How to Sync Samsung Galaxy S8 with Outlook

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Wayland Bruns

(And have it look like Outlook on the Phone)

Download DejaOffice on your phone, and CompanionLink for Outlook on your PC.
Configure them for DejaCloud Sync
Watch your Outlook Contacts and Calendar appear on your phone.

DejaOffice is Free. CompanionLink runs on a two-week trial.

Sync Galaxy S8 to Outlook without using Exchange

I think our Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be arriving tomorrow! Like many of you I can’t wait. I carried a Galaxy Note 7 for a month before it was recalled. The size and shape was really nice. Narrower and taller than my Galaxy Note 4, but very slim and nice to hold. I do a lot of business on my phone, emails, tasks, stocks, so I really like the large screen.

Like most business people, I do nearly all my data entry on my desktop PC. That’s where I handle my task list, enter appointments, and add new contacts. If I’m out and about I use my phone to complete tasks, add new tasks and schedule things. So it’s a constant battle to keep my phone and my PC showing the same data.

That battle is eliminated using CompanionLink and DejaOffice.

DejaOffice is hands-down the best Outlook-like App for the phone. It has the “classic 4”: Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Memos, just like an old Palm OS device. More important, it has all the Outlook fields, and all the Outlook Calendar formations. Android OS comes from Google, which is a Linux shop. Even Google management does not use Outlook. It shows. You can’t schedule an appointment for every weekday in Android, and they don’t have a native task app.

Special features of DejaOffice:

Time zone management, so when you land your Calendar doesn’t go wonky
Calendar Colors that match Outlook
Recurring tasks compatible with Outlook
Optional: Franklin Covey task priorities A1, B2, C99
Works same on Android and iPhone, Phones and Tablets.

DejaOffice will connect to your PC using USB (remember old Hotsync?), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and DejaCloud. DejaCloud Realtime Sync is quick to set up and amazingly fast. I can make an appointment on my PC, and by the time I pick up my phone it is already there. It works when I’m on a trip without any problems.

Let’s get started! It’s going to be a great year for phone releases.

CompanionLink featured in New York Times print edition

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Wayland Bruns

The print edition of The New York Times, page 89, featured CompanionLink! Wow!

The article Keeping Your Android Files in Sync With a Computer mentions CompanionLink along with several free options like Google Sync (which does not sync to your PC) and DropBox which does not synchronize Contacts or Calendar.

“I’m really happy to see our name in print”, says Wayland Bruns, CTO of CompanionLink software. “We are the only product mentioned that uses a traditional business model. We offer paid software with associated service like free telephone technical support.”

CompanionLink fully understands that not everyone is a technical genius, able to pull together multiple free solutions to make a seamless solution. Sometimes the best value in software tools is finding a tool that comes with the service needed to make it smooth and effortless.

Many thanks to D.J. Biersdorfer for recognizing us in print!

How to Sync Samsung Galaxy S7 to Outlook and Office 365

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Wayland Bruns

We got our Galaxy S7 Edge today. Nice phone. The graphics are great. The phone is light. The curved edges are awesome.

These large screen phablet phones are perfect for the DejaOffice for Outlook App. There’s a lot of useful space to do important things.

The Google App and Outlook App both waste this space by using lots of white space. Our goal here at CompanionLink is to pack the space with data. The phone list on DejaOffice features your contact name, company name, email, phone number and category, and that’s just on the list. For tasks DejaOffice shows category, completed status, subject, due date, email or location. The Outlook App and Google App don’t even have tasks!

How to Sync Galaxy S7 with Outlook

On your PC or Mac; Download the CompanionLink for Outlook 14-day trial
On your iPhone or Android phone, download DejaOffice for Outlook
Set up USB, Wi-Fi or DejaCloud sync

That’s it! You’ll have your data on your phone. For more information here’s our info page for CompanionLink for Outlook.

Call us at 503-243-3400 if you need further help.

CompanionLink provides free technical support to everyone with a Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phone, regardless of whether you do or do not own a license to CompanionLink . You can also access our setup guides online. If you want an advanced configuration help, we offer a $49 RunStart package where our experts will log in to your PC and Galaxy S7 to configure the sync for you. This gives you the peace of mind that your Galaxy S7 Outlook sync is fine-tuned to match your needs.

Sync Outlook for Mac 2011 – Contacts and Calendar – with El Capitan

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Wayland Bruns

CompanionLink has an offer for people who have upgraded to El Capitan.

Apple’s updates always seem to break old things. In this case, there are field reports that Exchange Contact and Calendar sync from Outlook for Mac 2011 is not working with El Capitan, Mac OS X 10.11.

CompanionLink for Mac is working fine. So if you need your Contacts and Calendar updated in a jiffy, maybe it’s time to switch from Exchange sync to CompanionLink.

We have two routes to do this. One is to install CompanionLink for Mac, and synchronize to Google, and set your iPhone, iPad or Android phone to sync with Google. This is a great solution if you only need Contacts and Calendar. As you can see, Calendar colors are supported by CompanionLink’s Google Sync.

The better method is to download the DejaOffice for Outlook App onto your phone, and synchronize using DejaCloud sync. This is a direct sync from your Outlook for Mac 2011, and Outlook for Mac 2016 to DejaCloud and instantly to DejaOffice on your phone. DejaCloud sync handles Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes. It handles your calendar colors. It has a lot of advanced features like templates that make adding new events and tasks ultra easy, and mapping capabilities to map nearby contacts and map your calendar events. Check it out!

CompanionLink for Mac runs $49.95 and has a two week free trial. You can save $10 today by using the code “BLOG” in the Affinity Code field of your purchase, making CompanionLink for Mac just $39.95. Or for free, you can just start with the trial. Who knows, maybe Apple will fix the El Capitan problem in the next two weeks!

How to Sync Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes with iPhone 6s

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Wayland Bruns

There seems no end to sync solutions for iPhone. The problem is; they all devolve into Apple-like simplicity.

Face it. We use Outlook because it is fast, effective, and the whole world supports it. It is forced on us by our business, it runs our mail, it runs our appointments, and the less time we can spend there, the more we can do our jobs.

With iPhone, the best known solutions are feeble, at best. With Apple iCloud, you need to create a different Outlook folder and move your data to it. You need to put up with problems with it, with mail and other things. And then, when it gets to iPhone, you have no Tasks any more just reminders.

With Office 365 and the Outlook App you have a different set of problems. It all gets to the phone ok (except for tasks again) but the only thing that is marginally good with the Outlook App from Microsoft is the email. Hello Microsoft: Email is NOT a problem on the iPhone.

So that’s what CompanionLink and DejaOffice are here to do. Synchronize Outlook Contacts, and Outlook Calendar, and Outlook Tasks to the iPhone. Not only to move them, safely and securely, but DejaOffice provides an Outlook-like ecosystem on the iPhone and Android so that you can continue to do Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes just like your PC. So if you want to schedule an appointment, or make a task for a contact, you can do that in one App on your phone. If you have Recurring Tasks, CompanionLink and DejaOffice is the only solution available that supports them on all platforms.

CompanionLink also works for Outlook for Mac 2011 and Outlook for Mac 2015.

Here’s how to sync Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Memos:

On your PC or Mac; Download the CompanionLink for Outlook 14-day trial
On your iPhone or Android phone, download DejaOffice for Outlook
Set up USB, Wi-Fi or DejaCloud sync

That’s it! You’ll have your data on your phone. For more information here’s our info page for CompanionLink for Outlook.

How to sync Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ to Outlook

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Wayland Bruns

Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are the newest additions to the Wide World of Phablets. The Edge+ is the first Phablet phone to feature the curved edges which can show information while the phone is turned.

DejaOffice for Outlook App is made for these large screen phones, giving a maximum of functionality. Only DejaOffice offers:

* Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes in one app, and you can link them together
* Category colors, use the same categories across all conduits.
* USB, Wi-FI and Cloud synchronization options
* Private records, view them only when you enter a pass code
* Onboard encryption. Even if your phone is lost, your data is safe

Setup Guide for Samsung Galaxy Outlook sync

Install CompanionLink on your PC. Click here to download it.
On your Galaxy Phone, launch the Google Play Store. Search for DejaOffice and install it.
Configure CompanionLink. Your configuration steps will depend on the sync option listed above that you choose.
1. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook USB sync
2. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook WiFi sync
3. Recommended: Galaxy S6 to Outlook DejaCloud sync (automatic)
4. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook using a Google account
5. With DejaCloud sync, the synchronization will begin automatically within a few minutes. If you selected USB, WiFi, or sync to Google, you need to click on the Sync button in CompanionLink on your PC to start the first sync.

Further help for Samsung Galaxy to Outlook sync

Call us at 503-243-3400 if you need further help. Support is free to everyone with a Galaxy S6 phone, regardless of whether you do or do not own a license to CompanionLink . You can also access our setup guides online. If you want an advanced configuration help, we offer a $49 RunStart package where our experts will log in to your PC and Galaxy S6 to configure the sync for you. This gives you the peace of mind that your Galaxy S6 to PC sync is fine-tuned to match your needs.

Palm Desktop on Windows 10 – Works great, less filling, lighting fast

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Wayland Bruns

I have to admit it. I’m a closet Palm Desktop user. Long ago I was seduced by the fast load time, and the fact that it has everything I need for my daily contact, calendar and task needs. I really like the memos. I love to collect quotes that include mixed metaphors. So my memos are full of silly things that people really said. My favorite: “I’ll jump off that bridge when I get to it.”

Palm Desktop is licensed to use in conjunction with a Palm Device, so I always keep my venerable Palm Razor close by when I use my computer. Palm itself was sold years ago to ACCESS in Japan. Later, HandSpring renamed themselves Palm (to confuse everyone) and released the Palm Pre, a Palm phone that didn’t run like a Palm phone. After that miserable failure (I’m looking at you BlackBerry), the second Palm company sold themselves to HP which rightly shut them down.

Recently, HP has scrubbed the Palm taint from their web pages. However, Palm Desktop v6.2 is still available from CNET. Palm Desktop v4.1.4 is available from Softonic, albeit with some adware added to the installer. Unfortunately, HotSync drivers stopped working back with Windows Vista. So you can’t actually use Palm HotSync for anything.

I have Palm Desktop set to a hotkey, Ctrl-Shift-P for me. So i hit the hotkey, make an appointment, set the alarm, and close it. I can get all that done all before Outlook even loads. Speed and effectiveness is what I value with my PC. I care little for zoom effects, or colorful screens. CompanionLink Sync with Palm Desktop is also lighting fast. Sometimes I don’t even see the icon turn. With DejaCloud sync, my new appointment is already on my phone.

Our setup guide is here: https://www.companionlink.com/support/kb/How_To_Set_Up_Palm_Desktop_On_Windows_10

More information here: https://www.companionlink.com/palmdesktop/

May all our adventures in Contact and Calendar management be as fast and robust as the venerable Palm Desktop.

Windows 10, Misery and Magic

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Wayland Bruns

Having been in this business 27 years gives me some experience. But nothing in my experience matches what Microsoft is attempting; a free OS update for more than 500 million computers.

Do I have a prediction? Can Microsoft handle the server load? Will everyone be impressed but the support? I don’t say so. However, I will predict that whether Microsoft is successful or unsuccessful, we will all remember August 1, 2015 as the date that Windows changed the World, for better or worse.

What I’m anticipating is a combination of people successful in the Windows 10 transition, looking for help with the new OS and how to do things. I also predict a certain percentage of failed updates. Even a 1% failure rate means 5 million computers that no longer boot. So I would predict that more PC hardware will be shipped in August 2015 than in any month of the last four years.

So many people, reinstalling apps, looking up licenses, switching to newer versions.

We also look with some interest at Microsoft’s “Phone Companion” software, which will “magically” keep everything in sync. Since Windows 10 preview is out, and Phone Companion is not in it, I definitely think magic is what they need now. I think it will be good for CompanionLink (thank you Microsoft for naming your feature) to continue to do what we do – simple and dependable phone sync. There’s nothing they will introduce in two weeks that can match the features and dependability of CompanionLink and DejaOffice.

The Samsung Smart Switch equivalent for business users

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Rushang

Samsung has a useful app called Smart Switch that allows quick transfer of key data between two Android devices. It helps people who buy a new phone, like Samsung Galaxy S6, to move music, photos, contacts, calendar, and settings from an older phone.

The 4-star reviews of the app shows that Smart Switch works well for basic data. The 50,000+ reviews also show that transferring information between devices is a big problem that many people are looking to solve.

Where is the Smart Switch for business CRM data?

Business and advanced users need something similar to Smart Switch that can handle their complete data set. The most important data for business professionals is their address book, notes about their dealings with clients, and their calendar management system.

Productivity seekers will also need to transfer their task management system like Franklin Covey or Getting Things Done. Advanced users have a system to store all this information on a desktop productivity suite like Microsoft Office Outlook or a CRM system like Act!, GoldMine, Business Contact Manager, or Salesforce.com. They prefer to store this info on the desktop because of the innate security with local storage and quick UI. These tools are designed to hold all business data in one integrated database.

Smart Switch isn’t going to work with these productivity suites, nor will it sync the advanced data that businesses need. For example, Contact Categories, Tasks Priorities, Task Alerts, Notes, and Client History are all advanced CRM data fields that most consumers don’t care about, but business people depend on.

CompanionLink has a Smart Switch equivalent for Outlook and CRM systems

CompanionLink has developed a suite of utilities that work with legacy and modern versions of Microsoft Outlook and other popular PC and Cloud CRM systems. The apps are the #1 downloaded utility for CRM data because of our reputation to stay ahead of device announcements. This guarantees synchronziation always works with cutting-edge phones like Galaxy S6 from day one of public availability.

Find more information about the data CompanionLink supports by selecting the business productivity system you use from the list below. CompanionLink is designed to be an on-going sync and not just transfer. This means updates on the device will automatically sync back to the CRM system.

Microsoft Outlook
Act!
Palm Desktop
Lotus Notes
GroupWise
GoldMine
Time & Chaos
Salesforce CRM

Demystifying the versions of Office Outlook for PCs, Phones, and Tablets

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Rushang

Microsoft is unleashing a bevy of names and editions of the next version of Microsoft Office Outlook. It’s hard to understand which version of Outlook you will need on PC, Mac, phones, and tablets.

Here are a list of known platforms on which the next version of Outlook will be available.

PC – desktops and laptops running Windows 10
Phones – iPhone, Android, Windows-based phones
Tablets – iPad, Android tablets
Special Tablets – Surface tablets, other tablets running Windows OS 10

Next, let’s list every brand name that Microsoft has used so far to describe the next version of Office Outlook.

Outlook 2016
Outlook for Mac 15
Outlook Mail for Windows 10
Mail for Windows 10
Windows 10 Mail app
Outlook for iOS
Outlook for Android
Outlook Web App for Office 365

Outlook 2016

This comes as part of the conventional Office productivity desktop suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) that we have used in the past. Outlook 2016 has a refreshed UI, tight OneDrive integration for cloud document management, and a machine-learning algorithm that learns how to “de-clutter” your inbox.

This suite is for people who want the full Outlook experience (Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Notes, and Categories working seamlessly together) on their desktops and laptops like in years past. Pricing tiers are unannounced. Availability is Fall 2015 with no specific date yet.

Outlook for Mac 15 (aka: Outlook for Mac 2015, New Outlook for Mac)

This is the Office productivity suite for Mac users. It is designed to take advantage of Retina displays and Full Screen views available in modern Macs. Microsoft is promoting this version as a convergence in feature-set with the PC Office 2016. The prior version (Office for Mac 2011) took a public beating because it failed to do things that its PC counterpart could do.

Availability is scheduled for the second half of 2015.

Outlook Mail for Windows 10 (aka: Mail for Windows 10, Windows 10 Mail app)

This is a basic and feature-lite version of Outlook. It comes pre-installed on phones and tablets running Windows 10. These are Microsoft’s phones, Surface tablets, and other small tablets designed by other manufacturers that will support Windows 10. This lite version of Outlook gives you Mail and Calendar functionality. There are no Contacts, Tasks, or Notes in this feature-lite version. Support for Categories is unknown. The UI is streamlined when compared to Outlook 2016 for desktops. You can connect to EAS, Office 365, Gmail, and Yahoo accounts.

Here’s a video that shows the app.

Outlook for iOS (iPhone and iPad)

This app is available from iTunes App Store for free. It handles Mail, People (ie – contacts), and Calendar. People is limited to view-only data. This means you can search and view contact details of people in your address book, but you cannot add, edit, or delete records. There are no Categories or sort options.

Outlook for Android

This app is available from Google Play Store for free. Like its sibling iOS app, it handles Mail, People, and Calendar. People is view-only, no Categories, and no sort.

Outlook Web App (aka: OWA, OWA for Office 365)

This is the online version of Outlook that can be accessed from any desktop or mobile browser. If you have Office 365, you navigate to a web page to log in. If your organization used Exchange, they would provide you with a URL and credentials to log in to the Exchange Server.

The web interface handles Mail, Calendar, People, and Tasks. Categories and Notes do not work.

Microsoft also released native apps for iOS and Android called Outlook Web App. This was Microsoft’s recommended method to access Outlook on mobile devices prior to their recent native Outlook apps for iOS and Android. Page This ZDNet article claims Microsoft is planning to sunset these OWA apps in favor of the new Outlook apps for iOS and Android.

“…Microsoft plans to “sunset” Outlook Web Apps and the Outlook.com app for iOS and Android by summer, officials said.” (Source)

If you have heard of any other names used to describe the next Office Outlook, please share that with us in the Comments section.

Kies replacement for Galaxy S6

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Rushang

We tested Kies with our new Galaxy S6. I can confirm reports by other bloggers that Kies no longer works with Galaxy S6. If you are looking to simply move data from another phone to S6, Samsung recommends their Smart Switch app. It uses their cloud to move Contacts, Calendar, Call Logs, Wallpapers, WiFi settings, and other information between two phones. It works wells for a one-time transfer of data.

Kies replacement for Galaxy S6 Outlook sync

Unfortunately, moving information between phones doesn’t solve one of the main features of Kies – two-way Microsoft Outlook synchronization. People who want to connect their desktop Outlook data with the new Galaxy S6 are left in the dark without Kies. Those who manage business clients, calendar meetings, and notes need a Kies alternative so they can continue getting productivity from their new S6.

CompanionLink is offering the only Kies replacement for Galaxy S6 that will sync via USB, WiFi, or Cloud. The options may get overwhelming, so we offer free telephone technical support so that you can call and speak to an expert. CompanionLink has been downloaded more than 1.2 million times and has earned the trust of writers for USAToday.com and a 4.9-star review on our Google page.

How to sync Galaxy S6 with Outlook

Download the 14-day trial of CompanionLink for Outlook
In Settings, choose Android.
Select the sync protocol from the options (Direct USB, Local WiFi, or DejaCloud).
Download our free DejaOffice app on the Galaxy S6. You can find it in the Play Store on the device.
During the DejaOffice setup wizard, select the same sync protocol you chose in Step 3 above.

Resources for how to set up Galaxy S6 Outlook sync

Setup Guides

Contact us if you have any questions or need further help. Our support staff is in-house and available by phone (+1 503-243-5200) and by email support.

The case for data security and a commitment to Galaxy and PC connectivity

We see things as a hierarchy. No one wants to lose what they had before. While the cloud is great, we don’t want to force people to use it when they are comfortable with traditional options that gave them and their data a secure path

So for us, USB sync is fundamental because it is a foundation technology that many business professionals rely on to secure their data between their PC and phones.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth build on that because they are local, although both are OTA technologies which could be captured by local listening.

We also have our own cloud service, DejaCloud, that offers an automatic connection between your Galaxy S6 and PC Outlook. A change made in either Outlook or the S6 will automatically trigger an update to the other location. DejaCloud handles multiple devices (ie – iPad and Galaxy S6) like a champion. It’s designed to be real-time so you are guaranteed to always have access to the most current data.

Our commitment remains to all these technologies on as many phones as we can, including the exciting new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

CompanionLink Solves Galaxy S6 Kies Sync Problems

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Wayland Bruns

I got the Galaxy S6 and it is AMAZING. We put it side-by-side with an iPhone 6. It is immediately apparent that the screen is a lot bigger. The Samsung phone is thinner. And it it lighter. I think we’ve seen the end of tiny phone screens. The Galaxy S6 screen is large and easy to work with, but the overall phone is lighter than anything I’ve ever carried, and easy to hold and talk with.

CompanionLink Sync provides Outlook sync to Galaxy S6. It works great! You can download today and have your Outlook data on your phone in minutes. CompanionLink has a two week trial period so you can try for free. If you buy it, we have a 90 day money back guarantee and we really do give your money back; no questions asked so don’t worry about that!

A lot of other sync products, like Samsung Kies, seem to break with every new phone. Sometimes they fix it if you wait. But with CompanionLink, there’s never a need to wait. We’ve been spot-on compatible with every Android OS update, and every new phone, since the dawn of Android (and iPhone, and more).

CompanionLink is a great Kies alternative because it synchronizes more Outlook fields like Outlook Notes, Tasks, Journal, Birthdays, and Meeting Invites, and supports Outlook Categories with matching colors. You can also work with multiple Outlook Calendar and Contacts Folders.

CompanionLink is backed by US-based telephone support at no cost. CompanionLink never pushes updates on their customers, so the software you purchase is guaranteed to be the same unless you change it.

If you really want some quick help, order Runstart or Premium support. Our tech will log into your computer and set everything up for you. Hand’s free setup with a minimum of time.

Read our special quick guide for specific instructions on how two switch from Kies 3 to CompanionLink for Outlook on your Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge phone.

https://www.companionlink.com/support/kb/How_to_Switch_From_Samsung_Kies_2_or_Kies_3_to_Companionlink_for_Outlook

Read more about CompanionLink for Outlook here. A full license costs $49.95, one-time. We really have sympathy for people switching over from Keys. Here’s a special $10 off just for reading this page. Enter code K3ALT in the Affinity Code field on our order form to save $10. And Happy S6’ing.

Galaxy S6 pricing for US Carriers

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Rushang

The major carriers released their pricing plans for the new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. CNET has a great article with the pricing. Our article is consolidating facts and figures so it is easier to understand.

AT&T’s Pricing for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Galaxy S6 32GB
Next Plan (24-month installment): $22.84 per month
Traditional 2-year contract: $199

Galaxy S6 Edge
Next Plan (24-month installment): $27.17 per month
Traditional 2-year contract: $299

T-Mobile’s Pricing for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Galaxy S6 32GB
24-month installment plan: $28.33 per month
Off contract: $679.92

Galaxy S6 Edge
24-month installment plan: $32.49 per month
Off contract: $799.76

Sprint’s Pricing for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Sprint is bundling the device and service fees into a lease. Customers can turn in their device at any time and pay nothing else again to terminate the lease. If you wish to terminate the lease and keep the device, you must pay the remaining balance to keep the device. The off-contract price (ie – full balance) of the phone is rumored to be $650.

Galaxy S6 32GB – $80 per month lease
Galaxy S6 Edge 32GB – $85 per month lease

Galaxy S6 64GB – $85 per month lease
Galaxy S6 Edge 64GB – $90 per month lease

Galaxy S6 128GB – $90 per month lease
Galaxy S6 Edge 128GB – $95 per month lease

US Cellular’s Pricing for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Galaxy S6 32GB with 2-year contract – $199
Galaxy S6 Edge 32GB with 2-year contract – $299

Verizon’s Pricing for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Galaxy S6 32GB
24-month installment: $24.99 per month
Traditional 2-year contract: $200 after $50 mail-in rebate
Off contract: $600

Galaxy S6 Edge
24-month installment: $29.16 per month
Traditional 2-year contract: $300 after $50 mail-in rebate
Off contract: $700

The most complete Outlook app for HTC One M9

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Rushang

Yesterday, HTC published a number of productivity apps to Google Play Store in anticipation of the HTC One M9 release. Making its first appearance is a tasks app, called HTC Tasks, that integrates with Exchange and Google. It does a good job by handling key details like Task Priorities and Reminders; elements that heavy task managers require.

There is one problem, though, for people who rely on Outlook to manage their schedules, contacts, and notes. They do not want separate apps on the phone to do this. Outlook on the PC thrives because it is an all-in-one manager for email, contact info, scheduling, task management, and notes. One example of this is how PC Outlook lets you create categories can been used across different data (i.e. – contacts, tasks, notes). So a business users would know that the Blue Category called Business is for all data that is business-related while the Yellow Category called Personal is for all personal contacts, meetings, etc.

A true Outlook experience on HTC One

DejaOffice stores all key Outlook data – contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, categories, contact photos, and journal entries – in a single app on the HTC One. There is no other app, including Microsoft’s new Outlook app for Android, that stores all your Outlook data.

The benefit to DejaOffice’s approach is that a user can cross-pollinate data to do things like assign Contacts to Tasks or Notes, create appointments with people in the contact list, or look up a contact and see all the associated events or documents. These details enable the one thing people are looking for on their mobile – a true Outlook-like experience that mirrors how they use Outlook on their PCs. It’s key for the data relationships between fields in Outlook to exist on the mobile. DejaOffice enables this, starting from Categories all the way down to Journal.

Data security of your Outlook information

Many business users prefer not to host their Outlook data in the cloud. Many reasons validate this concern. The DejaOffice app has options to sync to the PC in a connected and cloud-free manner. People are not required to use an Office 365 cloud account, Exchange hosted account, or a Google account just to manage data between PC and phone.

To do this, the CompanionLink product must be installed on the PC.

USB Sync uses the traditional USB cable that comes with HTC One M9 to exchange data between PC Outlook. At no time is your data sent to the cloud in this setup.

Wi-Fi Sync is a variation on USB Sync where it also ensures no data is sent to the cloud. Instead of a USB cable, Wi-Fi uses your local network to exchange data. Both your PC and phone must be on the same IP (ie – in your home or office) for this to work.

Setup Guides

HTC One with a Mac and Outlook for Mac

Mac users are in luck. CompanionLink recently released a Mac app that keeps Android phones like HTC One synchronized with Outlook for Mac. With CompanionLink for Mac, you can sync direct so your data is never in Microsoft or Google’s cloud.

Uh Oh Protection for Outlook

HTC announced a new phone replacement initiative called the Uh Oh Protection. If your phone is damaged within he first year, HTC will replace it at no cost.

Think of CompanionLink and DejaOffice as the Uh Oh coverage for your Outlook data. If you ever run into trouble integrating your PC with your HTC One M9, simply call CompanionLink’s support hotline and an expert will help.

How to sync Samsung Galaxy S6 to Outlook

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Rushang

The Galaxy S6 is poised to be a departure from the past few generations of the iconic Samsung flagship GALAXY brand. BGR has a breakdown of Galaxy S6 specs that point to a Samsung-powered CPU (abandoning the Qualcomm Snapdragon), Quad HD display, mobile payments supporting magnetic and NFC terminals, and a premium metal body to further drive a wedge between the Galaxy brand and other plastic Android knock-offs. A built-in wireless charging mechanism is also an inspiring reveal that will have people wanting to buy this device for new wireless technology and vehicles that support this.

Will this be the year that Samsung also heeds the demands of the business community that focuses on PC productivity with tools like Microsoft Outlook? Microsoft has made a strong push in recent days to make up ground for PC users of Outlook. They have purchased Acompli’s IP and released an Outlook email app. They quickly followed the encore by purchasing the Sunrise calendar app.

Reports of the limitations of Kies are not greatly exaggerated

People have waxed poetic (here, here, and many others) about the challenges with Samsung Kies when attempting to sync Galaxy with Outlook. A USAToday.com columnist also shared his frustration with inadequate support for the core Outlook fields.

For those who need complete Outlook integration to justify their Galaxy S6 purchase as a business tool, our PC and mobile app suite is the one-stop solution. A $50 one-time purchase gets you the #1 Outlook to Galaxy S6 sync suite for calendar, contacts, tasks, notes, and categories. You are not locked in to a particular sync protocol that compromises the security of your data. Instead, you have the freedom to choose the sync protocol.

Secure, connect, and cloud sync options for Galaxy S6 to Outlook Sync

Our CompanionLink suite syncs the following Outlook data:

Outlook Contacts
Outlook Calendar
Outlook Tasks
Outlook Notes
Outlook Categories

The configuration wizard lets you choose from four sync options. Each option has its pros and cons.

USB Sync allows a connected approach to data sync. Your Outlook data is not hosted in the cloud.
WiFi Sync allows a connected and wireless approach. Your Outlook data is synchronized using your home/office WiFi network. It is not stored in the cloud.
DejaCloud is our private business cloud service that will keep Outlook and Galaxy S6 synchronized at all times. It is designed for multi-device setups where you have a phone, tablet, and a P. Data is stored in our private cloud, making the task of adding/removing devices and PCs as simple as configuring your DejaCloud username and password. The sync is instant and automatic.
Sync to Google is an option that uses your Google account to keep Outlook synchronized with Galaxy S6. CompanionLink connects Outlook on your PC with your Google account. Google takes over from there to integrate that data with the pre-installed Contacts and Calendar apps on your Galaxy S6.

For a more thorough list of pros and cons of each option, please visit www.companionlink.com/gettingstarted.

Setup Guide for Galaxy S6 Outlook sync

You will need an app on both your PC and Galaxy S6. Both apps will communicate to keep data synchronized.

Install CompanionLink on your PC. Click here to download it.
On your Galaxy S6, launch the Google Play Store app. Search for DejaOffice and install it.
Configure CompanionLink. Your configuration steps will depend on the sync option listed above that you choose.
1. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook USB sync
2. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook WiFi sync
3. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook DejaCloud sync (automatic)
4. Setup guide: Galaxy S6 to Outlook using a Google account
5. If you select DejaCloud sync, the synchronization will begin automatically within a few minutes. If you selected USB, WiFi, or sync to Google, you need to click on the Sync button in CompanionLink on your PC to start the first sync.

Further help for Galaxy S6 to Outlook sync

2 strategies for Samsung Galaxy S6 to differentiate by focusing on business users

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Rushang

Samsung is driving uphill to maintain their lead in the consumer mobile market. Cheaper phones from Xaomi, Huawei, and other manufactures are driving the price of Android devices to $0 while gouging Samsung’s market share. And this is just from their fellow Android manufactures. Holiday sales of Apple iPhone showed resurgence due to iPhone’s bigger screen size.

Why pay 2x as much for a Galaxy device compared to other Android devices that offer the same features? (Phone image credit to phonearena.com)

One area where Samsung has yet to capitalize (and can do so rather easily) is to focus on a more premium and sophisticated buyer – business users. This approach lets Samsung justify a higher price for their devices, differentiate by features and apps, and allow Samsung marketing to focus on a customer willing to open their pocket books for perceived value in an era of zero-cost smartphones.

Strategy 1: Curated pre-installed business apps on Galaxy S6

Pre-install a curated a list of business apps on the Galaxy S6. Business users are pressed for time. Unlike consumers who actually browse mobile app stores, business users will not. Recommendations and reviews are the catalysts for professionals to download apps.

Samsung can lend a hand and establish instant biz cred by partnering with app developers who already have a business following. Ship the Galaxy S6 with select partner apps pre-installed in a separate Recommended Apps section on the phone. Emphasis on the word “separate”. Do not make the same mistake Dell did/does with PCs by bloating the phone with third-party apps that one must painstakingly delete should they not want them. The second-worst thing to happen with a new phone purchase is starting your phone and finding bloatware. The worst thing to happen is paying a premium price for a phone with bloatware.

Strategy 2: Tight integration with PC software that businesses use

What software do business people spend the majority of their day using on their PC? Email, browsing, CRM, scheduling, and task management are some common functions most professionals engage, regardless of the business they are in. Samsung should identify leading app developers in each of these business functions. Co-market or co-promote their apps. Rekindle the great Galaxy vs. iPhone commercials of the recent past (the ads were actually quite entertaining!) to create separation between Samsung Galaxy and the bevy of other Android phones in the market.

The best marketing is education. As part of their training regimen with retail outlets that carry Samsung devices, focus on the business application of Samsung phones and tablets. Make sure carrier store reps are versed in how Samsung devices work with leading business apps so professionals can extend functions from their physical office onto their virtual office on their devices. The goal is to educate people on how to get business done on mobile without skipping a beat or missing your physical office. When a person walks into a carrier store to ask about an Android device, all things business should only point to one direction on the rack – Samsung.

That’s value that business professionals will pay a premium to be associated with. Pivot the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6 phone and Galaxy brand to be the business tool that professionals must choose instead of the cheaper no-frills phones that consumers are swallowing in droves. Samsung needs to make the act of showing up to business meetings with a non-Galaxy phone to be perceived as a credibility issue. Remember early last decade when you weren’t a real business professional unless you had a BlackBerry?

Microsoft Outlook is the leading PC business productivity system

Outlook is included with Office, and Outlook is remarkably robust for 80% of everyday business needs. These two factors have given it the #1 Who’s Who rank in desktop business software. Outlook is ubiquitous because it’s bundled with every business version of Microsoft Office.

CompanionLink’s 20-year history with developing Outlook add-on software makes us privy to the choices and desires of the PC business audience. They use the Outlook to manage many aspects of their day. It is first-class software for email, calendar scheduling, task management, and contact management. We see behavioral patterns that Samsung can take advantage of.

Business Outlook users…

…manage both business and personal schedules using Outlook
…care about maintaining their client list with updated information
…rely on Outlook’s robust scheduling system to have an efficient day
…have a system to manage Outlook tasks to prioritize goals
…often use a task management productivity system (ie – Franklin Covey, Getting Things Done, Take Back Your Life)
…use email as a task list
…need to create or assign tasks from their email
…have years worth of client notes stored in Outlook
…have an intricate folder management system for emails that they can’t afford to break or lose
…are very concerned about data security and enjoy that Outlook data is stored locally
…prefer not to paying for a subscription to MS Office when they have been getting Office as a one-time purchase since its inception
…often rely on a shared system of calendars and tasks between their colleagues and/or assistants

How the Galaxy S6 can work tighter with Outlook

Update the Galaxy S6 email app to work more like K9 or Microsoft’s new Outlook app. Email must be a pleasure to manage. It is likely the first app business professionals engage every day.
Pre-install the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps.
Pre-install the DejaOffice app to integrate with and hold Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Notes on the Galaxy S6.
Pre-install the Dropbox app for file management.

These simple steps will allow the Galaxy brand to begin differentiating from other Android phones. Apple has notably been the platform that people spend more money on apps for. Why is this? Is it because they attract a more affluent buyer or because they attract a business buyer? Likely, it’s a combination of both.

Samsung Kies is free software that handles rudimentary Outlook integration as an after-thought. The core functions of the software are to transfer video and photos to the PC, apply device software updates, and back up contacts and text messages to the PC. Samsung should take this to the next level by supporting deeper integration with Outlook fields. What Samsung really lacks is a mobile app that is capable of holding all of the rich Outlook data. The Galaxy’s built-in contacts and calendar apps don’t map well with Outlook. Our own app, DejaOffice, on the other hand, offers a one-to-one map with advanced Outlook fields and data like Categories, Notes, recurring reminders, and sort options that match the desktop such as the File-As option in Outlook. This is really what business users are looking for instead of the novice contacts and calendar apps that ship with devices.

Samsung needs the business buyer in order to differentiate and validate a price greater than free for its phones. They need this buyer in order to survive the attack from both ends – cheap no-frills Android phones and Apple’s premium iPhone.

Samsung can start on March 1 with the Galaxy S6.