Sync with Outlook?

[Anand]

Nitz,

In the scope here, my point was that of a free service. You can do it with these types of services yes. But I got Wireless Sync from Version for free (no additional fee) for the last 4 years.

Good point

Thanks,

MP

there is no way you got the wireless sync for "free" for the past 4 years. you probably paid the data pkg that includes wsync and think you are getting it for free.. :/

 

[hero]

i'm having a bit of trouble sync'ing my work exchange server.

so i enter my work email address and password, go to next screen and select exchange server.

i have 3 boxes now: domain/username, password, exchange server

domain/username i'm using my work email address which is what outlook requests when signing in.

password is my password.

exchange server: i think this is where i'm losing it. it's possible i'm logging on through the host at work....are the host and the reg. exchange server the same. i guessing not cause i can't connect.

if they are different, how can i track down the exchange server address.

any help is appreciated. thanks!

 

[mrpush]

BigTex,

You are missing the point.

Smart phone = Car

Lets say you bought a DODGE (a car) 4 years ago, and it had wipers and headlights (distinct Functions).

Now, 4 years later, you buy a Chevy (still a car). Do you expect it to have wipers and headlights, or do you expect to have to buy it, then drive to the autoparts store, spend more money on wipers and headlights, and then have to install them?

This is not even CLOSE to a similar situation. Wipers and headlights on a car would be like a microphone and speaker on a phone. Well, the Droid still has a microphone and speaker.

I think you are taking this out of context. My 4 year old smartphone gave me Wireless sync of all Cal, Con , Tasks, Notes a necesary feature for business users. Now, my new one can't. Would you take this car off the lot?

I keep seeing the posts here that it because of the a MICROSOFT client and "different" OS on the phone.

Really? They have support for a NON-Android OS server, called MICROSOFT EXCAHNGE......so they HAVE provided support for NON-Android OS's...but only for Exchange.....they left out us Standalone Outlook users.....there is not much difference here....


Not at all. Why not ask for OUT OF THE BOX sync of Lotus Notes, or GroupWise email clients? They are all made by different companies. Just because many people use Microsoft's Outlook doesn't mean anyone besides Microsoft should include it in their OS. It would be like asking your BMW dealer to offer free oil changes to people with Toyotas in addition to the free BMW oil changes. Toyotas are very popular, but doesn't mean other car dealers should offer free things for them.

These are not as popular and would not warrant it IMO.


So you want something free (Outlook connectivity) just because YOU use it (or many others use it)? Sounds like socialism. Why should Google front the development cost to incorporate the function to sync to a COMPETITOR's email client? I think we are lucky it even has Exchange compatability in it. They include the nice Gmail interface because Gmail IS THEIRS! You don't see a Hotmail interface in the Droid. Do you know why? BECAUSE IT IS FROM THEIR COMPETITOR! Same with Outlook.


Oh my you called me a Socialist! :icon_eek: I have had the same features from Verizon or 4 years now...I'm not asking for some NEW feature for free.

I have heard this non-compatibility cry before...ANDROID HAS support for a NON-Android OS server, called MICROSOFT EXCHANGE......so they HAVE provided support for NON-Android OS's...but only for Exchange.....they left out us Standalone Outlook users.....there is not much difference here....and your statment contradicts itself.

Good luck with that. Since when have you heard of 'bigger, better, improved' to equal less money?!

Nope, I want what I had before that is all.

So you had absolutely no idea that the Droid would not do this before you bought it? Good thing Verizon has a 30 day money back guarantee.

Yes and no - There Verizon reps were totally confussed. When I asked them: "Will the droid wirelessly sync my Outlook data to my Pc and phone?" They said, yes, it will sync Outlook stuff.....When they mean is that "It will sync outlook if you have Exchange server!. Big difference.

You seriously thinnk the Droid is not as smart as a xv6700? You need a lot more help than I can offer you.

I hope you know I'm being a bit sarcastic when I say that, my prior phone does not compare in other functions....I'm referring solely to the fact that it is not as smart in the syncing of business data....

The OS DOES matter. See my previous comments about the OS maker/ email client relationship.

Nope, don't agree. If OS really mattered, why would Android support MICROSOFT EXCHANGE and how come some 3rd parties already have apps to do it? Its not the OS that is the issue anymore, its only a matter of if they want to do it or not. It appers you are saying that google could not devleop an app to support Outlook sync, because android is not Windows. They have done it already with Excahnge....The third parties developing these sync apps don't care if its Ms, Linux, or android, they can all develope in other OS's. Google / Verizon only went half way on the sync, by choice, they would HELP sales, not hurt sales by doing this.
They left me and my outlook out....:ban:

Don't you think that Verizon could have taken the Million or two dollars that they spent in Silly commercials and put that money to adding Wireless Sync to the device!

Again, see previous comments. Google made the OS.

It's just poor planninng!!!

I urge anyone why is a little mad about not having these features, to call Verizon and Google and let them know you are dissappointed.

I will agree with you on this point.

 

[mrpush]

Nitz,

In the scope here, my point was that of a free service. You can do it with these types of services yes. But I got Wireless Sync from Version for free (no additional fee) for the last 4 years.

Good point

Thanks,

MP

there is no way you got the wireless sync for "free" for the past 4 years. you probably paid the data pkg that includes wsync and think you are getting it for free.. :/

Yes, I have had a full data package for this time, for browsing and streaming. I never paid a stated additional fee for Syncing anything. I had full data for other reasons, so to me, it came at no additional fee.

MP

 

[mrpush]

Miami,

We were not talking about email sync here. We were talking about Standalone outlook Sync of Calendars, contacts, Tasks, & Notes.

CompanionLink works fine, just costs $40. Palm always needed 3rd party solutions to synch with Outlook too, and taking inflation into account, those solutions were even more expensive.

It connects fine to POP3 accounts, I am however having an issue with it handling my AOL IMAP account. It gives false notification of new mail, and some messages are not showing up.

AOL, Really? Anyone still uses their crappy service? Not surprised that IMAP doesn't work right for them.

Hey, I didn't pick on your email providers....

Flash has been around for how many years, maybe 6-10? And they can't somehow incorporate non-version 10 into the system? They get an F for this.

My Storm didn't have flash support either. The OS was terrible for a long time too.

Neither does any Windows Mobile phone. There is Mobile Flash v7, but it only runs a handful of apps, not web sites. The only mobile Flash solution available today is the Skyfire browser, where the Flash is actually running on a server and it is essentially doing an remote desktop solution. IN fact, using either VNC or the RDC client available in the marketplace you could do the same thing to a PC running on your home network.

Good point...maybe I'm expecting to much here...


How many websites use flash, a million or more? If you like waiting for things that have been around for years, go ahead an wait. Flash is a STANDARD in today's web experience! How can be be OK with it missing?

Agiain BB doen't suport this either Maybe Win Mo is better

Nope, no better with WinMo. This is a red herring.

Good point, I can't flash on some sites, I dont like herring.

You can download and play MP3 fine...out of the box, you CAN'T click a WMP button and have it stream to the device, same goes for real player.

Sorry I haven't tried this yet, but I'll take your word for it. Not sure it will bother me though.

Don't ever use real-player. They download too much crap. WinMo also needed a separate Real-Player client, and it sucked pretty bad too.

I and probably million of others, goto sites, click the button and listen to audio streams.

Maybe you don't click an listen to the stream links, but I do and I should not have to wait and pay for an app do be able to do these STANDARD web browser things.

I stream Slacker or Pandora. I don't listen to pod casts or anything.

People are buying them, I have one too. And, I have read that many have NOT purchased due to its short commings mentioned here with business data.

More people are buying them than not. The reception has be downright awesome

I have one because my old phone is dead.

There are other choices and you have 30 days to return it

If Verizon let Google push out a phone that is missing CORE FEATURES OFFERED ON SMART PHONES 4 LONG YEARS AGO, it's VERIZONS fault!

If VZW held the release of the phone. Then you would say its VZW's fault for holding Google back or waiting on what should have been released and it's late. Google's choice is open sourced. It's Google's OS. VZW is just the carrier. VZW didn't resrict this at all

Google does not own the world (yet), they got involved in a project with 2 other MAIN STREAM partners.....Good Hardware from Motorola, and the best NETWORK with Verizon.....Partners work together on projects....Verizon let this thing sell missing major Features that their old smartphones have....

Again VZW let Google do thier thing. With BB VZW had to approve an OS. It took forever. People complained. Now they are hands off. Yet you are stil complaing about them :icon_eek:

First Generation? I believe Android is now upto 2.0 (Ya know, cupcake, lemon bread, twinkie), and has had devices on the market for ah, at least 2-3 years (don't hold me to this, cause I don't know for sure)

Yes Adroid 2.0 is all new. This isn't cupcake or sliced bread! This is 2.0. HTC will be releasing 2.0 also on the Passion. It will come along fast. If you wanted proven with no bugs you could have bought a G1 or Iphone!

No matter how you slice it, it's still sour dough.

Not sour to me, but you are entitled to your feelings



Thanks,

MP

I respnded in the red.

I responded in green....

I responded in blue, because that is how I feel.....:icon_ nono2:

 

[techguru]

Nitz,

The only option I have seen is to host your own Sync server, but this is not something for the average person and the solutions I have seen do not fully support Android anyway.

Thanks,

MP

Ah nooo, you can subscribe to a hosted Exchange service like here:

Browser Update Page

Its your "own" Exchange server. Since its Exchange, it Sync using the OTA Exchange push technology, and will sync two way I might add, mail, contacts, calandar, and probably tasks but not sure on that. Which means, your Outlook on your computer syncs with your "own" Exchange server, your dorid syncs with your "own" exchange server, ta da! Outlook features are synces with your Droid.

I sync my droid with my work Exchange server (where I am the admin) and it syncs beautifully. Unfortunately I have work email everywhere I go now :icon_evil:

Is it in the cloud? Yes, but my point was it isn't GOOGLE's cloud. Would you trust your information to someone like Godaddy or 1and1 and their like with your personal information? Well most likely you do already if you have POP email from an ISP. Until you retreive your mail to your desktop client,it is in fact in the "cloud" and on backup tapes, etc.

Its all a matter of who do you trust, and google shouldn't be trusted in my opinion. This is a viable OPTION, that is why I bring it up.

Nitz,

In the scope here, my point was that of a free service. You can do it with these types of services yes. But I got Wireless Sync from Version for free (no additional fee) for the last 4 years.

Good point

Thanks,

MP

No, To you use Wireless Sync, you need the $45/month data plan. For the Droid, you only need the $29/month plan. For less than the cost of 2 months of wireless synch, you can buy companionlink which does exactly what you want.

You keep re-iterating your opinion, and we keep re-iterating that your opinion is not based on factual data.

Alan

 

[bearlaw1968]

Verified - Droid DOES NOT SYNC with standalone Outlook out of the box

My frustrations with the Droid not being able to sync important data made me lose a lot of sleep last night. Sometimes I think that if I should design software myself, but I haven't done programming in many years. Even the "second tier" Verizon techs told me that I should download and install "Google Calendar Sync" like I'm some sort of moron. It says right in the name that it is a calendar synch, not a contact sync. So even though I repeatedly told him that had nothing to do with contacts, I indulged him and wasted my time, thinking maybe it would be smart enough to detect my attached Droid and suddenly work as he was so confident. I have had my own domain email addresses for over a dozen years and I am going to use them until I die. I'm not going to stop using them to surrender to Gmail or any other kind of third party email account, but I do have a linked Gmail account which forwards to my real email addresses. So the tech advised me after admitting that I was right that I could import a CSV file of my contacts, which is exactly what I had done a few days ago, but it's not something I'm going to do every day as I constantly update my contacts. I had to pound into him that I knew how to import, but IMPORT IS NOT SYNC, so this an entirely inadequate solution. Any suggestions? I'll post separately about Companionlink.

 

[bearlaw1968]

Companionlink

So because there is no out of the box Standalone Outlook contact, notes or task sync, I went with someone's suggestion to at least try the third-party software. I downloaded the trial version of CompainionLink for Google since the two others that were recommended do not seem to be available yet. The contacts seem to sync okay, but the second I lose signal, none of my contacts are available on my phone? This means if I'm not getting a signal to the web/my Google account, there are no numbers or names or identifiers on my text messages even as to who these people are and I can't even compose offline texts or emails? That seems crazy with all of the space on the device. If my contacts must be in the Google cloud, why can't they be on my Android cloud!? Am I missing something? While there is supposedly a rudimentary tasks feature for Google online, it is not supported on the Droid apparently. With the Companionlink, instead of having a "real" tasks" and notes sync, the "tasks" are stuck somewhere in the calendar and the notes are created as CONTACTS!? That's crazy! While the onus is on the Droid software and not the Companionlink software, why can't I have a software (iphone can't do this either) that shows me a notes icon on my phone and a tasks icon on my phone that is a true sync? Even if I only have a few dozen tasks and notes, I don't see what the big deal is. I don't want to have to go fishing through my CONTACTS to find notes which are filed under some arbitrary contact name. I also don't want to fish through my calendar to find tasks that may or may not have reminders. Tasks are on a list. I know I'm still new to the Droid but I also was shocked that I could not browse the contents of my device, nor was it even recognized when I plugged it into my Windows 7 computer. What's the point of having 16G of memory of if I can't drag and drop media there? Everything has to be sent over the internet to myself when I'm sitting at my own desk at home? That's absurd.

 

[mth04]

Ok this thread is running out of legs quickly. I hear both sides, but the opinions and facts aren't changing here.

 

[BigTex71]

Nope, don't agree. If OS really mattered, why would Android support MICROSOFT EXCHANGE and how come some 3rd parties already have apps to do it? Its not the OS that is the issue anymore, its only a matter of if they want to do it or not.

You must have misunderstood what I was trying to state all along. I didn't mean that Google didn't have the CAPABILITY to do it, just WHY should they support a competitor? I know they CAN do it, WHY would they? Yes, they don't want to and I know why. I don't understand how you can't grasp the concept that Google does not want to help sell more copies of Microsoft Outlook.

It appers you are saying that google could not devleop an app to support Outlook sync, because android is not Windows. They have done it already with Excahnge....The third parties developing these sync apps don't care if its Ms, Linux, or android, they can all develope in other OS's. Google / Verizon only went half way on the sync, by choice, they would HELP sales, not hurt sales by doing this.

Again, I know they CAN develop an app to support it. WHY would they when they have a competing client called Gmail? They would be hurting their own application by promoting their competitor. Have you ever had an economics class... because you seem to not understand how this stuff works. :r_c:

You need this capability because you own Outlook? Then go buy a WinMo phone or the 3rd party app. Or do it the FREE way with Google - sync your Outlook email, contacts, calendar, etc with Gmail and use Gmail on the Droid. That is what I did for my personal email, contacts, and calendar from Outlook.

They left me and my outlook out....:ban:

:icon_ nana:

 

[BzB]

I truely believe that this phone could have and should have done Wireless sync with standalone outlook without my having to wait or pay for it as a 3rd party app.

fair enough. if you're referring to outlook on an enterprise server like exchange, it does do this, albeit not very well at all. i agree with it being a poor implementation. main reason why i'm using the 3rd party app touchdown for exchange.

Browser Compatibility: (D)
no flash support yet, and you can't stream Windows Media or Real player audio by clicking the buttons on web pages.

wow! a D? really?? this browser is second only to the safari browser and even then only by a very small margin. OVERALL the browser is very well implemented for 95% of what people use a smartphone browser for. you know, browsing the internet and pulling up web pages. i couldn't knock it down to a D just because it doesn't stream wm. but hey, you're entitled to your opinion.

CAMERA: (C) It will not replace a good 5MP digital camera, picts just ok, flash just ok, better then none at all, autofocus not so great. Lense/Flash is placed right where your fingers go to hold it, so you often block the lense or flash and have to reposition your hold.

agreed. however, keeping in mind this is a camera on a phone it does it's job pretty well.

Market: (C) good app slections

can't really argue with this too much, although i would give it a c+ or b-. again, keeping in mind the phone was just released with a new os that many apps have yet to be designed or optimized for. i expect this will get better and we should see some good apps by end of year and beyond.

Email: (C-) I am having issues with AOL imap account, it gives false notifications randomly, some emails went missings that are still in my IMAP account.

just because you're using AOL you get an F(ail)-

seriously, AOL is the worst of the worst. i wouldn't wish AOL on my most despised enemy.

that said you do have a point with false 'new mail' notifications. i got these at first with my comcast email, but for some reason it's stopped happening now. hopefully it stays that way.

BUSINESS DATA SYNC: (D-) Cannot Sync Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, or Notes OUT OF THE BOX with STANDALONE OUTLOOK on your PC.

agreed. but i knew this was going to be a limitation even before i bought the droid. this was a battle i knew i would have to fight, did not catch me by surprise like it seemingly did you. maybe a little more research and less assuming on your end next time.

MP3 player: (B) Works, can try free web radios as well, works good.

this is one area where i think they need to improve. overall media handling is lacking imo. it does what it needs to do, but with very little sophistication. i kind of feel that my blackberry's had a more sophisticated way of handling media even with their simple interface. the droid has no swiping left to right to change pictures, no stop button on the media player, and the interface is way too spartan. there's a lot of room for 3rd party developers to turn a good profit providing a good media suite for the droid.

Sensors: (C-) There are light sensors on the phone, that dim/brighten the display. I'm finding that are placed where my fingers go, and the screen is getting dim/bright when I don't expect it too.

the sensors do what they're supposed to. how are you holding the device such that your finger goes over the sensor? it's not in a place that would normally get any action at all.

Overall, I like it very much. Biggest downfalls are lack of Outlook / PIM / Business data SYNC OUT OF THE BOX...

agreed. out of the box corporate email/pim support is not that very good imo. but again, this was not what the phone was designed to do. that's blackberry's market. the driod's primary competitor (iphone) doesn't do this either. fortunately (or annoyingly) 3rd party apps rue the day for business users who want better email/pim support on the droid.

all of your other points i agree with for the most part. :icon_ banana:

 

[mrpush]

Ah nooo, you can subscribe to a hosted Exchange service like here:

Browser Update Page

Its your "own" Exchange server. Since its Exchange, it Sync using the OTA Exchange push technology, and will sync two way I might add, mail, contacts, calandar, and probably tasks but not sure on that. Which means, your Outlook on your computer syncs with your "own" Exchange server, your dorid syncs with your "own" exchange server, ta da! Outlook features are synces with your Droid.

I sync my droid with my work Exchange server (where I am the admin) and it syncs beautifully. Unfortunately I have work email everywhere I go now :icon_evil:

Is it in the cloud? Yes, but my point was it isn't GOOGLE's cloud. Would you trust your information to someone like Godaddy or 1and1 and their like with your personal information? Well most likely you do already if you have POP email from an ISP. Until you retreive your mail to your desktop client,it is in fact in the "cloud" and on backup tapes, etc.

Its all a matter of who do you trust, and google shouldn't be trusted in my opinion. This is a viable OPTION, that is why I bring it up.

Nitz,

In the scope here, my point was that of a free service. You can do it with these types of services yes. But I got Wireless Sync from Version for free (no additional fee) for the last 4 years.

Good point

Thanks,

MP

No, To you use Wireless Sync, you need the $45/month data plan. For the Droid, you only need the $29/month plan. For less than the cost of 2 months of wireless synch, you can buy companionlink which does exactly what you want.

You keep re-iterating your opinion, and we keep re-iterating that your opinion is not based on factual data.

Alan

Alan,

No need to try to insult me, In fact my oppinon is based on fact. I'm part of a business plan Alan, and that business plan DOES NOT CHARGE A SNGLE RED CENT EXTRA for Wireless Snyc. I can give you our reps number and you can call him yourself if have your doubts.

Thanks,

MP

 

[mrpush]

Alk,
I believe if you use Exchange server, there is still the 3rd copy of the data out in the cloud.


Thanks,

MP

I saw you posted a couple times regarding exchange servers....

FYI, when syncing with an Exchange server, there is NOT a 3rd copy out in the cloud, the phone connects directly to the (exch) server and syncs.

This is good clerification for Exchange then, thanks. I'm not sure how it does a compare, maybe date and time based...

All other solution I have checked or used out have a 3rd copy somewhere, to compare the others too.

Thanks,

MP

 

[mrpush]

Bzb,

wow! a D? really?? this browser is second only to the safari browser and even then only by a very small margin. OVERALL the browser is very well implemented for 95% of what people use a smartphone browser for. you know, browsing the internet and pulling up web pages. i couldn't knock it down to a D just because it doesn't stream wm. but hey, you're entitled to your opinion.

I gave the browser itself an A, but I give BROWSER COMPATIBILITY a D. Its my oppinon that all browsers should support mostly what the normal ones do, and that is FLASH, Windows Mobile streams, etc, etc.


the sensors do what they're supposed to. how are you holding the device such that your finger goes over the sensor? it's not in a place that would normally get any action at all.

There is a sensor around the camera lense, and when I hold the device in landscape mode, my finger cover it. It make the screen fade in and out.


fair enough. if you're referring to outlook on an enterprise server like exchange, it does do this, albeit not very well at all. i agree with it being a poor implementation. main reason why i'm using the 3rd party app touchdown for exchange.

Touchdown I believe only does Calendar and contacts, its not complete yet.

agreed. but i knew this was going to be a limitation even before i bought the droid. this was a battle i knew i would have to fight, did not catch me by surprise like it seemingly did you. maybe a little more research and less assuming on your end next time.

Catch me by suprise, yes. Verizon reps told me "Yes it will sync your outlook data". He meant only if I have Exchange server, and only Calendars and contacts, but he left those important bits out.

Thanks,

MP

 

[mth04]

Does anyone here have anything new to say? I have been reading for 5 pages and it's all the same argument. Maybe just agree to disagree and i'll close this one up. Let me know here. I am starting to think this ship has sailed though