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I am one of those guys that uses Google services for almost everything. One of the most valuable services, for me, is the Calendar. However, keeping it in sync with my Touch Pro is not very easy and although there are some applications to handle the synchronization of calendars, I've not been very happy with them. Also, I have Linux on my laptop, which makes Outlook a little bit hard to use . I believe many people may have the same problems that I have. Having this in mind, I've started the development of a little application that shows the google calendar on the Touch Pro. I've included some screenshots of it.
What I would like to ask you is if this application would interest anyone or if I am already reinventing the wheel and there are better applications already done for the same purpose.
I've also attached the application. Remember that it is in the starting phase and right now only shows the events of the default calendar (except All-day events). If the response is favorable I will add the ability to view multiple calendars, to edit, add and remove events and to notify the user as the "reminder" settings of the events specify (right now I let Google send me a SMS, so it is not that important to me). I have not made an installer yet, so to try the application just unzip it to someplace in your raphael and run the executable (with File Explorer, for instance).
As it is, the application will not store or modify any data in your phone, except storing your username (and optionally your password) in the registry (key HKCU\Software\GooMobiCal).
So, what do you think? Should I continue to develop it? Do you have any other (better) option?
Marco
This looks great. Although I'd like to just see Google Calendar work with the calendar built into the phone. Like it did on my blackberry.
i'm with cladeus101. i would love for gCal to work with the existing calendar on the phone.
but then, i also think that the existing WinMo calendar looks ugly. i like the gCal look more. heh
This app is pretty awesome though! I would love to see the new features you mentioned.
cladeus101 said:
This looks great. Although I'd like to just see Google Calendar work with the calendar built into the phone. Like it did on my blackberry.
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You can use Google .net API to this this. There are some interessting opensource sync tools out there, but the developer stopped developing them Oh and there is no need for a PC to sync!
Yes I use google calendar but I've just been opening it in Opera. Which is fine but if there was something better...
Hi !
Nice application, that is promising.
Maybe that using Mobile Outlook with Google Calendar API will be also a great interesting alternative. (I am using a Mac). Online Google Calendar Synchronization with Mobile Outlook can be so great.
However, If it is too difficult, your application is in the good way. Please continue .
faeArai said:
You can use Google .net API to this this. There are some interessting opensource sync tools out there, but the developer stopped developing them Oh and there is no need for a PC to sync!
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I would like to have a tool like the org. "Google Calendar Sync"4Outook but then for the build in Calendar. I'm using Oggsync now and that works more-or-less. It's a paid programm and the licence you pay for, is only valid for one year. (So i use the freeware version)
In de freeware function, the tool does not sync automatically every X-minutes. (And it supports only one calendar, but thats not a big problem to me)
So what i would like for Christmas is a automatic-calendar-sync-tool that syncs all fields in the calendar (and, if possible, syncs more than one calendar. And² if possible syncs the contacts aswell) Djeez, thats a big question for Santa
I'm with the general consensus .. I would really like to see an app that allows me to sync Pocket Outlook calendar with Google calendar, on an automated scheduled occurrence. As already stated, OggSync kind of works, which means I wont pay to purchase it.
The Google calendar is already available on mobiles (http://www.google.com/calendar/m), which I use occasionally, so I'd see little use in this app for myself.
If there is a possability to add appointments and share the agenda I would like to try it.
Also, it would be nice if the password is stored encrypted.
Hope you will develop it, I'm willing to test if you're looking for testers.
I just found this service that might be everything you already want: http://www.goosync.com/
I found something that is free!
This site is in beta, www.nuevasync.com ...let me sync google Calendar AND contacts for free w/activesync on Windows mobile. It's free for now, but it says "beta" so hopefully it won't change.
bosskoffee said:
This site is in beta, www.nuevasync.com ...let me sync google Calendar AND contacts for free w/activesync on Windows mobile. It's free for now, but it says "beta" so hopefully it won't change.
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I'm impressed... That's exactly what my ActiveSync/Mobilitycentre does. I can even select more items to synchonize there, but wait, i won't!
If i am on the road, i cannot synchronize with my laptop So i would like to synchonize the phone just by using a tool (like the Google Calendar Sync) and my UMTS/HSDPA internetconnection.
Not sure what you mean Daneels. That site does let you sync with only your phone and 3G/data connection, no need for a laptop.
Basically you set up the active sync on your phone to sync with their server settings (that mimic an exchange server) and you can config active sync to do that at intervals of 5 min to 4 hours.
So contacts and calendar, from just the phone, using software already on the phone. Seems to work okay for me, though like I said the web page says "beta" so I'm a little nervous about how long it will last.
bosskoffee said:
...let me sync google Calendar AND contacts for free w/activesync on Windows mobile.
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...With activesync... Activesync runs on both the phone and computer. By this i mean, very local even without internet, over bluetooth/usb. So i tought someone has re-invented activesync (is also free for Windows-users). If it is syncing over internet, than it's something different . If it enables the use of activesync over internet, than it is extra interesting!
So perhaps we we're having some miscommunication
Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say, it let me sync Google calendar/contacts over the internet with the phone...no PC/local connection involved! check it out I just hope it's free forever
These are both subscription services... I do not think that we need subscriptions, just a app that does the synchronization directly with Google. Without anybody in the middle.
I would be glad to start something like that... but I was amazed that there is no cheap way to develop for WinMo. Yes, the SDK is free, but you need Visual Studio, which is far far from free...
EnOleEikka said:
These are both subscription services... I do not think that we need subscriptions, just a app that does the synchronization directly with Google. Without anybody in the middle.
I would be glad to start something like that... but I was amazed that there is no cheap way to develop for WinMo. Yes, the SDK is free, but you need Visual Studio, which is far far from free...
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I'd love to see a talented developer coming up with this as well!
please work on this. Taking winmo into a cloud arena is the right direction. Google currently has the best cloud suite out there. This is great. I can not wait to be able to add events. until then those who are interested should use www.jott.com to add events. there is a google calendar plugin.
Version 0.2
Thank you all for your replies. I already knew GooSync, but not the other services, like nuevosync. However, they are either not free or require a third-party to forward my calendar to my ppc. I see no reason to give a third-party access to my own calendar data (Google already knowing my private calendar is enough for me). I was looking for something more direct.
Having not found anything free, I continued to develop my little application and arrived to version 0.2, which now allows viewing multiple calendars simultaneously (including the Outlook calendar) and allows to add new events to those calendars. Synchronization between Google and Outlook is in my to do list, but I prefer to get more familiar with both Outlook and Google APIs before diving into it. Also, there are a lot of little things to do before, such as:
- Remove events;
- Support All-Day events (they are not displayed yet);
- Support Multi-Day events (they are incorrectly displayed so far);
- Allow "Quick Add" events (easy on google calendar, not so easy on Outlook);
- Store the preferences (such as selected calendars) of the application;
- Store locally the google calendar events to access them offline;
- Encrypt the password on the Registry;
- and probably a lot more features and bug corrections.
Anyway, for those who want to check out how it is going, here are some screenshots and the application. As before, you only need to unzip the file to a folder on your PPC and run the GooMobiCal.exe file.
If you try it, please give some feedback on how to improve it and which features you consider more urgent keeping in mind that synchronization will take a while. Also, I'm doing this on my free time, which really isn't much, so the development is not as fast as I'd wish.
I have a Vodafone Magic, thus no Exchange capability. I tried TouchDown, couldn't get it to work at all, and was on the verge of flashing my ROM in order to install something with native Exchange support until I found this thread over on the Dream forum:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=536727
They've stripped out the Mail.apk file from the MyTouch ROM (which they found over here in Sapphire land!). The APK file installs and runs fine on my Vodafone/Google branded model using Apps Installer. You'll have a new email program called "Work Email" which will happily run side by side with the GoogleMail app or indeed the crappy built in Email app. No contacts, no calendar, but proper Exchange push email in a clean, no frills interface.
I thought I'd share this with people because it's not in an obvious place where people on the Sapphire/Magic boards would find it easily (and also so I can track it down quickly myself in the future!)
As an aside, am I right in thinking that there are several HTC-branded Exchange clients for the Magic? We've got
* "Work Email", which is a separate app, and which comes with the MyTouch flavoured Magic devices. This is email only.
* a version of the main email app which supports ActiveSync along with the more usual POP3 and IMAP, and which I believe comes with Asian market Magics. This does Contacts and Calendar.
Thats too bad you couldn't get Touchdown to work. That little app is so wonderful. It has tons of features and even supports its own set of widgets for tasks, inbox and calender.
Yes, Touchdown works great for me too. I'm 99% sure that your problem is related to incorrect settings you made (I did the same). Check out the Touchdown Google group. The TD devs answer every question, most likely the same day. Have never seen such a close support.
http://groups.google.com/group/nitrodesk
Also follow this getting started pdf, in case you didn't know it:
http://www.nitrodesk.com/tddownloads/tdstartup.pdf
Cheers,
Derek (happy user, not an employee
This is fantastic. I have touchdown working (i had to use domain\username to get it to work) but it costs $29. This is free! if the calendar can be added then that would make it perfect.
Loccy said:
* "Work Email", which is a separate app, and which comes with the MyTouch flavoured Magic devices. This is email only.
* a version of the main email app which supports ActiveSync along with the more usual POP3 and IMAP, and which I believe comes with Asian market Magics. This does Contacts and Calendar.
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Just like to confirm something...does the Work Email app has activesync capabilities?
Wonder if you could help me with my touchdown config..
My company us running Ms Exchange 2003 SP 2 server with a self-signed certificates. From the advance config screen, I know that the activesync status is ready. i've also loaded the client cert. I also able to see my folders from my the choose folder screen, so I assume that I've the correct configuration.
The problem is that I can't get my inbox to sync but my sent-mail folder is sync and also I'm able to sent emails..
Any hint?
i'm no longer using touchdown, so i can't check the specific settings, but have you checked the settings to make sure it is checking for new emails automatically as they arrive rather than manually or after a certain period of time?
I finally get touchdown to work after emptying my inbox folder ..
I don't see why you're all talking about Touchdown when the topic was created about the native push email support.
Back on topic, I've been using the "work email" as it comes built into Cyanogens ROMs which are of course compatible with the Magic. It works very well and I'd much prefer to use this than an installed app.
remote provisioning
You may or may not be able to connect to your exchange server using "Work Email" app. If your exchange admins require that your phone has been remotely provisioned you won't be able to use this app.
Touchdown guys sorted this out. That's why I paid the money for a great app. Worth every cent.
Hi,
I am thinking of creating an Android Exchange client as I am yet to find a 100% suitable one for my G1.
I currently use TouchDown which works acceptably, but I dont think the interface is particularly in keeping with the standard Android theme. It also seems to duplicate many aspects of the G1 features (calander etc) - why not integrate?
So I was wondering if anyone had some experience of programming (I do, before someone asks) in particular with Exchange history if possible, as I could do with some help and I am all for helping the Android community.
I haven't decided yet if the app will be FOSS or closed source, but if I were to charge it would be around the 1GBP mark - I'm not trying to pay the mortgage off, but something to reimburse the time spent is always nice. Maybe a lite version for free etc.
PM me if you are interested in helping out, I will probably setup a Google Code project or something.
Rich
I am not a programmer (sorry), but I just want to say there is definitely a market for good Exchange apps. The company I work for switched to G1s recently and we bought a few Touchdown licenses just for ActiveSync. I personally hate the TouchDown interface (sorry devs, you're nice and all but I am a fan of design as well as function!). If something was created that could do TouchDown's job (or better) and fit in with Android better, you'd have some people interested for sure.
rich,
I may be interested in working on this. I just got my ADP1, and have barely started playing with it. I'm still running touchdown under the free trial period.
Exchange sync is built into Android 2.0. I haven't played with a droid, so I don't know if it's implemented more like you're talking about or not, but that's certainly worth looking into before developing from scratch.
I know that the 2.0 build should support it, however most Exchange interfaces dont work on our setup
We use a different port for the SSL connection and this seems to break most Exchange implementations (excluding TouchDown). Is the Exchange support in the AOSP Email app?? Or is it like the HTC version?
I would find this very useful. As already said we have many G1 and Magic out there using Work Email and Touchdown....
My problem with a couple of the exchange syncs is they don't include Calendars and Contacts. What good is That? When they say Work Email they mean just that, email.
richbayliss said:
Hi,
I am thinking of creating an Android Exchange client as I am yet to find a 100% suitable one for my G1.
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Hope you have the cash to buy an Activesync Exchange license. That is unless you're planning on using OWA , in which case I doubt folks would pay for an Exchange client without push.
richbayliss said:
I know that the 2.0 build should support it, however most Exchange interfaces dont work on our setup
We use a different port for the SSL connection and this seems to break most Exchange implementations (excluding TouchDown). Is the Exchange support in the AOSP Email app?? Or is it like the HTC version?
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Click to collapse
I have tried the xROM based on the 2.0 AOSP and the mail client supports MS Exchange contacts and calender included.
I would certainly be very interested, especially if you managed to support exchange categories. Touchdown on my HTC Hero (v1.5) certainly doesnt, and neither does the built in HTC activesync program.
Ideally I want to have a month view calendar with the different calendar events shown on a daily timeline with a colour I can choose for each calendar category.
As far as I can find, I dont think that any of the current android/exchange syncing options even support or mention exchange categories!!!
The 2.0 email app is fully configurable to support exchange, you can change ports and ssl settings. Works perfectly.
There are a few issues that I have with the exchange solutions for Android.
1. Touchdown works, but I hate that it does not integrate into the existing framework. I know it can be done, look at SenseUI from HTC. Almost perfect! Just runs like crap on MyTouch.
2. Lack of integration (touched on point 1, but needed to be said).
3. Lack of full features. Seriously, WHY is there NO WAY to tell it what times to sync and what times not too. I don't need to get EVERY email that is sent between 10pm and 5am and then have my phone sqwaking all night. This bugs me about GMail data sync, I have to MANUALLY shut it off... ugh... Touchdown does this, SenseUI does not...
Anyway, a working, full featured integrated application would be worth paying for. Talk about enterprise licensing... People would be all over that... trust me...
Thanks,
Anyone have a decent chat client on the XOOM? I use Meebo, but the built in task killer likes to aggressively kill it and constantly signs me out. Anyone got any other ideas?
I like Beejive IM a lot on my iPhone. I don't really want to shell out the cash to try it on the Xoom without some reviews first.
It really depends on what services you are trying to connect to.
I'm using Google Talk for talking with google contacts. I use the official AIM client to talk to AIM people (although it also supports Facebook and Google Talk contacts as well).
Neither of those seem to get killed when I leave them running in the background.
Folks, can anybody with a N4 do an email functionality review on the N4 (and perhaps comparing it to iOS mail client)?
I use a 4S for my corporate (and personal) email, and like most would know, the Mail application on iOS has its own sets of ways to get things done. Some simple things like group select, select all, mail attachments on either new mail or replying are not allowed by the stock application (just allows images which is useless for corporate email). I also use active sync and generally it works very well for push. I also have the need to search my email from old archives (mails which are 2 or 3 years old). I am not happy with the iOS mail client, but it just about does the job.
I haven't tried the Android space and there is no way I can try this without buying a phone. From reading reviews, looks like K9 may be the client which supports my needs (We really need a mutt like MUA for hand helds!)
Would appreciate any pointers around this.
Imagine gmail app .its basically the same. I have NHS e-mail (hospital) that uses secure exchange to use it I would have to encrypt my phone for security reasons. However, the email functionality is the same as in gmail from what I remember
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
The stock one is fine these days - I highly recommend Aquamail though.
There's also Touchdown which is optimised for exchange.. Not used that one (our company moved to google apps).