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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.
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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
Has anybody found a way to sync either Skydrive or Dropbox documents on RT?
I know there's both Skydrive and Dropbox app for RT but they're glorified viewers at best. There is no true syncing.
And that is putting a big damper in my work flow.
Are there any other options out there? Even a different service that can sync a few documents?
Hi,
I think sugarsync lets you sync files in any platform (they say they do, but I am not a user, can't say for sure).
If you confirm that, please let us know.
Good luck.
Sugar syncs when you start the app. It checks for any changes, that way it doesn't run all the time.
This isn't the same as Syncing, but it makes everything available to you (when connected to the internet) without taking up any space (unless you copy something locally):
http://rashedtalukder.com/how-to-map-skydrive-folder-on-windows-rt-desktop-mode/
Thanks,
Talderon said:
This isn't the same as Syncing, but it makes everything available to you (when connected to the internet) without taking up any space (unless you copy something locally):
http://rashedtalukder.com/how-to-map-skydrive-folder-on-windows-rt-desktop-mode/
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, this is not much different from Skydrive app - except that it works on the Desktop app.
As for SugarSync, I don't see Windows RT app on their website. Have yet to check the Store and see if it's available.
Montastic said:
Yeah, this is not much different from Skydrive app - except that it works on the Desktop app.
As for SugarSync, I don't see Windows RT app on their website. Have yet to check the Store and see if it's available.
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Click to collapse
Yes, it is available in the Store, that's why I sugested it.
Good luck.
Talderon said:
This isn't the same as Syncing, but it makes everything available to you (when connected to the internet) without taking up any space (unless you copy something locally):
http://rashedtalukder.com/how-to-map-skydrive-folder-on-windows-rt-desktop-mode/
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, SugarSync does make a local copy. Its syncs when you start the app as opposed to continuously.
I don't think that we will see a continuous monitoring and sync that will run on a non jail broken device. RT is limited to "metro" apps to save battery life. Basically non-foreground apps are suspended with few exceptions and those exceptions are limited. (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/04/17/reclaiming-memory-from-metro-style-apps.aspx)
Allowing realtime sync would force the system to wake up and check, eating battery life, even if the notification of the change used some sort of "push" method.
That being said, I am shocked that MS didn't work on a solution to that for SkyDrive. It would have given them a definite selling point. Of course, Dropbox and all of them would go nuts.
I use Filebrick app - hands down the best available file explorer - I actually paid for it its so good. It syncs all your cloud files, Google drive, skydrive, dropbox, box, even facebook images/videos, picassa, twitter, etc.
UBNAS81 said:
I use Filebrick app - hands down the best available file explorer - I actually paid for it its so good. It syncs all your cloud files, Google drive, skydrive, dropbox, box, even facebook images/videos, picassa, twitter, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say it syncs, do you mean it provides a local copy of the items? I'm guessing that's what you mean but just wanted to be sure.
Romp said:
Actually, SugarSync does make a local copy. Its syncs when you start the app as opposed to continuously.
I don't think that we will see a continuous monitoring and sync that will run on a non jail broken device. RT is limited to "metro" apps to save battery life. Basically non-foreground apps are suspended with few exceptions and those exceptions are limited. (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/04/17/reclaiming-memory-from-metro-style-apps.aspx)
Allowing realtime sync would force the system to wake up and check, eating battery life, even if the notification of the change used some sort of "push" method.
That being said, I am shocked that MS didn't work on a solution to that for SkyDrive. It would have given them a definite selling point. Of course, Dropbox and all of them would go nuts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think there is a need for the app to run in background. I wouldn't mind having SkyDrive sync all my files when open the app. At any given time (especially with selective folder sync like in Desktop app), there wouldn't be a whole lot of files that needs to be synced each time you open the app.
Ideally would probably be something that can sync on a schedule (as an option), but that automatically syncs when plugged in. WP7 had this feature (one of the Multitasking APIs introduced in Mango) and it would make a slot of sense for WinRT to have as well... I haven't checked, though. In general, synching on startup would be sufficient (and should definitely be present), but sometimes that's awkward or annoying (synching lots of files and expecting them to be present without further interaction, or synching a large amount of data that will take too long to leave the app open for, or...)
Just an update:
There's an app called SkyDrive RT Sync in the store that claims to sync SkyDrive with a local folder. I'm going to give it a try and see if works as advertised.
Here's the developer page:
http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/...ydrive-sync-for-windows-8-and-windows-rt.aspx
I use this method http://social.technet.microsoft.com...backup-of-windows-rt-local-storage-en-us.aspx
I would take a minute to read up on what the commands do , so you know what you're getting. If you're on the same network as a desktop/laptop w/ a dropbox folder, you can sync over the network.
Also worth reading: http://bgtechrants.blogspot.com/2012/11/windows-rt-and-offline-files.html?m=1
And http://www.vistaheads.com/forums/mi...a-general/123700-robocopy-net-drive-path.html
If you have a password on your laptop/desktop
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
I'm setting up my nexus 7's (2013 on marshmallow) for client use, essentially so instead of handing them a stack of papers relating to the homes I'm showing them, I could hand them a tablet with the PDF of information on it. Allow them to take notes on it, take pictures etc and email them all to themselves right from the tablet.
Problem is, I use the tablet for myself as well, mainly as just a reader, but business use now and then too and so my Google account is on it as well, but as a separate user. The restricted profile user I setup for clients however has FULL access to MY Google drive from their restricted profile...it needs access to IT'S Google drive account to access the pdf's, but somehow its able to see my stuff instead.
Not sure why this is happening or how to fix it?
Any info would be great.
How do you backup the photos/videos from the phone? Is there any easy and decent (not locked in to one service, etc.) way?
Until 2019 Google Photos was syncing with Google Drive. But now they removed it, and storing just in Google Photos doesn't sound great, no easy way to sync with PC, etc.
For now I am thinking to sync between the phone and PC via 100-200 GB Google Drive, and when it fills up move some photos/videos to other HDDs, etc. (I also backup to Backblaze B2 from my PC)
Is it possible to automatically sync the photos/videos taken by the phone (Huawei P30) using the standard Google Drive app? Or do I need something like FolderSync?
I had been searching for several days to find a user-friendly application which I could use to simply back up and save readable versions of the file in my phone(Huawei Mate30). There are various tools available, many of them free and others which bear a small price tag,which will perform basic back-up and restore. I tried a few which did indeed create backup files. Some of them were useful for sending the backup files to a Google account, a Dropbox account or even directly to my computer via a USB connection. But it was often difficult if not impossible to translate the file into something readable. Then I found an application developed by the Mobikin company called “Backup Manager for Android”. I installed it on my trusty Windows, connected my phone via USB and it worked as I expected. This is the most satisfying one I have ever used and is worth trying.