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Hi,
I'm a bit annoyed by the way the Galaxy S works with Contacts:
All contacts are synced to Gmail instead of My Contacts
Gmail Groups are not synced, all Gmail contacts are in one group
No easy way to convert phone contacts to Google contacts or to merge contacts into a google contact
Essentially, I want to use GMail exclusively to manage contacts and have all of them synced between GMail and the phone.
I would appreciate any suggestions on how to achieve this, or maybe there is a better Contacts app out there?
This is not SGS issue, but the Android platform has been designed in the way that it's cloud computing centralised, in this case, Android phone is just the "client", you still need to maintain your contact in Gmail (web).
I tried delete a GMail contact in the phone, but that action will not delete the Gmail contact in Gmail server, sadly.
I've searched for solutions and found that the first two issues are solved on some phones, but that the Samsung Galaxy does not have the option to change the sync behaviour.
I want to maintain my contacts in GMail, but the problem is that the phone does not respect the GMail groups and it syncs "All contact", which means everyone I ever sent a mail. It should sync "My contacts", which only contains Contacts I created in GMail.
I hoped that there is maybe an alternative contacts app that does what I want.
_Fabian_ said:
I want to maintain my contacts in GMail, but the problem is that the phone does not respect the GMail groups and it syncs "All contact", which means everyone I ever sent a mail. It should sync "My contacts", which only contains Contacts I created in GMail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was also annoyed by that fact. But fortunately you can select to display only contacts with phone numbers associated in the contacts
application.
Just hit menu button while showing the list of contacts -> Display options -> only contacts with phones.
This at least solved my major issue with the google synching. Nice: typeahead in the gmail app still works for all people you ever sent a mail.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Try this , it did the trick for me
_Fabian_ said:
I hoped that there is maybe an alternative contacts app that does what I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried Contacts Evolved in the Market. It is a littly buggy, not even sure if it is actively supported. But it does display Gmail contact groups, segregated in tabs.
The actual syncing is still being done by the brain dead Samsung Contacts app, which cannot be uninstalled. It apparently does download the groups data element from Gmail contacts, but fails to do anything with it.
When I tried jp3 2.2 firmware the google groups showed, looks like it will be fixed in the 2.2 update.
Thanks for the answers. Displaying only contacts with phone numbers helps, and if the group thing is fixed in Froyo, thats alright for me.
Now I only need to convert my phone contacts to Google contacts, there should be an easy options like Phone to SIM and vice versa, but I could not find it. Looks like I may have to do it by hand.
This is like the only bad thing for me. Do more people confirm that it is fixed in Froyo?
I have problems with my calendar. In my google calendar I have more than one calendar on my own, and a couple of shared calendars - but on my galaxy I can only get it to sync ONE of my own calendars, and ONE of my shared calendars.
Does this happen to anyone else.
what are you trying to sync?
i can sync all my calendars and contacts via the Samsung Community Apps
I'm trying to sync to the stock calendar app.
go to settings > accounts and sync
make sure all your accounts listed have a green circle and edit each of them to make sure the sync options are Checked in green
some times they go grey, if they failed too many times
The problem is that they are not all listed.
Apparently other calendars that I can download also use the built-in sync, so my extra calendars are also missing there.
all my addons calendars like holidays and stuff shows up in the sync-ed calendar on the phone
all i do is select whatever i want from google account, then it syncs everything in it
Since updating my Streak to 2.2, I seem to have lost any Calendar which is only visible on the Phone, but which does not synchronise with Google. I am sure that 2.1 had one (called "PC Sync", I think).
(Note: I keep all my data in Outlook. I want to share it with my phone. I do NOT want Google to have any access to it).
When I look in the Calendar application, there is only one Calendar listed (Menu - More - Calendars), which is the one from my linked GMail account. There are 3 options available for that calendar:
1) "synced, visible" - which means that I can see the data in the calendar application, but that it is also synced with my Google account;
2) "synced, not visible" - which means that I can NOT see the data in the calendar application, but that it is still synced with my Google account;
3) "not synced, not visible" - which means that it is not synced with my Google account (great!), but I can't see the data in the calendar application :-(
What I really want is a fourth option "not synced, visible", but this doesn't exist.
I can create new calendars from my PC when logged on to Google (but these have the same set of options on the phone and cannot be set to "not synced, visible"). I cannot find any way of creating a new calendar on the phone itself.
I'm almost ready to give up on Android and go back to WinMo, unless anybody here can help ...
Philip, the standard Android phone will have a native calendar and contact app that is visible. From there, you have the option to sync or not sync each with Google. Please do not give up on Android devices simply because Dell has done things differently than the standard Android device.
There is a solution. You must find a third party vendor that has a calendar provided with their software and install it. You have a requirement that the sync with Outlook does not use Google as the conduit. We must look at the chart at syncdroid dot net with a P under the Calendar column which indicates the have a Provided Calendar app. We see that there are 4 options available for you. MyPhoneExplorer is free, has a very good reputation, and uses USB or Wi-Fi to sync. VCOrganizer Pro has a good reputation and syncs via Wi-Fi. MyLinkAdvanced syncs with USB. CompanionLink for Outlook has a good reputation, free phone and email tech support, has a free 14 day trial and syncs through USB or Wi-Fi. If you would really like to use a wireless sync so the calendar is synced at any time, you can enroll with the $10 per month plan with CompanionLink to send your data with encryption through CompanionLink's servers to your Streak. Since it's encrypted, not even CompanionLink can "see" it.
If you are using Outlook 2010, you may not use MyLinkAdvanced because it is not compatible with Outlook 2010.
One great benefit of most non-native calendars is that you have the ability to search for an item. This is not possible with the native calendar app.
I personally use CompanionLink for Outlook and it works well.
Emperor Crusher said:
the standard Android phone will have a native calendar and contact app that is visible. From there, you have the option to sync or not sync each with Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately that's not quite the full story. As I explained, if I choose NOT to synchronise with Google, then there is no option to actually view my data within the Android Calendar application. (Contacts are not a problem, only the Calendar).
Emperor Crusher said:
There is a solution. You must find a third party vendor that has a calendar provided with their software and install it. You have a requirement that the sync with Outlook does not use Google as the conduit. We must look at the chart at syncdroid dot net with a P under the Calendar column which indicates the have a Provided Calendar app. We see that there are 4 options available for you. MyPhoneExplorer is free, has a very good reputation, and uses USB or Wi-Fi to sync.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm well aware of http://synchdroid.net, but unfortunately the information there is incorrect in respect of MyPhoneExplorer - it does not provide either Calendar or Contact applications on the Andoid platform (I know this because I use MPE to get my data from Outlook to my Dell Streak).
Emperor Crusher said:
VCOrganizer Pro has a good reputation and syncs via Wi-Fi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That has not been my experience with VCO, unfortunately - it duplicated my Contacts and corrupted my Outlook data. You just need to look at the comments in the Android Marketplace to see that many people have had problems with this application. What leads you to believe that it has "a good reputation"?
Emperor Crusher said:
One great benefit of most non-native calendars is that you have the ability to search for an item. This is not possible with the native calendar app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True - but the native application can share its data with other applications (such as CalWidget, which I find very useful).
Suggestions:
Jorte - provides an independent calendar app, can import csv files to get you Outlook data in
Offline Calendar - stand alone calendar app
AnCal - another standalone calendar
Philip,
Let me repeat what I said. The STANDARD ANDROID phone has a Calendar app that remains visible whether or not you sync. Put another way, Dell has made their Streak to be a NON-Standard Android, if what you say is true - and I have no reason to doubt you.
I said that MyPhoneExplorer has a very good reputation, but VCOrganizer just has a good reputation. I see both good and bad about every program on the forums. Comparably, VCOrganizer just has less bad than others, from what I have seen. Your milage may vary.
CompanionLink for Outlook syncs to it's own calendar, but it also syncs that calendar with the native calendar. Now, even if the native calendar is invisible, it stands to reason that the Companionlink DejaOffice Calendar will still sync with it. Therefore, Calwidget will still get information from it. Because Dell has, um, provided you with this opportunity, you can test the free trial of Companionlink to see if this is true.
Philip,
I saw this quote on the FJSoftware forum and they are the developers of MyPhoneExplorer. The answer came from their staff.
Does the app just facilitate syncing or does it contain it's own Calendar and Contact app?
Both. MyPhoneExplorer has basicly its own interface. But you can enable the sync f.e. to Outlook and other apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, that's where I got my information. Perhaps there was some confusion in the translation. I have asked them to clarify this.
MyPhoneExplorer
OK, I think that I understand the confusion.
MyPhoneExplorer maintains its own Contact and Calendar applications on the PC, but not on the (Android) phone, where it uses the native applications.
I think that this stems from its origins as a way to synchronise SonyEricsson phones with a PC, in the days before PIMs like Outlook were widely used.
I have the exact same problem as the OP and I think that most of the suggestions offered here miss the nature of the problem.
At least under GB with CM7 nightlies there is no way to have a standalone calendar that does not sync with Google. You can install AnCal or Offline Calendar and they will maintain their own files, but these are not visible to the standard Android APIs that 3rd party conduits which sync with Outlook rely on. I have verified this on my own phone, where I have three calendars: Personal (GCal), Work (GCal), and AnCal. When you open the stock Calendar app (or at least as stock as CM7 makes it), you ONLY see the two GCal calendars. When you launch the MPE client on the device you ONLY see the two GCal calendars. For app practical purposes AnCal might as well not exist.
Worst of all any attempt to sync with MPE or syncdroid dumps all your Outlook data on Google's servers. If you try to use this software to sync your work calendar you may end up fired for putting unsecured sensitive information in Google's hands. If your company has an exchange server this problem is solved, otherwise you are out of luck.
I am with the OP here.... Android REALLY REALLY needs a "visible, no sync" calendar option. Google cannot be trusted any more than any other corporation to safeguard sensitive data, forcing you to put all your calendar info on the cloud is just ridiculous.
The last bit may be a bug in the CM7 nightlies that may get resolved once the official release comes around. I though that I could work around the problem by turning off calendar sync under "Accounts and Sync" and leaving the calendar as "visible, sync". Since I don't use my GCal for practically anything of value I was ready to sacrifice the sync in order to prevent my work calendar from ending up on Google's servers. Turns out that CM7 ignores the global setting under "Accounts and Sync" and responds to the calendar sync setting in the Calendar app. Hope this is just a temporary bug that gets fixed.
GroovyGeek said:
...
I am with the OP here.... Android REALLY REALLY needs a "visible, no sync" calendar option. Google cannot be trusted any more than any other corporation to safeguard sensitive data, forcing you to put all your calendar info on the cloud is just ridiculous.
The last bit may be a bug in the CM7 nightlies that may get resolved once the official release comes around. I though that I could work around the problem by turning off calendar sync under "Accounts and Sync" and leaving the calendar as "visible, sync". Since I don't use my GCal for practically anything of value I was ready to sacrifice the sync in order to prevent my work calendar from ending up on Google's servers. Turns out that CM7 ignores the global setting under "Accounts and Sync" and responds to the calendar sync setting in the Calendar app. Hope this is just a temporary bug that gets fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you're right - it's not a bug in a particular interim release. Froyo 2.2 does the same thing. There is no "visible, no sync" setting, and the sync settings for the phone are ignored if you want to view your calendar data (because you have to select SOME form of 'visible', which is only 'synced, visible').
Why in the world would Google FORCE you to sync your Calendar data if you want to view it? I agree, that seems rather insane.
- Tim
I imagine quite a few people have set up multiple Android phones for their immediate family, and I'm looking for suggestions.
I have three myTouch 4Gs (one for each family member). We each have our own Google account and we also have a "family" Google account, which I am planning to use for shared contacts and calendars. Each person will also want their own calendar and contacts.
Should I first configure each phone to use the "family" account, and then add each person's "user" account to the phone for contacts and calendar? If I do this will each phone automatically sync the shared contacts & calendar and then the individual user's contacts & calendar?
Can Android handle this or is this a bad idea?
BTW I'm aware that one user can own the calendars and share them with the other users (that's what I do now for the iPhone), but I don't believe the same can be done for contacts, can it?
Thanks ... Mike
Either way, Android can handle multiple Google accounts since 2.x update.
You need to set them up using the one you want as default first. Theres no way to change this afterwards.
@option94 - thanks. What would br the downside of having a particular account be the default? Would it only affect the Market? Or does Gmail always use the default account for sending, even if (say) you are replying to a message sent to your non-default account.
@borodin1 - thanks.
I dont recall who, but someone had an issue with it. I believe it was something to do with calendar. And you are correct about the market.
option94 said:
I dont recall who, but someone had an issue with it. I believe it was something to do with calendar. And you are correct about the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So one more thing occurred to me as I was playing around with these phones trying to get them set up "right" the first time. If all three have the same default Google account, what happens with the "Back up data with my Google Account" option? If enabled, would each phone clobber the others' backup? That wouldn't be good.
Thanks again.
Mike
Thats one that I haven't run into. I would hope that they would all sync with each other, but then you would be sharing contacts and such among all three phones.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to set them up as follows and see how it goes:
All phones - set up "family" Google account first (which means they will all share the same Market account). Sync calendar only. Turn off "Back up data with my Google Account".
Individual phones - set up the individual's Google account second, and sync contacts and mail.
Sounds good. Let us know how it goes.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
Is there a way to clear the Calendar cache without doing a Factory data reset?
I didn't like the idea of the other two family members being able to manage the calendars, so I decided to switch to the following setup (only tried on mine so far):
All phones - set up "family" Google account first (which means they will all share the same Market account). Sync none of calendar, contacts, and mail. Turn off "Back up data with my Google Account".
Individual phones - set up the individual's Google account second, and sync calendar, contacts, and mail.
However ... Even after forcing several syncs and a reboot, the built-in calendar still only lets me choose calendars from the "family" account, not from my individual account. CalWidget lets me choose from both sets of calendars (the "family" set and my individual set, but if I choose my individual set it doesn't display any entries. And Jorte doesn't tell me whether it's getting entries from the "family" or "individual" calendar.
Since the "Family" calendars are shared (read-only) to the individuals they have the same names in both "family" and "individual". I suspect I have confused Android, and am looking for a way to clear out whatever cached information it might have.
Suggestions appreciated.
Thanks ... Mike
wenglish said:
Thanks for the info. I'm going to set them up as follows and see how it goes:
All phones - set up "family" Google account first (which means they will all share the same Market account). Sync calendar only. Turn off "Back up data with my Google Account".
Individual phones - set up the individual's Google account second, and sync contacts and mail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been doing this for a few months. I don't sync anything with the family account though, I just use it for the Market. I would like to know if the Back Up data with my Google Account option will clobber or replicate settings among multiple phones, or if it's smart enough to store the settings and link them to the SIM card ID or something.
Otherwise, it works great.
signal15 - I have run into a problem with the setup I described (and which you are also using I believe). Do you have multiple calendars owned by the "family" (shared) account? If so, are they still displaying OK?
In my case the "family" account has multiple calendars and shares them to the three family members' gmail accounts.
On phone 1 (mine) I am syncing only the calendars in my personal gmail account (which are shared out from the family calendar). Up to last night it worked OK (showing all the calendars), but as of last night all those calendars (except for the default calendar of my personal gmail account and the defaulty calendar of the family account) have disappeared from the phone - I can't see them listed in the settings where you get to see which calendars should be displayed.
Phones 2 and 3 are syncing the calendars in the family gmail account (which is the owner of the calendars), and they are working OK (so far).
One of the annoying aspects of all this is that you're never sure whether something went wrong on the phone, or at Google's end.
I fixed the problem of disappearing calendars, by following steps from the Pimlical forum.
I needed to force stop Calendar Sync Adapter and clear data & force stop Calendar Storage, then do a sync all.
I have my calendars back, but I really don't want to have to be doing this periodically. I really expected better from Google (I'm particularly annoyed at them right now because I recently discovered there's a long-term "functional anomaly" that prevents appointments more than a couple of months old from syncing to the phone).
This won't help with contact syncing but you can share a calendar with full read write privileges with multiple accounts already in google calendar. I believe you have to set it up from the desktop version of the Google calendar website but after that it works perfectly with your phones.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
The standard calendar app doesnt show all calendars. If I add new calendars though there are shown in the standard Calendar app.
Weird enough some third party apps do allow to select all other gmail app calendars, but they are marked as inactive?
How do i get teh calendar to sync all Gmail Apps Calendars?
Weird, when I go into the calendar settings and click calendars, all of them show up.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Riccardo83 said:
The standard calendar app doesnt show all calendars. If I add new calendars though there are shown in the standard Calendar app.
Weird enough some third party apps do allow to select all other gmail app calendars, but they are marked as inactive?
How do i get teh calendar to sync all Gmail Apps Calendars?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With google calender the first time the sync occurs, it happnes with the calenders that are enabled google calendar on the web.
Here is what u can do .
1. Go to google.com/calendar and make all the calendars visible
2. In phone - settings /manage applications delete the data from calendar and calender storage.
3. then settings / accounts and sync - re sync calendar.
Now all the calenders will come in calendar app in phone.
Select the ones that u want.
Thanky you
I tried your method of deleting the data and then re-syncing the accounts. But, now even the main calendar from my google account has disappeared and refuses to show up. Is there something missing here??? Cal widget for example shows all the calendars in its configurations but does not show any of the events from the same.
there is something wrong with the default calendar. I am running stock rom xxki3.
Hi, I had similar issue, i think this is one of known issue on android, I tried "clear data" method, sometimes it may work, sometime it doesnt. I google for solution and I found this temporary workaround would solve the issue, atleast for me..
you may want to try this:-
1. Go to android setting, application (all), clear data on calendar storage (WARNING-this step will wipe all calendar entries which were saved internally on your phone)
2. Go to market, download & install this app called: Business calendar (FREE)
(This app have direct connection to google calendar, which will also download and keep all of your calendars entries (including sub calendars)
3. Open business calendar, login with your gmail account, and it will start sync
(manual: more > sync now) it may take few mins, be patient.
this way, your stock or default calendar will get synced as well automatically...try this out
Thanks for the tip. After selecting the sub-calendars on the app, the default calendar also started recognizing the same. Weird.....
This tips is working.
First time, this doesn't work, I had to erase my google account (by the way to refresh my apps ^^).
But the second time, it worked.
nishadh said:
Thanks for the tip. After selecting the sub-calendars on the app, the default calendar also started recognizing the same. Weird.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is a bug in Samsung Calendar app. The first time the phone synchronize with google calendar, the phone will download all calendars available for the google account. Each calendar has two flags, sync and visible. The first time, all calendars will be flag unsync and hidden (not visible) except our main calendar. After that we can use the calendar app to choose which calendar will be sync and visible. The problem with Samsung Calendar app, if the calendar is flagged as hidden, then the Calendar apps won't recognize the calendar at all, so we can't change the flag to visible. This does not happen with my other phone. So this is not Android bug. I think this bug exist since Samsung Galaxy S. Someone in Galaxy S use sql editor to edit the calendar database. Meanwhile I use Calengoo. Bussiness Calendar can be used as well