Database Users

Google Syncing

Hello all. I think Microsoft needs to be punished for its lack of vision. I think its time we stepped away from the idea of activesync and treated our PocketPCs as actual PCs, not as surrogate devices that require specialist synicng. I use google as a central point to store email, calendar and contacts. With that i can get at my contacts anywhere and on any machine i have which supports CSV import. Clearly, Microsoft never even considered any kind of syncing with the exception of their exchange server. No good to me when i use a mac and two linux boxes.
Im wondering, does anyone have any thoughts at to how we can manage all the personal information we have? At one level something that managed to Diff CSV files would be acceptable. Since Google can import and export these, that migh work reasonably well. Of course, we'd probably need some kind of scripting langauage on our PocketPCs. Has anyone seen anything like that?

I was wondering about the same thing. It might work, to make a simple program, that can read the contacts database, and save them as vCard and/or CSV. Then on your normal PC you can use a similar program, that can manage this data...

well, not to defeind microsoft, but couldn't google have made some kind of activesync plugin to do this?, i mean, i couldn't agree more that the platform should have been more open, but microsoft couldn't possibly cover every third party PIM system out there. surely, google could have (and probably still could) create some kind of extension that would allow these pocket PCs to sync with their PIM platform. if anything, it would help promote their product and i for one would be more inclined to switch over.

as an example, yahoo calendar allows syncing with Palm and Outlook. it looks like it's up to google to choose whether they want to support us.

If MS allowed PPC users to sync with other services they would loose a lot of money as no one would buy exchange or outlook [afaik each cd included with ppc's have outlook 2002 so the oem pay for it naturally]. So it doesn't make good business sense to open up syncing. Anyway I hope you find your solution.

Your favourite mail application!

After messing around with pocket outlook for a while, i thought: surely there must be some other nice mail applications out there.
I found a few, but being reluctant to install several ones, trying them out, and bining them after a while, i thought: hey, why not ask everyone else what their favourite mail application is besides pocket outlook.
The quality of pocket pc apps is rising rapidly (remembering a few rubbish ones i stumbled upon along the way) so there has to be some rather fine mail apps out there that perhaps even outdo pocket outlook (in all it's splendor...)
So, whats your favourite?
Subject edited:

Try WebIS FlexMail. It's a great product that even allows for mail aliases. It also supports HTML mail viewing with POP/IMAP accounts.
It has a very nice feature of an "integrated mailbox" (one repository for mail/SMS/MMS -- optional of course). Gives the device more of a Blackberry feel.
Unfortunately, Exchange ActiveSync mail is still plain old ugly text... (not FlexMail's fault).

profimail

[Me Begging] Windows Live Calendar Sync

Well now that there are all the various ways to sync Google Calendar with windows mobile devices, I'm convinced there must be a way to do the same with Windows Live Calendar (plus I think they both use the .ics format) Anybody who's familiar with this type of app, can you give us some direction?
Thanks!
MJB

You need to add one more option to the poll:
"No, but I would if it could sync OTA with my WinMo phone!"
B/c that is where I am at right now. Until it can OTA sync with my phone, I need to stick with Exchange for my calendar.
Ideally, WM6.1 would add support for multiple calendars and WL Calendar would add OTA sync. Syncing both a Work and Personal calendar OTA would be the hotness.

I feel you...I was implying that this solution would sync over the air. I seriously have never synced with my desktop. I use hotmail, so windows live (in its current state) can handle email and contacts over the air just fine. Now if only we could get the calendar functionality going! Thanks for the reply and hopefully this will continue to pique the interest of other readers.
MJB

I feel like I could also live with some desktop app that can sync my windows live calendar with an exchange account, then access it through direct push. I've read about a product called Calgoo http://www.calgoo.com that apparently can sync Google Calendar with an exchange server...does this sound like a possibility?
MJB

Bump? Anyone? Bueller?

This is a frustration of mine as well...one of the key components to the "Outlook" suite is calendaring, and that is the one component they have purposely left out so far. From what I have read about Microsoft's new Sync framework, I suspect that it has something to do with the launch of that new product and the impact it will have on the direction of Microsoft's mobile/disconnected computing offerings...
That said, it still doesn't address my needs today...the answer to mbial's question at the start is simply no...This has frustrated me to the point where I was going to write an application to handle this, however I ran into a wall when I discovered that the Windows Live API explicitly excludes a WL Calendar interface. So for now I am resorting to painful manual .ics exports and syncing with Outlook...no OTA yet...

MoonMan,
Despite the Windows Live API excluding a calendar interface, I don't believe all of the gCal syncing solutions explicitly rely on Google APIs. Take a look at solutions like these:
http://oggsync.com/index.php/windows-mobile-documentation/detailed-feature-chart/
or
http://www.goosync.com/
which permit full two-way syncing with no middle-man server. GCal and Windows Live Calendars aren't all that different in features or functionality, so I have to believe that this is a possibility. Keep the ideas flowing!
Best,
MJB

Here are 3 examples of open-source gCal sync solutions...anyone want to take a look at the code and see if we can repurpose these apps for Windows Live Calendar?
http://rareedge.com/gmobilesync/
http://www.ts0.com/pocketgcal/
http://iterat.ive.ly/index.php/projects/gcalendarsync
Thanks as always,
MJB

One more thing...
After scouring MSDN and dev.live.com I have learned that the Live Calendar APIs are not, in fact, available yet. This is surprising considering one of the developers stated that the API was coming soon way back in April of 07. Sucks.
MJB

Are there some new information? (Sync Windows Live Calendar would be a great feature.. if we cant sync, i dont know for what the calendar should be.)
greets blackx

Can I ask why you haven't tried using Outlook 07 for hotmail :S maybe that might solve your problems and let you sync the calendar. Don't flame me if I missed something or this is a stupid suggestion because I didn't totally comprehend the situation D:

Kraize92 said:
Can I ask why you haven't tried using Outlook 07 for hotmail :S maybe that might solve your problems and let you sync the calendar. Don't flame me if I missed something or this is a stupid suggestion because I didn't totally comprehend the situation D:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Outlook 2003, but i dont use it.
I like to be portable (i use the http webinterface..) so i can check emails all over the world.. my calendar would be available for my messenger contacts, and i dont have to install/use more software then i really need.
(sorry, but i dont like to use outlook, its a nice program but i think web-based application would be the future..)
greets mike

The goal here is to sync over the air, not using a desktop. There has been some progress made though, as Windows Live Wave 3 is being rolled out and it's possible the Calendar APIs are now available. Also, I've been in contact with Thomas Wetzel of SynchPST. He is going to try and make the next version of SynchPST compatible with Microsoft Office Outlook Connecter, which would allow those of us with exchange accounts to use desktop outlook/exchange to have proper push of our Windows Live services (although this would require you leave outlook running on a computer at all times, it would be a big step in the right direction.) Take a look at our conversation:
Original Email:
I recently stumbled upon your product SynchPST because I am looking for a way to synchronize my Windows Live Hotmail account with my hosted exchange account. Presently your tool is able to read and sync the data file for my exchange account, however, it is unable to read the data file for Office Outlook Connecter (which is how I retrieve my hotmail into my outlook.) Is there any possibility of adding this functionality to SynchPST so it can read/sync data stores generated by the Outlook Connector? This would be HUGE for many people and I would be happy to pay a premium over your standard and professional products for this feature. Thanks in advance and I hope to hear a response from you soon.
Response:
Thank you for your reply.
I downloaded Outlook Connector and could reproduce this behavior. I will try to implement the synchronization of a Windows Live account in the next releases.
Regards
Thomas Wetzel
Wisco
Synchronize your Outlooks
www.synchpst.com
Let's hope there's some progress on this front for those of us using Windows Live services!
MJB

google Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Sync.
or rather, check out www.liveside.net
MS is releasing a new Windows Mobile client that will utilize this client for over the air sync of contacts, mail, calendar, and more. just a heads up for everyone wondering

any progress?
its been nearly a year, is it not possible to ota sync with live calender?

It sucks. I want OTA syncing of my calendar. Its the only reason my phone even gets plugged into my computer anymore.

www.google.com/sync
http://sn1-p1.myphone.microsoft.com/mkweb/Start.po?mkt=en-US

Live Framework CTP
Well, I hadn't checked back into this in a while, but it turns out that the Live Framework Community Technology Preview (CTP) was released in mid-March and DOES have access to calendar functions. Has anyone taken a look at this?
http://dev.live.com/liveframework/
Best,
MJB

Why Google needs “Direct Push” for Google Apps

Direct Push with Google Apps?!?!?!
Hi everyone. I think I might have asked this question before but maybe something has developed in the last few months.
I am running my own IT consulting business and as I get more and more busy my calendar is becoming an ever more important tool. My dear wife went out and got me a good old-fashioned spiral bound day-timer but I have a sophisticated day-timer right here in my pocket in the form of my HTC Touch. As an IT consultant I think I should be using it rather then pulling out the pen and paper. Right now I am using the calendars in my Touch, Outlook, Google Apps and the calendar in the Exchange account I have with one of my customers. Too many calendars and all because I really want to use my Google Apps calendar and have it sync with my Touch.
I really want Google to develop “Direct Push” technology so that I can get my email, calendar and contacts all from my Google Apps account just like it was an Exchange Server. I am even considering switching my email back to an Exchange Server just so I can sync with my Touch. This way my wife could login and add stuff to my calendar and it will appear on my Touch. Right now I have my Email coming in from Google Apps via IMAP, my Calendar synching with Outlook (installed locally on my laptop without Exchange) and my Contacts syncing with my customer’s Exchange server. This is a pain and I want everything in one place that can be maintained/synced in real-time.
I will say this right now and keep in mind that as an IT consultant I like Microsoft’s products and install things like Windows 2003, SQL Server and Exchange on an almost daily basis. If Google develops “Direct Push” for Google Apps it will be an Exchange killer. The only, and I mean only reason I am thinking about switching my domain back to Exchange (I moved from Exchange to Google Apps about 1 year ago) is for the ability to sync everything (not just email) with my Touch.
On the other hand if Microsoft comes out with a version of Outlook/Exchange that dispenses with the whole “Inbox/Sent items/Delete” model and goes for the Google-style “conversation & archive” model along with the search capabilities I might fall back in love with Exchange.
The Fish

Oh and just in case anyone from Microsoft is listening, “threaded inbox” isn’t what I mean by “conversation style”. Come on Microsoft. Just admit that Google has actual built a better mousetrap and managed to improve on the age-old email model of “folders” and “sent items”. Go ahead and copy them… copy, copy copy! Oops sorry, I mean “embrace and extend, embrace and extend”

Something like that would be great!

matthew232 said:
Something like that would be great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And not to mention totally do-able. There is already an non-Exchange mail server out there called “KerioMail Server” that implements Microsoft’s Direct Push protocol. Check out this link http://www.kerio.com/kms_activesync.html
Microsoft’s Direct Push is entirely HTTP based. It shouldn’t be that difficult for Google to do.
The Fish.

I guess you have to wait for Google Android.

thefish123 said:
On the other hand if Microsoft comes out with a version of Outlook/Exchange that dispenses with the whole “Inbox/Sent items/Delete” model and goes for the Google-style “conversation & archive” model along with the search capabilities I might fall back in love with Exchange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The moment they do that (without giving an option) is when I would have to quit using Exchange. I **hate** Gmail's threading and forward those mails to another account that isn't threaded (and the fact that they don't let you turn it off).

I know it's not exactly what you're looking for, but have you checked out any of the 3rd party sync options? GMobileSync is a free little program that allows bidirectional syncing for your calendar (not push though). GooSync offers a free service level that also gives you calendar syncing. If you upgrade to their payed version (I think it is something like $30-40 for a whole year) you get not only calendar sync, but contacts, tasks etc. Might be worth a look.

jeffreycentex said:
The moment they do that (without giving an option) is when I would have to quit using Exchange. I **hate** Gmail's threading and forward those mails to another account that isn't threaded (and the fact that they don't let you turn it off).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft would never do it without making it an option. But I am surprised to hear you say that you head Gmail’s threading. Quite honestly you have got to be the FIRST person I have heard say that.
I have never (till now) talked to anyone who switched to Gmail who didn’t have anything but good to say about it. Most people I know who use Outlook or Outlook Express and who do ANY real volume of email spend at least an hour to two hours a day “organizing” their email. They have a whole list of sub-folders under their Inbox and then have almost the exact same set of sub-folders under their “Sent Items”. They spend time trying to decide how to file things or if they should file it in the first place or just delete it. Sometimes they delete and email and two of three days later the whole issue has ballooned into a big issue and they are filing the responses but no longer have their original email because they didn’t think it would become important.
Gmail lets me keep my Inbox clean while at the same time never worrying about filing or organizing or having trouble finding things back. I would probably hate Gmail if I was still trying to fit it into my narrow 20-year-old “I must use folders” paradigm of thinking (which I did when I first started using Gmail) but it was fun to give up on that and the new paradigm of “never file, never delete” is so superior.
I don’t really case WHERE my email is as long as I can find it back in a natural way. I think in years to come we are going to see the same thing happening on computers and to some extent we already are. The #1 reason most people hate Windows Vista is because of the way the new “Explorer” obscures the hierarchal folder model that everyone is used to from our Norton Commander days. It is really very Mac-like. Most Mac users couldn’t tell you where their pictures were in terms of a “directory” or a “folder” but they have less trouble finding them, or copying them to a USB drive, or attaching them to an email then most Windows users.
If we ever do see WinFS (Windows Future Storage) it is supposed to be a Microsoft SQL layer bolted on top of the file system and gives you database-style searchability with all kinds of meta data attached.
The thinking behind the Reiser file system is that any structure on top of the file system for storing data indicates that the file system isn’t doing it’s job. And I can kinda see the point.
The Fish

I agree, Gmail should definately come out with direct push technology
I currently use gmail with pocket outlook with imap.
It's annoying having it set to check my email in intervals.
I didn't even know what direct push was until today, until i saw a friend using his phone w/ his private exchange server...my first reaction was wow...i want that!!
I'm hoping android will implement features like direct push, among others.

surgex0 said:
I didn't even know what direct push was until today, until i saw a friend using his phone w/ his private exchange server...my first reaction was wow...i want that!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It’s not even so much that I want “push” email (although that would be cool). The biggest issue is that there is no way to sync my Calendar and my Contacts with Gmail. This means I either A) have to use the Calendar/Contacts on my Touch in their “stand alone” form without syncing to anything or B) have to sync them with something else.
I really like being able to use my web-based Gmail calendar (Google Apps) but I wish like crazy there was some way to get this on my Touch.
The Fish.
PS: when you sign-up for Google Apps it asks you what (if any) previous mail system you used. As an example it says in brackets “Microsoft Exchange”. This makes me think that Google Apps is positioning themselves to take the SMB email market away from Exchange. I think if they really want to do this they will make Google Apps look just like an Exchange Server to the millions of WM devices out there. Currently I am seriously considering moving my email back to Exchange when I get my own server online (in a few weeks).

Google's apps for WM are all in java aren't they?
I know the gmail one is, and it sucks big c---.
I'd rather use opera and gmail html mobile than use their ****e java client.

surgex0 said:
Google's apps for WM are all in java aren't they?
I know the gmail one is, and it sucks big c---.
I'd rather use opera and gmail html mobile than use their ****e java client.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Googlemaps apparently has a native app now (altho I would rather use Livesearch), so no, they aren't all JAVA. I take it you visit the HTML site instead of using IMAP so that you can see the threading and other g-mail features?

If you want gmail to push, use SEVEN at
community.seven.com
john

Sync & Push
I use www.mobipush.com to push my gmail and it works instantaneously. Fantastic. This is free, perhaps only while they are in beta.
I also use www.oggsync.com for syncing my calendar. There is a free version, but I bought the software and daily sync about 11 calendars 2 months backwards and 2 years forwards. Hardly ever any issues. They are working on contact sync - have a public beta out now.

surgex0 said:
Google's apps for WM are all in java aren't they?
I know the gmail one is, and it sucks big c---.
I'd rather use opera and gmail html mobile than use their ****e java client.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don’t know if it’s really the Gmail client that sucks so much as that it just doesn’t run properly on the version of Java that comes on my Touch (the Bell Mobility Touch in Canada). I was pretty happy to have the Java Gmail client on my Razr back before I got my Touch.
That being said I keep hoping they will come out with a native Windows Mobile version like they did with Google Maps. But then again it seems kinda silly to come out with an email client for a device that already has a built-in integrated email client. The better solution would be to make the pre-exiting email, calendar and contacts features work properly (as in within their native capacity – meaning DirectPush) with their Gmail counterparts.
The Fish

[REQ] Sychronisation Options

I know there are a load of threads out there regarding syncing OTA but I thought I'd canvass some opinions from people to see if my current method can be imporved upon.
A little background:
I use a desktop PC running Windows 7 (build 7100) primarily but also have laptop for taking to Law School with me (also running Windows 7 build 7100).
I (obviously) also use an unbranded Touch HD.
I'm a devoted user of Outlook and it manages all my contacts, calendar appointments and tasks and neatly ties into my Onenote workbooks which I use for Law School.
The Problem
It's surprisingly difficult to keep all of the above in sync! Originally both machines were running Vista and I used my (very old) Hermes to keep the two sets of PIM in sync. This however produced quite a few confilcts over time and things like birthdays would appear repeated over and over again in my calendar.
I'm now using Google Sync to keep my calendar in sync which works well but doesn't sync the categories that entries are set with nor does it allow for attachments to sync with appointments.
For tasks and contacts synchronising I'm still plugging my phone in between the two computers but wondered if there was a more elegant solution.
I'd love to set up an exchange account but most of them are geared for corporate use only and (for example) the Microsoft Hosted Exchange requires a minimum of 5 users before you can sign up.
I'm managing with push email provided by Seven on my phone but would love to be able to have tasks and contacts pushed as well.
So, wise crowd of XDA Devs, would do people suggest? Any other options open to me? I've looked into Mail2Web but can't seem to get it to work properly, likewise Zimbra desktop but I really want to keep using Outlook (there's 5 years worth of information stashed away in my .pst file!).
Suggestions? Please?

As an attorney I know the importance of what your needing to do. Are you using gysyncit? http://www.daveswebsite.com/software/gsync/. I believe it gives you ota wireless sync for your calendar...not sure about tasks though.

Thanks for the links but it seems as though gSyncit does exactly what the offical Google version does but charges you $9.99 for the privilege?
Google licensed Activsync from Microsoft towards the start of the year rendering (IMO) all the 3rd party options a little redundant for syncing Google Calendar and Outlook.
For anyone reading this, you can find out more details over at the offical Google page.

Have you considered mail2web?
The provide an exchange server for a small monthly fee and offer outlook web access.
http://www.mail2web.com/