Who's using My Phone Explorer to Sync with Outlook?

[CatB]

Please, I am DYING to know about your experience! I have really had it with HTC Sync and can't take it anymore!!! I have been syncing ok for the last few months but now, every time I connect, I get the "cannot copy calendar events" message!

I need an easier, more reliable way to sync my Outlook calendar...please! Let me know your feedback on this program and how it has worked with your Thunderbolt.

Also, do you need to install this directly onto your device or from your PC, then device via USB?

FYI, currently operating Outloolk 2007 on my PC.

Thanks!
Cat

 

[defcon999]

Please, I am DYING to know about your experience! I have really had it with HTC Sync and can't take it anymore!!! I have been syncing ok for the last few months but now, every time I connect, I get the "cannot copy calendar events" message!

I need an easier, more reliable way to sync my Outlook calendar...please! Let me know your feedback on this program and how it has worked with your Thunderbolt.

Also, do you need to install this directly onto your device or from your PC, then device via USB?

FYI, currently operating Outloolk 2007 on my PC.

Thanks!
Cat

Try this link http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955.

I have tried HTC Sync and hated it, so I haven't used it since, also because I have everything linked in my Google Calendar online. I did use this with my old WinMo phone 2 years ago.

 

[CatB]

Try this link http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955.

I have tried HTC Sync and hated it, so I haven't used it since, also because I have everything linked in my Google Calendar online. I did use this with my old WinMo phone 2 years ago.

I should have mentioned that when I first got a Droid a few years ago, I used Google Sync and really did not like it. I don't recall why but I felt like it did not work seamlessly at all with Outlook.

Any other suggestions?

 

[bosscib]

Is there a reason why you can't just sync your Outlook account on your phone? I use My Phone Explorer for transferring files. I've never used it for syncing, but it's a pretty neat app. You install it on both your phone and computer. You actually don't need any cables if your phone and computer are both connected to the same network.

 

[CatB]

Is there a reason why you can't just sync your Outlook account on your phone? I use My Phone Explorer for transferring files. I've never used it for syncing, but it's a pretty neat app. You install it on both your phone and computer. You actually don't need any cables if your phone and computer are both connected to the same network.

Please excuse my ignorance but I still feel like a newbie to all this, so I am not sure 100% what you are referring to. :-[

Basically, what I need is to be able to sync my Outlook calendar and contacts on my home PC to my HTC Thundebolt and vice versa (be able to add appts to my Outlook on my PC that I have added throughout the day on my device). I would like to be able to do this relatively easily (which HTC Sync used to be, but no more!). Would this app that you are speaking of serve that purpose and is it fairly "idiot-proof" for a newbie like myself?

 

[bosscib]

Depending on who your email account is through, you should be able to sync it automatically on your phone. From the home screen click Menu/Settings/Accounts & Sync/Add Account/Exchange Active Sync. If it's an email account for work, they should be able to give you the configurations. If it's through your ISP (Verizon, Comcast, etc.) just Google Outlook settings for that provider and it should give you all the configurations you need to set it up.

 

[danlintz]

I have been using gSyncit for about a year and it is set it and forget it.
Great support too.

 

[Jo5329]

I have been able to sync my TB once since purchasing it with my laptop to my Outlook ... since then it has been an utter failure.

I finally gave up. And yes, my email will come through to my phone, but the contacts and calendar do not - I have to get those by syncing, which does not work.

I feel your pain. I moved everything to my Google account. Saves on nerve medication or alcohol

 

[Bakerboy2253]

Look into "touchdown". I have been using it for about a year. It's great and sync's everything including notes, with outlook.

I hear K9 is also good, but have never tried it.

 

[oberkc]

Quote

I used Google Sync and really did not like it. I don't recall why but I felt like it did not work seamlessly at all with Outlook..

Perhaps the reason was the same that caused me a bit ofdisappointment: the outlook-->google connection did not include contacts (or was it calendar?)

I second the suggestion from danlintz....gsyncit. This keeps outlook and google synced well. Android phones naturally wants to stay synced with google. Everyone is happy. Especially since it sounds as if you already use a google email account.

I assume that sharing this data with google is NOT a concern.

 

[hmfoster]

I have been using HTC sync for my outlook 2007 both contacts and calendar since I got my TB and no problems. You can call HTC 866-963-0953 and they are very good about helping with issues.

 

[CatB]

Depending on who your email account is through, you should be able to sync it automatically on your phone. From the home screen click Menu/Settings/Accounts & Sync/Add Account/Exchange Active Sync. If it's an email account for work, they should be able to give you the configurations. If it's through your ISP (Verizon, Comcast, etc.) just Google Outlook settings for that provider and it should give you all the configurations you need to set it up.

email is not an issue for me, as I believe that is a separate issue from syncing calendar and contacts. I just set up an account, and my POP3 email is pushed through, almost live time. Works fine, no problems. It is the syncing of calendar events that is my issue.

 

[CatB]

I have been using HTC sync for my outlook 2007 both contacts and calendar since I got my TB and no problems. You can call HTC 866-963-0953 and they are very good about helping with issues.

Truthfully, I have been on the phone with them more times than I care to admit and half the time, I need to get through 3 people that know less about this stuff than me (and that is saying something!) and by the time I reach someone with half a clue, they are really just going down the list of all the other things I have already tried. Not having a lot of faith in them these days.

 

[CatB]

Quote

I used Google Sync and really did not like it. I don't recall why but I felt like it did not work seamlessly at all with Outlook..

Perhaps the reason was the same that caused me a bit ofdisappointment: the outlook-->google connection did not include contacts (or was it calendar?)

I second the suggestion from danlintz....gsyncit. This keeps outlook and google synced well. Android phones naturally wants to stay synced with google. Everyone is happy. Especially since it sounds as if you already use a google email account.

I assume that sharing this data with google is NOT a concern.

Well, it might have been because of contact syncing, honestly, I do not remember why I was soured on Google syncing.

I do have a google account but I do not use it for email and really do not want to. I have my personal email account and address, I like it and don;t want to change it. Right now I have my email pushed through to my TB and it works just fine. It is the calendar and contacts syncing that I need a solid solution to.

FYI, I really do NOT like the idea of having all my appointments shared with Google, available for people to see if they are interested enough, since you asked. Perhaps that was one of the turnoffs for me, as I really value privacy.

So, suggestions?

 

[Mortiel]

Well, it might have been because of contact syncing, honestly, I do not remember why I was soured on Google syncing.

I do have a google account but I do not use it for email and really do not want to. I have my personal email account and address, I like it and don;t want to change it. Right now I have my email pushed through to my TB and it works just fine. It is the calendar and contacts syncing that I need a solid solution to.

FYI, I really do NOT like the idea of having all my appointments shared with Google, available for people to see if they are interested enough, since you asked. Perhaps that was one of the turnoffs for me, as I really value privacy.

So, suggestions?

I would recommend a local sync of some kind then, as anything else involves your private data syncing over the internet in some way, and could potentially be compromised. You honestly have the least chance of Google data being spied on than any other online server, sans Blackberry Enterprise, unless you give out your Gmail password to everyone. While Android may be open-source, do you really think Google got to be a billion dollar corporation by giving away all their infomation?

Honestly, if you have an Android phone, Google will always be you best option for syncing data. I have my Google calendar synced with my Outlook with 0 issues with Google Calendar Sync. All my contacts are on Gmail already, and if I am adding contacts to my phone, they are going to my Gmail anyway.

While you can choose whatever solution fits your needs best, my personal recommendation is to download Google Calendar Sync to your computer and import your contacts into Gmail. That's only a recommendation.

 

[CatB]

I would recommend a local sync of some kind then, as anything else involves your private data syncing over the internet in some way, and could potentially be compromised. You honestly have the least chance of Google data being spied on than any other online server, sans Blackberry Enterprise, unless you give out your Gmail password to everyone. While Android may be open-source, do you really think Google got to be a billion dollar corporation by giving away all their infomation?

Honestly, if you have an Android phone, Google will always be you best option for syncing data. I have my Google calendar synced with my Outlook with 0 issues with Google Calendar Sync. All my contacts are on Gmail already, and if I am adding contacts to my phone, they are going to my Gmail anyway.

While you can choose whatever solution fits your needs best, my personal recommendation is to download Google Calendar Sync to your computer and import your contacts into Gmail. That's only a recommendation.

Well, it's not as if I am documenting my next appt with my Russian spy contact, so maybe I should stop being paranoid and give Google calendar another try.

So let me ask you this: right now, I have appts on my device going back a year. In Outlook on my PC, my appts go back several years and I would like to keep it that way, as I save these for "nostalgic" reasons (i,e, where I was 5 New Years' Eves ago, when the kids first started school, etc).

1) When I set up Google calendar, and I sync, how far back will Google go with appts., and how can I go?

2) If there are some changes on my phone (like I added 2 appts while on the road), and there are some new appts that I added on my PC, will Google calendar be able to pick up all changes and accurately sync b/t the phone and my Outlook calendar and not create duplicates?

3) Will all this work easily on my phone if i am also using a 3rd party PIM manager, like Pocket Informant?

4) How do I import contacts into google from Outlook, esp. without creating duplicates???

Any details you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for getting me to consider this approach again. I am really getting sick of the whole USB connection for syncing!

Cat

 

[bosscib]

I just checked and it looks like My Phone Explorer handles automatic syncing of both calendar and contacts from Outlook. And like I said before if your phone and computer are on the same network you can connect through WiFi, so no cables.

 

[Mortiel]

Well, it's not as if I am documenting my next appt with my Russian spy contact, so maybe I should stop being paranoid and give Google calendar another try.

So let me ask you this: right now, I have appts on my device going back a year. In Outlook on my PC, my appts go back several years and I would like to keep it that way, as I save these for "nostalgic" reasons (i,e, where I was 5 New Years' Eves ago, when the kids first started school, etc).

1) When I set up Google calendar, and I sync, how far back will Google go with appts., and how can I go?

2) If there are some changes on my phone (like I added 2 appts while on the road), and there are some new appts that I added on my PC, will Google calendar be able to pick up all changes and accurately sync b/t the phone and my Outlook calendar and not create duplicates?

3) Will all this work easily on my phone if i am also using a 3rd party PIM manager, like Pocket Informant?

4) How do I import contacts into google from Outlook, esp. without creating duplicates???

Any details you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for getting me to consider this approach again. I am really getting sick of the whole USB connection for syncing!

Cat

Spasiba, tovarisch!

1) From what I have seen, there is no stated limit to how far back. I may be wrong, and it may be only present/future events, but I have added information for previous events from a few months back and it synced.

2) Syncing is *supposed* to detect the newer of the two events, and delete the older. I have actually not had any duplication in my calendar due to syncing with Outlook. If I create one on my phone, then 5 minutes later create one on Outlook, the Outlook prevails. Now, if only I could get my phone to permanently ignore my accursed Facebook calendar, I'd be set.

3) Google Calendar Sync (GCS) does nothing on your phone. GCS is a program you install on your computer that syncs calendar information on a fixed interval or on-demand basis with Outlook via an internet connection to the online-based Google Calendar. Google Calendar already syncs to your phone on a push transfer.

4) If Outlook contacts are not already on your phone, you simply export your Outlook contacts to a .csv file, then import them onto the Gmail website. Gmail also does have an ability on the website to attempt to detect and merge duplicate contacts.

If they are already on your phone, you can manually delete them or unsync the account that has the contacts if available. I had to clean out about 1,500 contacts that were on my Backup Assistant.

There is more benefits to having contacts/calendar solely on Google. Google supports contact/calendar syncing to all major smartphones... Android, iOS, Blackberry, WP7, webOS. Its like Backup Assistant, only not just for Verizon Wireless, and Backup Assistant is not supported on some smartphones (i.e. Motorola Droid 1, Palm Pre, etc.). Although it is NOT supported on Windows Mobile 6 and previous... my advice on that? Get a newer smartphone! Lol

 

[sabato]

Look into "touchdown". I have been using it for about a year. It's great and sync's everything including notes, with outlook..

Same here. Touchdown has been great on my TB.

 

[CatB]

Spasiba, tovarisch!

1) From what I have seen, there is no stated limit to how far back. I may be wrong, and it may be only present/future events, but I have added information for previous events from a few months back and it synced.

Can anyone else here speak to this? I would not be interested in using a syncing system or calendar that would not allow me to store events/dates as far back or as far ahead as I would like to.

There is more benefits to having contacts/calendar solely on Google. Google supports contact/calendar syncing to all major smartphones... Android, iOS, Blackberry, WP7, webOS.

So I guess the way I am syncing, via USB cable with HTC sync is a bit "old school", huh?:-[