We told you way way back in January that there would be a solution to sync your Palm Desktop, Outlook, and other PIM data from the desktop to your Pre via CompanionLink. Now the company, a provider of synchronization solutions, has announced today that they are guaranteeing that standalone Microsoft Outlook users will have a two-way sync solution available when the Palm Pre launches.
The method: Outlook to Google, Google to the Pre. CompanionLink for Google ($29.95) offers a two-way sync solution between Microsoft Outlook and Google, which lets users seamlessly sync their contacts, calendar and tasks to Google.
Gayland Bruns, CEO of CompanionLink Software, noted that during CTIA, the Palm Pre product manager, Tim Pettitt, was demoing the Palm Pre Calendar application and discussing its sync capabilities to Google during CTIA 2009.
Bruns remarked:
“Since CompanionLink already supports Outlook to Google sync, it means Synergy/Outlook users will have the ability to get their desktop contacts and calendar information on their Palm Pre phones on the same day that the Palm Pre launches."
More information is available at www. companionlink.com/google.
Comments
Soo..... You are pretty much being forced to use Google? What if you don't necessarily want to be sending all of your information through Google? That is one of the things people like about outlook, that the information doesn't have to go anywhere but your computer and phone.
exactly! I've been saying this all along. I'd rather install my own Exchange server than to have ALL my data running through google servers all the time. If the recent google docs security flaw doesn't prove that it's a bad idea to put all your data on the net, then I don't know what is.
Why not implementing synchronisation with Thunderbird/Lightning? Runs on every major platform, and should not be that complex to implement.
Off course, company-wise there should be support for Outlook as well. But doing that through Google means effectively no suppport for Outlook, at least not business-wise. Many companies simply prohibit their employees to use Gmail and/or Google calendar for business purposes.
THE OUTLOOK SYNC VIA GOOGLE ONLY APPLIES TO HOME OUTLOOK USAGE, NOT SERVER-BASED OUTLOOK!!!!!!!!
COMPANY/SERVER-BASED OUTLOOK WILL SYNC TO THE PRE AUTOMATICALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! QUIT CONFUSING PEOPLE WITH YOUR PESSIMISM AND BITCHING!!!!
Please, buy a new keyboard where Caps-lock can be switched off...
Instead of shouting and accusing people, just try for once to replace yourself in someone else. Many companies simply don't allow employees to (Active)sync. And most of the time, exactly these companies don't allow employees to use Google services either.
Doesn't Google Sync already do this? I use it at work and at home and everything gets sent to my blackberry.
I was thinking the same thing, Google Sync does 2-way right now...for free.
Yes, Google Sync does sync with your personal copy of Outlook on your home computer. It does it 2-way, pretty cool. The major flaw with this is that it only syncs the Main Calendar of your Google Account. So, if you have multiple calendars in Google, like me (Bills, Paydays, Birthdays, Events, Holidays) only information on the main calendar will sync into Outlook. And the other way, there is no way to place events from Outlook into one of the secondary calendars. There are tons of feature requests for this out there.
The program mentioned here for $29.00 will sync all calendars, contacts, tasks and so on with all of Outlook and Google, both ways. Very worth the $$$ IMHO.
I've been able to Hotsync wirelessly to my home pc with every treo since the 600 (and it may have been possible before that.) You would think it's possible now...
I'm not a GMail fan
Edit: I understand the tethered Hotsync option is not available in the MA emulation software, but since MA is saying the underlying network connection is there, might the wireless sync still be possible through the Classic OS (though ridiculous if this is the only way to do it.)
Not good enough. My boss would throw a fit if I had to sync my entire Outlook data to Google, just to get it on my phone.
We need the Pre to sync directly to my work's Exchange server.
Someone doesn't pay much attention. It's been known from day 1 that the Pre can sync directly with Exchange servers. This is a solution for people who want to sync desktop Outlook to the Pre, in other words, people who don't have an exchange server.
I'm with you on that, it amazes me how someone can read a simple article and not understand it. After you posted your comment, below another wasted comment popped up.
You would think with this being Palm and all, they would be set to sync with everything right out of the box. I have Act! myself and will need this capability directly.
As it stands, my workflow would look something like this:
Act! syncs to Outlook, Outlook syncs to Google, Google syncs to Pre.
So much for simple modern technology.
Reading the web page it looks like CompanionLink supports Act directly. Also Lotus Notes and Groupwise. What do you people get out of not using Outlook?
God! How can you people be this slow! If you a home Outlook calendar/contacts, all you have to do is automatically publish it through the CompanionLink client which automatically pushes it to your Pre device in the form of a personal Google calendar/contacts, which would marry with the EAS calendars and other personal Google accounts/contacts you might have. This the smartest alternative to direct desktop syncing with a mobile device. Isn't?
To clarify, there is a difference between a local user install of Outlook and a Corporate Exchange Server.
Regarding the Companion Link software and Google, I don't think we're too slow :) (though I can definitely be at times), but like I said I don't really want to pay extra for this ($29.95) and I really don't use Gmail though I have an account. I'd like to be able to sync to my "cloud-mail" account of choice.
"Someone doesn't pay much attention. It's been known from day 1 that the Pre can sync directly with Exchange servers. This is a solution for people who want to sync desktop Outlook to the Pre, in other words, people who don't have an exchange server."
Anon, I AM dense on your quote above. As it's written it sounds contradictory. Please elaborate...
Lest we forget that "cloud-mail" is still just internet mail without having to go to the yahoo/hotmail/google/mail.com websites to view mail. So you will still have the web browser to easily access your internet based email accounts.
Gmail and EAS are the only mail clients that Palm is activesync-ing at launch. They said there will be more to follow: yahoo, hotmail. If you don't want to by the Companion Link to push your desktop Outlook calendar/contacts to your phone, why not just use the device in the first place, instead of syncing over and over?! Based on the demos it looks as if the Pre organization apps (calender, tasks) will be a great sub for desktop Outlook.
Or is that you just want something to complain about?
I think you have to remember that not everything will be done on the Prē. So while it's good that we'll be able to synch via Companion Link (I don't think I'll need it much since I plan switching completely over to GMail), there are certain hooks that Outlook provides in a Windows environment that people may want to continue using. Things like mail merge in MS Word for example.
So for some it is not a replacement...yet.
I think cloud services are the future so eventually people will adjust. For now though, some are uneasy and think it's best to keep their contacts local.
Coming from an HTC pro I dont use outlook at all. I use activesync through googles server for my contacts/calender. Will this be the same with the pre? I am in for two!
Maybe I'm missing it but if I don;t have Outlook or Exchange how will I sync my Palm desktop info into Google for use with a Pre?
I haven't tried this, but can you export from Palm Desktop and import to Google? If so, you should be able to pull from Google to the Prē.
I haven't used Palm Desktop in years since I sync strictly to Outlook at the moment...so this is just a guess on my part.
Apparently Companion link has Palm Desktop covered. I'd guess it will be the same problem; Desktop to Google, and then Goolge to Pre.
Here's a list from http://www.companionlink.com/products/companionlinkforgoogle.html
* Microsoft Outlook
o versions 97 and higher
* Microsoft Outlook with Business Contact Manager
* Lotus Notes
o versions 4.6.7 and higher
* Palm Desktop
o versions 2 and higher
* ACT!
o versions 4 and higher
o Premium, Real Estate and Financial editions
* GoldMine
o versions 4 - 8 (dBase and SQL)
o Personal, Premium and Corporate edition
* Novell GroupWise
o versions 6.5.3 thru 7
o Support for GroupWise verions 8 and higher coming soon
I will not sync via Google. Period. Where's the bluetooth solution à la Nokia?
Who said there wasn't a bluetooth solution? You will be able to transfer contacts, music, etc via bluetooth!
Sounds like a huge chore if all I want to do is sync my Palm desktop info with my phone . Really ignoring all us Palm desktop users, aren't you Palm? iPhone here I come.
So you think using a middle man application is going to be a hassle? Why not just use the Pre for calendar/contacts in the first place, instead of syncing over and over again. EAS and Google are server-based, unlike your home Outlook, so they will active sync. Do you think everything about life can be or should be automatic? This one extra step is a good alternative to a plug-n-sync feature, and there is no need for wires using this transfer program, it autotransfers through the 'cloud'. So this may actually be better than plug-n-sync.
Because many of us *like* having a constantly synched back-up on a desktop (or laptop) computer, but don't want it stored on the remote servers controlled by another company (a la Google). I don't understand why you seem to be so exasperated about people having this preference.
agree with anonymous. I won't be putting my personal data into a third party's server. I would love to get the pre, but this means it is completely useless for me.
LOL. You complain that syncing Palm Desktop to the Prē is a huge chore, so your solution is to switch to the iPhone. Syncing Palm Desktop to the iPhone is so much easier...right? ROFL
http://announce.sappenin.com/2008/08/how-to-sync-palm-desktop-with-your....
My apologies to anon :) . My last comments were directed tojhoff80.
In case anyone thought I was Pre-bashing, far from it. I've attended two Palm road shows for the 600 and 650, owned every Treo since the 600, and am a staunch Palm advocate.
But I am by no means married to a specific device. I was just getting ready to jump-ship to AT&T for the God-phone when this got announced. I'd been waiting and waiting for Sprint to come out with a truly decent phone , but it didn't look like it was going to happen.
Palm DID make a mistake announcing so early, but they probably had to. I will definitely be getting the Pre if it comes out on time, but if something better comes along I will have no problem getting that.
But I am pulling for you Palm!
Not worried about the syncing issue, many ways to do that, just want it to work :)
They didn't make a mistake announcing it too early! They announced at the CES 2009. That's exactly where you want to announce such a ground breaking device for your company. This the media to develop a buzz for it. Even if it came out in August you think people wouldn't wait that long to get it? It would be nice if they would announce a release date so people can plan on getting it. They did say by June 30 though.
what about MEMOS???????
so you think they should have demoed every application in this one video?
Youtube: Palm Pre, and you will see the NOTES app
WTF? Memo SYNC, snapperhead.
Worse yet is the requirement to use Outlook. A bloated space-sucker that slows down the system. Horrid. I refuse to use it. So hoping that CL will let us synch to Palm Desktop since it still cannot be beat.
is it me or did multi-touch features fall off the face of the PRE-press earth? I haven't heard anything about those features at all, much less seen them demoed recently. Did I miss a post about Palm deciding against pinching with your fingers in the UI and such?
Almost every demo I have seen uses multitouch in some way: Google Maps, Web Browser, Email, Photos, etc...
If you know it is available, why are you complaining that the particular CTIA demos are not showcasing incessantly?!
No complaint. Just wondering why the demos don't feature it more prominently. How does email use multitouch?
thank you
The emails on the Pre are full HTML, just like a web page. You can pinch zoom on the web browser. You can do so an email. I have seen it demonstrated, I wish I could find the youtube clip now...
I must be missing something. How do you sync your Outlook contacts with your google contacts? Just the two of them with out the need of a phone? I've tried looking at google sync, but I couldn't find anything to sync them. A link or anything would be appreciated.
My goodness, what a lot of noise and confusion.
In my situation, I need synchronization to desktop Outlook via a USB cable.
No cloud sync can be involved.
No Exchange Server.
No WiFi.
I have no choice in these restrictions. They are company policy. Also, I can't have the phone be my primary calendar, as someone so helpfully suggested, because the lion's share of my appointments are not entered by me. They are entered via Outlook meeting requests send by admin staff.
I don't think my situation is all that unique.
Here's something to quiet the noise. If this new phone does not provide what you need, simply don't get it. Maybe wait for a version that does what you need, consider another device or stick with the one you've got.
Why can't you guys understand this?!!! IF YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT USES AN OUTLOOK SERVER, YOUR CALENDAR AND CONTACTS AND TASKS WILL AUTOMATICALLY SYNC TO YOUR PALM PRE, NO USB, NO DESKTOP SOFTWARE, NO GOOGLE-SYNC NEEDED! YOU CAN COMPLETELY IGNORE THIS ARTICLE!! This article is specifically for people who use Outlook at HOME to manage their personal calendar and contacts!!
Hey Daniel -
Did you not read the post of the person you so rudely screamed at? He said his corporate Outlook account doesn't offer ActiveSync, so he can't sync it with the Pre. Next time you want to troll and bite someone's head off, make sure you don't make yourself look like a dumbass in the process.
You are assuming that all companies expose their exchange servers to the internet. For very valid security reasons my company does not. Our exchange server sits behind a very tight firewall.
Remote access to our exchange accounts is only via company IT approved VPN solutions. They are very conservative in what they approve. And it is very difficult to get them to approve anything new (assuming that there are any VPN solutions available for the Pre).
For the same reasons, synchronizing via a web based third party like Google is also verboten! We also do not support WiFi (primarily because of IT costs).
If there is no direct to PC via cable synch then the Pre is unfortunately not an option for me or I would imagine many other potential users.
TreoRock-
One easy way to get your Contact info from Outlook to Gmail is by exporting them from Outlook in csv (comma separated value) format. Most webmail contacts support importing the csv file. I've done this in preparation for getting the Pre (assuming a better device doesn't come along between now and the release.) Yahoo supports this as well, but we all know we're dealing with Gmail at this point.
PatrickS-
Sounds like you might work at a DOD facility, possibly using BB's for your Outlook sync, with an asistant with Otulook Delegate authority on your account to manage your Calendar/email. I know in that environment they're not allowed to use Exchange sync, only the BB server to sync to Outlook.
Daniel-
I agree, CES WAS a great place to announce it, but not when you're not going to have the device ready for another 4-6 months. And a few more people watch the Superbowl than follow CES, so that might not have been a bad idea either :) Look at what's happened in that lead time. Teal comes out with a GUI that's scary good for regular Palm devices. Apple announces all the software AND hardware updates which COULD beat the Pre to market, and even WinMO and other OS's get in the act with Pre-like functionality (not that we believe it's as good.) There comes a point where you get past geneating buzz and people get irritated and just move on. Palm's very close.
You are right. Palm is VERY VERY CLOSE!! But, what is it that makes you think iPhone is releasing new hardware? All those rumors are basically unbacked. What makes you think that iPhone 3.0 or any other subsequent release would make it to the market before Pre? Apple said that 3.0 will be available in the summer, where as Palm said that Pre will be available by June. I think we all need to be more patient and let Palm finish refining the product.
I think announcing an unknown technical device at the Superbowl is stupid. You need to announce it at a tech show were people are available to write up reviews about it. Save the Superbowl ads for KNOWN products.
Palm did the right thing. People think the buzz is dying (which it may be for the techie folks), but it is just now reaching the non-techie world. But you need articles written before the layman get's word of the product because those are the articles that the layman will read when they need to decide on a new phone. By the time you get around to doing a Superbowl add, you need a base of knowledge out there so that Joe the plumber (sorry) can do some research.
No, not a DOD facility but similar organizations are our clients, hence the restrictions. Yes, we use Outlook delegates profusely within the company so my phone must be a copy of Outlook, not the other way around, if you understand my meaning.
Only BB users can sync remotely. Our IT department is not happy with the many, many ports that must be opened up to make Exchange Sync possible, so no joy there for non-BB users.
Also, no WiFi in the building, and the IT guys go around periodically with sniffers to make sure nobody has snuck a WiFi access point into the building.
So, as I said earlier, I need:
- Sync to local Outlook on my corporate laptop, without an external internet component, without an Exchange Server.
- Sync has to be over a USB wire. I suppose Bluetooth ought to work, but if you can do one I figure you ought to be able to do the other, so may as well be wired to avoid all that pairing nonsense.
Thanks to "Anon" who suggested if something doesn't meet my needs, I don't buy it. I never would have thought of that . Such a helpful lad/lass, eh? Silly me, I thought this was a FORUM for ideas, wants, desires, etc. [/sarcasm]
Hey, anytime ol'Pat.
My goodness, what a lot of noise and confusion.
and yet...
Silly me, I thought this was a FORUM for ideas, wants, desires, etc.
I agree; "Silly you."
http://i.gizmodo.com/5197577/new-winmo-and-iphone-apps-give-you-palm-pre...
the longer palm waits...
That app does not provide the true Synergy experience which is, true message integration and aggregation. The Synergy "platform" is the future!
I forgot to add, Synergy cross references and integrates Fandango with the Calendar, as well as other app's. It isn't only message integration.
I've read where folks don't care if Fandango can mark their calendars with Movie Ticket times, I agree. I usually only get tickets on-line if I'm running late and don't want to wait in line.
BUT, think of the possibilities. If someone could make it to where airlines and hotels could do the same. Use your Pre to purchase airline tickets and the information is automatically populated onto your calendar....AWESOME!
I think some of the demos are used just to show us what is possible. I can't wait to get a PRE.
As well as I understand: Me as a desktop Outlook user have to sync Calendar/Memo/Tasks with Google Calendar (which is a crap) and I have to sync the Pre with Google Calendar.
I have the following problems with this idiot solution:
- I have to sync in 2 steps (compared to my Centro and my TX it's a very complicated way)
- I have to have Internet connection
- I have to use Google Calendar and Gmail for Contacts, which I hate. I don't want have three databases whith the same content (1 db on my desktop, 1 on Pre and 1 on Google Account).
I want to hotsync Outlook data via USB, BT or Wi-Fi. Almos every "dump" SonyEricsson phone can synchronize Outlook data via BT or cable.
"I want to hotsync Outlook data via USB, BT or Wi-Fi. Almos every "dump" SonyEricsson phone can synchronize Outlook data via BT or cable."
yes, me too. by this is probably not fancy and innovative enough for palm.
>> this is probably not fancy and innovative enough for palm
or Apple or Google
My biggest problem is thet it seems to be that it would be a downgrade in many features to change my Centro to a Pré.
Downgrade features compared to Centro:
- No SD-slot
- smaller memory (I use an 8gb SD card in my Centro)
- idiotic method for Outlook-sync (I sync 3-5 times a day via BT)
- no 5-way nav. buttons, less buttons
- no thetering (OK, maybe the unlocked GSM version of Pre will able to provide thetering)
In January I was totally in love with Pré, it now I'm a little bit disappointed.
I have a Centro and dont see the Pre as a downgrade to my Centro.
Bigger screen with better keyboard.
True multitasking device with a better browser.
OK, of course Pre is a much better smartphone than Centro if we compare.
But I can't understand why Palm have to step back in very important features like memory, syncing, tethering. In my everyday work fast and reliable synchronization is more important than multitasking or a better browser. I bought a Palm phone with a very-very old OS, because nowadays the Palm OS can synchronize the fastest and reliable way on the mobile phone market.
I've been a Sprint and Palm user since the days I would plug my Sprint module into my Handspring PDA and use it as a cell phone. As a result, I've been waiting for the Pre to become available to upgrade from the 755P, which is my current phone. That said, now I am worried. I use my phone contacts and calendar for work. The new version of Amicus Small Firm Edition 2009, the law office management software I use, I just purchased only syncs with Outlook. While I have read the comments about still being able to sync in a network with exchange server, or via a third party program through Google, in that our small network doesn't have an exchange server and I can't put case sensitive info on the net,I am not going to be able to use a Palm Pre. I've been a customer for a long time and now they're going to lose me. I don't trust putting data on or through Google or any Gmail app.
add me to the pile of people who love the pre but won't get it because it won't sync with my desktop outlook (and I am not interested in paying for a third party solution, that never works properly)
HOW DO YOU SYNC DATA BACK TO OUTLOOK???????? (Contacts specifically)
OK, seriously folks, the PocketMirror from Chapura does a great job of syncing all of my Outlook contacts to my Pre.
example: ||Pre|| <<===== ||Outlook||
BUT! And this is a huge BUTT!! I have about 5,000 email addresses in my Pre that I cannot transfer to my Outlook! Is there any way to go backwards??? The 2-way sync that chapura claims to have isn't there!! (I have even tried using my exchange server. NO LUCK!)
Here's the deal. I added my facebook account to my pre, which in turn, imported thousands of email addresses, and Sync'ed those to my existing contacts. There should be a way to re-create those contacts in Outlook? Or do I seriously have to type them in one-by-one??????
I want to do this with my contacts:
||Pre|| =====>> ||Outlook||
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!! :))
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