We’ve had our new iPad in the office for a few days now and have put it through its paces with DejaOffice and CompanionLink. I’m happy to report that everything is performing as expected. So don’t hesitate to download DejaOffice and start syncing that new iPad of yours.
On a related note, we are in the process of updating DejaOffice to take advantage of the new iPad’s Retina display. Expect a new version with crisp graphics soon!
As we put more and more information on our mobile devices, it can become difficult to make sense of what’s there. Let’s face it, the smaller screens just aren’t optimized for displaying large amounts of data very effectively.
That’s why we built powerful organization options into DejaOffice. With our filtering, sorting, and grouping features, we’re able to help you make sense of your data.
Learn just how to use them in the video below, then leave a comment telling us your favorite combination of filtering, sorting, and grouping.
Syncing via USB shouldn’t be complicated.
It used to be that you could you could just plug in your phone to the computer and it would automatically start syncing. Somewhere along the way, we lost that standard.
Sure, today’s devices can sync with the cloud out of the box. That works well for some, but many of us still need the good, old-fashioned security of a USB sync. With DejaConnect USB, we’re making that sync easier than ever.
DejaConnect allows you to simply plug in your device to begin a sync. That’s it. It really can’t get much easier than that.
The first sync with DejaConnect mode requires a brief setup. After that, it’s up to you whether it syncs automatically when you plug it in, or only after you press sync. With DejaConnect, sync just happens. You don’t have to think about it, or worry if you’re doing it right. We’ll take care of the heavy lifting and let you focus on what’s important to you.
DejaConnect mode is currently in beta and is available in CompanionLink 5 build 5026 and DejaOffice 2.1.5 for Android. Download the updates today (CompanionLink | DejaOffice) to try it out for yourself. And be sure to let us know what you think!
Apple announced the latest update to their iPad line today, dubbed simply “the iPad.” It would seem that Apple is moving away from the numbered naming system. Don’t let the name fool you, however, the new iPad is a significant improvement on the iPad 2 in many ways.
Perhaps the most notable difference is the new 2048×1536 pixel Retina display. The hi-res screen makes images and videos pop with unparalleled clarity. Add in the optional 4G LTE speeds, quad core graphics processor, enhanced camera, and built-in dictation features, and you get the most powerful iPad yet, and perhaps the most powerful consumer tablet currently available. Learn all about the new iPad over at Apple’s site: https://www.apple.com/ipad.
And if you need to sync the new iPad with Outlook & more, CompanionLink and DejaOffice will work right out of the box! The core operating system is the same, and we’re already testing iOS 5.1 – the update version that the new iPad will ship with – on our current iPads. Watch this blog for any updates on that.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the new iPad. Will you be buying one?
The long-awaited update to RIM’s BlackBerry tablet, dubbed the PlayBook, has arrived. PlayBook OS 2.0 brings with it a host of new features, including integrated contacts and calendar apps. As such, CompanionLink is now able to sync the PlayBook with Outlook via Google. Learn how to set up an Outlook sync via Google
While many of the features in PlayBook OS 2.0 are welcome additions, perhaps the most anticipated feature is the ability to install Android-based applications on the PlayBook.
Now, this doesn’t work with just any application – to work properly on the PlayBook, developers must first modify their app and submit it to the BlackBerry App World. So, this news begs the question: “Will we see DejaOffice on the PlayBook?”
Well, we’re in the process of looking into it. Bringing DejaOffice to the PlayBook would allow you to sync tasks and memos in addition to contacts and calendars. It would also open the doors for USB sync and WiFi sync options. Stay tuned for more news as we explore this possibility!
Google Tasks can be great – they’re easy to use and tied to your existing Gmail or Google Apps account. It’s definitely convenient. Getting tasks out of Gmail or Google Apps, however, can be anything but convenient. Until now.
CompanionLink has supported syncing Google Tasks for some time, but it was limited to a single task list within Google. With our most recent update to CompanionLink 5, you are now able to sync multiple Google Task lists with Outlook and DejaOffice.
Here’s how it works.
If a task in Outlook has a category that matches a task list name in Google, then the Outlook task will sync to that list in Google. Similarly, if a task in Google has a task list name that matches a category in Outlook, then the Google task will sync to that category in Outlook.
Alternatively, if a task in Outlook does not have a category that matches a task list name in Google, then the Outlook task will sync to the default list in Google. If the opposite is true and a task in Google has a task list name that is not a category in Outlook, CompanionLink will create a matching category as part of the sync process.
Google Tasks sync to Oulook with categories translated as Task Lists
Want to get started syncing your Google Tasks with Outlook today? Just download the latest build of CompanionLink 5: update | free trial
DejaOffice makes it easy to protect your private data. With our Private Records feature, you can secure contacts, calendar events, tasks, memos, and even expenses. And it does so selectively, allowing you to secure your most sensitive data while keeping your standard data easily accessible.
Interested in learning how Private Records work? We thought you might be, so we made a video. Check it out below to get started:
The Samsung Galaxy Note made it’s way to the US this week and has been greeted with mixed reviews. Some feel the 5.3″ screen makes the device too big, while others like the extra real estate it affords. How do we feel about it? Hear our thoughts in the video below:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcupgcDMzSQ]
No matter how you feel about the size of the screen, it’s hard to argue with the rest of the Note’s specs. With a 1.5GHz dual core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, 4G LTE, and more, the Note is easily one of the most powerful Android devices available today.
And just like I mentioned in the video above, CompanionLink can sync the Galaxy Note with Outlook and more quickly and easily. If you haven’t already, download your 14-day free trial to see for yourself. Getting started is easy, just visit https://www.companionlink.com/gettingstarted for everything you need to set up your first sync!
You just picked up your new DROID 4. You love the sleek profile, the powerful processor, the 4G speeds, and perhaps most importantly, the slide out keyboard. But you don’t love the fact that it won’t sync with Outlook. At least not out of the box.
You’re not alone.
There are a lot of people out there who need to sync Android with Outlook. And most phones don’t come with a built-in Outlook sync. So where to you go? That answer is easy: CompanionLink.
We make it easy to sync your data, your way. Whether you want the security and simplicity of a USB sync, the convenience and freedom of syncing with Google, or maybe something in between. We’ve got you covered. Or maybe you need to sync with something other than Outlook, like ACT!, Zoho, or Palm Desktop. We can handle those and many more.
Our goal is to work for you, regardless of your setup. So download your free trial today. Then head over to our Getting Started page and you’ll be syncing with CompanionLink in no time!
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Google is changing their privacy policy. Some people don’t really care; others are up in arms. Where do you fall on the spectrum?
If you don’t have an answer to that, I strongly recommend you take the time to read and understand Google’s new policies. Knowing how they intend to use your data is important to your personal and professional lives. How it affects you is ultimately for you to decide.
But you should decide.
So what are Google’s new policies? In brief, they’re consolidating. Sixty privacy policies are now becoming one. One that uses simpler language and terms. One that allows Google to share data between their services, such as Gmail and Google Maps. One that goes into effect March 1, 2012. Read all the details.
For many of us, the convenience of having our data hosted and accessible anywhere is well worth agreeing to Google’s new terms. Others – largely business professionals – may not be able to afford that luxury.
Many professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, cannot allow their customers’ data to be stored in an online environment like Google’s.
Sync options like our own Direct USB or Local WiFi are perfect for these professionals. They allow access to customer data while mobile without storing it online. It’s simple, fast, and convenient.
For the rest of us currently storing our data on Google’s servers, however, knowing just what we’re agreeing to is important. So, again, ask yourself the question, “What does Google’s new privacy policy mean to me?”
Maybe it adds a new level of convenience for you. Maybe it will cause you to look for a new sync solution. Maybe it elicits an entirely different response. Either way, I think finding out for yourself is important.
The latest version of CompanionLink 5 – build 5020 – is now available on our downloads page. For those of you running Time & Chaos, you’ll be happy to hear we now support Time & Chaos 8. We’ve also added support for Intellect 4. Additionally, you’ll notice a number of general sync improvements that should help ensure things run smoothly. And because we hate bugs as much as you do, we eliminated a few bugs that had appeared on our radar!
All in all, build 5020 is a solid update. Grab it today from our downloads page, and read on for the full release notes. Continue reading
For power users who need to stay productive on the go, the ability to go a full day on a single charge with the Droid Razr Maxx is a huge benefit. In fact, the Droid Razr Maxx has many great features that make it a powerful phone for business users. But like its younger brother, the Droid Razr, it doesn’t offer built-in sync for Outlook, or any number of other popular CRM platforms for that matter. So how do you sync Outlook contacts, calendars, tasks, and memos with the Razr Maxx?
The answer is simple.
Use CompanionLink. Syncing is as easy as downloading DejaOffice on your Droid, installing CompanionLink on your computer, and then configuring your preferred sync method. We’ll walk you through each step, and we’ve got free support if you need a hand.
So what are you waiting for? Unleash the full potential of your new Droid Razr Maxx with CompanionLink and DejaOffice. Download your free trial today!
An important first step in setting up any sync is ensuring that the database you wish to sync is ready to go. Part of this process often means cleaning up any duplicates before syncing. Our friends over at Starrforce have offered to share some tips for dealing with duplicates (and preventing them in the first place!) in Salesforce CRM. Read their post below:
“If you have used any business management software or CRM software you understand that duplicate records are a way of life. Salesforce duplicates are common in all size companies and contributing factor to low user adoption of Salesforce. Although it is a best practice to search before creating a record, duplicates still happen. Salesforce understands this and has tools built in to help you merge duplicate leads, accounts, and contacts.
Removing Salesforce duplicate records becomes even more important when you are syncing your data to other systems using CompanionLink, since you do not want to sync any duplicates into your other tools such as Microsoft Outlook.
Your sales leads in Salesforce probably came from multiple sources like purchased lists from sales lead generation companies, campaigns, trade shows, and manually entered. The Salesforce Lead Import Wizard does a good job of finding duplicates before they are mass uploaded but what do you do when they are already in the CRM system?
When you first go to work a new sales lead in Salesforce, the first thing you should do is click the “Find Duplicates” button. This searches the CRM system for matching leads, contacts, accounts, and opportunities based on the lead full name, last name, company, phone number, email, or email domain. You have the option to include or exclude any of the search criteria. By doing this duplicate search first, you may find that the new sales lead is actually a contact with a slightly different spelling in your Salesforce CRM system. Or, your co-worker may have been at the same trade show and entered the same lead.
If a contact matches the lead exactly, then depending on your sales lead process, you should either delete the lead or convert it into the existing contact and account. If you find a duplicate lead, then you can use the “Merge Leads” button. You are presented with a screen that gives you the option to pick any differing data and to select which is the master record. Any related items from the duplicate lead(s), such as activity or campaign information will be associated to the merged lead so you do not have to worry about manually moving these.
To merge accounts in Salesforce, you must first open the “Merge Accounts” tool from the Tools section on the accounts tab. Then you can do a search for the accounts to merge. This search is quite simple if you know that the accounts all start with Acme as you can just search for Acme*. But how do you search for Acme Business Management Software, ABMS, and Business Management Software by Acme?
The only way to bring accounts into the merge tool that have different names that cannot be found in a single search is to rename the accounts. Find your second, third, and other (you can only merge three accounts at a time) accounts and rename the duplicates so that they can all be found from a single search.
Once you have selected the accounts to merge, you will be presented with a page like the “Merge Leads” page where you can select the master record and any differing data. All records associated to the merged accounts will be added to the master account.
When merging duplicate accounts and/or contacts in the Salesforce CRM system, please keep in mind that it is a best practice to first merge the accounts as all the contacts will be associated to the merged account.
Once the accounts have been merged, then you can go to the contact related list to merge the contacts. Contacts can only be merged from the account they are associated with so by merging the accounts, all of the duplicate contacts will be associated to the merged account.
If you have duplicate contacts in an account in your Salesforce CRM system, select the “Merge Contacts” button in the contacts related list on the account detail page. You are then presented with a list of contacts where you can either search for specific contacts or view all of them. Once you have selected the contacts to merge (you can only merge up to three contacts at a time), you will be presented with a screen like the two above where you can select the master record and any differing data. All records associated to the merged contact will be associated to the resulting merged contact.
For leads, accounts, and contacts, there is some basic Salesforce automation available to make merging easier. But what happens if you have duplicate cases, opportunities, or custom object data? At this time, Salesforce does not have a tool to help with these objects so they will have to be merged manually. This is another reason to do a search before creating a record.
To merge records where there is not a merge tool in the Salesforce CRM system, first decide which record will be your master record. This should be the one with the most correct data and the most related records like activities or attachments.
Open each duplicate record in a new tab in your browser and copy any needed data from the duplicate into the master. Then copy the master record name or number and edit any related activities, attachments, or other records one at a time and paste the master record name or number into the “Related to” field. When you save, the record will be associated to your master record. Once all of the related data has been moved or associated to the master record, you can now delete the duplicate records. You may want to let the creator of the duplicate record know about it so they can be more careful in the future. You may also want to create some basic reports that you can run on a regular basis so that you can easily spot Salesforce duplicates before they get out of hand.
StarrForce is a leading Salesforce partner that helps companies optimize and support Salesforce.“
Is the Kindle Fire the “iPad killer” that many proclaimed it would be? Maybe not quite. But I think it’s a great device at a great price, and quite a few people agree with me it would seem. With an estimated 5.5 million Fires sold last quarter, it’s safe to say this is one hot tablet! But how do you make this great little tablet work for you when it comes time to get down to business? That’s where CompanionLink comes in!
Syncing the Kindle Fire with ACT! is made easy with CompanionLink. You’ll need DejaOffice on your Kindle Fire to get started, so grab it from the Amazon Appstore if you haven’t already. It’s free.
Once you’re set up with DejaOffice, you’ll need to ensure you have either CompanionLink Express (download | upgrade) or CompanionLink Professional (download | upgrade) installed on your computer. Then, simply select Android as your device in the CompanionLink setup window. Next, choose your sync method. We offer Direct USB sync, Local WiFi sync, and Secure Hosted Wireless sync. Finally, select ACT! as your database and configure as desired. For full setup instructions for ACT!, click here.
So there you have it – a quick and easy way to sync ACT! with the Kindle Fire. Now you can take your data with you, wherever you need it.
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!
It seems like it should just work. If you set up iCloud to sync with Outlook using Apple’s iCloud Control Panel and you’ve set up Google, Salesforce, or another CRM to sync with Outlook, it should all sync up nicely – right?
When you set up iCloud to sync with Outlook, the iCloud Control Panel creates a unique Outlook Folder, which it then uses to sync with iCloud. It will actually move items from your default Outlook Folder to this new iCloud Outlook Folder in order to facilitate the sync. This doesn’t really change how things look in Outlook, but it does change how things sync.
Many tools that sync CRM solutions such as Google and Salesforce are set to sync with only the default Outlook Folder, with no option to change this. Because iCloud is syncing with a different Outlook Folder, these two sync tools don’t work together. Fortunately, CompanionLink is different.
CompanionLink allows you to choose which Outlook Folder(s) you want to sync with. So if you want to sync Google with Outlook and iCloud, or Salesforce with Outlook and iCloud, it’s as easy as configuring CompanionLink to sync with the iCloud Outlook Folder. From there, any data synced from sources like Google or Salesforce will sync through iCloud to your iOS devices and any other PC or Mac that iCloud is configured on.
For details on configuring which Outlook Folder(s) to sync with in CompanionLink, see our Configuring Outlook support article.