Manage contacts with pc software - Desire General

Is there any software that lets me manage my contacts on my pc? Like the pc studio for Nokia phones? As far as i can see, the htc sync only lets me sync, don't even know what it sync's, lol...

There's motorola software (search xda for it) that can do it, I didn't find it particulary good but it works.

Google Contacts
This is where I do all my managing. Fulfill my needs and syncs to the phone immediately.
google.com/contacts
sorry, cannot post real links, something about new members.

Geggan said:
This is where I do all my managing. Fulfill my needs and syncs to the phone immediately.
google.com/contacts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I access the contacts online too, don't see much need for anything else, but you could probably add/edit contacts to Outlook and use HTC Sync to grab the changes from there? I haven't tried it, so I could be wrong

Use the contacts within Google Mail?

It's nice that you share your discovery, but for a long, long time there is no problem with the management of contacts.
For example, MyPhoneExplorer 1.8 released 2010-10-01:
"Many people waited for this update and now its finished. MyPhoneExplorer is now able to manage Android-Phones - and not only from SonyEricsson. This Means there are many new supported models fe SonyEricsson X10, HTC Desire. Motorola Milestone, and much more."
.

Related

Do you think there will be a decent contacts organiser PC software..

... for the Desire/Android?
I've come from a c905 where I'm used to using MyPhoneExplorer, which quite frankly is one of the best pieces of Windows software I've ever used. I'm sick of trying to organise my contacts on the phone and would like to be able to do it on my PC then synch that to my phone.
Anybody?
Use Google Contacts. All your contacts are saved in the cloud. you can edit on your phone or using a computer via browser and they'll sync.
By the way, please use descriptive subject headers next time.
Thanks for the reply, that makes sense now I think about it.. I'm still very much new to all this fandangled malarky.
Subject changed ; )

Replace Android with WM

I'm very unhappy with my new Desire. It is of course, also, the problem regarding "the change" from WM to Android, but... I cannot choose "My location" and now I just discovered that YOU CAN'T SYNC NOTES AND TASK with Outlook. This is unbelievable! If the problem with My location and weather shown in the HOME Screen it's not so serious (you can check the weather on line) the problem with the sync it's awful, and there is no program on the "market" to solve it.
I can't believe that I just bought a 500 euro phone and it is so useless. Is there any chance to replace the famous "Android" with a real OS like WM 6.5 (from HD2) for example???
Please I'm desperate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
buy a HD2 instead. (!!!11!1!!!)
Why did you buy an Android phone if you want to install WM 6.5 on it?
Why do people still use Outlook is beyond my belief
Why do people still sync to a computer (that can only be in one place at a time) is again beyond my belief.
I have my Desire for 2 weeks now and I never even installed the sync app, don't even know what it looks like.
But to answer your question: NO you can't replace Android to the fake ... i mean real OS Windows Mobile.
I came from Windows Mobile and I couldn't be happier i got rid of it. Stop thinking offline, and start thinking cloud sync... it'll eventually be the default weather we like it or not.
You can argue (From a technical pov) that WM6.5 is a real OS and that Android isn't. In fact even Symbian would be more of a "Real" OS than Android. The difference is that those two OSes can run native code and Android just runs everything via Java. This doesn't mean much to most users but to developers it means a lot.
someone please shut this thread before the OP gets flamed to death......
If native code means a deficiency of decent apps, where even the few good ones are jerky, clunky and Windows CE...ey then I'm all for Java - go Java.
I left the HD2 because Windows Mobile is unreliable (believe it or not) because it was never meant to handle such complex skins as Sense UI and therefore leaked memory like a teabag full of pulped brain; and also because there was a deficiency of decent apps (despite its supposed ability to handle 'native code'). If it's so great then why are most of the .cabs people install fixes and patches rather than ACTUAL apps? And why are there no decent alternative Facebook apps etc? Is Windows Mobile 'TOO GOOD' for this sort of software development? For an OS a fifth of the age of Windows Mobile, Android has ten times as many IM apps (for example). Why is this so?
Android allows for one to code/install apps for even CORE applications like SMS and Email: show me a decent email replacement for Windows Mobile? One that ACTUALLY REPLACES the native one....you can't? Android can.
And as capricious as it might seem the rubbish email client in Windows Mobile was one of the reasons I started to loath the OS. What is the point of the 'click to scroll right' and 'pictures blocked for security reasons' BS??? Is it REALLY necessary? And why is it so....ugly?
Anyway I thought I'd get my word in before this thread gets closed. If you can't move with the times then go and buy a TyTn 2 or something. Outlook syncing will soon be as dead as Windows Mobile so for Google to include it would be a backwards step, being as more necessary features are still to be implemented.
It's all about the cloud.
P.S. research before jumping in and buying a phone as you seem to have very specific requirements. Outlook task and notes syncing is a VERY SPECIFIC requirement which in the overall scheme of a burgeoning OS would be deemed unnecessary by Google. I wouldn't buy a Renault Megane if I needed a tractor.
I think it's just a case of people not liking change at all. So the different and sometimes better things that Android provides seem not so good.
Why do people still use Outlook is beyond my belief
Why do people still sync to a computer (that can only be in one place at a time) is again beyond my belief.
I have my Desire for 2 weeks now and I never even installed the sync app, don't even know what it looks like.
But to answer your question: NO you can't replace Android to the fake ... i mean real OS Windows Mobile.
I came from Windows Mobile and I couldn't be happier i got rid of it. Stop thinking offline, and start thinking cloud sync... it'll eventually be the default weather we like it or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For work purposes most likely? Information that has to be stored securely in outlook on a system which they DO NOT want in the cloud? But would like to sync via hard wire or secure connection to the device?
Outlook syncing will be alive as long as Microsoft push it and businesses continue to use it and would rather not have information in the cloud, even Windows Phone 7 offers outlook syncing, it isn't going anywhere.
I havn't tried but doesn't htc sync allow to sync with Outlook?? I though that was what it said on the box....
Anyhow, i've just come from an HTC Touch HD where i have tried all the versions of windows and senses and other interfaces and i have to say i am loving my new desire!!!!
I am no developer but Android is so much better adapted to a smartphone, it's fast, fluid and allows all sorts of customization and when i had my HD, as far as i can remember, there were like 20 apps on the marketplace, i thin android market is at 30.000???? No question, no comparison!!!
An app on the Market - Touchdown allows tasks syncing with outlook. Not sure about Notes.
But to be honest, as has been said, why spend €500 on a phone and not have done any research into wether it will do what you want it to.
Not only that, but if its a problem, then in most instances you wil be able to return it within 7 or 14 days for a refund (less any charges) so you should have done that.
Whats the moral of this tale :- Always do your research!
solaris78 said:
I'm very unhappy with my new Desire. It is of course, also, the problem regarding "the change" from WM to Android, but... I cannot choose "My location" and now I just discovered that YOU CAN'T SYNC NOTES AND TASK with Outlook. This is unbelievable! If the problem with My location and weather shown in the HOME Screen it's not so serious (you can check the weather on line) the problem with the sync it's awful, and there is no program on the "market" to solve it.
I can't believe that I just bought a 500 euro phone and it is so useless. Is there any chance to replace the famous "Android" with a real OS like WM 6.5 (from HD2) for example???
Please I'm desperate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you had such explicit requirements, why didn't you do the research before hand?
Regarding issue with syncing tasks, use the calendar to create your tasks in outlook, use an app on your computer called google calendar sync to upload it to a gmail account, then you'll have them on your phone... simple.
Gustibus non disputandum est!
That means (I hope I write it down correct): the tastes are not questionable!!
I did my research before buying this toy, and I can return it in 30 days (10 to go), and the HD2 was the first option but the sizes ... to big for me.
At the office I use Outlook on my laptop to do notes, task, appointments (on my laptop)... and so on, and when I'm on the field maybe I need some of them, so.... I WILL LIKE TO SYNC MY NOTES FROM LAPTOP WITH MY PHONE. What is so hard to understand? That not everybody use the phone for games and billions of apps which are doing the same thing. In 3 hours of searching I found not more than 5 interesting application (and the WM has 3 of them in the original OS). That's all!
Why I use Outlook ? Because I have a job and an server e-mail and like any more than 70% of this world computers I use MIcrosoft Software. I received an advice from one forum: use Gmail notes! You gotta be kidding ! This 500 euro phone should have some real business apps. I don't use phone for music, pictures and games, instead I need a mail client which allow me to select different mails and mark them like read, or unread. I receive hundreds of mail daily and I need to organize them. What it's so hard to understand?
Give me a break with this Android OS. I hoped that will be different than Iphone but it's the same sheet. I prefer to have notes instead Facebook...social communication ! And tasks instead youtube!
When I bought this phone I never thought that the sync software will not sync notes and tasks. The 5 years old Nokia or Sony that I used then had it. MY problem is that the solution is so simple but you prefer to tell me that I have 3 billions of apps, why I need notes when I can play poker or chess?in 5000 languages.
In my opinion Android is a great software but ... for this price you should think that are some people which are trying to use it for the daily job and not for messenger to pick-up minor teenage girls.
One of you wrote: why do you use Outlook, get on-line... Some information will never go on-line... company policy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes Android it's more simple to use than WM, but because it's simple he does simple things, but I NEED MORE! so I guess I need WM, complicated but it has what I need; it's just like cars: some people like muscle cars (pure power and simple technology), but others prefer German or Japanese cars which are maybe a little bit complicated but they offer something different.
thanks anyway!
snapilica2003 said:
Why do people still use Outlook is beyond my belief
Why do people still sync to a computer (that can only be in one place at a time) is again beyond my belief.
I have my Desire for 2 weeks now and I never even installed the sync app, don't even know what it looks like.
But to answer your question: NO you can't replace Android to the fake ... i mean real OS Windows Mobile.
I came from Windows Mobile and I couldn't be happier i got rid of it. Stop thinking offline, and start thinking cloud sync... it'll eventually be the default weather we like it or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what mail client do you use: Gmail, yahoo? are you in the kindergarden? or maybe you use phone for Facebook and Youtube. It's so cool you can see your friends on-line. Take care, maybe someday you will lose contact with the real world, and than you will be in the MATRIX... and poor me I'll be offline!
Sorry I couldn't resist ! but now seriously :WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS PHONE ?
So basically you're here to have a rant because you made a poor choice when buying a phone. Fair enough.
For what it's worth, I work in IT, and I use the Desire to keep a watch on my company email and calendar, sync'ed from Exchange Server. Does the job just fine. I don't use notes in Outlook because what ever you want to do, there is always a better alternative, even a note app on the phone itself would do a better job.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
solaris78 said:
That means (I hope I write it down correct): the tastes are not questionable!!
I did my research before buying this toy, and I can return it in 30 days (10 to go), and the HD2 was the first option but the sizes ... to big for me.
At the office I use Outlook on my laptop to do notes, task, appointments (on my laptop)... and so on, and when I'm on the field maybe I need some of them, so.... I WILL LIKE TO SYNC MY NOTES FROM LAPTOP WITH MY PHONE. What is so hard to understand? That not everybody use the phone for games and billions of apps which are doing the same thing. In 3 hours of searching I found not more than 5 interesting application (and the WM has 3 of them in the original OS). That's all!
Why I use Outlook ? Because I have a job and an server e-mail and like any more than 70% of this world computers I use MIcrosoft Software. I received an advice from one forum: use Gmail notes! You gotta be kidding ! This 500 euro phone should have some real business apps. I don't use phone for music, pictures and games, instead I need a mail client which allow me to select different mails and mark them like read, or unread. I receive hundreds of mail daily and I need to organize them. What it's so hard to understand?
Give me a break with this Android OS. I hoped that will be different than Iphone but it's the same sheet. I prefer to have notes instead Facebook...social communication ! And tasks instead youtube!
When I bought this phone I never thought that the sync software will not sync notes and tasks. The 5 years old Nokia or Sony that I used then had it. MY problem is that the solution is so simple but you prefer to tell me that I have 3 billions of apps, why I need notes when I can play poker or chess?in 5000 languages.
In my opinion Android is a great software but ... for this price you should think that are some people which are trying to use it for the daily job and not for messenger to pick-up minor teenage girls.
One of you wrote: why do you use Outlook, get on-line... Some information will never go on-line... company policy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes Android it's more simple to use than WM, but because it's simple he does simple things, but I NEED MORE! so I guess I need WM, complicated but it has what I need; it's just like cars: some people like muscle cars (pure power and simple technology), but others prefer German or Japanese cars which are maybe a little bit complicated but they offer something different.
thanks anyway!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah after reading a bit, i think that you didn't really put much research into this... On your statements i would recommend Blackberry, its for emails, tasks and sync.
solaris78 said:
it's just like cars: some people like muscle cars (pure power and simple technology), but others prefer German or Japanese cars which are maybe a little bit complicated but they offer something different.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Show me the man who looks to buy a broken car, and I'll show you a HD2 that actually works as it's supposed to
solaris78 said:
what mail client do you use: Gmail, yahoo? are you in the kindergarden? or maybe you use phone for Facebook and Youtube. It's so cool you can see your friends on-line. Take care, maybe someday you will lose contact with the real world, and than you will be in the MATRIX... and poor me I'll be offline!
Sorry I couldn't resist ! but now seriously :WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS PHONE ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude, the thing is, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS PHONE. Period. When you bought it you know, it's running android. As for syncing with outlook, you could have research it before hand. If you explicitly use it for syncing with outlook, and your work has a lot to do with microsoft software, why did you not buy a windows mobile device? answer me, plz.
What next? ppl are gonna come out complaining they cant install windows mobile on their iphone? give me a break.
solaris78 said:
what mail client do you use: Gmail, yahoo? are you in the kindergarden? or maybe you use phone for Facebook and Youtube. It's so cool you can see your friends on-line. Take care, maybe someday you will lose contact with the real world, and than you will be in the MATRIX... and poor me I'll be offline!
Sorry I couldn't resist ! but now seriously :WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS PHONE ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually working for a global telecom company as IT, so your statement above makes me laugh.
Do you guys don't separate your work life from your personal life? Are you doing work all the time.
My phone is exactly that, MY phone, not the company's phone, not the work phone. I'm not paying MY money to have a phone for work. My company gave me a phone and that's the work phone, that's the phone i'm called when someone from WORK wants to reach me, that phone is for work mail, that phone is for the stuff you said you needed. That phone that has the features my work requires from me.
This phone is my personal phone. I don't want to be contacted on this phone, I don't want to do work on this phone, it's MY phone and yeah, I do use Gmail as a personal email, I do use Google Calendar as my personal agenda, I do use Google Contacts and many many other cloud applications Google offers and I couldn't be happier. I want Facebook on MY phone, I want YouTube on MY phone.
Oh and that outlook you so much want is just a fronted to a MTA server, be it POP3, IMAP or Exchange. If you're not working for a secret spy agency most likely those MTA's are public and accessible from the internet. Why not connect to those and insist to connect to Outlook? If your company uses Exchange you can set up this phone to use it also, and you can sync everything outlook has ... through the cloud (that is if you work in a normal company that actually lets users check their mail when not at the office), so you don't need to be connected to anything, just need internet on the phone.
I configured the Exchange ActiveSync from my work account the phone and works like a charm, if i put an appointment on my phone it shows up on Outlook after a few minutes "just like that", if i put an appointment on Outlook it shows up on my phone "just like that". To tell you the truth since I got this phone, i never once hooked it to a computer, only transfered via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth sometimes.
foner78 said:
So basically you're here to have a rant because you made a poor choice when buying a phone. Fair enough.
For what it's worth, I work in IT, and I use the Desire to keep a watch on my company email and calendar, sync'ed from Exchange Server. Does the job just fine. I don't use notes in Outlook because what ever you want to do, there is always a better alternative, even a note app on the phone itself would do a better job.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No man, I don't have a rant here, just trying to explain myself. It's not fair what happens to me here, because I asked a question and everybody jumped on me instead helping me. Exchange Server it's a great solution but unfortunately my company will not use a server for this. And for me there is no better alternative than Outlook, WE ARE DIFFERENT, accept it. I installed 10 notes apps, but none have sync with outlook. I know that I can use notes directly on phone but it's much easier on the laptop.
I repeat: I can, and probably I will return the phone. I love how it looks, dimensions, the hardware... and I was thinking that maybe because it's a software problem it can be solved. Why are so ... LOCKED ?

Contact Info Pix Stored Location

I have a question, which now puzzles me.
I have a spare TP2 I use for testing various things, but I did something which kinda has puzzled me. I sync-ed my spare with my computer and all the contacts transferred over, all well and good, when I went to check them, I noticed they all have pictures, just as it does in outlook. I purposely had made a folder on my TP2 I use everyday named Contacts to put their pix in their, but the spare doesnt have this folder, so I'm wondering where is this pix being stored cause the Album doesnt show me. Is this embedded in the contact info?
Have a look in the Notes field when viewing Contacts in the native WinMo application.
It's the sort of coding you might do when first programming and self taught. It is not what you would expect to see on a Smartphone in 2010. People need to realise that HTC are not a software house, they are essentially an assembler of electronic components.
I did not give them permission to corrupt my Contacts, so why have they done it?
the picture is embedded in the contact info
HTC does add extra info to the contact notes for information that outlook doesnt have a field for, like if you set it as a favorite on the contact tab it will save the action you assign to it, and it will also store facebook info info there too if you have the contact linked to a facebook account
it has nothing to do with HTC taking shortcuts or anything like that, its how they add information that outlook doesnt support while still maintaining outlook compatibility, HTC could create an entirely separate database if they wanted, but then contacts wouldnt sync with outlook
if you dont want that information then dont use HTC sense, or at the very least, dont use the contacts tab or link facebook accounts (theres probably more but thats all i have in my notes fields)
So in short, I can just get rid of the contacts folder after it sync with outlook? Well thats good to know, that will save space on my SD Card. I had a feeling it got embedded once it sync-ed with Outlook, but just wanted to be sure.

Looking for advice on HTC Sync, Outlook 2003 & Google Calendar

Hi all.
I'm looking for a little advice.
I currently use Outlook 2003 at work along side HTC Sync (HS) to sync my calendar entries to my Desire.
Is it possible to sync (only) the HS entries on my phone to a specific Google calendar? Ideally I'd like to sync the HS items into an online Google calendar just for work so I can see it online when I don't have my phone.
Happy to use an app if that's the only way...
By the way I can't use the Google Sync app for a couple of reasons; my company regards it as a security risk and it doesn't allow you to select the specific google calendar that you sync to - at least not as far as I know.
Thanks in advance.
Setting => Account & Sync => Add An Gmail Account => Sync Calendar
if u can't use this , there is a plugin for outlook that allows u to sync your outlook calendar & contacts , with Your Google Calendar & contacts ( if that's of any help ) , it's quite easy to find if u google it ...
SkyWalker1726 said:
Setting => Account & Sync => Add An Gmail Account => Sync Calendar
if u can't use this , there is a plugin for outlook that allows u to sync your outlook calendar & contacts , with Your Google Calendar & contacts ( if that's of any help ) , it's quite easy to find if u google it ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Skywalker1726, but that's not quite what I meant.
My fault should have been clearer. I already have my phone set up for my google account but I have several calendars in that account.
As far as I can see I can't select a particular calendar to sync my Outlook items to. It looks like only Google calendar items can be changed.
I don't suppose you know the name of the outlook plugin? I tried googling for it and came across way too many dead beat apps.
Just to repeat I'm looking for a way (or a phone app) that allows my to select a specific google calendar for the items I have synced to my phone using HTC Sync.
Here is the link , Hope that helps !
Quite good but not quite right...
SkyWalker1726 said:
Here is the link , Hope that helps !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the link and the suggestion.
unfortunately, it's "too similar" to the Google Sync tool and therefore my company think it's a security threat (I know there are worse things out there but go figure )
I suspect that I need something that works on my phone and allows me to select different calendars to sync back to.
Bump - any suggestions...?
Any suggestions?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
If I'm understanding correctly you want your Outlook calendar to be synced "to the cloud" (in this case Google) which you can then access from your phone (or online when you don't have your phone).
I had a look and can't find any apps that will copy your phone calendar to a Google calendar. As you are using Outlook 2003 and can't use Google sync your options are a bit limited.
If your company uses Microsoft Exchange then you should already have remote access to your email / calendar on the web and you can also connect your Desire to this using the built in HTC calendar app. Your IT person should be able to get you set up fairly easily.
The only other solution I know of is to use a third party sync program - outlook 2003 doesn't support saving calendars in ical format (which you could have used as a manual workaround).
Sorry not to be more help...
Fair enough. Thanks for trying. Unfortunately my company are quite backward about their use if IT so pretty much any sync app or Exchange integration is out.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
SpartanGrey said:
Fair enough. Thanks for trying. Unfortunately my company are quite backward about their use if IT so pretty much any sync app or Exchange integration is out.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using gSyncIt. Not free, but it does the job between Google and Outlook. A lot of option to customize the sync, including several calendars.
Not sure what method it uses to sync, so maybe not working for you. But I know my company IT is as well in "stone age" and blocks nearly everything. But gSyncIt works.
BeeGee_Tokyo said:
I am using gSyncIt. Not free, but it does the job between Google and Outlook. A lot of option to customize the sync, including several calendars.
Not sure what method it uses to sync, so maybe not working for you. But I know my company IT is as well in "stone age" and blocks nearly everything. But gSyncIt works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks using gSyncit. Not too bad & my IT department gave me a pass too.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

I Can't Add Facebook as an Account, Help

When I go into Accounts & Sync in the settings menu and try to add Facebook as an account, it doesn't work. I click to add facebook but it just returns me to the settings and never adds it. It works perfect for Twitter, LinkedIn, and other apps as well. Anyone else having this happen too? I've tried uninstalling and clearing all data, didn't work.
Arcadia310 said:
When I go into Accounts & Sync in the settings menu and try to add Facebook as an account, it doesn't work. I click to add facebook but it just returns me to the settings and never adds it. It works perfect for Twitter, LinkedIn, and other apps as well. Anyone else having this happen too? I've tried uninstalling and clearing all data, didn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Don't think its setup for ICS yet
Facebook has not made an app that actually works with Android. Many companies, like HTC, have made apps for that by themselves. Facebook and Google are not on friendly terms when it comes to sharing contacts data, so this might not change anytime soon.
Doesn't that make the People Hub pointless then? All of my "real" friends are on Facebook, not Google+, Twitter, or LinkedIn so it doesn't sync any real info or high def pictures.
kristovaher said:
Facebook has not made an app that actually works with Android. Many companies, like HTC, have made apps for that by themselves. Facebook and Google are not on friendly terms when it comes to sharing contacts data, so this might not change anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Arcadia310 said:
Doesn't that make the People Hub pointless then? All of my "real" friends are on Facebook, not Google+, Twitter, or LinkedIn so it doesn't sync any real info or high def pictures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems like they want everyone using Google+ Most of my personel friends are on Facebook also but, I hardly use Facebook. Hopefully they will fix it this for people who want to use it.
http://heartofangel.com/google-contact-sync/
qnet said:
It seems like they want everyone using Google+ Most of my personel friends are on Facebook also but, I hardly use Facebook. Hopefully they will fix it this for people who want to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong.
Google does not develop Facebook app. Facebook does.
kristovaher said:
Facebook has not made an app that actually works with Android. Many companies, like HTC, have made apps for that by themselves. Facebook and Google are not on friendly terms when it comes to sharing contacts data, so this might not change anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not entirely true. Facebook sync used to work with all Nexus devices but Google themselves pulled the sync due to them not allowing contacts to also be exported to Android devices. From Google:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/22/google-android-facebook-contacts/
“We believe it is very important that users are able to control their data. So in the over-the-air update for Nexus S, we have a small change to how Facebook contacts appear on the device. For Nexus S users who downloaded the Facebook app from Android Market, Facebook contacts will no longer appear to be integrated with the Android Contacts app. Since Facebook contacts cannot be exported from the device, the appearance of integration created a false sense of data portability. Facebook contact data will continue to appear within the Facebook app. Like all developers on Android, Facebook is free to use the Android contacts API to truly integrate contacts on the device, which would allow users to have more control over their data. We are removing the special-case handling of Facebook contacts on Nexus S and future lead devices. We continue to believe that reciprocity (the expectation that if information can be imported into a service it should be able to be exported) is an important step toward creating a world of true data liberation — and encourage other websites and app developers to allow users to export their contacts as well.”
They only stopped this feature on the Nexus line of phones and the reason Facebook sync still doesn't work is because Facebook has not made the necessary change yet that Twitter and the like have. Google however doesn't stop other OEMs from allowing Facebook to sync contacts though - I wish they would to light the fire under their ***** so I could get my contact photos back, but what can you do? They hate each other right now.
kristovaher said:
Wrong.
Google does not develop Facebook app. Facebook does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Google disabled Facebook sync over privacy issues. It sucks.
What's the point of the People's Hub then?
qreffie said:
That's not entirely true. Facebook sync used to work with all Nexus devices but Google themselves pulled the sync due to them not allowing contacts to also be exported to Android devices. From Google:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/22/google-android-facebook-contacts/
“We believe it is very important that users are able to control their data. So in the over-the-air update for Nexus S, we have a small change to how Facebook contacts appear on the device. For Nexus S users who downloaded the Facebook app from Android Market, Facebook contacts will no longer appear to be integrated with the Android Contacts app. Since Facebook contacts cannot be exported from the device, the appearance of integration created a false sense of data portability. Facebook contact data will continue to appear within the Facebook app. Like all developers on Android, Facebook is free to use the Android contacts API to truly integrate contacts on the device, which would allow users to have more control over their data. We are removing the special-case handling of Facebook contacts on Nexus S and future lead devices. We continue to believe that reciprocity (the expectation that if information can be imported into a service it should be able to be exported) is an important step toward creating a world of true data liberation — and encourage other websites and app developers to allow users to export their contacts as well.”
They only stopped this feature on the Nexus line of phones and the reason Facebook sync still doesn't work is because Facebook has not made the necessary change yet that Twitter and the like have. Google however doesn't stop other OEMs from allowing Facebook to sync contacts though - I wish they would to light the fire under their ***** so I could get my contact photos back, but what can you do? They hate each other right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. This makes People's Hub almost pointless for me.
Arcadia310 said:
Interesting. This makes People's Hub almost pointless for me.
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Click to collapse
You could always start spamming Facebook to allow contact export so Google will let them sync again. I doubt they'll do it though.
The fact that any OEM can make this feature work again no matter what Google does kind of sucks when you only buy Nexus phones. I've gotten used to it not being there and I take a random candid picture of everyone I add to my contacts list now which works better in some situations since some of those FB profile pics don't give you any idea who the person actually is.
Arcadia310 said:
I think Google disabled Facebook sync over privacy issues. It sucks.
What's the point of the People's Hub then?
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No they did not. The way Facebook synced before was a hack, they did not use Android contacts API the way others do and the way it is meant to. Google removed the hack.
Facebook does not want to share contact information with Android so that user 'owns' their data. They can always build their app the right way. Zuckerberg & Co just don't want to.
Arcadia310 said:
What's the point of the People's Hub then?
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because it is called the People application, not the Facebook application.
Not everyone uses Facebook, as apathetically ubiquitous it may appear to be. Some people use Twitter. Some people use Google+. Either way, the point of it is that it links with multiple social networks. The Facebook application does not work properly with Android 4.0, and even if/when it does it is unlikely that Facebook will be allowed API access to the People application due to the fact that they do not make it simple to get at your contacts data. It's your prerogative if you want to blame Google or Facebook there, but the point I'm making is that the People application obviously has a point, since Facebook isn't the be-all-and-end-all of social networking.
So if i understand this right.
Google wont let facebook info sync. Because facebook wont let it fully sync and be backed up to gmail etc?
And this would mean all your friends facebook info would then be your property and not theirs (facebooks).
GR36 said:
So if i understand this right.
Google wont let facebook info sync. Because facebook wont let it fully sync and be backed up to gmail etc?
And this would mean all your friends facebook info would then be your property and not theirs (facebooks).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google cannot stop anyone from syncing and using the API, this is open software. Facebook simply does not wish to implement that feature, since all contact data synced is accessible by other applications. The other thing is that Facebook does not wish to share friends email addresses.
It is entirely about Facebook not allowing user to do whatever they want with data shared with them by friends.
Basically, Facebook is afraid that if they allow people to export contact data, it will be very easy for everyone to just move all their friends to a new social network. Since Facebook only has one way of making money it's understandable that they want to make it as hard for us as possible to do that.
From Google's point of view, it's very exploitative of Facebook to expect to get special treatment on Android phones even though they refuse to play ball with Google, hence why their special privilege has now been removed.
Whose ever fault you think this is, it's us consumers who are made to suffer. -.-
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
kristovaher said:
Wrong.
Google does not develop Facebook app. Facebook does.
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That's not what I was implying at all.
GR36 said:
So if i understand this right.
Google wont let facebook info sync. Because facebook wont let it fully sync and be backed up to gmail etc?
And this would mean all your friends facebook info would then be your property and not theirs (facebooks).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not backed up to GMail but backed up to the phone. If you delete your FB account and I only had you as a FB contact then you would completely disappear from my contact list, or if something happened and FB went down for a few hours or a few days I wouldn't be able to contact anyone who was synced only through FB. Most people only join existing contacts so they only suffer from not having the photo and status updates synced, but not allowing export could be much more problematic. It's not that it's your property, it's information you have access to that you have been given approval by those you have friended to have therefore you could just use what FB gives you and manually enter the contact yourself if you wanted to. Google is basically saying if that's the case you should be given the option to automatically export that entire list to your phone instead of having to manually enter all the information that FB is supplying you with.
This frustrates me also.. ever since they updted my nexus s and removed it. Its the only thing i will miss from htc sense. I know use contapps to sync facebook and its associatd contact photos
Has anyone tried friendcaster? I know it has some syncing options.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

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