Copy and Paste in Email

[richardah]

Some questions/comments on K-9.

1. Don't see an option to move K-9 to the SD card.

2. Can you make it the default email program...or do you still have to use the default Android "Email" app for that?

Right now I've got 3 email apps....Gmail, the stock Email app, and K-9.

Bumbled around a bit before I found where you could change the mail storage to the SD card (long press on account, choose storage.)

On the Wiki for K-9, it says something about K-9 not being able to write to the SD card if you are connected to a computer by USB and viewing the contents. There were a few other issues which led me to believe that it's best to not save K-9 or emails on your SD card. Also, you may need to see what format K-9 saves your emails on the SD card because you might not be able to just take the card out of your phone, plug it into another computer and open the emails unless you have a program that supports the file type.

 

[hamagc]

are there any other suggestions for this?

now that i have noticed this issue, i am not liking it lol. tried k-9 but no exchange support (push email). tried touchdown but no copy/paste, same with moxier.

 

[apinkel]

These little things are what scare me about switching to Android from Blackberry. It seems like Android was meant to be used primarily with a GMail account. If that's true, then fine. But it will never be more than a toy not to be used for serious business. It's sad. I really want an Android phone. On my Blackberry, creating a Blackberry email address is optional and the device will function the same with any email I setup on it. It would think this is a basic function.

The other thing I'm trying to figure out are notes and tasks. For notes, I can get around it by using my Evernote account. So far I haven't found an app for that which is a HUGE disappointment. It's the one thing I should expect. The more I look into this, the more it seems that Android phones really are not meant to be used for business at all since they don't have the basic components to do so. For business, I mean were your business relies on communication provided by your phone to run your business. Not just being able to receive a work email that could have waited until you got into the office.

I've spent all weekend looking for a decent solution to basic needs but it just looks like an Android phone isn't even going to come close to cutting it for me. That's a shame.

Thanks RoberB for your input and letting us know how it worked for you. That was a big help. Now I have to think about what I should do. Blackberry or Android? To top it off, I'm a Linux guy so that's another reason I wanted an Android phone.

I haven't used a BB so I'll throw out the little bit I can...

Android is a new platform, especially in the business space but it is quickly getting up to speed. The stock OS does have missing features and you do need to go digging for solutions whereas more established business platforms (BB, WM and even the iPhone) have that stuff all built-in from day one.

The stock email is sorely lacking, especially when it comes to exchange or IMAP accounts, however there are a number of good email clients available... droidmail, improved email, K-9 and touchdown(paid app).

Sounds like you've found a solution for notes.

For task lists there are a number of apps out there (see Task List Apps for Android for some examples). But yes, you will have to flush them out to see if they meet your needs.

 

[RoberMR]

RichardH, I don't use the Optimus with a Gmail account at all. What I mean is that although I have a Gmail account set up just because they want you to, I have nothing in there ... no email, no calendar, no contacts, nothing.

What I do have is Outlook 2003 on my PC where I keep everything. Mail Contacts, Tasks, Notes ...

Before I switched form WinMo 6.1, I did a lot of research on syncing. I found this software called CompanionLink. It knows how to sync between Outlook (most flavors) on the PC and the Android. It syncs contacts calendar, tasks and notes. In my case, I only sync calendar and contacts. It works pretty much like ActiveSync does with WinMo. Actually, it works better than ActiveSync as it's a little easier to control and customize what gets synced. Now there is a funky extra step involved. This sync program $39 after the free trial requires a free companion product from the same company called Deja Office which has its own calendar, contacts, notes and tasks. When you connect the Android phone to the PC (via USB or other means, like WiFi) Companionlink syncs between Outlook on the PC and the components of Deja Office, then syncs with the built in Contacts and Calendar of Android. This works seamlessly, between the three components (Outlook, Deja Office and Android native Contacts and Calendar). I happen to like the Contacts app in Android the best, so that's what I use all the time. If I add a contact on the phone, it gets synced automatically to the Deja Office contacts, then when I connect to the PC, it syncs Outlook. Same with Calendar entries.

So, overall, I have been pretty much able to duplicate my setup that I had with the WinMo 6.1 phone I had. That was a Palm Treo 800w which I would've hung on to but the issues it had with battery (multiple tries) - power consumption and unpredictability of how the battery would behave made me abandon it.

I understand that the Optimus has the ability to connect to Exchange for corporate email, but I have no idea how that works, as I don't use it.

One other bit about CompanionLink ... they also have the ability to sync with other PIM type systems like Act, Lotus Notes, etc. that may be used in corporate environments.

And finally, No I don't work for CompanionLink. I was just happy I discovered them during my research.

I hope this helps.

Rob

 

[richardah]

RoberB,

That's a good tip about CompanionLink. I only use Outlook because that's what my current Blackberry Syncs to but I use Thunderbird instead of Outlook for email and just use the calendar, tasks and notes on my Blackberry. I'm never in the office so the syncing part is just for backup purposes.

HTC makes a sync program for their Android phones. One of my clients used it and it seems fine except he complained that it didn't sync all the information. Some of the phone numbers he had for a contact did not sync. I didn't see it so I don't know if it was operator error.

I'm the owner of my company so my email has to work and work correctly. I don't have an exchange server (not a big fan of Microsoft) so that features isn't something I require. I just came back from Radio Shack were I was looking at the phones. I like the Evo Shift but the screen on the Evo keeps catching my eye so I think that's what I'm going to get. The only reason I want 4G is so I can do simultaneous voice and data which I believe I can do with 4G. AT&T and TMobile have that capability with 3G so that's another reason I was looking at TMobile. At this point, I'm 98% sure I"m getting an Android phone and I'll just have to learn to live with it. I'm just going back forth between phone models. I was also looking at the Motorola Defy for it's ruggedized features but I'm pretty sure whatever I get will be an Android phone.

 

[RoberMR]

Richardh, simultaneous voice and data is a good thing to have. Sprint can only do that with 4G phones. Just make sure that you will get 4G service where you are and need to be.

About email accounts ... I have 2, one with SBCGlobal and one with my personal website with GoDaddy. They both work well with K-9 ... GoDaddy email seems more reliable than SBCGlobal (in partnership with Yahoo). I get some emails through SBCGlobal/Yahoo with strange send dates like 12/../1969. Didn't think we had email in 1969, but who knows ???

I don't know about the other providers, but Sprint has the 30-day money back guarantee, so the downside risk is minimal. I suspect all providers have similar policies. I have been with Sprint since SprintPCS has been invented so I don't have any forst hand experience with the other providers.

Good luck with your decision.

Rob

 

[gldnbear]

richardh,

I use Thunderbird also. I use gContact Sync. It syncs both my phone and Address books on Thunderbird. I use the Lightning calendar with Thunderbird. I have set up a calendar for my wife and I. When one of us creates an appointment, our computers and phones get this appointment added on all the devices. It really helps keeping our schedules organized.

I haven't found a good addon for tasks. I think it is more of an issue with Google calendar. I use Gtasks to sync my phone with Google calendar. So far I haven't had any issue with any of these addons syncing with our phones.

 

[RUSH]

You're absolutely right about the inability to perform certain task. However, these missing features should be brought to your carrier and HTC attention. I've already post this on HTC feedback page, as well as my carrier. The more complaints the faster the solution.

Trash Folder: The stock Gmail and Yahoo app does have an option to empty trash.

 

[Disaster]

On the Wiki for K-9, it says something about K-9 not being able to write to the SD card if you are connected to a computer by USB and viewing the contents. There were a few other issues which led me to believe that it's best to not save K-9 or emails on your SD card. Also, you may need to see what format K-9 saves your emails on the SD card because you might not be able to just take the card out of your phone, plug it into another computer and open the emails unless you have a program that supports the file type.

You can't access any programs on the SD card when you have an Android hooked up to a computer in USB drive mode. This is because the SD card gets unmounted in this mode. I'm not too worried about it because the mail on the phone is just copies of the mail on the server. Also, I rarely hook up my Android to the computer.

 

[rrjjss9]

This has only worked for me one time:

I was able to hit menu - more - select text and then copy and paste my text. Upon trying it again and again and again, I could not access the more menu button. What an I doing wrong?

 

[rrjjss9]

I was able to hit menu and find the more button only once and then I was able to successfully copy and paste email text.

How do I get to the more button? It doesn't come up every time when I hit the menu button.