I'm hoping someone can correct me on this, but having spent a week trying to connect with HTC Sync and posting numerous RFIs around forums I seem to have reached an inconvenient truth (for me anyway).
You cannot sync, and keep in sync, a single data set between the Desire, Google online and Outlook on the desktop.
Contacts and Calendar data are categorized in either "Google" or "Phone" accounts on Android.
Data in the Google account will only sync with the "Google" cloud and data in the "Phone" account will only sync with Outlook on the desktop through HTC Sync - never the twain shall meet.
So if all my contacts (and Calendar items) are "Google" contacts / events (as they are in my case as I pulled them down from my Google online account) they will not sync with Outlook and if all my contacts are "Phone" contacts (as would be the case if they came from an Outlook sync) they will not sync with Google.
This apparently leaves me with 2 data sets to manage - if I add a calendar entry / contact to the "Phone" account on the Desire (which if I remember rightly was the default) it will not appear on my Google calendar / contacts. I have to add a separate entry and attribute it to the Google account. And vice versa.
This is important for anyone who is not prepared / able to rely on the cloud to manage their data and doesn't want to have to enter it in duplicate on the Desire - I wish I'd known about it anyway.
I'm otherwise a big fan of the phone (and stuck with it for a year) so it looks I'm going to have to "give in to Google" - like that's not what they wanted when they crippled syncing.
Although the "Google Calendar Sync" app they provide does a good job of linking Outlook to online Google calendars, they don't provide a similar tool for contacts (and none of the free alternatives I have tried actually work afaik).
So I have to dump Outlook (not a bad thing) and move to Thunderbird with the Lightning calendar extension.
The TB "Provider" extension lets me sync with my Google Calendar online and the Zindus one lets me sync contacts. Which then sync with the Google account on my phone.
It works well but leaves me with no way to manage either through a direct connection to my PC.
What is the point of HTC Sync then?
Mark One said:
Although the "Google Calendar Sync" app they provide does a good job of linking Outlook to online Google calendars....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or maybe not:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Calendar/thread?tid=2ea3bd8c9b0c61da&hl=en
Related
Right, this is my first smartphone, so can someone explain something to me.
I don't have a Gmail account (I use the HTC Mail thing to access my Sky email account when I want to)
What I don't understand is the whole "Google Contacts" thing?
Where do these contacts sync to?
Can I enter the contacts on my phone and then sync them to the Internet (rather than have them stored on my phone?)
Do I need a Gmail account for this?
Any help and tips would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks
Yes you need a google account,
And yes the phone will automatically sync the contacts to your google account.
Fon22
The google contacts will sync to your gmail account, and be stored on the internet.
Creating a gmail account is fast and easy and you get a rediculous amount of storage (mine is at 7447 MB right now, and I am only useing 200 some MBs and I never delete things and have had the service since 2004).
jock23 said:
What I don't understand is the whole "Google Contacts" thing?
Where do these contacts sync to?
Can I enter the contacts on my phone and then sync them to the Internet (rather than have them stored on my phone?)
Do I need a Gmail account for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with google/gmail account you have an access to plenty of google services -- google contacts is one of them.
htc desire has it's own People program that manages contacts for you. it can store your contacts for you in three different places:
- sim card
- phone
- google account
if you choose to store your contact as google contact, your phone will automatically submit your contact to google contacts service. so that you can manage your contacts there, sync with other devices/services that can use google contacts service, etc.
contacts stored on the phone or on sim card are, simply put, local to the phone -- not easily available elsewhere (i guess that you have to use htc sync, to push them somewhere)
how it works for me? i keep all my contacts as google contacts, so that when i add contact on my phone, it's automatically available on google contacts service site. most of the time i add contacts using webpage -- as it's faster -- these contacts are synced to my phone automatically as well.
VERY IMPORTANT: do not add birth date to your google contacts on your phone -- such contacts won't sync properly -- they will just disappear from the phone \-: luckly most of my contacts are linked with their facebook accounts -- and People app gets brith date form there.
I can't sync the contacts in both ways... only from the gmail account to the pda. There is any explanation?
Maybe the contacts on your phone are set to be "Phone" contacts rather than "Google" contacts? If you did sync them from Outlook to your phone, then that's the case. To convert all of them to Google contacts, export them to the SD card, delete all and re-import them. Then it will ask whether they should be Phone- or Google-contacts.
Thanks, I will try.
I'm getting mighty confused by these multiple calendars that have appeared on my device and getting them to sync with my Google calendar.
Here's my set up. I have all contacts and calendars on my Google account before I started. I set up my Desire to sync with them using Google account.
All seemed fine but I found the Gmail app on Desire pretty limiting so I set up an Exchange activesync account linked to my gmail account for my mail (always worked well on my HD) and set it to sync calendar and contacts too. I then disabled all the syncing through the google account to avoid complications.
Unfortunately the exchange account doesn't seem to be configured for push and has no option to change this but that's not why I'm here.
Coming from WM, I'm used to having one calendar that is in sync between Outlook on PC, Google calendar and mobile device.
When I co to calendars on my Desire now I have no less than 4:
My Calendar
xxx @ gmail.com
Exchange
PC Sync
What's going on here? Which is which? So far HTC Sync connects but will not swap any contacts or calendar items with device and vice versa. Nor do appointments I add to the device show up on Google Calendar.
I suspect that this is because these different profiles seem to be associated with one platform - outlook / google / desire - or another.
Can anyone shed any light?
Many thanks, M1.
For anyone else trying to work this out there is a useful (bit old) thread here:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google Mobile/thread?tid=6d1605a796be89fd&hl=en
It seems you need to be careful which calendar you add entries too if you want them to sync with cloud mail - I unticked the box next to My Calendar so now entries I add on the Desire default to the google account calendar and sync as expected.
Now have to get to grips with the PC Sync calendar and work out why none of my events and contacts are syncing with out look. Sigh - it's just another learning curve i guess ...
Mark One said:
Unfortunately the exchange account doesn't seem to be configured for push and has no option to change this but that's not why I'm here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Push can be enabled under the Exchange ActiveSync Settings. It defaults to every 10 minutes, there's a Push Mail option.
Mark One said:
When I co to calendars on my Desire now I have no less than 4:
My Calendar
xxx @ gmail.com
Exchange
PC Sync
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Untick them all except Exchange and you'll just see Calendar entries updated by Exchange. I don't have an Exchange option incidentally, so just untick them all and it still shows.
xx @gmail.com is using the Google Sync interface but you said you dislike the Gmail App. PC Sync is for using HTC Sync via Outlook. This is really for non-Google Calendars/people locked into using Outlook. As you're using Google, you're better off updating direct from Google.
You can in theory use Exchange ActiveSync for E-Mail and Google for Calendar/Contacts or visa versa but obviously it makes more sense to use one method or the other. As Gmail supports Exchange ActiveSync, there is basically crossover between using Exchange ActiveSync (and the HTC Mail App) or Google Sync (and the Gmail App).
Mark One said:
Now have to get to grips with the PC Sync calendar and work out why none of my events and contacts are syncing with out look. Sigh - it's just another learning curve i guess ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I presume, so you have them in Outlook too? Don't bother.
I use GSyncit to update Outlook. This talks directly to Google and gets Contacts/Calendar. It's well worth the $10-15. For me it goes:
* Outlook to Google via GSyncit: Both ways
* Google to HTC Desire via Exchange ActiveSync (or Google Sync if I prefer): Again both ways
I'm still confused about syncing contacts. I have a Desire on Orange. I have a gmail account, and I use the htc mail app and connect to my gmail account using exchange. I sync my contacts to my gmail account using `google/sync contacts` from the sync page, and I sync my mail using `exchange activesync`. I do this because I can see/edit my contacts via the web gmail page (which is easier/faster than doing it on the phone), and because the mail app is better than the gmail app. But it seems that I have some contact information on my phone which is not visible via the gmail website. To pick one example, it's showing as a `linked contact` between 'exchange' and 'google'. Can I see my exchange contacts online? Where are they? I want them in one place, so I can back them up occasionally (I've already lost my contacts once as I set my phone up). It would seem to make sense, given that some contact info appears to be on exchange somewhere, to have them all there - then I can stop syncing with 'google' on my phone altogether, but I have to be able to see/edit/back them up first.
I've tried googling for this, but all I see is Googles own pages for other platforms, non-free apps to do exchange etc etc.
poldie said:
I'm still confused about syncing contacts. I have a Desire on Orange. I have a gmail account, and I use the htc mail app and connect to my gmail account using exchange. I sync my contacts to my gmail account using `google/sync contacts` from the sync page, and I sync my mail using `exchange activesync`. I do this because I can see/edit my contacts via the web gmail page (which is easier/faster than doing it on the phone), and because the mail app is better than the gmail app. But it seems that I have some contact information on my phone which is not visible via the gmail website. To pick one example, it's showing as a `linked contact` between 'exchange' and 'google'. Can I see my exchange contacts online? Where are they? I want them in one place, so I can back them up occasionally (I've already lost my contacts once as I set my phone up). It would seem to make sense, given that some contact info appears to be on exchange somewhere, to have them all there - then I can stop syncing with 'google' on my phone altogether, but I have to be able to see/edit/back them up first.
I've tried googling for this, but all I see is Googles own pages for other platforms, non-free apps to do exchange etc etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issues too
Well i don't use exchange, but i can say how i use my gmail sync:
I use Sync/google account on the definitions menu to sync my google calendar, contacts and mail.
This allows me to use mail on gmail app (not htc mail app), calendar on android calendar (i can use htc calendar widgets) and manage online contacts.
Since i previously added my "phone" contacts to phone memory and to a group on google contacts, they have linked to each other and i can mantain an online and local copy of them (this is great to add a hi res picture to contact, since i add the picture to online and local and then choose local picture to be displayed).
I do know that some fields from online google contacts and local contacts are different, and i think this is as stupid as the picture not having quality on google contacts online, but i hope they would solve it in a near future.
I hope that from now on, since google is saying that the BIG changes on Android are done, they will spend some time dealing with the little details that can be very annoying...
Same issue here.
Sync of Contacts
Google-Contacts -> Desire: works
Desire -> Google-Contacts: dosent work
If i try to add or change a birthday on the phone it does not arrive theo google-contacts account. The other way works. Biggest issue on this fine phone.
Hexxer said:
Same issue here.
Sync of Contacts
Google-Contacts -> Desire: works
Desire -> Google-Contacts: dosent work
If i try to add or change a birthday on the phone it does not arrive theo google-contacts account. The other way works. Biggest issue on this fine phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, that issues are from Android and Gmail and not from the Desire.
You should add birthday dates to Google contacts or else the synchronization wont work well, but i do agree these are major stuffs that really annoy me!
There could be an interesseting thing.
I have Software-Version 1.15.XXXX (T-Mobile, rooted Phone) and i found an O2 User with 1.20.XXX - he said it works at his phone.
Hexxer said:
There could be an interesseting thing.
I have Software-Version 1.15.XXXX (T-Mobile, rooted Phone) and i found an O2 User with 1.20.XXX - he said it works at his phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uau! How can he have an 1.20.xxx? I have unlocked Desire also with 1.15.XXX and no updates for me!
Well I now have 1.21.405.2 updated from ota.
Hey guys...Just wondering if Google Sync will work with our WP7 devices. I know it worked for Windows Mobile. Ideas?
Thanks.
Pulling two bits of information together, WP7 supports Exchange Activesync, and Google's support for Exchange Activesync is published here:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=139652
...which amounts to a "yes", although from memory I thought that they only supported Calendar sync for WP7. Still, I could have remembered wrong or they may have improved things... or I might be right. (I only read it last week.)
You emails will of course sync via the standard mail protocols (I assume).
I mainly concerned with getting all my Google contacts.
If you configure your Google account as an Outlook account in WP7, then it will pull your emails, contacts, tasks and calendar (or your choice of those four) onto your phone really easily.
I have another question. Does Outlook Connector support for sync contact pictures to the Hotmail account? Because when I try to sync my Outlook 2010 contacts with Hotmail (for WP7 Exchange Activesync), then contact photos are not synchronized
scottisafool said:
If you configure your Google account as an Outlook account in WP7, then it will pull your emails, contacts, tasks and calendar (or your choice of those four) onto your phone really easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not tasks. There is no concept of "tasks" in WP7.
scottisafool said:
If you configure your Google account as an Outlook account in WP7, then it will pull your emails, contacts, tasks and calendar (or your choice of those four) onto your phone really easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please explain?
Hello, I have read the above entries, but am still stuck. I have entered my google mail details by selecting the google account option, then have select contacts in the settings, but it still wont sync my contacts, what am I doing wrong?
I want to sync tasks with Google. I am unable to find that option.. Please help...Thank you
tasks in general are not supported natively. you have to find an application to do it. i have seen an article a few days back on it, but i can't seem to dig it up.
scottisafool said:
If you configure your Google account as an Outlook account in WP7, then it will pull your emails, contacts, tasks and calendar (or your choice of those four) onto your phone really easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is no need to set it up like that. simply setup google as google and just whatever you choose will be synced. you can check several option after setup when you tap on that account.
harsaphes said:
I mainly concerned with getting all my Google contacts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google sync does work
just set up your gmail as another account and your contacts will autosync
Call me paranoid, but I don't like the idea of keeping my appointments in the cloud.
The problem is, the stock HTC calendar reduces available options when I'm switching from a Google account to either the phone (i.e. HTC Sync) or local account.
Does anyone have any experience with the Google calendar app and local accounts? Is it possible to use it without syncing with Google? Is there any other decent calendar app that would work with a completely local account, with an occasional backup to either SD card or PC?
You can turn off synchronization for Google Calendar under settings.
ikeny said:
You can turn off synchronization for Google Calendar under settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Somehow on my phone this setting has no effect and Google keeps syncing the calendar.
And then I'm using several gmail accounts, so the events get scattered between different "accounts". I have no idea why a simple list of appointments has to be associated with any kind account.
I don't think you are doing it right when you turned off the calendar sync. Anyway, there is an app called Offline Calendar. Perhaps you could give it a try.
I know this app. It creates a local (offline) calendar, but does not do anything else, you have to use this local calendar as an "account" in some other calendar app, like the stock HTC calendar.
As to turning off sync, I don't think you can do it "wrong". You just go into Google account settings, tap on an account (if you have more than one, like I do) and then there are sync settings, you can choose whether to sync gmail, contacts, calendar, apps, etc. I uncheck all of the boxes except for gmail, since this is the only thing I need to be synced - otherwise I will not be able to read email and that's the whole point of having a Google account. In any case, the calendar sync setting is off and still the HTC calendar app syncs every time I add an event to a calendar associated with a Google account.
Two ideas to try:
1. Use Google calendar with sync turned off. See if it still syncs new event.
2. Stay with HTC calendar and use the offline new account created by that app. Add new event to the offline account.
Try a calendar on the play store that has no sync function........ Or, don't worry. Everyone syncs... If there were security issues, it would be reported all over.
I doubt Google will show up at an event you have scheduled and mug you. ?