Develop Bugs

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

[Q]Facebook contacts sync

Is that facebook contact sync bug still there yet in blur less stock roms ?

Same here dude
A.M.H said:
Is that facebook contact sync bug still there yet in blur less stock roms ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyway to sync conyacts with fb
I did not know this before buying

You can try third party contact apps like GoContacts. IIRC, those apps sync contacts to facebook, as long as the contact name is the same they use in Facebook

stock roms can only sync with Facebook with motoblur. CM7 works fine once Facebook application is installed.
so the only solution is to use other contact apps

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.
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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

Add Facebook Account

Trying to add a Facebook account to sync my info with my contacts. Why I go to add the account, the screen just blinks and takes me back to the accounts screen. It wont let me add it. I did it once when the Facebook app asked me if I wanted to, but cannot figure out how to get that option again on the facebook app.
I just rooted my phone and did not apply a custom rom or anything.

You can't add a Facebook account through accounts and sync.. it isn't built in unless you install a rom that has it enabled.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Google has removed facebook sync so the only way to get it back is through a custom rom now.

Actually you don't have to change the ROM. Instead you can just use this app to sync your facebook contacts. Found it a couple of days ago and have been using it without any problems. Works like a charms for me. The only downside: You don't get the facebook icon but instead the icon of the app.
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.mots.haxsync

But that's not syncing through the app, which is what the OP is trying to do

EddyOS said:
But that's not syncing through the app, which is what the OP is trying to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is trying to do that yes. But as he is not going to succeed I was showing him an alternative to installing another ROM. I think that is legitimate.

DoubleYou79 said:
He is trying to do that yes. But as he is not going to succeed I was showing him an alternative to installing another ROM. I think that is legitimate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, I've been using HaxSync for a while now and love it. It does have a few little quirks with name matching, but it's easy enough to remedy by linking the contact to the correct account in Facebook, plus the dev seems to work pretty quickly on updates and bug fixes.

Here's a question which I think is on point with the thread.
I have a custom ROM on my GNEX which has Facebook Sync enabled (Winner00 ROM). But it doesn't seem to sync everyone, and certainly not with high resolution images. I also installed the Facebook sync app that so many have suggested, but that also doesn't sync everyone, nor does it sync high res images.
In total, only about 20 or so of my phone contacts are synced with their FB pictures.
Anyone know how to better tweak this? Or, what I'm doing wrong??
Thanks!

cokm4n said:
Here's a question which I think is on point with the thread.
I have a custom ROM on my GNEX which has Facebook Sync enabled (Winner00 ROM). But it doesn't seem to sync everyone, and certainly not with high resolution images. I also installed the Facebook sync app that so many have suggested, but that also doesn't sync everyone, nor does it sync high res images.
In total, only about 20 or so of my phone contacts are synced with their FB pictures.
Anyone know how to better tweak this? Or, what I'm doing wrong??
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've not used a ROM that has Facebook syncing enabled, but I'm guessing it's the same situation as with HaxSync. My guess is that the name of the contact in your phone is different somehow than their name on Facebook so this is how you join them so the pics sync:
1. Open the People app and find the contact you want to join
2. Opent the contact then tap Menu>Edit
3. Then tap Menu>Join
4. Match the person to their Facebook name and select it
5. Tap done
The contact will now be joined to their facebook picture and the picture will sync.
As I said, I'm not positive that this is the same with Facebook syncing as all I have used is HaxSync but I'm guessing it's the same.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[Q] Facebok contacts sync

Hey all;
I just got my Galexy Nexus 2 days ago and love it so far. I just have 1 problem so far. I can not get my Facebook to sync with my contacts. I logged into Facebook and it doesn't even give me the option to set up sync. I also tried to go into accounts and add it in there. It will not add. I have cleared the cache and data from the Facebook ap and tried again and it still will not work.
Just wondering if it is even possible to sync my Facebook to my contacts. I am on Verizon running stock, non-rooted, 4.0.2.
Thanks in advance!

OMG PLEASE SEARCH
It doesnt work because Facebook isn't following Google's guidelines for syncing.
Download an app like Haxsync or just deal with it.

martonikaj said:
OMG PLEASE SEARCH
It doesnt work because Facebook isn't following Google's guidelines for syncing.
Download an app like Haxsync or just deal with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hrmm... is that something recent or just something with the Nexus? Facebook sync worked in my Incredible 2 just fine.
Also, I did search. I didn't find anything related to facebook sync on these forums. I guess I'm just an idiot/blind.

or Friendcaster

CannibalAngel said:
Hrmm... is that something recent or just something with the Nexus? Facebook sync worked in my Incredible 2 just fine.
Also, I did search. I didn't find anything related to facebook sync on these forums. I guess I'm just an idiot/blind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Facebook sync has not worked since Gingerbread. Companies who put lame skins on top of Android usually add a work around. I highly doubt you searched, or you really do fail at searching.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

martonikaj said:
OMG PLEASE SEARCH
It doesnt work because Facebook isn't following Google's guidelines for syncing.
Download an app like Haxsync or just deal with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually facebook sync does work on some custom roms where the devs have edited some sourcefiles to reactivate it (tutorial on which 2 files need to be edited is somewhere in the forum). However, for Stock Roms, your answer is correct.

Tokolosh said:
Actually facebook sync does work on some custom roms where the devs have edited some sourcefiles to reactivate it (tutorial on which 2 files need to be edited is somewhere in the forum). However, for Stock Roms, your answer is correct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! That makes sense. I was using CyanogenMOD 7 on my Incredible 2. They probably edited the files to fix Facebook sync. I guess I will just have to deal with it until Facebook or Google fix it.

well, you could try out Apex 1.0.2 it works there

CannibalAngel said:
Thanks! That makes sense. I was using CyanogenMOD 7 on my Incredible 2. They probably edited the files to fix Facebook sync. I guess I will just have to deal with it until Facebook or Google fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google'll never fix this because they don't want this FB sync feature.
The work around here is using a Custom Rom or installing HaxSync, etc.

+1 for HaxSync!

Its true. Google disabled Facebook Sync on android. Instead they try to shove G+ down your throat. You can install hack sync, or Custom ROMS like AOKP. I have it and it works. But I have disabled facebook Sync because I hate searching my contacts and find 300 contacts with email adresses only.

the ICS contact book doesn't allow us to display only records with phone numbers. I think the emphasis on the people instead of phone contact. As a result, the ICS people app is very difficult to use.

It does, however, just allow you to show your Gmail address book so assuming you have contacts on there with numbers and they're linked to FB it'll just show contacts with numbers
If someone isn't on my Gmail contacts I hide them by only showing Gmail contacts - easy!

martonikaj said:
OMG PLEASE SEARCH
It doesnt work because Facebook isn't following Google's guidelines for syncing.
Download an app like Haxsync or just deal with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't work because GOOGLE dismantled the old social API. The new API is available in Android 4.0.3. Social stream API in Contacts Provider. IF/when your carrier (Verizon, in my case) certifies the update for release is the problem. LinkedIn and Twitter contacts also will not sync because of this problem. It isn't just Facebook. Overall, this is a problem born out of Google looking to own the contacts sync and rid Android of those crapapps that do a piss poor job of synching. But Facebook will need to update the Android app when Android 4.0.3 is certified and released for a commercially available carrier-certified device. At this point. Out-of-the-box social contact synching is a no go on Android ICS except for Google+. How convenient. Otherwise, you'll need an extra app for that social app.

JBundy said:
It doesn't work because GOOGLE dismantled the old social API. The new API is available in Android 4.0.3. Social stream API in Contacts Provider. IF/when your carrier (Verizon, in my case) certifies the update for release is the problem. LinkedIn and Twitter contacts also will not sync because of this problem. It isn't just Facebook. Overall, this is a problem born out of Google looking to own the contacts sync and rid Android of those crapapps that do a piss poor job of synching. But Facebook will need to update the Android app when Android 4.0.3 is certified and released for a commercially available carrier-certified device. At this point. Out-of-the-box social contact synching is a no go on Android ICS except for Google+. How convenient. Otherwise, you'll need an extra app for that social app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember when this facebook issue first happened. I was really more mad at google since they technically broke the sync.
However twitter still syncs just fine with my contacts on stock 4.0.1.

RogerPodacter said:
I remember when this facebook issue first happened. I was really more mad at google since they technically broke the sync.
However twitter still syncs just fine with my contacts on stock 4.0.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically, the onus is still on Facebook and Twitter to update their existing apps for Android 4.0.2 since there is a social API still included. Something didn't translate right with Android 4.0.2 for the current versions of those apps.