tech-tag » Cell phone http://www.tech-tag.com tech tricks Wed, 16 May 2007 07:04:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 More (and maybe) better ways to use the cell phone for emails http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/11/14/66/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/11/14/66/#comments Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:18:44 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/11/14/66/ Google and movamail both launches new cell phone applications for emailing.

Competition seems to be increasing within the field of email application for java compatible cell phones. A few weeks ago Google launched their a java application for accessing gmail. Almost at the same time Movamail has launched their paid service movamail 2.0.

Both of the application boasts a lot of features, Google’s client offers the possibility to read attachments from the phone, and movamail makes it possible to attach pictures from the phones camera to the email.

I tried installing both on my aging Nokia 6610i, but none of them would install when accessing the website from the phone. Google stated clearly that the java client did not support, and with movamail I got an error on the phone when trying.

Luckily for people like me the also both support web access. I have not tried Movamails, but I’ve used Googles for a couple of month now with the Opera browser installed on the cell phone.

From my point view, Google entering the market makes it tough for Movamail. I will continue to forward my regular to my gmail account and use Gmails mobile browser access m.gmail.com to access the email because it works very well and it is free.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/11/14/66/feed/ 0 Competition for Scheduleworld – Goosync bridges between Google Calendar and the cell phone http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/11/competition-for-scheduleworld-goosync-bridges-between-google-calendar-and-the-cell-phone/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/11/competition-for-scheduleworld-goosync-bridges-between-google-calendar-and-the-cell-phone/#comments Wed, 11 Oct 2006 23:06:27 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/11/competition-for-scheduleworld-goosync-bridges-between-google-calendar-and-the-cell-phone/ Goosync launches a service which provides over-the-air calendar synchronization between Google Calendar and cell phones .
When I updated my overview on how to sync Google Calendar, I only knew of Scheduleworld which could act as a bridge between Google Calendar and the open standard syncML.

Today I read of yet another service with that potential. Goosync started syncML synchronization with Google Calendar this September. As fare as I can tell the service is automated and free, just like scheduleworld.

This service is mainly relevant for cell phones, because most has a built in syncMl client but clients are available for Outlook other applications.

The first impression of the service and website, is very much on level with that of Scheduleworld. I will provide a more in depth comparison between the two at a later point.

Anyway, I find it very positive for average consumer like me that there are two competing services.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/11/competition-for-scheduleworld-goosync-bridges-between-google-calendar-and-the-cell-phone/feed/ 7 Synchronize Google Calendar v2 http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/09/syncing-google-calendar-v2/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/09/syncing-google-calendar-v2/#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:46:45 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/09/syncing-google-calendar-v2/ An overview of the number of ways Google Calendar can be synchronized with applications and devices like Outlook, Cell phones and Ipods.

Here are the main ways that I know of. There are some solutions for mobile devices Ipod and Java compatible cell phones, and some solutions for desktop applications Ical and Outlook.

What Google Calendar offers

The main offers from Google

  • Import and export of cvs and ical files, but doing this manually is too much of a hassle.
  • Make the calendar available as a feed or a public ical file, but this is read only.
  • Texting in events via the cell phone, but they don’t support my service provider.
  • An open API which makes it possible to write software which interacts with Google Calendar

Scheduleworld: the Swiss army knife of Google Calendar Synchronization

Scheduleworld is an online calendar service, among other things offers web access, Google Synchronization via API and syncML synchronization. The great thing about this is that the open standard SyncML is supported by many standard cell phones and third party clients are available for services and applications like Outlook.

Engtech has a fascinating guide, on how to put Scheduleworld to full use.

Scheduleworld is free for now, but as I understand it they plan to earn monye adding sponsored appointments to your calendar.

cell phone calendar

The way to synchronize Google Calendar which applies to most cell phones, is by synchronizing via Scheduleworld via the synML client, which is in most cell phones and an Internet connection like GPRS or 3G. Scheduleworld can be set up to synchronize automatically with Google Calendar, whenever a synchronization is requested from the cell phone.

It is possible to sync with advanced cell phones via the free application gcalsync, but I just read on Matthew Millers blog that there is also a commercial solution called Companionlink. I am hoping that this maybe supports more phones.

Ipods

Ipod users can sync one way with the getcals pc application. Or simple downloading the public or private Ical file to the Ipod Calendar folder.

Outlook and other desktop applications
Syncing desktop applications

If you have a question or know of more ways to sync Google Calendar – don’t hesitate to comment.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/10/09/syncing-google-calendar-v2/feed/ 6 Scheduleworld and Google Calendar Synchronization works two-ways http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/13/scheduleworld-and-google-calendar-synchronization-works-two-ways/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/13/scheduleworld-and-google-calendar-synchronization-works-two-ways/#comments Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:58:26 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/13/scheduleworld-and-google-calendar-synchronization-works-two-ways/ I claimed earlier, that Calendar synchronization between Google Calendar and Scheduleworld only works one way. But yesterday I read in \\Engtechs very nice guide to synchronization that it works two-ways, consequences were: I had to try again.
At first my results were the same as reported earlier, none of the appointments I had in Scheduleworld would appear in Google Calendar. This however changed when I made a completely new appointment in Scheduleworld which appeared in Google Calendar after a sync. The entire problem was solved by adding a hyphen to all my appointments – and suddenly they all appeared in Google Calendar.
This goes to show two points. First of all, that two-synchronization actually works between the two, making it possible to use Scheduleworld as a middleman for synchronization between Google Calendar and any SynML compatible device, like a cell phone. Second, that this service (in beta) has some weaknesses at the present, making it possible for some appointments to be left out.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/13/scheduleworld-and-google-calendar-synchronization-works-two-ways/feed/ 6 Syncing Scheduleworld with Google Calendar works – but only one way http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/10/syncing-scheduleworld-with-google-calendar-works-but-only-one-way/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/10/syncing-scheduleworld-with-google-calendar-works-but-only-one-way/#comments Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:56:06 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/10/syncing-scheduleworld-with-google-calendar-works-but-only-one-way/ After a failure earlier on, I tried syncing Scheduleworld and Google Calendar yesterday and it finally worked. I was hoping (naive – yes) that this could as a middleman providing Google Calendar with the needed Syncml  compatibility. In reality I could only make this work one way, exporting from Google Calendar (why they needed my pasword and username I don’t know), and in order to make the synchronization start I had to log in to Scheduleworld and request it.

All in all progress but I don’t really know what to use the one way sync for – unless I’m migrating completely!

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/08/10/syncing-scheduleworld-with-google-calendar-works-but-only-one-way/feed/ 2 Trying out Opera mini browser for cell phones http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/05/trying-out-opera-mini-browser-for-cell-phones/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/05/trying-out-opera-mini-browser-for-cell-phones/#comments Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:48:39 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/05/trying-out-opera-mini-browser-for-cell-phones/ Opera has for quite some time been a player in the browser market, and especially their mobile browser has been getting attention. I tried this browser out on the Nokia 6610i.

Installation is pretty easy, I just had to find the version compatible with the cell phone. Once got used to it, I definetely prefer Opera to the builtin browser on the phone, it looks better, I find it easier to use and Gmail mobile works. I could however not detect any difference in speed in these first tryouts, but it could still be there.

With Gmail mobile access up and running I think I prefer this to the other E-mail solutions I’ve tried out, for the reasons given yesterday, and because it has the great search option.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/05/trying-out-opera-mini-browser-for-cell-phones/feed/ 0 Gmail mobile access http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/04/gmail-mobile-access/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/04/gmail-mobile-access/#comments Tue, 04 Jul 2006 10:27:57 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/04/gmail-mobile-access/ I’ve just noticed, that Google has opened for mobile access to Gmail. This means that by pointing any cell phone browser at http://m.gmail.com it should be possible to check any Gmail account. This provides a nice alternative for the email applications for cell phones I’ve posted on ealier.

After trying it out I had some positive and negative experience. First of all I could not make it work on my Nokia 6610i but it seemed to work fine with the Samsung E330. Secondly it seemed to take just a little longer, and be a little more difficult to check mail than using my current favourite, Flurrymail. On the positive side it did a very nice overview of the complete mailbox and had the familiar Gmail-look.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/07/04/gmail-mobile-access/feed/ 1 How to easily sync Outlook calendar with an ordinary cell phone http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/28/how-to-easily-sync-outlook-calendar-with-an-ordinary-cell-phone/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/28/how-to-easily-sync-outlook-calendar-with-an-ordinary-cell-phone/#comments Wed, 28 Jun 2006 20:33:07 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/28/how-to-easily-sync-outlook-calendar-with-an-ordinary-cell-phone/ A week ago I discussed the possible ways one could sync the cell phone with an external calendar. Here I will show more specific how syncML can be used to synchronize a standard cell phone calendar with Outlook. The advantage by this is that that once it is up and running it is much easier (or at least on the phones I’ve tried) than using infrared or bluetooth, thus giving the user a calendar which is always close by, and backed up on a remote server if the phone should be lost, or your Dell laptop should explode.
In order to achieve this, a few thing are required:

  • A syncML compatible cell phone (most newer phones, and a lot of the older is)
  • A working WAP connection (GPRS, 3G or similar)
  • Outlook (this is possible with other applications too, but this guide is about Outlook).
  • An account at a syncML server

From here on there are two ways to go, this can either be done for free but with a little more hassle in the setup. Or this can cost a bit of money and then have an easier setup.

The free solution

The only way I could make this work for free, is by using Funambols free syncML plugin for Outlook. Since this is the only free syncML plugin I could find. It seems that this plugin has some issues since I could only make it work with Scheduleworld.com. I would have preferred to use it with zyb.com, since I prefer them to scheduleworld, but I could not make the connection.

The first thing to be done is to make the synchronization between Scheduleworld and the cell phone work. In order to do that one need to start by going to Scheduleworlds website and set up an account. Then the phone needs to be set up (this is very different from phone to phone) with the following values, I can take some time to make it work.

  • Server url: http://sync.scheduleworld.com/sync4j/sync
  • User name: (this the costumer number which can be seen by logging in on the website and select preferences)
  • password: (the same password as selected for the website)
  • Application URI (often called a variety of things):
    • calendar:cal
    • contacs:card

When the synchronization is working between the phone and Scheduleworlds syncML server, it is time to focus on Outlook. The first thing which needs to be done is the installation of Funambols free syncML plugin for Outlook. The next time Outlook is started it will have on more menu called sync4j. In this menu configuration is selected and communications settings, synchronizations settings and Remote settings are set up as shown. With the “xxx..” in the username being the same user number as used when setting up the phone.

screenshot1.png

screenshot2.png
screenshot3.png

The problem with cyb.com’s server with Funambols plugin, was that the plugin crashed every time I tried to sync. If someone else can make that work I would like to know.
The paid way

The first thing needed is to setup an account at cyb.com, and get the synchronization connection between the phone and the cyb server. This was actually easier done than said for me, all I had to do is go to zyb.com, and they helped me identify the phone and sent me the settings for the phone by text message.

The next thing to be done is to install and configure a plugin for Outlook. Since the funambol kept crashing, I’ve downloaded a 15 days trial version Nexthause’s Outlook plugin, the full version costs 29 dollars.

Like with cyb things a just a little smoother with this plugin. The first time Outlook is started after installing this plugin, a wizard is started.
screenshot4.JPG

At the dialog, shown above, the server is url is set. After that the password and username hs to be set.

In the third dialogue box I choose to test the server setting. When this is choosen the server found the remaining settings itself like shown below.screenshot7.png

After pressing “Finish” Outlook starts normally with a synchronize icon appears in the toolbar.

No matter which of the paths has been chosen, at this point one can now get Outlook and the cell phone in sync very fast. Just remember that it is an ecternal server, meaning that if you have made some changes on the cell phone since you last used Outlook you have to start by syncing aswell as end by doing it, and vice versa so that the external server is always up to date.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/28/how-to-easily-sync-outlook-calendar-with-an-ordinary-cell-phone/feed/ 10 Syncing Google Calendar http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/24/syncing-google-calendar/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/24/syncing-google-calendar/#comments Sat, 24 Jun 2006 14:27:53 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/24/syncing-google-calendar/ ————————————————————-

This post is outdated, and a updated version has been published

syncing Google calendar v2
————————————————————-

I’ve been trying to get an overview of how it is possible to sync Google Calender. Here are the main ways I could find/think of. There are some solutions for mobile devices Ipod and Java compatible cell phones, and som solutions for desktop applications Ical and Outlook.
What Google offers is first of all import and export of cvs and ical files, but doing this manually is too much of a hassle. Secondly, they offer the chance to make the calendar available as a feed or a public ical file, but this is read only, which means no two-way syncronisation. Thirdly they offer some more specific services, texting in events via the cell phone, but this does not seem that attractiv to me and they don’t support my service provider.

As I noted earlier it is possible to sync with advanced cell phones via the free application gcalsync, but I just read on Matthew Millers blog that there is also a commercial solution called Companionlink. I am hoping that this maybe supports more phones.

Ipod users can sync one way with the getcals pc application.

As for the desktop solution by Scheduleworlds, which I mentioned earlier, this does not seem to work. Whenever I try to set it up I get a weird error message.

Tuaw.com has published a guide for setting this up in Ical and Grinn Productions has published one for setting one-way sync up in Outlook using the remotecalendars, but this graphic tutorial shows how to-way sync is possible in the current version.
I anyone know of more ways to sync Google Calendar – don’t hesitate to comment.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/24/syncing-google-calendar/feed/ 11 Additional Syncml servers for syncing your cell phone http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/23/additional-syncml-servers-for-syncing-your-cell-phone/ http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/23/additional-syncml-servers-for-syncing-your-cell-phone/#comments Fri, 23 Jun 2006 09:05:37 +0000 jens http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/23/additional-syncml-servers-for-syncing-your-cell-phone/ Since I wrote the post on syncing the cell phone calendars I’ve discovered a few more syncml servers, from reading up on other blogs.
Gsmsync is a web based service (although still in beta), where one can sign up, and sync calendar and contacts with the server via syncml. Thereby using the server as interface for the calendar, and backup for contacts. The website looks and functions really well, most of the way, I never recieved the setup sms (until 30 minutes later), so I had to set the settings up by hand. In addition when looking in the documentation it is clear that they are in beta. In time they plan to make it a paid service, but as fare as I could see it is free right now.

ZYB is a service very similar to GSMsync, in the way that they offer a very similar product, calendar and contacts sync via syncml and a nice web interface, for adding appointments and contacts. Contrary to GSMsync their documentation is very good, and it is a free service, which they plan to keep it free, and make their money from selling additional services like outlook integration (I however have a hard time seeing how they will keep users from connecting with Outlook via Funambols free syncml plugin for Outlook).

Of the two ZYB gave the best impression, it worked right out of the box, and even helped the user identify the phone model during the signup, and sending the settings right to the phone. All in all ZYB is in my mind clearly the most consistent solution for syncing the cell phone calendar, making it an best choice for the non-experienced user.

]]> http://www.tech-tag.com/2006/06/23/additional-syncml-servers-for-syncing-your-cell-phone/feed/ 0