Comments on: Keeping My Devices in Sync http://www.jeffsandstrom.com/tech/keeping-my-devices-in-sync/ Geeky musing about tech, food and business. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:16:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anonymouse http://www.jeffsandstrom.com/tech/keeping-my-devices-in-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Anonymouse Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:16:48 +0000 http://www.jeffsandstrom.com/?p=34#comment-246 I decided to use Win­dows Live for Mobile to sync my contacts because I read it syncs with Windows Live Contacts. I thought that meant if I entered someone's name in my phone it would be uploaded to Windows Live. However, after installing it, that did not happen. Upon re-reading, it seems Windows Live Contacts are downloaded to your phone and exist separately alongside the phone's contacts. So the question is, is there any way to synchronize my phone's contacts with Windows Live contacts? For now I guess I'll just be using Mesh and mIQ. I decided to use Win­dows Live for Mobile to sync my contacts because I read it syncs with Windows Live Contacts. I thought that meant if I entered someone’s name in my phone it would be uploaded to Windows Live. However, after installing it, that did not happen. Upon re-reading, it seems Windows Live Contacts are downloaded to your phone and exist separately alongside the phone’s contacts.

So the question is, is there any way to synchronize my phone’s contacts with Windows Live contacts?

For now I guess I’ll just be using Mesh and mIQ.

]]> By: Anonymouse http://www.jeffsandstrom.com/tech/keeping-my-devices-in-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Anonymouse Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:13:05 +0000 http://www.jeffsandstrom.com/?p=34#comment-245 I only use these services with a Windows Mobile 6.1 non-touchscreen phone. I list each type of item I want to sync, along with what I use, or plan to use, along with some comments and options: Documents: Windows Live Mesh. I just installed it today to synchronize/backup the most commonly changing files on my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone. Contacts: Windows Live for Mobile. It will sync with Windows Live contacts. I didn't like the way my contact's name fields got changed after syncing with Google (I set my contacts to "First Lastname," and use suffixes often. After syncing with Google, it changed them to "Lastname, Firstname" and the suffixes were hidden on my phone). MyPhone will back up contacts, but it won't sync with anything else. Calendar: mIQ from Best Buy. MyPhone will also sync your calendar. So will Google calendar. Windows Live for Mobile will not--why? Text Messages: mIQ from Best Buy. If I recall correctly, mIQ even allows you to use your computer to type up and send a text message. Microsoft MyPhone will also back up your text messages. Call Logs: mIQ from Best Buy. Does any other program back these up? What I think each service needs to add: Windows Live Mesh: sync contacts, calendar Windows Live for Mobile: sync calendar mIQ: ability to upload any file not just photos Google: contacts retain proper fields and "show as" settings sync files (just a few text files, spreadsheets) MyPhone: ability to upload a single folder instead of all documents sync with Windows Live contacts and Windows Live Calendar more than 200mb of space I use computers all the time, but I try not to rely on any one particular computer. Most things I do on the 'net, or if I need to have local files, a Western Digital Portable (no power supply needed) USB drive. So my phone is the primary device I am concerned about backing up/syncing at this time. I only use these services with a Windows Mobile 6.1 non-touchscreen phone. I list each type of item I want to sync, along with what I use, or plan to use, along with some comments and options:

Documents: Windows Live Mesh. I just installed it today to synchronize/backup the most commonly changing files on my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone.

Contacts: Windows Live for Mobile. It will sync with Windows Live contacts. I didn’t like the way my contact’s name fields got changed after syncing with Google (I set my contacts to “First Lastname,” and use suffixes often. After syncing with Google, it changed them to “Lastname, Firstname” and the suffixes were hidden on my phone). MyPhone will back up contacts, but it won’t sync with anything else.

Calendar: mIQ from Best Buy. MyPhone will also sync your calendar. So will Google calendar. Windows Live for Mobile will not — why?

Text Messages: mIQ from Best Buy. If I recall correctly, mIQ even allows you to use your computer to type up and send a text message. Microsoft MyPhone will also back up your text messages.

Call Logs: mIQ from Best Buy. Does any other program back these up?

What I think each service needs to add:
Windows Live Mesh:
sync contacts, calendar

Windows Live for Mobile:
sync calendar

mIQ:
ability to upload any file not just photos

Google:
contacts retain proper fields and “show as” settings
sync files (just a few text files, spreadsheets)

MyPhone:
ability to upload a single folder instead of all documents
sync with Windows Live contacts and Windows Live Calendar
more than 200mb of space

I use computers all the time, but I try not to rely on any one particular computer. Most things I do on the ‘net, or if I need to have local files, a Western Digital Portable (no power supply needed) USB drive. So my phone is the primary device I am concerned about backing up/syncing at this time.

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