How To Sync The myTouch 4G Slide With Outlook

Posted on July 27, 2011 by David Z

T-Mobile unleashed the latest iteration of the myTouch smartphone to the public today: the myTouch 4G Slide. The myTouch 4G Slide improves upon the myTouch model in many ways. It features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, slide out QWERTY keyboard, 4G speeds, and HTC Sense 3.0 on Android 2.3. Additionally, the myTouch 4G Slide’s 8MP camera is said to be one of the best currently on the market. Selling for $199 with a new contract, the myTouch 4G Slide should prove to be a very popular device this summer.

Of course, at CompanionLink we’re always testing the latest devices. We’re happy to report that you can use CompanionLink to successfully sync contacts, calendar, tasks and notes between the myTouch 4G Slide and CRM databases such as Microsoft Outlook, Sage ACT!, Lotus Notes, Salesforce, Zoho, and more. The myTouch 4G Slide supports all four of our sync methods: direct via USB, via WiFi, via Secured Hosted Wireless sync, or via Google. To find more info, as well as download a 14-day free trial, visit www.companionlink.com/android/.

Want to sync the myTouch 4G Slide with Outlook?
Download a free trial of CompanionLink for Outlook today!

Google Sync vs Secure Hosted Wireless Sync

Posted on July 25, 2011 by David Z

When it comes to syncing your mobile phone, some of the options available can be confusing. To help you navigate through the various options, I wanted to answer a common question we get from users trying our software:

“What’s the difference between Google Sync and your Secure Hosted Wireless Sync?”

While they accomplish similar tasks, there are actually quite a few differences. Google Sync allows you to keep your Gmail, contacts, and calendars synced wirelessly and instantly between your mobile device and Google’s servers. When used with CompanionLink, it is possible to sync data from Outlook, ACT!, and more to Google. Google Sync can then sync contacts & calendars to you mobile devices. Google Sync is free to use, and it works well for users who want a simple sync.

Secure Hosted Wireless, on the other hand, allows you to sync contacts and calendars, as well as tasks and memos, directly between your mobile device and your PC. One unique advantage to Secure Hosted Wireless is that we do not actually host your data online like Google. Additionally, we protect your data with AES-256 bit encryption. This alleviates potential security issues, which can be a big concern for business users. Since Secure Hosted Wireless sync is built to work directly with CompanionLink and DejaOffice on your mobile device, we are able to provide you with more advanced control over your data, as well as end-to-end support. Secure Hosted Wireless is $9.95/month and it works well for users who need a more secure, advanced wireless sync.

If you have any questions about the differences between these two sync options, let us know in the comments!

How To Remove Duplicates With CompanionLink

Posted on July 22, 2011 by David Z

We’ve talked about dealing with duplicates before on the blog, but today I wanted to share with you a video we just published on the topic. In this quick video, we’ll show you step-by-step how to remove duplicates using CompanionLink – and how to avoid them in the first place!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ma4IMcrJc]

Keep an eye on our YouTube channel for more great videos coming soon, like Sync 101 and How DejaOffice Interacts With Native Databases!

CompanionLink Build 4047 Now Available

Posted on July 18, 2011 by David Z

Today we released CompanionLink Build 4047. The most notable change comes in the form of a fix surrounding syncing with Google Tasks.

Build 4047 has fixed an issue where some users who sync Tasks to Google Tasks would see a “503 Daily limit exceeded” error. This error was caused by a daily request limit imposed by Google on their Tasks API. We’ve been able to increase this request limit, so users should not encounter this error again.

The full release notes for CompanionLink Build 4047 are included below and you can download the update now by visiting https://www.companionlink.com/downloads/updates.html.

CompanionLink 4047 Release Notes:
* Fixed issue where Google would sometimes throw a “503 Daily limit exceeded” error. This error was caused by a daily request limit imposed by Google on their Tasks API.
* Fixed issue syncing Salesforce contacts with Android via USB.
* Made stability improvements for Android WiFi sync.
* Fixed issue where Outlook BCM communication histories could sync with an incorrect date.
* Made stability improvements for sync with Zoho.
* Fixed issue syncing Franklin-style task priorities from Android to PC.
* Fixed issue syncing recurring events with Google using Alaska time zone.
* Fixed issue where cleared recurring events in Outlook could sometimes sync as active.

Sync Outlook (& More) To Google+

Posted on July 15, 2011 by David Z

Google+ is still very new, but it’s shaping up to be quite popular among early adopters. Invites are beginning to flow more freely, and more and more users are getting to try out the hyped new network.

That said, many users receive a Google+ invite only to find an empty site because all their contacts are stored in Outlook, not Google. Currently, Google does not provide an import tool for Google+ (though they are working on it). So how can you populate your Google+ network and maximize its potential? It’s simple: use CompanionLink.

CompanionLink allows you to sync contacts from Outlook, Palm Desktop, and other PC software into your Google Contacts. From there, you can simply log into Google+ and connect with (or invite) your contacts. It’s that easy! Before you know it, you’ll be experiencing Google+ as it was designed to be used.

Sync The Motorola DROID 3 With Outlook & More

Posted on July 14, 2011 by David Z

Motorola released the DROID 3 to the public today. With a 1GHz dual-core processor, high-density 4” qHD screen, an improved keyboard, and the latest version of Android, the DROID 3 is among the top-spec smartphones for 2011. The DROID 3 is available from Verizon for $199.

Image Credit: GadgetMania

Using CompanionLink, it’s possible to sync contacts, calendar, tasks and notes between the Motorola DROID 3 and PC software such as Microsoft Outlook, ACT! by Sage, Palm Desktop, Lotus Notes and more. You can sync direct via USB, via WiFi, via Secured Hosted Wireless sync, or via Google. Find more info, as well as a 14-day free trial, at www.companionlink.com/android/.

Want to sync the Motorola DROID 3 with Outlook?
Download a free trial of CompanionLink for Outlook today!

CompanionLink Named a Sage Gold Development Partner of the Year

Posted on July 12, 2011 by David Z

Yesterday, CompanionLink attended an award ceremony at Sage Summit 2011 in Washington D.C. Sage recognized CompanionLink as a Sage Gold Development Partner of the Year for 2011. We are honored to be recognized in this way. We’d also like to congratulate the other developers who were mentioned alongside CompanionLink – great work!

The ceremony was just one part of the Sage Summit conference that a few of us from CompanionLink are currently attending. ACT! has always been one of the core products we support, and it’s great to see some familiar faces as well as meet new ACT! consultants. If you happen to be at the show, swing by booth 164 to say hello! Rushang & I look forward to meeting you.

Password-Protected Data Now Available On iOS

Posted on July 8, 2011 by David Z

DejaOffice 1.2.4 should be arriving in the App Store as you read this post. This update contains a number of new features, improvements, and bug fixes. The full release notes are included below, but I wanted to highlight one feature that I’m sure many of you will appreciate: Password-protected data.

This feature allows you to secure sensitive data on your device by either hiding or masking your private contacts, tasks, and memos. Private records require a password to view or edit, keeping your data secure.

Configuring private records is simple. To mark a contact, task, or memo as private, simply tick the checkbox labeled “private” when editing or creating it. Before you notice any change, you’ll need to adjust the settings for private records. Go to the “Settings” menu in DejaOffice and select “Private Records.” There you can choose to Show Private (always show private records), Mask Records (replace text with ***), or Hide Records (completely hide private records from view). You’ll also find settings for syncing private records, privacy timeouts, and passwords.

I should note that if you choose to “Hide Records” you will need to select the “DejaContacts” (or DejaTasks or DejaMemos) menu and choose “Show Private”. This will prompt you to enter your password to reveal your hidden records.

Of course, Private Records are just one of the many updates we’ve made in DejaOffice 1.2.4 – see the list of changes below, then head over to the App Store to download your update today!

DejaOffice v1.2.4:
– added Private field to Contacts, Tasks, Memos
– added options to Show/Hide/Mask private records
– added option to password protect private records
– improved UI for DejaTasks and DejaMemos
– improved context menu UI for Contacts/Tasks/Memos
– adding linked contacts in DejaTasks now reads DejaContacts vs. Apple’s contacts
– added Project field to DejaTasks
– added DejaContacts links to DejaToday (tasks only)
– fixed an issue where user edited custom field labels did not show in DejaContacts
– fixes an issue where deletions may not sync between Apple contacts and DejaContacts
– fixes an issue where contacts purged from CL do not appear to purge until reopening DJO
– fixes an issue where DejaToday did not show tasks due today
– fixed an issue where the Release Notes app would open each time DJO was opened

CompanionLink At Sage Summit 2011

Posted on July 7, 2011 by David Z

Image Credit: Sage Summit CompanionLink will be at Sage Summit 2011 in Washington D.C. from July 10^th to July 13^th. If you are planning on attending, be sure to swing by booth #164 to say hi to Rushang and myself! We’ll have some of the latest iOS and Android devices on hand to demonstrate how our mobile app, DejaOffice, brings business-class functions to these devices.

ACT! has been on of the most consistent products we have worked with at CompanionLink. We‘re looking forward to catching up with many ACT! users and consultants at the Summit. Hopefully we’ll see you there!

Even if you aren’t attending Sage Summit this year, I encourage you to watch for updates from the road on our Twitter and Facebook pages. We’ll share our thoughts and comments from the show floor, so be sure to follow along!

CompanionLink now supports sync with SugarCRM

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Andy Sheragy

SugarCRM is an open-source CRM package that has quickly been rising in popularity due to its flexibility, availability, and community support. The company recently celebrated a year of tremendous growth – they claim that they are now the fastest-growing CRM solution available.

CompanionLink has had a long history of synchronizing with a wide range of popular CRM platforms, and we are pleased to announce that we now support sync with SugarCRM. CompanionLink can sync SugarCRM contacts, calendars, and tasks direct with Android, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, and more. We can also sync SugarCRM with Google, or with other PC-based contact managers like Microsoft Outlook.

CompanionLink supports SugarCRM Professional, Corporate, Enterprise, Ultimate, and Community editions. For more information, and to download a free trial, visit www.companionlink.com/sugarcrm/

HP Introduces The First webOS Tablet: The HP TouchPad

Posted on June 30, 2011 by David Z

ImageCredit: MobileToday

HP officially releases their first webOS tablet tomorrow, the HP TouchPad. HP has optimized the webOS platform, bringing its famous “card based” interface to the tablet. The TouchPad comes in two flavors: 16GB for $499 and 32GB for $599. Both models feature a 9.7” screen, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, front-facing camera, and much more. Check out all the tech specs here.

Of course, the most common question we’re getting about the TouchPad is “How can I sync the TouchPad with Outlook,” or any of the popular CRM tools, for that matter. At this point, we expect CompanionLink’s current webOS solution to work seamlessly with the TouchPad – that is, to sync via Google. Of course, we will be testing our software with the TouchPad once we are able to get one in the office.

I’ll be sure to post an update once we have tested syncing with the TouchPad! In the meantime, who’s planning on getting one? Check out more windows tablets.

Update: USB sync is now live for all webOS devices, including the TouchPad! Read about it here.

CompanionLink Ranks Among The Fastest-Growing Companies In Portland

Posted on June 28, 2011 by David Z

Over 800 people gathered last Thursday for the Portland Business Journal’s 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies event, held at the Portland Art Museum. We were thrilled to be among them, knowing that CompanionLink had made the list, somewhere among the top 100 companies.

As the Portland Business Journal counted down from 100, we waited with anticipation to see where we ranked. As we listened for our name, more and more companies were recognized for their stellar year over year growth. The announcer finally arrived at CompanionLink Software – the 18th fastest-growing private company in Portland!

We are very grateful to have achieved this status, and we couldn’t have done it without you – our customers. Thank you for your support!

Which Sync Method Is Best?

Posted on June 23, 2011 by David Z

This post will help you understand the differences between the four sync methods that CompanionLink offers you: Direct USB Sync, Local WiFi Sync, Secure Hosted Wireless Sync, and Sync via Google. Below, I’ll explain each one to help you find the best sync method for your setup.

Direct USB Sync

This method synchronizes your data via USB cable. It’s the plain “old-fashioned” method that HotSync provided in the old days. Data is directly transferred to and from your device without the need of any cloud or hosted services. USB sync is recommended if:

you require a high level of security
you are averse to hosting your data in the cloud
you do not need your data synchronized continuously throughout the day

Simply dock your phone to your PC and sync.

Works with: Android, BlackBerry, and webOS devices

Pros:

Secure and direct transfer
Data is stored locally
HIPAA friendly

Cons:

Must be connected to PC
Not a direct sync for iOS devices*

*Syncs via Outlook/iTunes

Local WiFi Sync

This method uses your local WiFi network to securely sync information from your PC directly to DejaOffice on your device. Both your PC and device must be connected to the same WiFi internet connection. Local WiFi Sync will then detect when you are within range of your local WiFi network and sync in the background, hands-free!* WiFi Sync is your best choice if:

you want a quick, wireless options for syncing data
you are in and out of the office or house all day
you regularly update your data throughout the day

Set it up once, then enjoy the convenience of a wireless sync.

Works with: Android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices

Pros:

Wireless sync – no cords!
Optional automatic sync*
AES-256bit encryption for security

Cons:

Range is limited to your local WiFi connection
Not available on BlackBerry, webOS, or Windows Phone

*Automatic sync is currently Android-only. iOS users must initiate the sync on the PC.

Secure Hosted Sync

Secure Hosted Sync is our most robust and reliable sync option. CompanionLink will sync your data securely to your device using AES-256 bit encryption. Most importantly, we do not host your data, meaning users who are concerned about security and hosting data online now have a convenient wireless sync option, all for just $9.95 per month! Secure Hosted Sync is recommended if:

you need a fast, secure, hands-free sync
you do not want your data hosted by a third party (such as Google)
you want the convenience of a wireless sync with the security of a wired sync

Secure Hosted Sync works in conjunction with our free Android and iOS app, DejaOffice (or DejaLink for BlackBerry users).

Works with: Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and BlackBerry devices

Pros:

Secure wireless sync
Works anywhere you have internet
We do not host your data
Automatic, real-time sync*

Cons:

Monthly fee
Not available on webOS or Windows Phone

*Currently Android-only. Coming soon on iOS, as well as for Zoho and SugarCRM.

Sync via Google

Sync via Google allows you to sync contacts, calendar and tasks from your PC to any Google, Gmail, or Google Apps account. Once your PC data has been synced to a Google account, Google provides wireless sync with most smartphone and tablet platforms. Sync via Google is best if:

you are looking for a free wireless sync option
you already rely heavily on Google for other services
you want hosted access to your data online
you have basic contact & calendar databases*

For more information on how to sync your device with your Google account, visit google.com/sync.

Works with: Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and webOS devices

Pros:

Free wireless sync
Creates an online backup of your data
Sync your Google account to multiple devices

Cons:

Data is hosted by a 3^rd party
Google controls the sync process to your device
Data is limited to basic contacts & calendars

*Google imposes certain limitations on the type of data we can sync. As such, we do not recommend Sync via Google for those with more complex databases.

DejaOffice Flies Past 100,000 Active Installs

Posted on June 21, 2011 by David Z

I’m happy to share that we’ve passed 100,000 active installs of DejaOffice! That means that amongst you, our customers, there are over 100,000 Android phones & tablets, iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches all over the world currently being enhanced by DejaOffice’s business-class productivity features. All this in just a little over one year, too!

2011 has already been an exciting year for DejaOffice. We’ve added dozens of new features and enhancements, from widgets to global search to grouping, and much more. But we’re not stopping there. We have even more great features planned. While I can’t get into the details just yet, I can tell you that 2011 will continue to be a very exciting year for DejaOffice. Stay tuned!

DejaOffice for Android 1.11.8 Beta Released

Posted on June 16, 2011 by David Z

DejaOffice 1.11.8 beta is now available from www.dejaoffice.com/androidapp and brings a number of improvements and bug fixes. Most notably, we’ve adjusted the colors in the revised month view calendar we introduced in version 1.11.7. Some users reported that, while they liked the new layout, the colors were hard to see. With this update, the category colors should now be much easier to read!

If you’d like to test out the latest features, or are encountering any of the issues that are fixed in this release, head over to www.dejaoffice.com/androidapp and grab the beta!

Release Notes

DejaOffice v1.11.8 (06/15/2011)
-improved month view UI by increasing color luminosity
-month view layout now defaults to tablet style, now with the standard 3 font sizes
-added date to DejaCalendar search results
-fixed truncated text for 0 min duration events
-fixed an issues with editing multi-day weekly recurring events
-fixed issues with list view Go to Date/Today menu options
-fixed Business/Micro mode for View/Edit screens in tablet mode
-fixed an issue where “Show Private” did not work in DejaToday for hidden records
-fixed issues syncing Categories with native contact Phone accounts groups
-fixed an issue where DejaToday did not display All Day events
-fixed an issue where DejaOffice would sometimes not update the native Android contacts app after syncing

DejaOffice.com Receives A Fresh New Look

Posted on June 14, 2011 by David Z

Just a quick update today to announce the brand new DejaOffice.com! We have completely redesigned the site so that it is easier than ever to learn about all of the great features in DejaOffice.

I encourage you to head over to www.dejaoffice.com and check it out. We’d love to hear what you think! Share your feedback in the comments below.