Galaxy Note 2 Outlook Sync

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Rushang

Samsung has a new ad promoting the Galaxy Note 2 as a business device. We couldn’t agree more because CompanionLink gets lots of calls from people asking about Galaxy Note 2 Outlook Sync. These business people are crippled without their Outlook calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks on their Galaxy Note 2. CompanionLink has software for Galaxy Note 2 Outlook sync.

How to achieve Galaxy Note 2 Outlook sync

Download CompanionLink for Outlook from here. It’s free to try for 14-days.
During configuration, select Android for device, DejaCloud for method, and Microsoft Outlook for database.
Click the Sync button.

The Note 2 blurs the line between the three most popular mobile computing form factors – laptop, phone, and tablet. The large 5.5-inch screen on Galaxy Note II gives business people laptop-like productivity. The powerful quad-core processor makes Excel calculations a breeze and allows you to simultaneously run apps. The device runs the famous TouchWiz interface.

Google Calendar Sync program

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Rushang

Google stopped distributing their Google Calendar Sync program on December 14, 2012. You can read about that here. The called this a “Winter Cleaning”. CompanionLink feels there are still thousands of people who need a Google Calendar Sync program to keep their Outlook and Google accounts integrated.

CompanionLink for Google is another Google Calendar Sync program that does everything Google’s software did, but also adds features like synchronization of contacts, categories, tasks and contact photos. CompanionLink can be set up to sync multiple Outlook calendars to Google Calendars. You can sync Outlook contacts and calendar categories with Google. Calendar details such as accepted meeting invites and recurring appointments are handled flawlessly. Outlook task priorities and due dates sync over to Google nicely. Your contact notes, appointment notes, and task details sync to Google as well.

For a full list of Outlook data supported in CompanionLink’s alternative for the Google Calendar Sync program, please click here.

Sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2007

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Rushang

A very common customer service request we get is from people asking how to sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2007. Many people are still using Outlook 2007 because it is the last version of Microsoft Office that used the famous ribbon-less interface.

We have good news – CompanionLink for Google is a $14.95 tool that allows people to sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2007. CompanionLink also has a feature to sync Google Contacts with Outlook 2007 that is built right into the product.

Google used to offer a tool to sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2007. The tool was called Google Calendar Sync. Google stopped distributing that tool on December 14, 2012.

Here’s the workaround to sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2007.

Download and install CompanionLink for Google to your PC.
During configuration, select “No device – sync with Google” from the list of device types.
Select Outlook as your database. By default, contacts, calendar and tasks will synchronize between Google and Outlook 2007. If you want to change this, you can do so in the Advanced Settings area.
Click the Sync button.

CompanionLink for Google can also be set to automatically synchronize Google Calendar with Outlook 2007. Go to Advanced Settings > Sync Timer. You can select how often you wish to sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2007.

Outlook 2013 with Gmail (end of life for Exchange ActiveSync)

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Rushang

Integrating Outlook 2013 with Gmail just got a little more complicated. Google announced that they will cease support for Google Sync (which runs on Exchange ActiveSync technology) for new users on January 30, 2013. New Gmail accounts will not be able to use Exchange ActiveSync without a paid Google Apps account.

Here’s a workaround for integrating Outlook 2013 with Gmail.

1. Set up Outlook 2013 with Gmail IMAP to get email capabilities in Outlook.

A. Set up your Gmail acccount with IMAP.
Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server – Requires SSL
– imap.gmail.com
– Port: 993
– Requires SSL:Yes

B. Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server – Requires TLS
– smtp.gmail.com
– Port: 465 or 587
– Requires SSL: Yes
– Requires authentication: Yes
– Use same settings as incoming mail server

C. Full Name or Display Name: [your name]

D. Account Name or User Name: [your full Gmail address] (user…@gmail.com). Google Apps users, please enter user…@your_domain.com

E. Email address:your full Gmail address (user…@gmail.com) Google Apps users, please enter user…@your_domain.com

F. Password: [your Gmail password]

2. Use the CompanionLink for Google tool to sync Outlook 2013 with Gmail.

CompanionLink will sync Outlook and Gmail contacts, calendar, and tasks. It’s available as a free trial for 14 days. Just $14.95 to buy and works on multiple PCs.

Credit steps in #1 above to Tiaan.

Sync Outlook Tasks with Android

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Rushang

Sync Outlook Tasks with Android phones and tablets using CompanionLink for Outlook. You can choose between USB sync or Cloud sync. Popular features found in Outlook Tasks are fully supported, like task alerts, recurring tasks, priorities, and unlimited task notes.

Here’s how to sync Outlook Tasks with Android.

Download CompanionLink for Outlook.
During setup, choose Android.
Choose either USB or DejaCloud for your sync method.
Select Microsoft Outlook as your database.

During the setup process, CompanionLink will prompt you to install our Android app, DejaOffice. This app is where your Outlook Tasks will synchronize. DejaOffice was designed with Outlook in mind, so the Tasks features you have on your PC Outlook will also work in DejaOffice.

Google Calendar Sync alternative

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Rushang

Update: Click here for the latest on Google Calendar Sync

Google discontinued distribution of their free Google Calendar Sync tool last week. This affects people who need to sync Outlook calendar with Google calendar. Google’s announcement left many people clamoring for a Google Calendar Sync alternative.

CompanionLink has a Google Calendar Sync alternative for $14.95, CompanionLink for Google synchronizes Outlook calendars, contacts, tasks, categories, and contact photos with Gmail and Google Apps accounts. You can install CompanionLink on three computers for $14.95. Free US-based phone support and software updates are included.

Like a true Google Calendar Sync alternative, CompanionLink can be set up for automatic sync between Outlook and Google on a 5-minute timer. CompanionLink runs in your system tray on your PC desktop and will synchronize changes between Outlook and Google. Outlook 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010, and 2013 are fully supported, in addition to Outlook Business Contact Manager 2007 and 2010.

Palm OS on your Android, iPhone and iPad? Not exactly, but we have the next best thing.

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Rushang

It’s amazing how simple and effective Palm and Treo handhelds were for managing contacts, calendar, tasks, and memos. Little things like Categories for Business and Personal, creating appointments with a minimum number of screen taps, and being able to hide memos using a password were great productivity features for power users and business professionals. To top it off, Palm Desktop was among the most lightweight PIM tools ever.

We tried to capture this focus on productivity and efficiency in our DejaOffice app for Android and iOS. The app gives you Palm-like features on the current generation of Android, iPhone, and iPad devices.

We took it one step further by allowing integration of DejaOffice with tools like Palm Desktop, Outlook, ACT! and Lotus Notes. For Android devices, you get to choose whether you want DejaConnect USB sync like the old HotSync model, or if you want DejaCloud sync where your devices and desktop are automatically kept in sync via the cloud. CompanionLink desktop software and DejaOffice app has you covered for productivity and two-ways synchronization. The beauty is that DejaOffice works for all Android and iOS devices.

Must-know guide for moving from BlackBerry to iPhone

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Rushang

This guide helps you move email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes from BlackBerry to an iOS device like iPhone or iPad

Email

iPhone’s email app supports the most popular email accounts – Exchange, IMAP, POP3, iCloud, Yahoo!, AOL, Hotmail, and Google/Gmail. If you use an email service not listed above and need to find incoming/outgoing server details to set up IMAP, do a Google search for your service’s name followed by “IMAP settings”.

Contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes

You can use one free app to move all of this data. CompanionLink has software that will sync your complete Outlook data with categories with iPhone.

Step 1: Use BlackBerry Desktop Software to backup your BlackBerry data to Microsoft Outlook.

Step 2: Download a free 14-day trial of CompanionLink for Outlook to your PC. Configure it to sync Outlook to iPhone using the CL Secure Hosted Wireless service. It’s completely free during the 14-day trial period. You will be prompted to buy if you wish to continue synchronizing after the trial expires. Licenses start at $14.95.

Step 3: Click the Sync button in CompanionLink and watch your Outlook data move to your iPhone.

Get it right the first time by hiring a professional to do it for you

CompanionLink offers a $49 service where a migration expert will log into your PC and move your data to your iPhone. The service is called RunStart.

If you have any questions about moving to the iPhone platform, email us at sales@companionlink.com.

Will BlackBerry OS 10 follow Android and iPhone into the Cloud?

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Rushang

RIM announced January 30, 2013 as their much-anticipated launch event date for BlackBerry OS 10. RIM claims the new system is “unlike any smartphone on the market today.” We hope this is a sign that unlike Android and iPhone, RIM is going to continue offering users a secure, connected, and cloud-free way to synchronize their business relationships, agenda, tasks, and notes from PC to BlackBerry. In the past, BlackBerry devices have shipped with BlackBerry Desktop Software to manage connected sync over USB between Microsoft Outlook and BlackBerry. No BES, BIS or Microsoft Exchange servers required.

CompanionLink aims to support synchronization between BlackBerry OS 10 and popular business systems such as Sage ACT!, Salesforce.com, Goldmine, Lotus Notes, Palm Desktop, GroupWise, Zoho CRM, SugarCRM and Highrise.

Microsoft Outlook contacts and calendar on Surface Tablet

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Rushang

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.

Disable Outlook Calendar alarms when syncing to Android or iPhone

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Rushang

If your Calendar Events in Outlook have alarms, and you don’t want these alarms to drive you crazy on your phone, you can disable them. There are two ways to disable Calendar alarms.

1. In the DejaOffice app, go to Settings > Alarm Settings. Uncheck the box next to DejaOffice Alarms.

2. In CompanionLink, go to Advanced Settings > Calendar. Uncheck the box for syncing alarms.

Either option will ensure your Outlook Calendar alarms don’t ring on your phone.

ACT! versions that work on Windows 8

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Rushang

This account is our QA team’s experience and is not in any way a definitive guide. We offer it as it may assist others to set expectations with the new Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise operating systems. Windows 8 RT for Surface is a tablet OS and is not presumed to run the ACT! application. We will confirm this when our Surface device arrives.

Testing Environment

ACT! 2013 was tested on a new PC: Athlon II X4 645 3.1GHz 64-bit , 4GB DDR3 RAM, Windows 8 Pro 64-bit.

All other tests: Intel Xeon E5520 2.27GHz 64-bit, 2GB RAM, Windows 8 Pro running in VMWare 5.0.0.812388

ACT! versions that work on Windows 8 without issues

ACT! 6
ACT! 2009 and 2010 – works fine, but you are shown an error message during installation. “This program has compatibility issues (Microsoft SQL Server 2005)”. When running ACT! and upgrading a database we noted the message: “Exceptions occurred while executing the database Schema Update Script”. Database seemed to successfully update.
ACT! 2011
ACT! 2012
ACT! 2013

ACT! versions that do not work with Windows 8
ACT! 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 – these do not install correctly on Windows 8. An error message is generated that reads “This app cannot run on your PC”.

CompanionLink works with all versions of ACT! 3.0 and higher.

CompanionLink supports mobile sync on Windows 8

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Rushang

CompanionLink fully supports data synchronization on the new Windows 8 operating system and Metro UI. CompanionLink will sync Android, iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, and Google web-based accounts to Windows 8.

All CompanionLink version 5 products have built-in support for Windows 8. CompanionLink install as a Tile in Metro UI. Customers with older versions CompanionLink can upgrade to version 5 at a discount in order for complete support for Windows 8 and future Microsoft service packs.

CompanionLink installs as a Tile in Windows 8 Metro UI

CompanionLink installs as Tile in Metro UI

The full line of desktop products that we support in previous Windows versions are also supported in Windows 8:

Microsoft Outlook, including the new Outlook 2013
Microsoft Outlook Business Contact Manager
Palm Desktop
ACT!
Lotus Notes
GroupWise
GoldMine
Time & Chaos

Salesforce CRM Accounts sync to mobile devices and Google

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Rushang

CompanionLink has always synchronized Salesforce CRM Contacts and Accounts to mobile devices, Outlook, or any Google or Gmail account. Accounts show up on the device as a Contact record with the organization/company field mapped to the Account name in Salesforce CRM.

In CompanionLink Professional 5 build 5044 and later, we have expanded field-mapping options when synchronizing Accounts. We introduced a new tab in CompanionLink called Account Field Mapping that allows you to map any/all of your Salesforce CRM Account fields with your choice contact fields on the mobile device.

Must-know guide for moving from BlackBerry to Android

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Rushang

Business professionals cannot afford to lose data during a move to Android. This guide helps you reliably move email, business relationships, calendar agenda, to-do lists, notes, and text messages from BlackBerry to any Android phone or tablet.

Email

Android’s email app supports Exchange, IMAP, POP3, and Google/Gmail accounts. This lets you to set up virtually any email service. Here is a basic guide to set up email on Android. If you need incoming/outgoing server details about your specific email service, do a Google search for your service’s name followed by “IMAP settings”.

Here are settings for some popular email services:
Yahoo! – https://mobile.yahoo.com/mail/android (click on the IMAP tab)
AOL – https://email.about.com/od/accessingaolmail/f/AOL_Mail_IMAP_Settings.htm
Hotmail – https://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/hotmail/mobile?t1=t4

Contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes

You can use one free app to move all of this data. CompanionLink has software that will sync Outlook with Android.

Step 1: Use BlackBerry Desktop Software to backup your BlackBerry data to Microsoft Outlook.

Step 2: Download a free 14-day trial of CompanionLink for Outlook to your PC. Configure it to sync Outlook to Android using the DejaCloud service. Here is how your setup should look when configured correctly. (If you want to continue synchronizing Android with Outlook after the 14-day trial is over, you can buy a license for $14.95.)

Step 3: Click the Sync button in CompanionLink and watch your Outlook data move to your Android.

Text messages

David Hope has developed a free tool that moves SMS text messages from BlackBerry to Android. The tool is available at https://hope.mx/blackberry2droid.

Get it right the first time by hiring a professional to do it for you

CompanionLink offers a $49 service where a migration expert will log into your PC and move your data from BlackBerry to Android. The service is called RunStart and has been used by hundreds of business professionals to safely move their data to Android without data corruption or data loss.

If you have any questions about moving to the Android platform, email us at sales@companionlink.com.

S3 Mini means business (and competition for iPhone 5)

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Rushang

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.