Database Users

Anybody moved from Blackberry with BES?

Hi,
just wondering if anybody has moved from a Blackberry in a BES environment to
the Android platform with google apps?
How are you finding it??
Thanks
Miek

Hi,
I was formerly using a Blackberry with BES, and switched to the G1 back in October, with my email hosted by Google Apps for Domains.
In general, I'm pretty happy with the G1 as a Blackberry replacement, with a few caveats:
1. The actual emailing experience (i.e. sending and reading email) was definitely slicker with the Blackberry. That being said, I now think a little bit more about the emails I want to respond to on the G1 because it is that little bit less ergonomic, so that is not necessarily a bad thing!
2. I sometimes find it hard to find the particular message in a thread I want in the GMail app on the G1.
3. I miss the ability to add more than one email address - the GMail app only supports a single address and whilst I could use the "standard" email app, I really shouldn't have to.
Other than that, it's been fine and I've no intention of moving back to a BB because the G1 hits a lot more boxes - I did consider a BB Storm, but the lack of WiFi put me off.
Certainly, now that I keep my calendar and contacts on Google, I really see it is a good alternative platform *if* you are prepared to make the switch to Google Apps for Domains.
Regards,
Dave

bb storm would definitely be FAR FAR LESS ergonomic than Dream for emailing due to the crap onscreen keyboard, crap touchscreen (it has a stupid clicker), and lack of physical keyboard. Dream also beats out all other bb's when it comes to long emails due to the larger keyboard and generally better keyboard layout and function. For quick emails, the bb/palmtreo format is more convenient since there's no need to flip the keyboard out, however, droidsans virtual keyboard or the soon-to-be android 1.5 with integrated virtual keyboard takes/will-take up *most* of what the Dream lacks regarding short emails, i.e. virtual keyboard for quick short emails, big physical keyboard for long emails.

foxmeister said:
Hi,
I was formerly using a Blackberry with BES, and switched to the G1 back in October, with my email hosted by Google Apps for Domains.
In general, I'm pretty happy with the G1 as a Blackberry replacement, with a few caveats:
1. The actual emailing experience (i.e. sending and reading email) was definitely slicker with the Blackberry. That being said, I now think a little bit more about the emails I want to respond to on the G1 because it is that little bit less ergonomic, so that is not necessarily a bad thing!
2. I sometimes find it hard to find the particular message in a thread I want in the GMail app on the G1.
3. I miss the ability to add more than one email address - the GMail app only supports a single address and whilst I could use the "standard" email app, I really shouldn't have to.
Other than that, it's been fine and I've no intention of moving back to a BB because the G1 hits a lot more boxes - I did consider a BB Storm, but the lack of WiFi put me off.
Certainly, now that I keep my calendar and contacts on Google, I really see it is a good alternative platform *if* you are prepared to make the switch to Google Apps for Domains.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply Dave,
I already moved my email to google apps for domains a few weeks ago (one less thing to worry about!) so I'm only really using BES for calendar sync now, although I do find notes and tasks useful but I don't think there is any google alternative at the moment?
How did you get along without using the Blackberry "Password Keeper" ? I pretty much have all my passwords, pins etc etc in that app, I think I will miss that!?
Having played with the google calendar application I find it very nice, I like the ability to embed a map in to a appointment by just putting the postcode in the "Where" field, I'm guessing that does not carry over to the G1 calendar?
Cheers
Mike

Dirky said:
Thanks for your reply Dave,
I already moved my email to google apps for domains a few weeks ago (one less thing to worry about!) so I'm only really using BES for calendar sync now, although I do find notes and tasks useful but I don't think there is any google alternative at the moment?
How did you get along without using the Blackberry "Password Keeper" ? I pretty much have all my passwords, pins etc etc in that app, I think I will miss that!?
Having played with the google calendar application I find it very nice, I like the ability to embed a map in to a appointment by just putting the postcode in the "Where" field, I'm guessing that does not carry over to the G1 calendar?
Cheers
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mike,
Personally, I never used the BB Password Keeper, but I notice there are quite a few similar apps available for G1 for free on the Market.
I've just tested to see if the maps pull through to the G1 calendar, and your guess is correct - they don't!
Regards,
Dave

Dirky said:
Thanks for your reply Dave,
I already moved my email to google apps for domains a few weeks ago (one less thing to worry about!) so I'm only really using BES for calendar sync now, although I do find notes and tasks useful but I don't think there is any google alternative at the moment?
How did you get along without using the Blackberry "Password Keeper" ? I pretty much have all my passwords, pins etc etc in that app, I think I will miss that!?
Having played with the google calendar application I find it very nice, I like the ability to embed a map in to a appointment by just putting the postcode in the "Where" field, I'm guessing that does not carry over to the G1 calendar?
Cheers
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use OI Safe it works well and is free on the Market

Which desktop PIM works best to sync with the Droid X?

I'm a wannabe WinMo convert, and my new Droid X will arrive later today. As I surf the web trying to be as ready as possible for the transition, I'm struck by the fact that Android doesn't sync directly with Outlook. And to shortcut the immediate responses, I will never want to sync my personal & private info with "The Cloud" for all the world of hackers to see. The number of times (just within the past year alone) that we've all seen news reports of some supposedly secure Big Brother company having its servers hacked and its users' personal info stolen, means that cloud sync is not now - and may well never really be - a secure option.
From what I can gather from several hours of scouring the reviews, the cobbled-together 3rd-party apps that attempt to allow one to sync an Android phone directly to one's own computer - either via WiFi, BT or a USB cable - all fall short in some critical way or other, such as not including all of Outlook's data fields for a Contact. The data never appears on the phone, and when syncing back to the PC, those particular fields get erased on the PC too! So there's only limited success with "The Missing Sync" & "CompanionLink." (And Android-Sync is still a pre-alpha.)
This leads to the question. What desktop PIM software do you all use --- BESIDES Outlook?
Thanks!

Why don't you directly sync your X with the exchange server you're connected to with Outlook?

onelifexv said:
Why don't you directly sync your X with the exchange server you're connected to with Outlook?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He didn't indicate he had an exchange server. Just Outlook on his desktop.
Mason,
As much as I agree with your privacy arguments (and believe me, my friends and associates argue about this all the time), I just don't think Android is going to be fully functional for you if don't "let it go" and put those contacts on your google account.
I went through this when Droid 1 Launched. I had all of my data on my exchange server, and refused to move it to Google. Android 2.01 worked with exchange, but just barely. The whole process frustrated me, and I ended up taking the phone back and getting a TouchPro2.
Since then, I've given in and begun migrating my company info over to Google Apps. I still have my exchange server in the meantime, but all of my mail, etc is going through Google Apps for Domains. This time around, with Droid X, my sync experience is working a lot better.
I know that's not what you want to hear. But if your not willing to put your data in Google's hands (and I don't really blame you for not wanting to), then take the phone back and wait for the new Win Phone 7 devices.

Thanks for your replies. I also used the Touch Pro2 earlier this year, and more recently, the LG Fathom. The latter may be the last of the WinMo 6.5 phones, and that's really a shame, since it really worked well, just lacking HTC's Sense, Motorola's sound quality, and the latest generation's innovative 4.3" capacitive screens. Of course it synced perfectly, and all contacts were immediately available for voice command dialing on the phone.
Today I downloaded the trial of CompanionLink and installed DejaOffice on the Droid X. After the proper setup - which includes setting the Droid X to be in "USB Mass Storage" mode when connected via USB to the PC - it was able to sync calendar, contacts, notes and tasks.
BUT only in a manner of speaking. I promptly found out that I couldn't voice dial any of my contacts. Neither Calendar nor Contacts were sync'd with the Droid X's native Android apps; that required another, VERY long sync, having gone into DejaOffice's Sync Settings and selecting the options to ALSO sync with the Android native apps. And although I went into the Droid X's settings and deselected the option to sync my Google/G-mail account, I still suspect that my information went to the cloud - even though I didn't want it to - since the arrows under the Droid X's "3G" icon in the notification tray were gray the whole time, indicating data transmission. And despite all that, some of my contacts still mysteriously didn't make it into the native app, although they were in DejaContacts. So to voice dial someone inparticular, I STILL had to enter their contact info manually into the native Android contact app.
And all of my categories for all of my Notes were somehow stripped away when the Notes transferred into the Droid X; so now, they're all unfiled.
I don't know if I'm willing to put up with these headaches on a regular basis. But the preliminary reviews of Windows Phone 7 are very disappointing, and it can only be a matter of time before WM6.5 becomes so neglected that it's no longer usable. Oh well.
Zaphod! I remember fondly the Isaac Asimov novels.

MasonStorm said:
Thanks for your replies. I also used the Touch Pro2 earlier this year, and more recently, the LG Fathom. The latter may be the last of the WinMo 6.5 phones, and that's really a shame, since it really worked well, just lacking HTC's Sense, Motorola's sound quality, and the latest generation's innovative 4.3" capacitive screens. Of course it synced perfectly, and all contacts were immediately available for voice command dialing on the phone.
Today I downloaded the trial of CompanionLink and installed DejaOffice on the Droid X. After the proper setup - which includes setting the Droid X to be in "USB Mass Storage" mode when connected via USB to the PC - it was able to sync calendar, contacts, notes and tasks.
BUT only in a manner of speaking. I promptly found out that I couldn't voice dial any of my contacts. Neither Calendar nor Contacts were sync'd with the Droid X's native Android apps; that required another, VERY long sync, having gone into DejaOffice's Sync Settings and selecting the options to ALSO sync with the Android native apps. And although I went into the Droid X's settings and deselected the option to sync my Google/G-mail account, I still suspect that my information went to the cloud - even though I didn't want it to - since the arrows under the Droid X's "3G" icon in the notification tray were gray the whole time, indicating data transmission. And despite all that, some of my contacts still mysteriously didn't make it into the native app, although they were in DejaContacts. So to voice dial someone inparticular, I STILL had to enter their contact info manually into the native Android contact app.
And all of my categories for all of my Notes were somehow stripped away when the Notes transferred into the Droid X; so now, they're all unfiled.
I don't know if I'm willing to put up with these headaches on a regular basis. But the preliminary reviews of Windows Phone 7 are very disappointing, and it can only be a matter of time before WM6.5 becomes so neglected that it's no longer usable. Oh well.
Zaphod! I remember fondly the Isaac Asimov novels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"It's like Deja Vu, All over again." These are the exact issues and problems I ran into in my first encounter with Droid. At the time, I felt like the TP2 was a viable alternative to the Droid (wasn't nearly as fast, but had nice screen, better keyboard, etc.) so I just bailed out.
Much like you, I don't believe there is a viable alternative any longer. I too have no enthusiasm for Win Phone 7, and highly doubt that any advanced hardware is going to come with win 6.5X at this time.
I will also pass along this small piece of advice. Either embrace the cloud, or dump the phone. The more 'interconnects' you put between you and your data, the more frustrating this will be. It would be shame to have all of this power, and then limit its potential.

Instead of starting a new thread I thought this would be the best place to ask. First time Android user long time WM user so excuse my ignorance. I have an exchange / outlook setup that is working great with the corp sync of android but I have Notes that of course MS thought it was a good idea not to sync OTA. I used to connect my WM phone via BT or USB and sync the Notes with ActiveSync every couple of days or so to make sure they were updated on both device and Outlook. I know I can't use ActiveSync, what kind of solution does Android provide for this type of sync? I am open to anything as long as it is free as I don't really want to spend money on something that used to be free under WM.

Anyone? No one coming from a TP2 used notes?

I tried once more to sync the X locally, using the Mark/Space Missing Sync software (which requires Fliq Notes & Fliq Calendar to be installed on the phone, and Missing Sync on both the phone and the desktop). This too proved entirely too problematic, with ridiculously erroneous syncs that proved entirely unreliable for a business user.
It took another day of wrangling/justifying/coming to terms, but I finally relented and took Zaphod's advice to embrace the Cloud. gSyncit has proven to be a reliable, easy-to-use sync app for me, but it does require sending all of your stuff to Google, and then setting the phone to sync with Google. Calendar & Contacts work fine, and Notes works by syncing to Google Docs. The latter is then synced to the phone using the GDocs app, downloaded from the Marketplace. I've abandoned Tasks for now, but apparently it can sync by creating a 2nd calendar - a Tasks Calendar - in Google Calendar.

I'm also battling this Outlook to Droid X sync issue. I've come to realize the "best" way to resolve this is to give into Google's global domination plan and simply use my Google Calendar to sync via the cloud. However, I'm worried about duplication of meetings (which has happened in the past with the Dx using CompanionLink and DejaOffice, and with WM6.5 on my Imagio). My other question/issue is whether my contacts associated with my Gmail account have to be merged and subsequently synced with all my business contacts. My Gmail contacts include almost 1,000 email addresses, many of which I never use and don't recognize.
I'm also running Outlook 2007 with Win 7 64-bit. I've tried using Google Calendar Sync but it doesn't play nicely with 64-bit Win 7 (I guess that one sneaked up on Google?).
Any input is appreciated.

I work with small businesses helping them with handhelds and CRM. All my small businesses are using hosted exchange server for mail. Some use Blackberries, others iPhones, a tiny portion Windows Mobile and now I'm "dog-fooding" Android so I can find out what works. Believe it or not, only about 5% of my customers use Outlook tasks. Most rely on the calendar for task management. I myself do use tasks so I'm trialing Remember the Milk and syncing to it from Outlook using Gassumo Outlook to Remember the Milk sync. That's working quite well.
I've found that the contacts and calendar sync have some quirks that I'm coming to grips with - it seems sometimes to use File As, other times not to so sometimes the names are backwards. The calendar has been OK
I'm hoping PocketInformant for Android gets finished soon. They are beta testing now. I've been using it on Windows Mobile for years. It's very polished, those guys know how to build a handheld PIM.
Exchange is a great way to do OTA sync. You put the contact in Outlook and it's on your phone, same with calendar.
I'm a big OneNote user on the desktop, on Windows Mobile I used it only for a single purpose - to label photos I took of equipment I deploy. I would type the client, location, purpose and then take photos of the asset tags, serial numbers etc. To get them onto the desktop I had to USB sync but this system is very handy, if I needed to call Dell about a machine I have the asset tags right at hand. I'm looking at Evernote to take over that duty. I don't really care if it lives on OneNote, I just need to be able to annotate photos and get at them quickly during support calls.

Converted from WinMo - Please help me stay...

Ok, I already know all the benefits of Android over WinMo. I'm not here to start a flame war. I just want to get at least some of the functionality I had with my Touch Pro 2. I'm really struggling here....
I'll list the problems I'm trying to surmount, in order of most important to least:
1) In-Call Recording: It worked perfect on my TP2 (legal in Colorado). I just hit Menu > Record. Every app I've tried on the Market sucks. If it even records at all (without a Force Close), I have to have it on speakerphone. With the TP2, it didn't matter if I was holding the phone, using Bluetooth, or had it on speaker. It just recorded... and very clearly. I saw one developer mention this is a hardware/software limitation. Will this ever be overcome?
2) Lack of sync options (primarily, text messages): Windows ActiveSync with Exchange was PERFECT. I could sync not just mail, contact, and calendar... but I could also sync Tasks (which is how I get most of my work done) and text messages (which was great for archival). A benefit of synching text messages was that I could send/receive/reply to texts from Outlook or Outlook webmail. Plus, if I had to flash my phone, all my texts were back after I set up my mail account. Will Android ever get to this level?
3) Mail folders: All I see is a giant, alphabetical list of email folders at the top of my Inbox. If I want to get to my "Mustang Stuff" folder (where all my Mustang-related thread notifications go), I've gotta spin the begeezus out of that list until I get to it. I don't want every folder in that list. There are archival folders (that start with the date in number format) that of course show up first. Not to mention, I have so many folders, that getting to the end (where Sent, Deleted, and Drafts) are, is a real PITA.
4) Bluetooth Functionality = Fail: I can't voice dial from my earpiece. I need this or I'll be running people off the road. This is something so fundamental, I can't believe Android was rolled out w/o it working. I've heard Froyo will fix this. Is that true? Will I be able to touch the button on my earpiece and "call, friend" without having to pick up my phone?
5) Answering calls on headset while BT earpiece is on: Again, something so fundamental.... With a Windows phone, if my earpiece is in my pocket and I answer the call with the phone itself, I can talk through the phone. Windows was able to tell if I answered the phone with the handset. If I wanted to switch to BT, I simply put it in my ear and hit the button. With the Android phone, I have to answer the call, then press the "headset" button. Not a huge deal, but definitely annoying.
That's about it for now. There are others, but they're pretty minor. These are the big ones.
Can anyone help/provide advice?

Sadly its all down to drivers. I don't even know if the sgs has hardware to record voice as early HTC phones didn't have like my Titan. Also you must understand android is not as mature as winmo (8 years for phone edition), like all new software it will have teething problems. Hell winmo 6.1 had heaps more problems then Droid 2. 1. We just need to be patient. Also what do you expect with syncin as ms controlled the OS and your apps. Shame we don't have that with but goggle isn't a OS company. There's always 3rd party apps to help you sync exchange. Ask around. I miss task and notes from Outlook but I've converted over to springboard, give it go as desktop ver is coming out soon. Evernote is good also with great desktop but sucky Droid app.
'Backup to gmail' is a good paid app that backs up sms/mms and call logs. Also does kies not do Outlook sync? I don't use kies or outlook anymore so I don't know as I've converted to using cloud based apps which ms is already trying to do with winmo 7
Sent from my Apple Newton 2100

coming from HTC WM phone i'm extremely happy about the move.
1 - just keep checking out difference call recording software from Market, personally i've not found any good one yet.
2 - to "sync" or backup SMS messages, i use the titan backup, which you can backup to your Gmail account
3 - no problem here as i use gmail
4 - working great for me for Audio and Stereo and Remote features
5 - same as 4 works perfectly out of the box
Car Deck is a Clarion CZ509 (sub, amps, & speakers... off topic ), stereo ear piece is Jabra BT8010 and/or Moto HT820

@ickyboo
Of course, I have to agree with a lot you've said. WinMo has been around forever. 6.1 was kind of a fail, but so was 1.5-1.6 on Android. 2.x leaves us in a much better state.
When I compare WinMo 6.5 and Android 2.1, I feel WinMo is still the better OS. I'll have to see what 2.2 brings to the table, though. All that voice activation should be good.
As for the drivers, I hope this is overcome... just like it was in Windows. There are still many phones that can't do it. All of my latest phones have been HTC phones, and all could do it without issue.
@AllGamer
Are you running Android 2.2? There is a rumor that answering from a headset with a BT device on will now act "smart".

no 2.2 yet,
still on stock firmware JH2
i9000M

3) voice dial via Bluetooth is in Froyo as is http://www.google.com/mobile/voice-actions/

I just found another ridiculousness that needs resolution.
I cannot download a .rar or a .zip file using the Android browser. Seriously... wtf?
My son was playing a game on his DSi Acekard that needed updated software (a legitimate backup, of course). So I head over to GBATemp.net to get the latest software. It was in rar forum, so I figured "No problem, I'll just hit the market after".
When I go to download, it says something to the effect of "this type of download is not supported".
So using an RDP program, I log onto my home PC, download the rar and convert it to .zip (thinking the problem was with the rar file itself). In addition, I put it on my own web server.
When I go to download, same message.
On my Windows phone I could download/extract Rar/Zip files all day long. How can something so fundamental be blocked by Android?

Flapjack said:
1) In-Call Recording: It worked perfect on my TP2 (legal in Colorado). I just hit Menu > Record. Every app I've tried on the Market sucks. If it even records at all (without a Force Close), I have to have it on speakerphone. With the TP2, it didn't matter if I was holding the phone, using Bluetooth, or had it on speaker. It just recorded... and very clearly. I saw one developer mention this is a hardware/software limitation. Will this ever be overcome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a hardware level restriction, Android requires that the call steam be un-interceptable at a software level. It simply cannot be recorded like you want. The best apps can do is set the mic to record one side of the conversation (using speakerphone loopback) and actively record what you say at the same time. It's defiantely not ideal.
You might want to look into using something like Google Voice, that lets you record all your calls sever-side.
EDIT: Some phones allow this, in which case try using this... http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.killermobile.totalrecall.trial/
Flapjack said:
2) Lack of sync options (primarily, text messages): Windows ActiveSync with Exchange was PERFECT. I could sync not just mail, contact, and calendar... but I could also sync Tasks (which is how I get most of my work done) and text messages (which was great for archival). A benefit of synching text messages was that I could send/receive/reply to texts from Outlook or Outlook webmail. Plus, if I had to flash my phone, all my texts were back after I set up my mail account. Will Android ever get to this level?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install an app called SMS Backup+, it automatically syncs your SMS with Gmail as proper threads, and you can both read and reply to them in GMail, aswell as import them into another android phone. ( The sync is only active in one direction however, you need to manually 'restore' from GMail if you use another phone. )
As for tasks, you should give Astrid a try, it has full RTM (Remember The Milk) sync support and can manage your tasks very well.
Flapjack said:
3) Mail folders: All I see is a giant, alphabetical list of email folders at the top of my Inbox. If I want to get to my "Mustang Stuff" folder (where all my Mustang-related thread notifications go), I've gotta spin the begeezus out of that list until I get to it. I don't want every folder in that list. There are archival folders (that start with the date in number format) that of course show up first. Not to mention, I have so many folders, that getting to the end (where Sent, Deleted, and Drafts) are, is a real PITA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously you aren't using GMail. I can't vouch for the crappy (others) e-mail client that comes with this phone.
Flapjack said:
4) Bluetooth Functionality = Fail: I can't voice dial from my earpiece. I need this or I'll be running people off the road. This is something so fundamental, I can't believe Android was rolled out w/o it working. I've heard Froyo will fix this. Is that true? Will I be able to touch the button on my earpiece and "call, friend" without having to pick up my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression that this worked already, but I guess not. You could setup shortcuts to otherwise bring up voice dial by pressing a shortcut, then it would work... :\
Flapjack said:
5) Answering calls on headset while BT earpiece is on: Again, something so fundamental.... With a Windows phone, if my earpiece is in my pocket and I answer the call with the phone itself, I can talk through the phone. Windows was able to tell if I answered the phone with the handset. If I wanted to switch to BT, I simply put it in my ear and hit the button. With the Android phone, I have to answer the call, then press the "headset" button. Not a huge deal, but definitely annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that if your bluetooth headset is paired and you want to answer the call using the phone itself and not the headset, you have to click a button to disengage the headset? Again bluetooth is not very well integrated, it's a shame but at least it's not impossible to do what you want. :\
Flapjack said:
I cannot download a .rar or a .zip file using the Android browser. Seriously... wtf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem here is the stock browser doesn't want to download files that aren't compatible with the android system, the easy fix is to install any file manager in the market that can handle ZIP or RAR. You won't need to open them (of course you can though) when you download them but it will certainly download the file for you.
Alternatively you could choose another browser that doesn't care about compatibility in downloaded file types.
There might be an option for this but I'm not aware of it.

Flapjack said:
2) Lack of sync options (primarily, text messages): Windows ActiveSync with Exchange was PERFECT. I could sync not just mail, contact, and calendar... but I could also sync Tasks (which is how I get most of my work done) and text messages (which was great for archival). A benefit of synching text messages was that I could send/receive/reply to texts from Outlook or Outlook webmail. Plus, if I had to flash my phone, all my texts were back after I set up my mail account. Will Android ever get to this level?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an app in the market called GTasks. It syncs two-way with Google tasks (which you can find in Gmail, Google calendar, and which you can also access on your phone by going to gmail.com/tasks. The app is ad-supported, but you can also buy a key to remove the ads. It also comes with a very simple widget.

A lot of your comments seem to be related to Androids handling of Outlook integration.
You have to realize, Android is not made by Microsoft. Third party outlook integrations will never be as good as theirs. Android is geared to sync with google apps and the cloud.
That said, I have heard the best exchange client for Android is TouchDown http://www.nitrodesk.com/dk_touchdownFeatures.aspx It's not free though.
As for all your bluetooth questions... I am not having any problems with Bluetooth at all. Maybe it is your headset?
I came from Windows mobile and I too find a few things in Android annoying, but trying to go back is not even an option. Downsides of WinMo are far fewer than downsides of Android.

I'd rather just get an HD2 and be done with it. You are too much dependent on Windows Mobile and that's not a bad thing since it's pretty much worked for you well. I'm just saying, if it's become too much of a hassle to stay on Android, why bother?
Or you can have a WinMo device AND an Android!

Ok, I'm back. Overall, I love the phone. I've had some nasty episodes with )(*#$Y% Google's shoving of contacts down my throat. Apparently, anyone I've ever sent an email in Gmail to becomes a contact, whether I like it or not. On top of that, all those contacts got sync'd to my Vibrant when I first logged into the Market (which requires a Gmail account). Nowhere did it ask if I also wanted to sync my Google contacts, calendar, etc.... Well, the point is that I had almost Google 1000 contacts that I had to delete. I only want my Exchange contacts showing up. Freaking duplicate city. This was after I went into the synchronization settings and removed all synching of google mail, contacts, and calendars.
So, for the most part, everything has been fine. I even convinced my fiancee to give up her iPhone today (which is running like crap since an iOS 4 update) and get a Vibrant as well.
So I'm setting it all up and went in right away and set up Exchange email, only to find that I could not even open the built in "Calendar" App without adding a Gmail account? WTF? This phone is marketed as having Exchange Mail, Contacts and Calendar support.
Giving in, I add her Gmail account, which she NEVER USES, which of course automatically tries to take over her email to remove the Google synchronization. I get all that cleaned up and the only thing left is trying to make appointments work.
Setting up a new appointment, the phone always defaults to "My Calendar", which exists nowhere but the phone. I've been told that once I select my Exchange account, it should remember that. It doesn't. Occasionally, I'll forget to select my home mail and the appointment will stay on the phone. Another gripe... I don't think it can be fixed.
Finally, calendar invites allow you to select participants, but the invites never go out. I have to wait until the appointment syncs with my Exchange account, then go into Outlook on my PC, open the appointment, click on "Invitees", then click on "Send Update" (which returns an error that nothing has been changed). Once I've done that, the other invitees get the calendar invite. WHY?
Sorry for the long rant. I just don't see how this OS can ever be marketed as a corporate solution. I won't be going back to WinMo simply because the hardware in the Vibrant is fantastic. It does MOST of what I want... it just has some serious shortcomings. I'm hedging my bets on Froyo now. Does anyone have a good link that details the differences for Exchange on 2.2? I mean, really... Apple bit the bullet and paid the licensing to put true Microsoft Exchange Activesync on their iPhones. Can't Google do that too?

PC App that I love and works with outlook is Google Calander Sync give you the option of 2 way sync and one way sync. Works for me

Well for me the Samsung bloatware handles Exchange Accounts very well.
I'm syncing (by WiFi or 3G) 3 Exchange Accounts and just one of them with Contacts and Calendar.

Woolios said:
PC App that I love and works with outlook is Google Calander Sync give you the option of 2 way sync and one way sync. Works for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you use that on your PC to sync Outlook to Google Calendar? Then Google Calendar syncs to the phone?
But then you'd have to have it running on one PC that is always on, correct? I don't leave my PCs running 24/7 (nor am I going to), so this will be an issue.
If there was a program I could install on my Exchange server... that'd be a different story, as it does run 24/7 (obviously).

gmc said:
Well for me the Samsung bloatware handles Exchange Accounts very well.
I'm syncing (by WiFi or 3G) 3 Exchange Accounts and just one of them with Contacts and Calendar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have agree with that
i'm using the samsung hub, and it's amazing how it can handle all my 5+ different other accounts just using 1 simple app
and the most amazing thing is, it actually works!
back in the windows days, i had to dance up and down, and jug left and right just to be able to find 3 or more Apps to accomplish the same thing

AllGamer said:
i have agree with that
i'm using the samsung hub, and it's amazing how it can handle all my 5+ different other accounts just using 1 simple app
and the most amazing thing is, it actually works!
back in the windows days, i had to dance up and down, and jug left and right just to be able to find 3 or more Apps to accomplish the same thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree, too. Funny that WinMo only allowed one Exchange account. The rest you had to use IMAP or POP. Pretty lame.
I'm also seriously considering trying RoadSync or TouchDown. Not sure how well they'll integrate, though. I tried an early version of RoadSync on the MyTouch and it was a PITA.
**EDIT**
Trying TouchDown now...

Well, Touchdown is pretty nice... most of the time. Since last night, I've had to force close it about 5 times. It locks up the entire phone... I can't even turn the screen on/off. Eventually, the screen will come on and a "Force Close/Wait" option will be up.
Damn...

AllGamer said:
i have agree with that
i'm using the samsung hub, and it's amazing how it can handle all my 5+ different other accounts just using 1 simple app
and the most amazing thing is, it actually works!
back in the windows days, i had to dance up and down, and jug left and right just to be able to find 3 or more Apps to accomplish the same thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find the native Android outlook support to work way better than Samsung hub. Same with the native facebook sync.
I wish I could just delete Samsung hub. I don't know why companies feel they have to re-invent the wheel when Android already does this stuff.

brunes said:
I find the native Android outlook support to work way better than Samsung hub. Same with the native facebook sync.
I wish I could just delete Samsung hub. I don't know why companies feel they have to re-invent the wheel when Android already does this stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can, using Titanium Backup, to uninstall Samsung Hub

[Q] Newbie resources?

So I just got my Atrix from ATT, coming from WinMo 6.5 (Tilt2), and am a bit lost.
There used to be guides and such for people upgrading, but I've hopped on the train so late I'm having trouble finding a good one!
So feel free to point me towards better resources or useful threads on here especially from the perspective of WinMo to modern Android.
But for now, first question: what is the best way sync Outlook and my new phone?? I've got Outlook 2010 and have been building an address book in it since my MPx220! I know I could export/import a .csv but am far more interested in actual sync, with contacts and calendar at the minimum. Preferably free, but if not OK (as long as it works). So far I've tried MyPhoneExplorer but it can't see the phone via USB. Trying www.soocial.com now, looks interesting...

Is it ever gonna finish inspecting my 16GB card? Can't find a progress indicator anywhere...

I know it's not helping but just wanted to say that I'm exactly in the same boat with you. I used Windows Mobile since around 2004 (with mpx 220, tilt, and tilt2) and I'm kind of clueless about this whole android thing
Oh and I could not find a way to directly sync my outlook contacts with atrix either. Also, if you go with the .csv route, it does not sync some fields, for example Work2 phone.

fincan said:
Oh and I could not find a way to directly sync my outlook contacts with atrix either. Also, if you go with the .csv route, it does not sync some fields, for example Work2 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Def. try www.soocial.com It's free (as long as you're less than 250 contacts) and it's *ongoing* Sync like we're used to.
Goofy thing is, Google is said to make a calendar sync (outlook --> google), why don't they have their own for contacts??

Well, so far I'm a touch underwhelmed. Coming from the WinMo world I'm used to many things being customizable, often in the program, if not maybe in the registry or easily swapped out for other software.
I'm noticing a lot of dumb choices and a lot of things that don't give me obvious options.
Let's call it a Universal Inbox but it won't have your Gmail! There's a way around, you setup instead as regular IMAP email and use that app or end up using both email apps... grr! Better 3rd party alternative?
No 'file as' in contacts or ability to customize much of anything about how it looks, what it shows...
Friggin 'security lock timer' setting is disabled when using fingerprint!
Oh, and scanning my SD card *never finished*! After a couple hours (during which I couldn't install anything from the marketplace--though it gave me NO error to let me know why it was ignoring me pressing install!) I yanked the card. Maybe if I clear it out first?
Of course it's much (MUCH) better than my POS Tilt2, but I'm not quite convinced it's worth it, yet.

Your card scanning issue is not normal. IT STINKS! Something from the school of the united nations
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

I came from windows also. Companion Link is the only software to give you a true live sync between outlook and google calender and contacts that I have found. It wasn't free but I don't remember how much. It syncs your desktop outlook to your online google account which is automatically synced to your device.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

For the contacts things you can always setup your gmail account as an exchange account in outlook and sync it that way, but then again it would be the same as syncing with gmail itself.
As for an outlook sync that isn't third party, there is no way to do it other than having an exchange account.

I found and downloaded a program called My Phone Explorer, it says it can sync outlook contacts & calendars if you install it's companion software to your PC. I did not have a chance to try it out yet, I'll update this thread once I try it.
Also, did you guys find out how to set custom ring tones? Like copying wav, mp3, ogg etc. files from my old phone to this and make them show up on the ringtone selections?

sdlopez83 said:
Your card scanning issue is not normal. IT STINKS! Something from the school of the united nations
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It had been in my Tilt 2 and had about 10gig of various files, some WM6.5 stuff (.cabs, apps, etc) and media. I formatted it and put back in the phone (couldn't do anything with it while it was scanning) and it was fine.
Marketplace didn't actually do anything when I hit install until the card was happy.

So far I'm pretty impressed with Android but not so much with this phone. The combination of not-latest OS with updates being locked to ATT/Moto's discretion worries me as the Tilt2 I'm coming from was absolutely crippled by the crap ATT OS version available (though at least it wasn't impossible to flash it!).
My other big problem is that while this phone is supposedly lightning fast, but how does that make any difference in actual use, since this dual-core CPU and nVidia chipset are a small part of a big and diverse market, for which the Nexus S and all the similar Samsungs set the baseline? Example, I noticed I can't play at decent framerate a 720p h.264 media file (.torrent downloaded Top Gear, 1.5GB on class 6 microSD), even in QQview--which can't seem to access the SD card directly (it only sees the ~11GB internal which is called SDcard), by the way. So what good does this extra speed do if there are no apps to take advantage of it? And how many others are going to have troubles accessing my new 32GB microSD because they only see the internal?
I'm also fairly annoyed by the lack of customization in the settings. At worst every damn thing in WinMo was customizable via registry. I usually find a setting each day in Android which I should have easy control over but don't. Example: notifications being the same volume for texts/emails as BS systems sounds I haven't figured any way to turn off... again a missing setting that's almost there: I noticed within text messaging and email I can set specific sounds (including silent) but for the overall system one there's no silent option (which would be overridden by the selected ones above)... Maybe there's some apps that do some of what I want, but having to pay or sideload are both kinda foreign concepts to me, especially for small system hacks!
But on the other hand it's very responsive, does seem to play 720p Xvid torrent downloads OK (though I haven't watched one all the way through), and the voice features are great.
One other annoyance is that while BT links to my car automagically it doesn't link to my Panasonic handsets at home unless I turn BT off and back on for some reason...
So given how much I paid (premiere, non-contract) I'm leaning towards return. Wish the damn ATT-bands Nexus S was out!!

but, more importantly did you get the critic references?

Cannot reproduce WM functionality

Dear experienced androiders.
I am new to the platform after 4 years on WM and Nokia S60 before that. It may be my naivity, but so far, although I am loving the hardware and big screen browsing on the DHD, I am struggling to reproduce some of the functionality I have used for the past 6 years on WM and S60.
1) Video calling over 3G network (i.e. not fring or similar apps that use data). The cost of video calls is really cheap where I live, and for my elderly mother it is the ideal way to regularly show her the grandchildren. I am gobsmacked that this is not part of Android when it was part of my S60 phone I got 6 years ago, and both WM handsets that followed.
2) Ring once. Rather than constantly switching between meeting and normal modes, I prefer to set my phone to ring once. If in a meeting and I chose to ignore, it is not very irritating to others as it stops after a single ring, while I still hear it at all times if I want to answer. Now again, I imagined this was a stock feature of all OS's, but cannot find on Android.
3) GPS. One of the main reasons I was keen on the DHD was I read a press release about them teaming up with TomTom and Route 66 and that all maps would be free and could be downloaded to the handset and turn-by-turn instructions were available. I am dismayed that the turn-by-turn is a premium service that requires extra cash, but even in the interim while using the 30-day trial, it comes nowhere close to the TomTom software I had on my last three phones. I cannot easily see why the GPS is not locking by looking at the satellites etc, crucial information is missing from the display, all in all just an inferior product.
4) Multitasking. I hate not being able to flip to another application and back again without the application randomly deciding that I am relaunching it. Part of the problem is not having hardware buttons - I used t have an task mananager hooked to one of my hardware keys on WM, and if I wanted to flip back to my home screen to check something, and then back to the app, it was a simple press of the hardware key. I have read that one should not use taskkillers on Android, but find the built in functionality not very intuitive, including the holding down the home button.
5) Cannot get autosync to sync with gmail but not contacts and calendar. I have problems when my calendar entries from my corporate mail are synced to google and all attendees get reinvited, and do not want to sync contacts, as gmail harvests all sorts of contacts I don't want on my phone. But as soon as I allow gmail to autosync the mail, then the other two also sync.
6) Data autodisconnect. I had my WM set up in such a way that as soon as the data connection was idle, the 3G or Edge connection was dropped. I then set up all applications to sync infrequently or only use data when triggered manually, and was able to ensure excellent battery life. I have found toggles to stop data altogether, or juice defender to allow connections at particular times, but cannot find a way to reproduce the autodisconnect functionality. As soon as I enable data connections the phone connects, even if I have set everything not to sync in the background.
I hope that there are ways of accomplishing all of these things. I know one should not pass judgement until one has spent a decent amount of time with a new phone or OS, but I wonder for now if I am alone in mourning the passing of WM6.x?
Thanks for any advice any of you can offer to get my DHD set up to at minimum reproduce previous functionality.

Hi and welcome to Android.
1) Video calling over 3G network (i.e. not fring or similar apps that use data). The cost of video calls is really cheap where I live, and for my elderly mother it is the ideal way to regularly show her the grandchildren. I am gobsmacked that this is not part of Android when it was part of my S60 phone I got 6 years ago, and both WM handsets that followed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The DHD doesn't have a front facing camera so does not support video calling over 3G/H. Some workaround may be possible with custom ROM's using the rear camera.
2) Ring once. Rather than constantly switching between meeting and normal modes, I prefer to set my phone to ring once. If in a meeting and I chose to ignore, it is not very irritating to others as it stops after a single ring, while I still hear it at all times if I want to answer. Now again, I imagined this was a stock feature of all OS's, but cannot find on Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand this one, having to switch profiles for meetings then switching back becomes a bit of a ball ache. I use an app called Tasker, this allows me to set a profile that reads my calendar and switches to silent when I am in a meeting, it then switches back when the meeting is over. Obviously this requires that all meetings are in my calendar and have start & finish times. I also set it to put my DHD into silent mode if my handset is facing down for 1 minute. As for the ring once only, there may be an app available in the Market.
3) GPS. One of the main reasons I was keen on the DHD was I read a press release about them teaming up with TomTom and Route 66 and that all maps would be free and could be downloaded to the handset and turn-by-turn instructions were available. I am dismayed that the turn-by-turn is a premium service that requires extra cash, but even in the interim while using the 30-day trial, it comes nowhere close to the TomTom software I had on my last three phones. I cannot easily see why the GPS is not locking by looking at the satellites etc, crucial information is missing from the display, all in all just an inferior product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since my first Android handset (HTC Hero) I purchased CoPilot for around £30 off the Market and it works flawlessly, and as its tied to your Google Account whenever you upgrade you can download it again free of charge and it works again. No need to purchase another copy. Other than that Google Navigation provides turn by turn directions, and that's free.
4) Multitasking. I hate not being able to flip to another application and back again without the application randomly deciding that I am relaunching it. Part of the problem is not having hardware buttons - I used t have an task mananager hooked to one of my hardware keys on WM, and if I wanted to flip back to my home screen to check something, and then back to the app, it was a simple press of the hardware key. I have read that one should not use taskkillers on Android, but find the built in functionality not very intuitive, including the holding down the home button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What apps are you using that this occurs? I often switch between XDA, Browser, Gmail, Messaging, Calendar, Market and it picks up where I left off. This is by holding the Home key and selecting the relevant app. You are correct about the task killers, you really don't need to use them.
5) Cannot get autosync to sync with gmail but not contacts and calendar. I have problems when my calendar entries from my corporate mail are synced to google and all attendees get reinvited, and do not want to sync contacts, as gmail harvests all sorts of contacts I don't want on my phone. But as soon as I allow gmail to autosync the mail, then the other two also sync.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure exactly what you mean in the first sentence. If you wish to sync only Gmail then you need to only allow Gmail. Settings > Accounts & Sync > Tap your Google Account > Deselect everything you don't want.
6) Data autodisconnect. I had my WM set up in such a way that as soon as the data connection was idle, the 3G or Edge connection was dropped. I then set up all applications to sync infrequently or only use data when triggered manually, and was able to ensure excellent battery life. I have found toggles to stop data altogether, or juice defender to allow connections at particular times, but cannot find a way to reproduce the autodisconnect functionality. As soon as I enable data connections the phone connects, even if I have set everything not to sync in the background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again not sure what you mean as you set everything to sync when triggered manually on WM, and when you enable data on Android everything connects and sync's. Isn't that manually triggered? Juice defender has a paid addon Ultimate Juice, this allows you to further refine the criteria at which data is disconnected and enabled. Otherwise I am sure you can create a profile with the Tasker app, it's very versatile and can do practically anything.
Hope this answers a few of your questions.

6) go for juicedefender.
I came from wm just two months ago, and I know your feeling but after a few weeks android to me is like wm 6.5+++ You can do the same things as on wm just a lot better, or different but better. Yes no Tom Tom, but google navigation is better in some ways and lacks in some, but it is free. (try driving on the real photo view.. Fantastic..)

Martinhdk said:
6) go for juicedefender.
I came from wm just two months ago, and I know your feeling but after a few weeks android to me is like wm 6.5+++ You can do the same things as on wm just a lot better, or different but better. Yes no Tom Tom, but google navigation is better in some ways and lacks in some, but it is free. (try driving on the real photo view.. Fantastic..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you use google navigation in real photo view?

The Jones said:
How do you use google navigation in real photo view?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download street for google maps on the market.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Thanks for the responses
1) Still useful with a rear camera for showing the grandchildren. Apparently galaxy S has this functionality and also gingerbread. Can anyone confirm if it is in the gingerbread roms for DHD on the other forum?
3) No google navigation where I live (South Africa). Co-Pilot tempting, but reviews suggest inferior routing compared to TomTom.
5) cannot find a way of deselecting for autosync, only of manually syncing each one (contacts, calendar, mail) separately
6) Thanks for tasker and juice defender suggestions, still getting to know them
What I should have included in the list is bluetooth activated voice dialing which seems not to work in stock DHD but apparently does in Leedroid, though I have not tried a cooked ROM yet.