up hope to soon!
You must upload your file to Google Docs, but for some odd reason it doesn't allow you to upload xls into it (unless I'm and idiot and can't find the upload button). But "My Docs" allows this. So open up My docs, click upload, and choose your file. It will be uploaded to your google docs account. You can close mydocs, it has served it's purpose.
Open your google documents (called "Docs" in the app drawer), find the file you uploaded (don't need to open it), from the arrow on the right side - open the pull down menu and click "SEND", choose "PrintBot" from the menu and your doc should start to print. Whew! Lots of steps, but it's done and printed. Caution! Watchout for multipage excel files, it will print each and every worksheet.
And Finally Printing Email from Gmail:
For some crazy reason, none of these programs interface easily. So you are in your gmail app and want to print off your free redbox rental code or some password you keep forgetting. Leave the email alone and open up your browser (yep, back to the www).
Go to the online version of mobile gmail. Sign in and open the email you want to print (I set up a shortcut on my homescreen). On the right side of the email, open the pulldown menu (double down arrows) and click "Print". This will open up google cloud print. You should have an option to "save to google docs" where it converts your email to a pdf and stores it in google docs. Then click "PRINT", it will create a pdf document of your email. you can close the www, or just surf around for a while...
Now back to google documents on you phone, find the pdf, click the menu on the right, click send and send it to Printbot. It will print your pdf.
And that's the whole 99 steps to printing documents with your captivate. OO) Actually it works pretty quick as long as you use your home wifi. I tested it with excel, word, and gmail files.
Good luck - Will
Or, check out Cypria Free from the market.
thanks
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
mrhaley30705 said:
Or, check out Cypria Free from the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would work for photos, but I wanted emails, excel, word too. Plus Cypria is epson printers. But I'm sure it works great for most uses.
Sorry about the epson part. Wasn't thinking about everyone else.
Try Printer Share from the market. Works for more printers and prints almost everything.
mrhaley30705 said:
Try Printer Share from the market. Works for more printers and prints almost everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That looks like it would work better, and has the with the ability to choose which pages to print. A bit more expensive, but probably worth it of you printed a fair number of pages.
It was free in Amazon app market a while back. Maybe the will do it again.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I have been testing the sync feature to google docs/drive of all my notes. What I noticed is after I sync the first time I try adding another word to note and sync again, it deletes what I just wrote. Please advise if you guys are experiencing this issue or advise if Im doing it wrong.
Here is what I do:
1. Create note and write something
2. Save note
3. Go back to S-Note screen where all notes are and select Sync
4. Choose the new note and click sync
So far so good. I see it in Google drive.
5. Open note back up and write a word or something
6. Repeated steps 3-4
This time, my new change has been deleted and now shows what I initially committed. ??
Hey guys, quick update. Guess Sync only works one way on S-Note which is why I had issue.
I ended up creating a dropbox account and download app called dropsync. Dropsync allows me to do 2 way sync and does so automatically. Now when I add notes, create new ones, or delete one, dropsync will ensure to sync with drop box.
Pretty legit I must say.
I use an app called Folder SYnc and it will do two way sync. Use with several Cloud accounts. There is a free version and it is a great app.
What file format are you saving them in? Just curius if you are using thr .snb format and if you are able to view those files on a pc.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app
AndroidAble said:
What file format are you saving them in? Just curius if you are using thr .snb format and if you are able to view those files on a pc.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same question here, I am asking me if it is possible to edit .snb file on Google Doc or with a Windows app. Otherwise, the sync is only a backup solution, but no more...
Im syncing them as .snb so you can just consider it a backup. At the moment, I dont think there is a PC application that will allow you to modify the files. Im hoping Samsung will make their kies software have access to open .snb files from PC.
cheznutts said:
Im syncing them as .snb so you can just consider it a backup. At the moment, I dont think there is a PC application that will allow you to modify the files. Im hoping Samsung will make their kies software have access to open .snb files from PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sync SNote using GDrive between Note N7000 and Note 10.1 without any issues.
mdalacu said:
I sync SNote using GDrive between Note N7000 and Note 10.1 without any issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the same and it works
However I noticed one issue,
If I edit a note that has been createdin the other device the whole thing goes wrong
the page and everything is still there but I loose the part of the note created in the original device.
so it looks like viewing is fine but you can not edit the same note across different devices
Sent from my GT-N8010 using XDA Premium HD app
cheznutts said:
Hey guys, quick update. Guess Sync only works one way on S-Note which is why I had issue.
I ended up creating a dropbox account and download app called dropsync. Dropsync allows me to do 2 way sync and does so automatically. Now when I add notes, create new ones, or delete one, dropsync will ensure to sync with drop box.
Pretty legit I must say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the BEST solution. Works very well. The syncing which comes with S-Notes should be avoided at all costs. Evernote and Google Docs are very incomplete and difficult to use. Dropbox rules.
A similar solution for your PC.
The only problem in using Dropbox with your PC is that the files you want synced must be in your Dropbox folder.
Well, actually no. You can create "symbolic links" from any folder on your PC to your Dropbox Folder so that Dropbox will sync them. This can be VERY convenient if you have large document or database files you wish to keep synced but don't wish the originals to live in your Dropbox Folder.
This is VERY easy to achieve with something called "Link Shell Extension" found here:
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html#contact
Just follow the directions. It talks about doing "hard links" but I have found doing "symbolic links" works just fine. Once installed, you simply right click the folder you wish to link to drop box and select it as your link folder. Then you right click your Dropbox Folder and select that as the destination. Then if you open your Dropbox Folder it will appear that the folder you have just linked is there, but it's not, it is in its original location but now Dropbox will sync it.
Cool, right?
P.S., make sure you get your free 50 GB of space from Dropbox first
mitchellvii said:
This is the BEST solution. Works very well. The syncing which comes with S-Notes should be avoided at all costs. Evernote and Google Docs are very incomplete and difficult to use. Dropbox rules.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not be so critical, for a simple backup, it is far easier to use the sync included in S-Notes than the Dropbox solution...
IF we could use the .snb with a software on a PC, perhaps it could be interesting to use Dropbox, but really, without any possibility to edit, don't complicate your life, use simply the backup solution included in S-Notes :angel:
Azurstorm said:
Do not be so critical, for a simple backup, it is far easier to use the sync included in S-Notes than the Dropbox solution...
IF we could use the .snb with a software on a PC, perhaps it could be interesting to use Dropbox, but really, without any possibility to edit, don't complicate your life, use simply the backup solution included in S-Notes :angel:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With all due respect you are wrong.
The built in syncing does not properly account for upstream and downstream updating.
For instance, if you use the built in sync feature you can literally never delete any notes locally as the sync action will simply restore the ones you have deleted. Try deleting a note that has been previosly synced using the stock feature then run a sync again. I reappears.
Drop Sync works properly. If you have deleted a file locally it will not replace that file when you do your sync and the deleted file will be removed from your Dropbox account as well.
As such your Dropbox becomes a mirror image of your device. This is how syncing as opposed to just backing up is supposed to work. You can also control this behavior even further in options if you like. In addition you can command Drop Sync to sync automatically in the background at regular intervals.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2
No Solution: Syncing / Editing and then Syncing S-Note to Google Drive?
Well, I described my issue here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2203479
Background: My company is a Google Apps for Business enterprise user and I need handrwritten to text notes for a lot of meetings. The ideal solution is using Google Keep, or S-Notes with S-Pen and then sync to Google Drive.
Situation: 1) When I use Google Keep everything works fine until I open the document in the Drive and it is a Polaris, or Kings Office file format, not Google Docs - and not editable; 2) When I use S-Note, everything works until I open, edit and try to re-save the file within Google Drive. I get an error message: "failed to save document" and then I get "Saved /data/data/com.google.android.apps.docs/cache2/......"
The Solution: I can write directly into a Googls Doc using the S-Pen but prefer using Google Keep, or S-Notes.
From reading this thread it appears no one is successfully using Google Keep with S-Pen, or S-Note to save / sync documents to Google Drive; edit those documents; and then re-save, or re-sync to Google Drive?
Thank you!
It does appear that NoteSync is the best approach to have notes SYNC with Google Drive
Sent from my SCH-I925 using Tapatalk 2
Out of all the services I like SugarSync the best. I can sync my S-Note folder and it will automatically sync new notes and keep them up to date if I make revisons so it is a set and forget back up solution. If you want to try it use the referral link below and we can both get an extra 500mb.
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?...=web&utm_campaign=referral&shareEvent=5167215
Sent from my GT-N8013
Sugar Sync vs. Dropbox/DropSync solution
PurpleSh4rk said:
Out of all the services I like SugarSync the best. I can sync my S-Note folder and it will automatically sync new notes and keep them up to date if I make revisons so it is a set and forget back up solution. If you want to try it use the referral link below and we can both get an extra 500mb.
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?...=web&utm_campaign=referral&shareEvent=5167215
Sent from my GT-N8013
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to try this vs. the Dropbox/DropSync solution ... Thanks!
cheznutts said:
Hey guys, quick update. Guess Sync only works one way on S-Note which is why I had issue.
I ended up creating a dropbox account and download app called dropsync. Dropsync allows me to do 2 way sync and does so automatically. Now when I add notes, create new ones, or delete one, dropsync will ensure to sync with drop box.
Pretty legit I must say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the "local folder" for snote?
to sync s-note
I have tried and tried many apps and methods to sync s-note across devices. ONLY THING i have found to work.
I use a app called DS Cloud for my Synology server.
I Created a folder on the server called snote
I created a folder in my snote directory on my note 10.1 and note 2 phone.
Reason for this is IS if you sync from the default location you will sync templets There are different template Version of S- NOTE ON Each device.
So once i did the above i Told ds cloud on the desk station to share that folder .
on each device i have to sync the folder i called my notes inside the s- note folder. That way is does NOT Sync the templets and app information.
To get them to google drive. From my Disk station i sync the snote foilder with my google drive account.. This is just for a Just incase my home internet is down.
The issue your having with notes being over written between devices i think is because different s note versions..
Hope this help anyone. its only way i can get it to work properly for me.
OHH I LOVE Synology disk station.
Does anyone know an app that I can use to take notes on my Nexus 7, have them save to my Google Drive so that I can open them on my Mac, and my Nexus?
It woud be a bonus if I can open/edit them on my iPhone as well, but thats not a requirement.
I looked into Evernote, but for offline use they charge $45/yr.
No one has any ideas?
Is there a reason the Google Drive app won't work for you? You can create docs with that directly in Google Drive. If you're after an offline solution then you need to explain what you want more as there's obviously no offline sync solution.
Archer said:
Is there a reason the Google Drive app won't work for you? You can create docs with that directly in Google Drive. If you're after an offline solution then you need to explain what you want more as there's obviously no offline sync solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes an offline solution is what I would be hoping for. If there was an App that i could launch, type up what I need and then when I save wrote to a local folder saved on my google drive then when I am back in WiFi range that file would hit the cloud and then sync to my Home desktop. That way I dont have to worry about online or offline.
Flick Note?
Okay, scratch that... Flick Note is Simplenote syncing.
Hit the "make available offline" button in Drive ?
Use an offline text-editor, save it, should sync ?
I've never tried it, I'd have to give it a shot.
Pennycake said:
Hit the "make available offline" button in Drive ?
Use an offline text-editor, save it, should sync ?
I've never tried it, I'd have to give it a shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While this will work, its does not allow for "Creating New Documents"..
Plus, not sure if just any text-editor will be able to read the Google Doc formats.
A basic document created from within Google Drive/Docs has the file format of .gdoc
Enabling "Offline" access, might convert the file to a standard .doc format, but I don't know for sure.