Category Archives: News

Over 25 New Smartphones and Tablets Unveiled At CES 2012

Posted on by David Z
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The 2012 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas may be winding down, but things are just getting started at CompanionLink. By my count, over 25 new smartphones and tablets were announced at CES this year. They range from high-end smartphones to budget-friendly tablets, and from Android to Windows Phone.

As these devices are released over the next few months, we’ll be taking a closer look at them and testing them to ensure compatibility with CompanionLink and DejaOffice. It is our intention to support all of these new devices announced at CES. Stay tuned to the blog for updates on this!

And for those interested in what was announced at CES, but haven’t had time to parse through the countless articles, here’s a short list of just some of what you can look forward to over the next few months:

The Galaxy Note

The Galaxy Note from Samsung has been around internationally for a few months, but is finally coming to those of us in the US. Described as a “phablet” by some, this phone features a beautiful 5.3” screen and a stylus. It’s great for productivity buffs and creative types alike.

The Galaxy Nexus on Sprint

Another bit of good news from Samsung – the Galaxy Nexus is expanding its userbase to Sprint customers. No longer a Verizon exclusive, the Galaxy Nexus will be landing on Sprint’s new LTE network sometime in the next few months. With top-of-the-line specs and Android 4.0, it’s sure to be a popular phone among Sprint customers!

The Lumia 900 and Titan II

Not to be overshadowed by a host of Android announcements, the Windows Phone platform is gaining two great new devices. The Lumia 900 from Nokia improves upon the already quite popular Lumia 800. With a bigger screen, more cameras, a better battery life, and more, the Lumia 900 is sure to be a big hit.

HTC has put out a Windows Phone sequel of its own, as well. The Titan II may look similar to last year’s model, but it packs some exciting features of its own. Chief among them are 4G data and a 16-megapixel (yes, you read that right!) camera. Yet another Windows Phone device that is sure to do quite well!

The Eee Pad MeMO

While its name may sound a bit unassuming, the Eee Pad MeMO is a serious tablet. ASUS has worked a bit of magic on this one, you could say. It features a 7” screen, Android 4.0, and a quad-core processor (read: fast!) all for just $249. For those keeping score, that’s just $50 more than a Kindle Fire and the same prices as the Nook Tablet. If this tablet lives up to its specs, it will likely be quite difficult to keep on the shelves!

The Year In Review

Posted on by David Z
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2011 was a big year for CompanionLink. We added numerous new features to our mobile CRM app, DejaOffice, while surpassing 100,000 active installations globally. We rebuilt our website from the ground up to make it even easier to find the sync solution you need. We released CompanionLink 5 with new features and a refreshed interface. And we’ve released new software, as well – CompanionLink for Windows Live.

But 2011 wasn’t just a big year for us – it was a big year for mobile technology! All year long, we worked hard to support some of the best phones and tablets yet: from the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S to the DROID Bionic, DROID Razr, Galaxy S II, and Galaxy Nexus to name just a few!

While the past year has certainly kept us busy, we’re not taking a break anytime soon! In fact, 2012 is already shaping up to be our biggest year yet. What can you expect from us in the coming year? A completely revised look for DejaOffice, an entirely new cloud sync service, support for even more great phones and tablets (think the rumored DROID 4 and iPad 3), and CompanionLink 6! We can’t go into the details on these things just yet, so be sure to watch the blog for updates!

All of us at CompanionLink want to thank you for helping make 2011 a great year. As you head out this weekend to ring in 2012, we wish you a safe and happy New Year. See you in 2012!

An Update On the Galaxy Nexus (With Video!)

Posted on by David Z
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In anticipation of Verizon’s upcoming release of the Galaxy Nexus, I wanted to post a quick update. We actually got our hands on the UK model for testing and have had some time to play around with it. Check out our thoughts in the video below!

As for syncing the Galaxy Nexus – the situation is as we expected. Local WiFi, CompanionLink Secure Hosted, and Sync via Google all work as intended. The Galaxy Nexus does not have an external SD card slot, which means that USB sync will not work with DejaOffice on this device. That said, we’re already working on a fix, so stay tuned. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the video we’ve made.

Sony Shutting Down The Sony Ericsson Sync Service

Posted on by David Z
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Image Credit: WikipediaSony recently announced that it is shutting down its in-house Sony Ericsson sync service at the end of the year. In their announcement, they suggest exporting your contacts and importing them into Google for future use. Google works with all Android devices, which is where Sony devices seem to be headed.

While this option should work well for some users, we recognize that not all of Sony’s customers will want to store their data on Google’s servers. For those people, CompanionLink has another option.

CompanionLink is able to sync contacts, calendars, tasks, and memos to your Sony device. We support popular contact managers like Microsoft Outlook, Palm Desktop, Lotus Notes, and many others.  And we offer a variety of sync methods, as well as our free Android app, DejaOffice, for managing your data on the go. CompanionLink also offers free phone support. If you ever get stuck with your sync, just give us a call – we’re here to help!

The latest version of CompanionLink currently supports all Sony phones and tablets running the Android OS, and we intend to continue supporting new Android-based Sony devices as they are released. Should you ever upgrade to a new phone that doesn’t happen to be a Sony, rest assured your data will come with you. We sync with Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and more.

If you’d like to try CompanionLink as an alternative to Google Sync, head over to www.companionlink.com/android and download a 14-day free trial!

How to sync the Nokia Lumia 800 with Outlook

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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Nokia’s recent shift toward the Windows Phone platform had many wondering if the iconic manufacturer would be able to continue its track record of success. Early reports are indicating that sales of the Lumia 800, Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone device, have been overwhelmingly positive. This is good news for Nokia fans and Windows Phone fans alike. Nokia has always had delivered excellent hardware design, and the Windows Phone platform gets backing from a major hardware manufacturer.

One of the big questions users have when they pick up the device is how to sync the Nokia Lumia 800 with Outlook. Out of the box, the Lumia can sync with Exchange, but standalone Outlook users must look for another solution. CompanionLink offers two methods to sync Outlook contacts, calendar and tasks with the Lumia 800 – syncing through Google or via Window Live Hotmail.

CompanionLink works by syncing Outlook data to a Google account or Windows Live Hotmail account. From there, the Lumia can be configured to automatically sync with either account over its wireless data connection (note: Google does not sync tasks with Windows Phone devices – CompanionLink recommends syncing via Windows Live Hotmail).

For more information on how CompanionLink syncs Windows Phone devices like the Lumia 800, visit www.companionlink.com/windowsphone/. We’re excited to see what Nokia has in store for us next!

Give the Kindle Fire a Productivity Boost with DejaOffice!

Posted on by David Z
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Image credit: AmazonWe just finished putting the Kindle Fire through its paces, testing both CompanionLink and DejaOffice on the affordable new tablet from Amazon. The results? DejaOffice runs well, and sync with the Kindle Fire works perfectly!

In fact, everything is working as we expected, with the exception of USB sync, which requires a small, but simple workaround. The Kindle Fire automatically mounts its SD card. You must Disconnect from USB Storage, then open DejaOffice and hit sync. We’re looking into a fix to eliminate this step, however.

After testing the Kindle Fire, I think it is important to remember that it’s first and foremost a Kindle – great for consuming media. But with a few easily downloaded apps like DejaOffice, you’ll have transformed your Kindle Fire into a business machine, filled with your contacts, calendars, tasks, memos, and more.

Syncing the HTC Rezound

Posted on by David Z
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It’s a great time to be in the market for a new smartphone, especially for Verizon customers. With the DROID RAZR now available and the Nexus Galaxy around the corner, the carrier has quite the holiday line-up. But they’re not done yet. The HTC Rezound, released today, completes the trio of powerful Android phones available from Verizon this season.

The folks over at The Verge have an impressive review of the Rezound available, and I’d encourage you to check it out if you’re interested in learning more about the phone. If you’re interested in learning more about syncing the Rezound, however, you’re in the right place.

As with most any Android device, you’re able to sync contacts, calendars, tasks, and memos from a whole host of CRM software to the HTC Rezound. Learn more about your options at https://www.companionlink.com/phones/htc-rezound.html or head over to our downloads page to get your 14-day free trial and start syncing today!

USB Sync Comes to All webOS Devices

Posted on by David Z
33

webOS USB Sync

If there’s one feature request we’ve received by webOS users more than any other, it’s expanded support for USB sync. We’ve heard you, and we’ve been working on a way to bring it to you. Today, I’m happy to report we’ve done just that!

With the latest version of CompanionLink 5, available for download today, Direct USB sync is supported for all devices running webOS up to the current version (3.0.4)! You can now sync contacts, calendars, tasks, & memos via USB directly to your webOS device!

Getting started is easy – just make sure you’re running the latest version of CompanionLink, then download the updated version of our “CL USB Sync” app on your HP webOS device. Grab it today from the webOS App Catalog. Then, follow the steps in our Setup Guide to sync with your CRM database!

We know this feature has been a long-time coming. We’re thrilled to be able to release it to you today and we’d love to hear what you think! Let us know in the comments.

DejaOffice for Android 1.12.2 Now Available

Posted on by David Z
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If all the hype surrounding today’s iOS 5 release isn’t your thing, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. DejaOffice 1.12.2 for Android has just landed in the Android Market and will be in the Amazon Appstore soon. If you’ve been following along with our beta builds, this is an official release. For those who haven’t, this update brings a host of new features. I’ve mentioned some on the blog already, but I think a few of them are worth highlighting again.

Time Zone Shifting

For the world travelers our there, this feature should prove to be indispensible. The next time you change time zones, DejaOffice will ask you if you’d like to enable time zone shifting. There are three options: Yes, No, and Not Decided.

Selecting “Yes” adjusts your tasks and calendar events to the current, local time zone. This means an event at 4pm PST will be display as 7pm EST, for example. Choosing “No” ignores your current time zone. This means an event at 4pm PST will display as 4pm EST. Opting for “Not Decided” simply allows you to choose yes or no every time you enter a new time zone.

DejaToday Widget Enhancements

The DejaToday widget is now able to displays events beyond the current day. This is great for those who like to have an idea of what’s on the agenda tomorrow. To enable this feature, head into the DejaOffice Settings, choose DejaTasks, then select the number of Future Days you’d like to show. It’s that easy.

Performance & Stability Improvements

Of course, with an update this big, there’s a large number of performance and stability improvements, as well as bug fixes. We’ve worked hard to make DejaOffice 1.12.2 a great update. It’s available now in the Android Market and Amazon Appstore, so update today and start taking advantage of the new features!

For the full list of release notes, head over to the DejaOffice website. And be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

How To Use Siri To Set Up Business Meetings In Outlook, ACT!, & More

Posted on by David Z
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Just the other day, Apple revealed their latest iteration of the iPhone – the iPhone 4S. One of the biggest new features comes in the form of Siri, Apple’s self-described “humble personal assistant.” Using voice recognition technology, Siri is able to take verbal commands and act on them, allowing you to check and compose messages, emails, calendar appointments, and much more.

Image Credit: TUAW

Currently, Siri is designed to work with Apple’s built in apps – it’s not clear if or when the technology will be opened up to third party developers. However, DejaOffice has the unique ability to connect with Apple’s built in apps. As such, DejaOffice is able to harness the full power of Siri and sync new or updated data back to your existing CRM solution.

Doing so is simple. First, you’ll need to ensure that DejaOffice is set to sync with the native databases. To do this, just launch DejaOffice on your iPhone 4S, tap “Settings,” then “Sync.” From there, select “Sync with Apple’s Calendar” and “Sync with Apple’s Contacts” to enable syncing with the native databases.

Once that’s enabled, press and hold the home button on your iPhone 4S to activate Siri. Say something like “Schedule lunch with John Smith at noon on Friday” and Siri will comply. The next time you sync DejaOffice via CompanionLink, that appointment will be transferred into Outlook, ACT!, Salesforce, or whatever CRM solution you’re using. It’s that easy!

The iPhone 4S

Posted on by David Z
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Apple just wrapped up another keynote presentation unveiling their latest products. As always, there’s a lot of news to sift through. Let us save you time by highlighting the important details here!

Improved Specs

The iPhone 4S features the standard “spec” boost that we’ve come to expect – faster processer, better battery, more storage, and an improved camera. These are all welcome additions and should serve to keep you running the latest and greatest apps.

More Choices

The iPhone 4S is a “World Phone,” meaning it contains both GSM and CDMA radios. It’s also available on AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint in the US, and even more carriers abroad as well. Check out Apple’s iPhone4S page for the full details.

Near-4G Speeds

Apple touted an improved antenna design that, in a nutshell, allows them to nearly double your download speeds. The result is near-4G, though they aren’t calling it that. The iPhone 4S is still a 3G phone, though one of the fastest 3G phones around.

Voice Control

This is the biggest news from Apple’s iPhone 4S announcement. Using advance voice recognition technology, dubbed “Siri,” you will be able to listen to (and reply to) text messages, check your calendar and schedule appointments, send emails, check stocks and weather, search the web, and much more. Time will tell how well this works in the “real world,” but it has the potential to drastically enhance productivity on the go.

Final Thoughts

For now, voice control is limited to the built-in apps. Imagine, however, the potential that lies in this technology when it’s opened up to 3rd party developers, like ourselves!

Of course, we’ll need to get our hands on an iPhone 4S to test DejaOffice, but we’re confident that DejaOffice will be fully supported at, or shortly after, the iPhone 4S launch on October 14th. Stay tuned for more on that!

Sync Outlook on Windows 8 Developer Preview

Posted on by David Z
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Image Credit: PCAuthority

I know – Windows 8 won’t actually be released until sometime next year. That hasn’t stopped us from working with the Windows 8 Developer Preview, however. After some initial testing, I’m happy to inform you CompanionLink works great with Windows 8! That’s right – we can sync Outlook from Windows 8 to your mobile device. CompanionLink works with both 32- and 64-bit versions of Outlook. We can also sync ACT!, Salesforce, Lotus Notes, Palm Desktop, Zoho, and more, all from Windows 8!

You’ll want to ensure you’re running the latest version of CompanionLink, but other than that there are no special steps required to get up and running in Windows 8. So, if you enjoy working with the latest technology and software (like I do!), rest assured CompanionLink is there to support your synchronization of contacts, calendar, tasks and notes.