Samsung Galaxy s3

Glowrdr

PrazVT wrote: »

Android has Microsoft Exchange Activesync support. I have my Cisco work email and calendar (meetings, etc.) on my S2. It works perfectly.

Maybe this is where my issue lies. Can anyone confirm that ActiveSync works WITHOUT an exchange? While I do use my phone for some work related duty, most of the syncing I do is from my locally installed Outlook at home. I work in IT, so I make all kinds of little notes (from printer reset instructions to door codes in hospitals) - that's why I need the notes support.

I also like having my contacts sync'ed so that if I'm at home - I can just pull up Outlook and get someones number rather than grabbing my cell phone (yes... I do still have a home phone. For $4 a month, why not?)

As for the calander - the wife and I are busy. Almost too busy, so we started keeping track of all "things" in our calander. So this is a shared thing, and the most common, easily accessible place is the PC.

Not that anyone was asking what my needs were, but maybe with this info someone can point me in the right direction to get Android working for me. I do recall that the exchange stuff did work, just not for me. Hell - if it were easy enough, I'd set up an exchange for myself at home just to get things working (Can you make a Pop3 'exchange'?) I've never looked into it, but I have to imagine that it can be done with enough motivation.

rooftop59

Sorry I don't know the answer to the first outlook question, but as for a family calender, we use Cozi. It syncs to all your devices, sends text message reminders (if you want it to), and you can text grocery lists as well, even to dumb-phones. I don;t know if it integrates with outlook, but my wife and I both have our work calenders on our outlook, and anything that is outside work or needs to be shared goes in Cozi. But of course Cozi is an app that can go in iphone or droid phones.

nguyendot

Not sure. Activesync is primarily an enterprise-class sync solution. I've not tried activesync on just a local machine since 6.0 windows mobile. I suppose it's not hard to do, just tie in your Outlook to a Gmail account, and android is natively Gmail so it will tie contacts, calendar, and email all together. Exchange activesync is the way to go, I use that to connect to Gmail, and all the corporate mail I use or set up. My view is probably different since I implement Exchange servers all day and rely heavily on my company's server for mail instead of my own.

Syndil

There is no native Android app for syncing Outlook locally to an Android phone via USB, but in reality, there isn't such a thing for any phone. Even Windows Mobile phones require the installation of an additional piece of software on the PC--Microsoft Activesync--to sync files locally. IMO doesn't really matter who provides the software; it still requires additional software. It's not something any phone can do on its own without help from software on the PC, and IMO it doesn't matter who wrote it as long as it works reliably.

That said, obviously what you need to find is software that will sync Outlook locally to Android--an Android version of Activesync. Google provides a couple of options. There's the free Google calendar sync, which syncs only the Calendar, or if you are paying for Google Apps, they provide an Outlook connector that nicely mimics Exchange. However if you want to sync more than just your calendar and you aren't paying for Google Apps, then you need 3rd-party software.

HTC Sync is the closest thing to Activesync you will find for Android phones. I have used it and many of my clients use it, and it works well. Of course to use it you need an HTC phone, so in that case I'd get the EVO 4G LTE. However it does not sync Outlook Notes or Tasks, last I checked. It's just for Calendar and Contacts. Other options that are not free and sync everything including Notes and Tasks are Companion Link and The Missing Sync.

If you are hosting your own email on your own domain, you could go with either Google Apps or Office 365. Both are subscription services (not free) but they provide you with a cloud-based Exchange server, or in the case of Google Apps, something that works like an Exchange server. With either solution you'd be moving your email to the cloud and syncing your phone with the cloud.

But if you want a free solution that works well with Android without any extra hassle or money, the only answer is Gmail.

If you're wanting a complete Activesync-type solution written by Google, I'd be surprised if that ever happened. I don't think Google would want to step on their 3rd-party developers' toes, so to speak.

Glowrdr

Thanks again for the info. Sounds like I should re-investigate Companion Link or TMS. They were more of a beta product that was riddled with bugs the last time I checked, but again - that was a few years ago.

If Apple would just fess up to the crappy reception these iPhone 4's get, I probably wouldn't even be looking at Android honestly. But I'm afraid to drop any funds to upgrade to (iP5?) and have the same faults. Been with Verizon for 10+ years, never had a problem. Bought an iPhone and now I can't make phone calls from my house.

(and sorry to the OP for hijacking this thread into an "android sync" thread)

evhudsons

I've had the iphone since it came out, but after my iphone died in the rain I looked into the iphone 5 specs to see if it was worth waiting for. Then I saw the droid phones, then found the upcoming now out gs3. At first I didn't like it only because I was not familiar with the new phone. Now, it rocks. The main thing I hated was this "predictive word" in the texting. I found out how to turn it off. This thing rocks, it is super fast, easy to use, and has many user options like the battery and micro sd card. So gigabytes is not an issue. The music sounds vastly better being run out of the gs3 than my iphone 4. My wife has the iphone 4s which is a vast improvement over the 4.

But I am extremely happy with the gs3. The larger screen is much easier on the eyes, and now that I learned to properly hold it the larger size is no problem. It is MUCH lighter, and somewhat thinner than the iphone. My one bucketlist item is the lifeproof waterproof housing for gs3, which now is only available for the iphone. My wife has it and it is a must have for this Islander.

I use the logmein to access my computer, and it is so much easier on the gs3 that I find myself actually working on the phone. The battery issues can be alleviated by turning off needless features, such as the led light, turning down brightness, etc plus it has power saving features. Now my battery lasts longer than my older iphone.

I like the iphone, the main reason for my switch was the screen size. I found that for me it was a wise switch, and I'm happy with it. But I won't be an iphone basher.

Mike Kozak

Getting mine today after work, CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!! got a Samsung Galaxy S 4g for sale....

Syndil

Glowrdr wrote: »

Been with Verizon for 10+ years, never had a problem. Bought an iPhone and now I can't make phone calls from my house.

I know if you have problems like that with Sprint, they will sometimes offer you a Sprint Airrave--basically you hook it up to your Internet access and it acts like a small cell tower in your house. Verizon has a similar item called the Verizon Network Extender:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/verizon-network-extender.shtml

It costs $249 (no monthly fees) but again, if they're like Sprint, complain loud enough and they will send you one for free. Then again VZW isn't much like Sprint, so maybe they won't. Just a thought.

evhudsons

We had ATT&T but switched to Verizon because we dropped so many calls at home. My wife complained loudly, of course, and they sent an extender for free too. It only amplifies what it already receives which was not enough. With Verizon our coverage is incredible, at least locally here. Each service has it's plus and minuses.

Glowrdr

I actually have the Verizon Extender. I'd say it works as advertised for 70% of the time. The 2 main drawbacks of it are 1) you need to have GPS lock for it to work properly (my windows are coated, so I physically have to open the window to get a lock), and 2) you can make a call from the extender, but if you are outside the home and make a call, you cannot join the extender. This means that if I'm on the phone when I pull into the garage, I need to call the person back. This happens 2-3 times a week minimum.

I do think Verizon is still my best option, I'm blaming the phone. Wife and friends have no issues here. Just me. Just lucky 'ol me. I got the Extender for free, and they even gave me an iPhone bumper for free as well "even though there never was an issue with the antenna design"

Syndil

Oh, well so much for that idea then. Sprint's Airrave is the same device, I'm pretty sure. Both made by Samsung anyway. I can see why you might want a different phone then.

Too bad VZW didn't get a version of the HTC One X. They do have the Galaxy S3, however. (I still like the Evo/One X better)