Database Users

SyncMyCal & Google Calendar

I've been trying for months to reliably sync my Wizard to Google's Calendar, and I must have tried every app out there for the purpose. Today I stumbled on SyncMyCal, and I think I've found a winner.
I did have trouble with an annually recurring event, but this seems to be an issue with how Outlook formats things. At least SyncMyCal gave a useful error message, and I was able to also resolve the problem. This issue may have also been the cause of some problems I had with other applications, but none of them gave enough info to find the root cause.
The free version is limited to only three days forward and back, and doesn't autosync, but that's fair. If you want more, there is a paid version.
I don't have any connection with these guys, I just posted this to save others some of the wasted time I invested looking for a solution.
***** UPDATE: Having used this program for six weeks, I'm withdrawing my endorsement, and have deleted it from my Wizard. Although it is somewhat better than others, it is still to flaky to be reliable, deleting some events, duplicating others, and changing the times on still others.
Back to searching

I've been using GooSync for a couple of months. I don't update my events on Google--just on the PPC then sync. It was spotty with recurring events, but has gotten better lately. I also use the contacts sync one way as well. Either I or Goosync has duplicated all the entries once. There was also one time where ALL the contacts and calendar entries were wiped out! I never figured out who was at fault then. I've been using various sync software for a decade and there never seems to be a solution that works right and then keeps on working right.
I think I paid around 20 bucks for a years service. I have to say, they are getting better rapidly. I would try SyncMyCal, but the contacts sync is REALLY what I want....
What is killing my Wing is the size of the pim.vol file, 4.72 mb's and growing. I have deleted all the voice tags and only have ~10 contact photos (resized for the web with CS3, ~7-11kb each.) I pisses me off that I can't move that file to a storage card. What the hell is the use a PPC that limits how many peeps you know or do business with. That makes voice commands and photo contacts useless! I know, I know-- I should get a Tilt-- but that's just a temporary solution. Anyone know of a contacts program that stores it's data on a card?

Google Calendar Sync
5 March 2008 Google Calendar Sync allows you to sync events between Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook Calendar.
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955&
You can now access your Google Calendar account from your mobile phone! Just visit mobile.google.com/calendar/ with your phone's web browser and once you're logged in, you'll see your list of upcoming events with date and time information in an easy-to-browse format.
Cheers
Tom

Not Helpful
Several major problems with the last post. First, the URL listed for sync info is garbled.
Second, it only works if you have a Widoze desktop. I'm running Linux.
Finally, using the mobile web interface doesn't allow you to edit or delete events, so it's of very limited use.

klausner said:
First, the URL listed for sync info is garbled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
URL link fixed - thanks for pointing this out. Note the Bboard truncates the display but now the link works. If not, try a search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Google+Calendar+Sync
klausner said:
Second, it only works if you have a Widoze desktop. I'm running Linux.
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Click to collapse
Agree but none of the posts mention Linux. In fact the first post mentions "issue with how Outlook formats things"
klausner said:
Finally, using the mobile web interface doesn't allow you to edit or delete events, so it's of very limited use.
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Click to collapse
The mobile web interface does allow you to ADD events and has a bandwith friendly view of the next few appointments. Nobody in xda-developers forum had mentioned either mobile.google.com/calendar or indeed the new Google Calendar Sync before me.
klausner said:
Several major problems with the last post.
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Click to collapse
I don't think these are "major" problems or warrant a rating of "Not Helpful". I shared the pain of the first two posters who "must have tried every app out there" that "duplicated" or "wiped out!" all the entries . Like them, I "just posted this to save others some of the wasted time I invested looking for a solution."
Cheers
Tom

Contact Issues...

I imported my used activesync with my google (gmail) account to sync up my contacts, calendar and email. The contacts all came through but were showing up as last name, first name. I wanted them to show up as first name, last name so I started looking around. I found the "app" contact changer mentioned on here and then grabbed it off XDA. It went through and said it changed my contacts. I found that they were all changed properly. After time though, not sure if it just when the phones dies or reboots, some of the contacts change back to last name, first again. It seems random which contacts are reverting, but all of the "facebook linked" contacts reverted plus some more random ones. I can go in and run contact changer again, or go in and manually change them but this seems to make the contact changer app useless if I have to run it all the time.
Any thoughts on what is causing this problem? From what I can tell the contacts in my Google contacts list are named properly, with the first name and last name in the proper field.
I am running T-mobile stock rom, and have not ever synced up with outlook on the PC (just using gmail via server on activesync).
Thanks for any help.
UPDATE: I just ran contact changer and then rebooted my phone (actually popped battery out) and the contacts did not revert. I then ran a sync via activesync and the contacts reverted. :-(

even though the way they are displayed is correct the system still manages them last-first, so if you create a new one after running the cab it will default to last first unless you specify differently in the drop down.this may be why they change when you sync fb.
it also helps (if you are using outlook on the pc) to have outlooks defaults changed to first-last.

Thanks for the tip. I am trying to avoid hooking up to the PC with outlook but I may end up having to. The contacts that are reverting are not new ones. Also it is not only the FB contacts that are reverting back, there are some other random ones that are doing it as well. Very strange. I am guessing it is just a normal WM quirk that I will have to find a workaround.

NickPDX said:
Thanks for the tip. I am trying to avoid hooking up to the PC with outlook but I may end up having to. The contacts that are reverting are not new ones. Also it is not only the FB contacts that are reverting back, there are some other random ones that are doing it as well. Very strange. I am guessing it is just a normal WM quirk that I will have to find a workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you do have access to outlook on a pc, i can HIGHLY recommend it as your main method of contact/calendar backup/restore.
I've been using it as my phone backup for years, and it cuts both ways, , , pc goes down? all your outlook contacts gone? no worries! theyre on your phone! Phone goes down? no worris, theyre on the pc!. hehe.
plus with outlook it saves every single field, so your facebook links and favourite poeple is saved, (yes i know that also happens on myphone and whatever, but how often are those services down? )

[Q] Vibrant erases Google Calendar entries. Help?

I need some help. I've had my phone for almost 2 weeks. Beginning a couple of days ago, my phone is erasing google calendar entries.
What's particularly strange is that when I enter google calendar entries into the phone, the entries sync with my google account. The entries remain visible on the google account, but are not visible on the phone.
If I enter the calendar entry on google directly, it will appear and remain on my phone. So the problem is strictly with google calendar entries entered on the phone. They sync and then disappear.

I'm having this problem as well, but only for one of my secondary google calendars. Very frustrating. I'm thinking that using stock calendar might fix this...

FYI I just took a look at mine... calendar entries created on the web but edited on the phone do not seem to be affected. Can you confirm?

I too am having a similar problem (I use Google Calendar on the desktop, and my Vibrant calendar is synced to Gcal as well). I haven't had time to test out all the permutations, but the basic issue is: when I "Edit" a repeating event on the phone, and then hit "Save," the event disappears instantly (from both the phone's calendar and desktop Gcal). It doesn't matter whether I actually made any changes while editing -- it's just the Edit and Save that does it.
Once or twice, the event has magically reappeared a little while later -- but generally it does not.
I have also had the opposite thing happen: I've edited a repeating event and ended up with a DUPLICATE event (also repeating) on the calendar -- same event, same details, just one day earlier than the "real" event (which is still there).
Don't know if this detail is significant (again, I haven't tested rigorously), but it has been YEARLY repeating events (birthdays) which have been duplicated, and MONTHLY repeating events which have been deleted.
The only "solution" I've arrived at is to only edit events (or at least repeating ones) from the desktop, and not the phone (...and hope this bug is fixed in an update?).
(By the way, all my events have been created on desktop Gcal directly; so I can't speak to how creating events on the phone may play into this.)

One thing that's actually worked for me is to rename the calendar my phone kicks out. I've found that when I do that, things magically reappear. Currently, I'm on #4.

magerton said:
One thing that's actually worked for me is to rename the calendar my phone kicks out.
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Click to collapse
Interesting, thanks -- can you elaborate? (I went to Calendar settings, but can't figure out how to change names -- there's just "My Calendar," which I don't use, and the Google calendar.)

Yup -- I actually changed the name in the desktop/web client, not on the phone. It took a bit for the updated calendar to push to the phone, but once it did, everything was peachy again.

magerton said:
Yup -- I actually changed the name in the desktop/web client, not on the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried this and no fixy...
Does anyone else have the same problem I'm having? You "Edit" a repeating Gcal event on the phone, and it just disappears (from both phone and desktop) when you hit Save? (Even if you made no changes?)

I'm sure everyone's probably aware of this, but you never know (it took me a week to figure it out)...
The Samsung Calendar defaults to "My Calendar" and not your Google Calendar like every other Android phone, so that any new event created is created in "My Calendar" unless you select to create the event in your Google calendar every single time you make a new event. This can not be changed and is the case EVEN IF THE CALENDAR IS SET TO NOT DISPLAY "MY CALENDAR." (which is, possibly, the worst case of software design I can think of in recent memory).
There is an easy fix for this: use pretty much any other of the many free or inexpensive calendar apps. The Samsung Calendar blows. And this is coming froma guy that generally likes most of the other Touchwiz stuff.

I assume other calendar apps will sync easy with Gcal (it's just ActiveSync, right)? Any in particular you recommend? Thanx

I've been using Gemini Calendar for a few weeks. Takes some getting used to and it kinda ugly, but it's got plenty of customizations.

[Q] New HD2 Owner with questions

I just picked up my new (T-mobile) HTC HD2, replacing my iPhone.
As nice as it is the HD2 seems far more complicated to use than the old iPhone.
I have 3 major issues I'm trying to fix and hope someone with more experience can advice me.
1-When making or recieving calls, I find it really hard to hear clearly. I'm not hard of hearing but the speaker seems way under powered. In a slightly noisey environment I have to switch to speaker to hear the caller !!
2-For some crazy reason I can only set 3 alarms, which is driving me mad. I have to keep my old iphone next to my bed to use it's alarms ( I work varied shift times )
3-After finally rearranging all my contacts to HDC happy ( no way of multiple, first name first changes ) I want to import all the birthdays into the calander. Is this possible ? In addition, I have linked many of my contacts to facebook, but the pictures randomly dissappear and I have to add them again. Can I save the complete address book so I can simply reload instead of having to update every picture when they dissappear next time ?
Any suggestions are warmly recieved.

there's an app out there that will add all the birthdays to the calendar. alternatively, if you sync your phone with Outlook on your PC it will add them to the calendar as well.

To answer your first problem, have you increased the call volumne to the maximum whilst on a call with someone? Just hit the volume rocker UP to do so.
And the second, WinMo only natively supports 3 alarms, but there are many programs out there that allow an unlimited ammount. Search the web for "Windows Mobile Alarm Programs" and you should find what you need. I would recommend bookmarking Http://www.pocketpcfreeware.com as well as http://www.freewarepocketpc.com. They have LOADS of useful programs for WinMo, and, as their names suggest, its all freeware stuff.
And three, like xnifex said, there are programs available on the net to sync birthdays and such, or you can use Outlook. Both will require you to manually enter the birthdays in the first time on your device, so you may just have to bite the bullet on this one and spend a half hour entering data. Good thing the keyboard is bigger than the iPhone eh?

Thanks for the advice.
1- Call volume. When I set the phone volume to max in the settings I assumed this ment call volume, however now I realize I have to use the volume control actually during a call to change the volume. Problem fixed
2- Only 3 alarms. Kinda solved. I have installed a great app G-Alarm. Nice simple and well programmed. However It's still sad that I have the alarm logo under the time (desktop) that is useless. Can this icon be linked to my new alarm clock app instead of the standard one ?
3- Calander linking to address book. Yet to download an app for this, but I'm sure it'll be easy to find.
Slowly getting the hang of WM 6.5, still many other teathing problems though.
Thanks again for your help
3-

Can this icon be linked to my new alarm clock app instead of the standard one ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cookies home tab mod will alter your life, and allow you to remap the various home screen sections to whatever program you want. Dont forget to get the CHTEditor too.

As samsamuel says if you want to keep the phone stock you should go with CHT...otherwise find a custom rom that fill your needs...or an android build....

Great tip, thanks for that Sam. Starting to get my HD2 the way I want it.

ARRRRRRRRRRRR
After spending several hours manually changing the first name first (No automatic ordering option).
I finally got it to sync and backup all my contacts to gmail. I added a few new pics, using my PC, then after updating I synced again. Only to find the whole name ordering has gone back to what it was before.
Now, randomly I get first name first and randomly last name first. Do I seriously have to spend another few hours editing each contact only to find next time I sync it will **** it all up again for me ?

If your contacts are messed up I find easier to export as a CSV and then edit everthing in Excel. You can use this for adding mass changes and also to put in multiple calendar reminders. Then when done import it back into Outlook.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

perrygraf said:
ARRRRRRRRRRRR
After spending several hours manually changing the first name first (No automatic ordering option).
I finally got it to sync and backup all my contacts to gmail. I added a few new pics, using my PC, then after updating I synced again. Only to find the whole name ordering has gone back to what it was before.
Now, randomly I get first name first and randomly last name first. Do I seriously have to spend another few hours editing each contact only to find next time I sync it will **** it all up again for me ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spent 3 months learning how to tweak and setup my leo, very frustrating yet necessary process.
Now my system is fully customized to my liking.
Hang in there, it's worth the hassle!

perrygraf said:
ARRRRRRRRRRRR
After spending several hours manually changing the first name first (No automatic ordering option).
I finally got it to sync and backup all my contacts to gmail. I added a few new pics, using my PC, then after updating I synced again. Only to find the whole name ordering has gone back to what it was before.
Now, randomly I get first name first and randomly last name first. Do I seriously have to spend another few hours editing each contact only to find next time I sync it will **** it all up again for me ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
look for contact changer (its in the marketplace i think,) and make sure that your sync options are set to update in both directions.

I'm sure you're right Sam, but right now it's hours after painful hours of trying to get an out of the box product to work. I loved the apps you suggested, they certainly made it more flexible. Thanks for helping me sort alot of problems.
What I don't understand is why only some of the contacts have changed back to last name first. When I view the contacts they all show the correct first name and surname.
And 1 more thing. I managed to link my contacts birthdays into gmail calendar but it does not update my phones calendar when I sync.

perrygraf said:
What I don't understand is why only some of the contacts have changed back to last name first. When I view the contacts they all show the correct first name and surname.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its probably something like both the first and last both being in the same field, both in the first name, perhaps.
And 1 more thing. I managed to link my contacts birthdays into gmail calendar but it does not update my phones calendar when I sync.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try Manila Birthdays which will read your contacts birthdays, and allow you to enter them into your calendar. I have read of birthdays being an issue, but mine are already there through outlook, so i never had to solve it.

Thanks again Sam. Manila Birthdays, wicked app, love it.
I've also been playing with an app called mobiwee (http://www.mobiwee.com/), a great phone tracking and wireless file manager app
Worth a look if you're interested.
Cheers again Sam

Exchange Sync unreliable, almost useless

Hey guys
first off, I know all the BS posts i'm going to get so let me head them off right now:
- i'm working and living in exactly the same locations
- i've had Android 2.3.3 on my HD2 and this issue has not occured
- i've used Windows Phone 7 and this issue has not occured
- both my Exchange server configs has NOT changed at all
- i'm working and living in exactly the same locations
OK so, something I personaly have experienced is really poor Exchange sync with this phone. I have contacts sitting on my laptop (Outlook), PC at home (Outlook) and on OWA on my server which are just not coming down to the phone, no matter how many times I reboot. Thing is, and this makes this hard to solve, its only a few of them - in fact, VERY few of them.
I've also noticed Emails are sometimes very slow to appear on the phone from either of my two hosted accounts even though they are both set to push on peak and off peak schedules.
Baseband - I9100XXKDH
Kernal - [email protected]#2
Build - GINGERBREAD.XWKDD
I am new to this Android malarky so it could be something i'm doing (?) or there might be a newer firmware out there by now but, with the strange naming convention I don't really know.
Not sure if anyone else has seen this? Any clues? Any newer firmware?
Thanks in advance!!

Just to summarize
- You can sync alot of the contacts from the server to your phone, but not all.
- Those you can sync, are those consistently working fine (ie if you make any changes to them server-side, are those changes always synced to the phone)?
- The few contacts that cannot be synced, can you see any differences between them and the ones that do sync (the info added to them, certain symbols used, or similar)?
If you edit one of the contacts not synced, and remove all the info from them except for the name "a" and possibly the phone number 012345, does this in any way change the sync behavior?
- If you add a new contact, and give it exactly the same info as one of the unsyncable contacts, does that sync aswell, or does it also not sync to the phone?
- Probably not the case, and I'm not sure about behaviors across several different phone all running 2.3.3, but are your contacts all in the same folder on the server, or have you sorted them into different folders?
- Try adding your Gmail account, or a gmail account, to your phone as a new exchange account, and see if the same unsyncable outlook contacts, if you could possibly export them from your outlook and import them into your Gmail account, also fail when synced from the Google servers.
- try downloading either NitroDesk touchdown or RoadSync from the market, and try adding the same account to either of those and see if the behavior changes. Atleast that will show if the problem is general with the server, or if it seems to be only the stock/samsung exchange client causing this in some way.
Not sure at all what is going on, but some of the above might give some results that are useful.

TechNoir said:
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, JUST before your post came it I discovered a tick box that corrected everything! Some how I had turned off Sync'ing but yet that still enabled mail!? I honestly couldn't remember how I got there or where it was, sorry
Although that doesn't explain why mail is unreliable....
Thank you for your detailed steps though! I hope they come in useful for someone

I'd imagine the Samsung e-mail app is just an overlay on the native Android client. All my Android phones have worked great with Exchange. If Samsung completely re-wrote the e-mail client and it doesn't work I'll be distraught. I rely on Exchange heavily and think TD sucks because it flattens the databases.

To be fair to it, it does work now ... maybe the tick box I discovered will encourage mail to be a little more prompt
For me it was Unuseable if I could not reliably sync contacts and schedule... which looks like I now can.

...and Tasks, which is an unexpected bonus for me!
I've been impressed with the speed with which the phone handles data, even on non-3G networks. No problems with Exchange either.
All good so far, in fact.
Worth adding a [SOLVED] to the title of the thread?

Gustopher said:
...and Tasks...
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Click to collapse
I know, I'm thrilled. I read somewhere that Samsung really sweated the details on the Exchange app. In addition to tasks, it's supposed to be able to use the company directory and do a calender busy search. There's also Citrix integration and a lot of VPN feautres they've added to the phone. I'm guessing, especially in the U.S., that high-volume corporate accounts are going to be a big audience for the phone which is why Samsung included so many upgraded connectivity features.

Monty Burns said:
Sorry, JUST before your post came it I discovered a tick box that corrected everything! Some how I had turned off Sync'ing but yet that still enabled mail!? I honestly couldn't remember how I got there or where it was, sorry
Although that doesn't explain why mail is unreliable....
Thank you for your detailed steps though! I hope they come in useful for someone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems at all mate, glad you got it working.