Hey guys,
I have been using Evernote for some time but find that the PC application is quite slow and cumbersome and the mobile implementation though good lacks on something that I can't put my finger down on.
I heard dropbox is very good but I was wondering what ideas people had for storing notes on it or what else I could use the functionality for besides storing some of my apks.
Dropbox is great. Official app just came out, testing it now. My problem with Evernote was the inability to have notes offline for storage on your phone.
Dropbox allows you to store things offline and upload when connected? Sounds interest, how about mirroring folders on your PC?
I don't know whether you can queue things up for Dropbox yet - haven't tested that. As for retrieving things, you'll definitely need to be connected. I found that incredibly silly for a notes application like Evernote, though. Seriously, Evernote? You need a network connection so I can write down that I need to buy milk?
As for mirroring folders, I doubt it. When you install Dropbox on a computer, it sets aside a specific Dropbox folder. Anything you put inside it is synced to the cloud, and automatically put on any other computers you have Dropbox on. You put a file in your laptop's dropbox and your desktop can get it. Your phone can go get it now as well, so it's a cheap wireless file transfer method, if nothing else. As I understand the Android Dropbox implementation, there won't be a folder with your entire Dropbox stored on it like there is for a PC, you'll just retrieve stuff from the cloud.
If I can't add files it just seems a bit pointless ...
Yeah having offline access is a bonus, not going to break much but I may want to make notes on the train, etc.
Thanks for the comprehensive post, looks like more research is needed .
Right now the ONLY files you can send from Dropbox for Android are media files, so only photos, videos and audio files. No text files or documents, so it's pretty useless in terms of notes.
I use Gdocs Notepad, freeware, that syncs with Google Documents.
I've solved in this way.
Sugar sync is pretty good - can sync any files, you get 2gb free, free android client.
Related
Hi,
I remember from owning an IPhone having to synchronise my ewallet (a password manager) files over the air from the desktop whilst the app was running on the phone. (I'll admit it was a minor annoyance).
Having moved to android and using a combination of dropbox and keepass, I don't really think about anymore - I just open dropbox and click the file and keepass opens up.
But, what about WP7? I realise that apps are only permitted to use their own storage. If I were to build a say, a keepass app for WP7, would I be back to building some desktop client software that allow syncing over the air whilst the app was running (like IPhone/ewallet), or hooking into any number of online sync services like Dropbox, Box.net, Pogoplug, etc, just to get the file some place the app can reach it.
I'm having trouble thinking of any other option given the lack of any common storage.
Thanks
If you did develop Keepass for WP7, you'd have your first customer here!
I'm actually tempted to try and port it myself, and I've come to the same conclusion as you regarding storage. The local KDB file would need to held in private storage and synchronised to an off-device copy, be that a desktop app or something like drop box.
A keepass app is one of the things I was considering. Not so sure about it now.
I'll have a look round for an elegant solution.
Well, isn't Skydrive the same as Dropbox? As I understood WP7 uses Skydrive to store your files 'in the cloud'; so why not put your Keepass file there?
Seven_PRX said:
Well, isn't Skydrive the same as Dropbox? As I understood WP7 uses Skydrive to store your files 'in the cloud'; so why not put your Keepass file there?
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I'd not considered skydrive/mesh. I'll 'ave a look.
Thanks for the heads-up.
I'm thinking of writing a desktop synching app myself. That way any WP7 app could connect to it to import files from a PC.
I've thought about using skydrive myself, but it doesn't seem to offer a way to download the file directly.
So it's being marketed that the 25GB cloud storage of Skydrive is to compensate for limited WP7 device storage. Ok fine, I'll go with that, BUT...
I'm trying to upload some music to my Skydrive and it just doesn't seem setup for this at all. I can't retain any kind of folder structure within a folder. Also (I don't have my WP7 device yet, on preorder), will my Skydrive simply show up as folder on the device and allow me to stream? Or is there a Skydrive app for doing that?
Perhaps I'm even doing this totally wrong. Is there like a Zune cloud somewhere that I can upload my library to and access and stream that from my WP7?
Thanks!
I may be wrong, but I believe the only way to access the SkyDrive on WP7 is through the browser with one exception - pictures. The SkyDrive Camera Roll is intergrated into the Pictures Hub.
sirandrew said:
I may be wrong, but I believe the only way to access the SkyDrive on WP7 is through the browser with one exception - pictures. The SkyDrive Camera Roll is intergrated into the Pictures Hub.
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Click to collapse
Are you freakin kidding me? What's even the point then vs. some other upload site if it's not totally integrated into the OS!
Cloud then my ass!
After some research, I think I may have found something that relates to what you are asking about...
Office Document Storage in the Cloud – Document sharing and storage in the cloud via Windows Live SkyDrive will be added to Windows Phone in the second half of 2011.
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http://windowsphonesecrets.com/2011/02/14/windows-phone-at-mwc-accelerating-the-windows-phone-ecosystem/
sirandrew said:
After some research, I think I may have found something that relates to what you are asking about...
http://windowsphonesecrets.com/2011...mwc-accelerating-the-windows-phone-ecosystem/
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Click to collapse
Cool, thanks for the link! I'll read up and keep my fingers crossed!
The solution to streaming music is ZunePass I believe. I don't think we'll be able to stream stuff through the cloud. Unless we host stuff on our own servers. It sucks cause it's a paid solution.
Yes, the so called "cloud" integration is a fallacy, at the moment at least and the best we have been led to expect is full document sync with Skydrive later this year (or whenever those damn carriers decide we can have it). You are better off using your PC and looking for a streaming application to use with that.
I have been trying to find out if windows 7 mobile is able to support my excel spreadsheet. Some retailers say yes no problem, others say my formulas are to complex, no one has been able to try it for me. How can I find out if my spreadsheet can be read, edited and it calculates properly before I buy?
Does the handset make any differance or is the win 7 the same on all? I haven't purchased a handset as of yet as I am still trying to find out what apps I can use on them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I very much want excel and word support, pdf reader is a must - creator would be a real plus. Gps would be real nice too.
Thus far I am leaning towards the htc surround, it seems to be one of the better options in my limited market.
before you buy the device,I have to let you know that,unless you are using microsoft sharepoint,if not the office application is kind of useless.
me as a student,I can't even transfer my lecture note to the device and revise it anywhere.
so,think twice before you buy a device
onenote is the only thing that you can sync to skydrive. so you can edit them on the web as well.
excel and word on the hand has to be emailed back and forth if you don't have sharepoint.
MS did demo a skydrive client at CES, which will be part of mango update, released in fall 2011, so that will be the resolve, but till then email is the only way to do it.
Thanks for the tips, I can see more research is in order.
You don't have to email word and excel documents in order to make them usable on a WP7 device. You can also choose to sync these items with either dropbox - which has several clients for WP7 - or software solutions like homepipe. Both work fine, either way.
But it's truely just a workaround until MS will provide full skydrive support. Which should have been part of WP7 from day one in the first place.
Transfering isn't a big deal, I would like to put the spreadsheet template on the handset, add in the data as needed and have excel do the calculations. Perhaps a quarterly backup to the computer would be fine. Will the handset excel sync with the desktop app, filling in the fields or would that have to be done manually?
Attila7 said:
Transfering isn't a big deal, I would like to put the spreadsheet template on the handset, add in the data as needed and have excel do the calculations. Perhaps a quarterly backup to the computer would be fine. Will the handset excel sync with the desktop app, filling in the fields or would that have to be done manually?
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I never really tried that, because I hardly use excel. But the way I described works with word, so why should it be any different with excel? Just save the file created on your desktop PC to your dropbox folder (or any other folder you can sync with your handset), then download and open it from the client app on your device.
Attila7 said:
Transfering isn't a big deal, I would like to put the spreadsheet template on the handset, add in the data as needed and have excel do the calculations. Perhaps a quarterly backup to the computer would be fine. Will the handset excel sync with the desktop app, filling in the fields or would that have to be done manually?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I just looked into my zune & LG Quantum transfer options, and I could not find any options regarding transferring any type of files that are not music, video or podcasts. EDIT: NM, miss understood your question. I don't believe the spreadsheets will sync. But using dropbox, this wouldn't be an issue, as you would always be opening the dropbox copy of the spreadsheet.
RE: seeing whether or not your excel spreadsheet will run properly, I am not sure how private/personal your spreadsheet is, but you could email it to a user here to test it and report back to you if it works.
Would the dropbox copy be the same as the computer copy? Would someone be willing to try the template for me to see if it will run and calculate properly? That is a great idea! The template is about 1.5 mb. If anyone is willing to try this for me please PM me, thanks.
i use Excel a lot on my windows phone by using a budget spreadsheet I whipped up on my computer. I know there are multitudes of budgets apps but why do that when you can auto calculate averages, sums, and present them graphically with a simple spread sheet?
Now at the moment, the only way to get Office docs (Word or Excel) on the phone is via emailing your self or as others suggested dropbox or file server. The downside is changes made on the phone isn't synced back to the source. You have to email the changes to yourself.
Microsoft has demoed Skydrive integration coming in the Fall update. Changes made then will be automatically synced like One note is now.
As for formulas, my formulas and graphs work and show up on the phone just fine! However I am not sure if more complicated ones work as I was unable to edit an excel timesheet from my job on my phone (says unable to open this file created from earlier office version). I am willing to test this template for you.
Feel free to PM it to me.
Also one way to get office documents on the phone iis utilizing skydrive instead of dropbox
1, I mapped my skydrive "My Documents" folder as a network drive on my Windows 7 PC
2. I save all my office documents there. I can edit them, delete them, rename them just as any other folder.
3. One the phone you can access skydrive via the browser and download your files without needing drop box or 3rd party solutions. The downside is being unable to upload them back!
4. Do maintenance, email your changed document and replace it on the desktop yourself.
Hope this helps.
sayonical said:
1, I mapped my skydrive "My Documents" folder as a network drive on my Windows 7 PC
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how did you do this? i would like to know as i've always wanted to do this as well. Windows Live Mesh doesn't seem to do it the way i want.
The Gate Keeper said:
how did you do this? i would like to know as i've always wanted to do this as well. Windows Live Mesh doesn't seem to do it the way i want.
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If you have Office2010 follow this easy guide
http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/04/25/use-office-2010-to-map-a-local-drive-letter-to-your-free-25gb-live-skydrive/
awesome! i'll give this a try when i get home.
Hey
I was trying to find a way to store some photos on skydrive that i didant want showing up on my phone (photos of my gf ) I could not seem to find an option within WP7 or on the skydrive site regarding permissions but i came up with a little trick. If you create a new folder on skydrive and place a picture in it, it automatically becomes a picture folder and is synced with WP7 with is rather annoying.
To get around this place the picture in the folder and then create a random word document in the same folder, click on the folder then click on information on the right hand drive of skydrive and change it to documents. Your folder will no longer appear in the pictures hub and you can still access from Office skydrive hub which will simply link you to the skydrive webpage. Hope some of you find this helpful.
Where is the link to the SkyDrive folder ?
Skydrive is not convenient at all.
When will there be a Skydrive app on WP7 ??? I wonder.
For the moment I'm staying with Dropbox + Kickbox
Anyway, thanks for this tip
SkyDrive is handled on WP7 via the Office Hub. Open that, and go to "Locations" and SkyDrive should be there (if you set up a Live account, of course). If not, you may need to add the URL to it. But it'll work. You can also pin it to your Start if you wish, for quicker access.
Brad.
leftspeaker2000 said:
Hey
I was trying to find a way to store some photos on skydrive that i didant want showing up on my phone (photos of my gf ) I could not seem to find an option within WP7 or on the skydrive site regarding permissions but i came up with a little trick. If you create a new folder on skydrive and place a picture in it, it automatically becomes a picture folder and is synced with WP7 with is rather annoying.
To get around this place the picture in the folder and then create a random word document in the same folder, click on the folder then click on information on the right hand drive of skydrive and change it to documents. Your folder will no longer appear in the pictures hub and you can still access from Office skydrive hub which will simply link you to the skydrive webpage. Hope some of you find this helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aren't all pictures and documents you upload from your phone publicly viewable by default? Or does adding a document somehow make it available to you only?
Seems there's no way to change permissions via the WP7 Office hub.
I think wp7 ask u about your privacy choice when uploading to skydrive, can choose between anyone and only you...can also give permission to one contact especially...that's realy confortable.
Sent from my HD7 T9292 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
This isn't a direct method but better than having nothing. Also some of you might already be aware of something like this or an alternative but I didnt come across it so I'm posting it here.
1) First of all go to phone settings in the zune app and in 'Pictures and Videos' choose 'leave pictures and videos on phone after copying' and in image quality choose 'original'. You should also switch to 'manual' in 'sync options' for Pictures and Videos, so that files are not deleted from phone if you delete them from PC.
2) Once you've done this, your original photos will be sync'd to your computer in 'My Pictures/YourWPdevice' every time you connect your phone to pc and open zune.
3) Now you should have the skydrive/dropbox app installed on your pc (which I assume all of you already do). I think Skydrive automatically keeps your photos sync'd in the cloud so you shouldn't need to anything any more. However if skydrive isn't doing that, you can just copy your 'my photos' folder and place it in the skydrive folder.
4 (Optional but handy) If you don't like wasting space then you could create a junction link of 'My photos' folder in skydrive folder. That should save you a lot of space on your pc if you have lots of photos. To create a junction link, I recommend using Hard Link shell extension. It's fairly easy to use and comes in handy if you are using skydrive and don't want to copy/paste all folders you want to backup or you want to keep your existing folder structure.
Anyway, if you complete first three steps I have outlined, every time you connect your windows phone to pc and open zune (which I think all of us already do on daily basis), your photos will be automatically sync'd to the cloud. You will need to have Dropbox/skydrive running of course.