Outlook Sync

[CLSmallwood]

I know you can export your outlook to google and such but i would like a program to allow us to use the usb cable cord to physically sync the G1 with outlook.

[NetCom]

I know you can export your outlook to google and such but i would like a program to allow us to use the usb cord to physically sync the G1 with outlook.

I am 100% positive that Sync app is already in production )

I think you can google it and find it easily!

[richard]

I am 100% positive that Sync app is already in production )

I think you can google it and find it easily!

A desktop synch app between the phone and Outlook would be pointless. The phone doesn't store anything, Google does. So you wouldn't need to plug the phone in, you would simply need to to synch your Outlook stuff up to google from the computer. Any updates would be pushed to your phone instantly.

[CLSmallwood]

If they get outlook sync (contacts,calendar, notes) to Google flawless then your right.

But what if its the odd occasion that you have updates in outlook and no internet connection I want the physical sync option.

I'm just tired of the outlook to google transfer not being perfect.

[richard]

I'm just tired of the outlook to google transfer not being perfect.

Trust me, you aren't the only one. A recent client of mine wanted a feature added to their product that automatically synched Exchange contacts and distribution lists with Google. When we finally got the code working, tested, and moved to production, Google changed something that broke it!

The biggest obstacle right now is that there really isn't a way to do a full synch (and do it right) without having the ActiveSynch API. I don't think MS is going to license it to Google any time soon.

A company that already has the ActiveSynch API licensed and is a member of the OHA(like Nokia) could probably do it on another android device, but the real question is: can a 3rd party developer make it happen on the G1? There isn't a straight forward solution at the moment.

I know that there is some open source stuff out there that can interact with Exchange, but the problem is it was created by reverse-engineering MS proprietary code. That would be a no-no and couldn't be installed on the G1. However, if there's one thing I learned from my days of doing open source development, it's that the open source community is pretty creative when it comes to coding around such legal roadblocks.

[CLSmallwood]

Just FYI... I found the proper instruction to import contact from outlook without getting any problems.

http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=87&thread.id=1626

I was having numerous problems (addresses, names) when using the 'newer version' of gmail contacts and comma seperated values windows

this post says we should revert back to the 'older version' and use comma seperated dos

[starang]

I too would LOVE a Windows executable that would sync my G1 with Outlook over the USB cable, without the use of Exchange, like the HotSync application for my previous phone, the Treo 700p. I would use it for my Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes, but not my Outlook work email, so it would have to have the option of disabling the sync for particular items like the mail portion if the user so chooses.

My reason being: IT at my work does not allow just any outbound internet traffic past our firewall, so auto syncing my Outlook Contact and Calendar with the gmail server is not an option (using things like funambol or even oggsync or any sort of "cloud" is not an option for me).

Also, they only allow certain phones to be setup on our exchange servers (namely ONLY blackberry 8000 series), and the G1 is DEFINATELY not one they support. For instance, as soon as iPhone released its Exchange support, IT sent an email out saying they will not be supporting it.

With my old Palm Treo, I would just plug it into my PC via the USB cable, hit the sync button, and it would sync the stuff I wanted it to sync. This is exactly what I need...with the option to not sync my outlook mail of course, I'll use my gmail for personal mail, but I don't need and don't want my work mail on my phone...but I DO want my work Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes to sync with my phone, but not necessarily with my gmail server.

I would pay good money for an app that does what I've described above, the best example of a similar application for Windows is the HotSync Windows application (http://www.palm.com/us/support/hotsync.html), it just sits in the task bar and waits till I tell it to sync my data, although it doesn't necessarily have to sit in the task bar...thats just how HotSync does it.

Anyways, any info on this would be awesome. I know that it kind of defeats some of the really cool "cloud" functionality that is built into the phone, and it annoys me that some users try to laugh at other user's and I's need for something like this. I thought thats what Android and Open Source is all about...flexibility and options. I WANT the OPTION to do it the way I've described, and I think the Open Source community will come through for me (which is the EXACT reason I didn't get the iPhone...I like Open Source and Options). If not, I'll wait a while, download the SDK, and give it a good-old-fashioned-try my self

[starang]

I am 100% positive that Sync app is already in production )

I think you can google it and find it easily!

NetCom...could you please elaborate on this? Does this app have a name? Who is developing it? When is the scheduled release? Can you give us any info on this...despite some of the comments from people...there are plenty of people that would LOVE to have something like this.

Thanks for the input.

[PuterPro]

I feel your pain!
However, I don't see this app coming for a long time, if ever. (Could be wrong - I thought I was wrong once before, but I was mistaken! )
Currently, I'm using this:
Free Google Sync app to sync from Outlook to Google Calendar, then the phone syncs automatically to it.

Here's the Link to the "Getting Started" page which also has a Link to the App:
http://www.google.com/support/calend...y?answer=89955

I've used lots of Sync apps over the years, and this one is one of the best, simple but effective. Be sure to choose your "direction" in Options before the first sync. (Right click the Sync Icon in the System Tray by Clock)

You may have to wipe your Google Calendar (back it up first by Exporting it!) before the first sync. I also suggest you backup the Outlook first in case thing go wrong ... It IS a computer! LOL
If you DON'T have the Outlook backup (SHAME on you! ) here's a link to it, again, it's the "Getting Started" page, but it links to the app:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ou...875321033.aspx

So far I'm not wild about the Calendar in the G1 ... basically I think it sux! I'm sure that there will be lots of 3rd Party efforts to fix this soon (fingers crossed!) but it seems that sync is NOT one of the problems. Perhaps one of the 3rd Party apps will support USB, but I doubt it since the whole concept of the phone is based around Google, which thinks "WEB" for everything. The big drawback I currently see is NO AUTOMATIC CONTACT SYNC!
I did run across this app, am pondering trying it, but you don't get the Contacts sync unless you buy it first, BUMMER!
http://www.syncmycal.com/home.htm

If anyone is using this, feel free to join in the discussion!

Lovin' my G1 !
Puterpro

[starang]

Thanks for the input, however, none of those options fit my needs.

As I stated before, because of my job, I cannot store information that my company deems confidential on any server but our own. Even items as simple as Calendar events and Contacts cannot be stored on 3rd party servers as they could contain confidential notes.

PuterPro, in response to "I don't see this app coming...", do you have a source for this info, or is this just your opinion based on the current G1 functionality?

It took me a while, but I sync'ed all my personal info over the last 2 days, and it all works great. However, I will need the app in question if I ever want to have my work stuff stored on my phone (with G1-to-gmail sync's turned off).