CompanionLink supports two-way sync of Outlook with Microsoft Surface. The Surface ships with Windows RT which delivers the core Windows 8 OS without the ability to run full-blown PC applications. Consequently, the Surface does not run Microsoft Office Outlook. Instead, Microsoft wants you to run their cloud-based Mail app, which is linked to your new “Microsoft Account”.

CompanionLink has a way to synchronize your PC Outlook contacts and calendar to your Microsoft Account, which will sync with your Surface Tablet’s Mail app.  For just $14.95, you can have your Outlook data on your Surface.

Samsung UK just announced the Galaxy S III Mini.  The specs pose the device as direct competition to iPhone 5.  Both devices have a 4″ display, and this is perhaps Samsung’s way of telling Apple and the world that if you want the “mini” experience, the choice you have is iPhone 5 and S3 Mini.  If you want an upgraded experience from “mini”, Samsung offers a slew of devices like the S3, Nexus, and others.

S3 Mini ships with Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), a dual-core CPU, and the TouchWiz interface.  It also includes all the great features people have come to enjoy with Samsung – S Voice, Smart Stay, Direct Call, and S Beam.

A lot of business users will be enticed by the smaller, more compact form factor of the S3 Mini.  It’s small enough to put in your shirt pocket or operate with one hand.  For big travelers, this could be key.

CompanionLink will support USB and Cloud sync to S3 Mini with Outlook, ACT!, Palm Desktop, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, Highrise, Salesforce CRM, Zoho CRM, and SugarCRM.

Update: Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple) in a recent interview said Apple became arrogant with the assumption that one size fits all.  Wozniak said people have different needs, and the iPhone 5 doesn’t offer people options by shipping with only one screen size.  This favorably positions Samsung’s Galaxy devices because they come in different sizes for different people.  The S3 Mini has the same 4″ screen size as the iPhone 5, allowing people to operate their device with one hand.  The Galaxy S3 device has a 4.8″ screen, which gives people more real estate on their screen.  The Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5″ screen size for those wanting even more.

AT&T announced they will carry the Samsung Galaxy Express and Samsung Rugby Pro devices this winter holiday season. The Galaxy Express is a mass-market device that will run Ice Cream Sandwich. The Rugby Pro is a military-grade Android device that is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. It sports Push-to-talk, a 4-inch screen, and full device encryption.  (Anyone with more clarity on what “full device encryption” means, please send an email to us at social@companionlink.com.)

CompanionLink will offer sync for both the Galaxy Express and the Rubgy Pro.

Fresh on the heels of the iPhone 5 announcement, Samsung announces the Galaxy S IV device will debut February 2013 at the Mobile World Congress.

The Galaxy S2 and Galaxy S3 have been two of the most popular devices for business users buying CompanionLink.  We expect that trend to continue with the upcoming Galaxy S4.  The phone is the closest one-to-one competitor of iPhone 5 in terms of features and reputation.  The S4 is built for business and pleasure. CompanionLink and our companion DejaOffice app for Android adds to the “business” side of the equation by enabling features missing on S2 and S3 (and presumably S4), such as:

• database encryption
• logging business notes after incoming phone calls
• business-focused view and sort options for Contacts
• color-coded categories that match systems like Microsoft Outlook
• one-click setting to keep business and personal data separate on device

Our website will have all the latest on Galaxy S4 support as the launch nears.

Busy day for tablet news. First, rumor mills spun wild about a Google Nexus 7 tablet coming to Australia in July. Rumored to be $199 with an IPS display, Android OS 4.1 Jelly Bean, and a screaming quad-core processor, the Nexus 7 will compete squarely with Kindle Fire.

Then, a few hours later, Kindle Fire 2 rumors began spreading. Funny how that happened just hours after the Nexus tablet rumors.

Kindle Fire 2 is rumored to hold steady on price ($199) but include upgrades like a better display. This ostensibly means that the first-generation Kindle Fire will either drop in price or disappear.

CompanionLink monitors these rumors closely because we deliver two-way sync compatibility with devices like Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire 2. We fill the gaps these devices have when they launch. For example, the first-generation Kindle Fire did not allow people to synchronize contacts or calendar with their Google/Gmail account. We documented this when the Kindle Fire launched. Let’s hope Kindle Fire 2 fixes this. If not, or if you would like a cloud-free way to sync your data to Kindle Fire 2, CompanionLink can help. CompanionLink can sync popular databases like Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, or even Google using the micro USB cable that comes with the device or using over-the-air technology such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a hosted sync.

Microsoft Surface is a business device out of the box.  This is because of one key difference between the Surface and other tablets – Surface runs a full operating system.  The Surface isn’t Windows 8 compatible; it is Windows 8!  It blurs the line between tablets and ultrabooks. I can almost hear business professionals letting out a sigh of relief during Microsoft’s announcement of the Surface, as if to say, “Finally, a tablet form factor that lets me run all the business software I’ve paid for.”

Microsoft Surface will come in two flavors: 1) Surface for Windows RT, and 2) Surface for Windows 8 Pro.  While their hardware specs differ, both flavors seem to ship with Office 15 pre-installed.  This instantly gives business people access to their email, contacts, appointments, tasks and notes.  People and companies that rely on Microsoft Outlook for managing professional relationships are open for business as soon as they open the box.

Road warriors who carry a Surface + mobile device of their choice (ie – Android, iPhone) will demand a way to keep data current across both devices.  Sitting in an airport lounge, the last thing they want is clumsy cables wrapped around their legs, connecting both devices.

Larger companies running Exchange can just set up Surface with their Exchange account.  However, smaller companies and individuals running standalone Oultook (no Exchange), will need a tool to sync data.  CompanionLink will offer a way to keep Microsoft Surface, Android, and iPhone synchronized in a wireless, hands-free manner.  No buttons to push; no clumsy cables. CompanionLink supports full hands-free sync with the Surface.

Microsoft’s announcement of Windows Phone 8 had some great news for hardware enthusiasts. Announced features include NFC, mobile payment capabilities, high resolution graphics, multi-core processors, and removable storage options like SD card. Also mentioned was tight(er) integration with the Windows 8 platform.

Two things stuck out to us – file system and device drives – that Windows Phone 8 will share with big brother Windows 8. Will this tighter integration between WP8 and Windows 8 mean something new for business professionals who rely on Microsoft Outlook to manage relationships, schedules, task lists, and business notes?  Will they finally get an “lite” version of Outlook on their WP8?  Will this finally lead to a cloud-free solution for standalone Outlook users (those who don’t use Microsoft Exchange) to get their Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks and notes on Windows Phone 8 devices?

CompanionLink continues to research these and other options.  We won’t know for sure until we get our hands on the WP8 SDK. Ideally, standalone Outlook users really want a way to sync to WP8 directly over a USB cable; just like they used to do with the ActiveSync software on their PC from years past. You can sign up on our list to be kept current of our findings in our endeavor to provide USB sync for Outlook and Windows Phone.

Update: Click here for Galaxy S5 Outlook sync

We want to show you how easy it is to sync Samsung Galaxy SIII with Microsoft Outlook. There appears to be a lot of confusion by S3 owners about how to do this. CompanionLink can automate the sync process with a few simple configuration steps.

CompanionLink is right for you if you are looking for:

1. Plug-and-play sync experience. Connect your Galaxy S3 to the computer and the sync will begin automatically.
2. Reliable sync. No fussing around with hard resets, switching to Mass Storage Mode, or lost data during the sync.
3. Data security. We offer both USB sync and encrypted Cloud sync. Furthermore, our Outlook-like app for Android encrypts all the data you sync so no one can break into it even if your phone is lost.
4. Complete Outlook data. We sync all your data – contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, journal, categories, and contact photos.

Samsung devices ship with free software to sync Galaxy S 3 with Outlook. Many users report that it is a very complicated process that often destroys their data. Your mileage may vary. If you don’t want to deal with this, CompanionLink is for you and others who value their data and time. We even offer free US-based phone support to stand behind our software.

Steps for Outlook to Galaxy S3 sync:

1. Install CompanionLink for Outlook to your computer. It is free to download and try for 14 days.
2. Download the DejaOffice CRM app on your S3 for free from the Google Play store. The app gives you contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, journal and categories just like Microsoft Outlook.
3. Synchronize using CompanionLink. Choose from DejaConnect USB sync or DejaCloud sync. Both are secure.

Yes, it’s really that simple to sync Microsoft Outlook to Galaxy S3. Give it a try and please share your feedback below.

Microsoft’s cash infusion into the NOOK platform ensures the device family will be around for holiday season 2012. Great news for people looking for a tablet that’s not married to the Amazon or Apple ecosystems. It also ensures the price wars for tablets continue, and the consumer is able to get a tablet-form device for a fraction of the cost of more expensive systems that do just one thing well (e.g., gaming systems).

The NOOK Color is really a well-made device. With a few 3rd party apps, you can outfit NOOK to be your all-in-one tool for reading, entertainment, and business productivity.  Self-plug: we just released our DejaOffice mobile CRM app for the NOOK.  It transforms your NOOK into a business tool that carries your address book, appointments, tasks and notes – all in one integrated app.  You can even sync the NOOK to Micrsoft Outlook on your computer.