Category Archives: New Devices

BlackBerry 10 wants you to manage Tasks with Priorities

Posted on by Rushang
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Q: What’s a task list without priorities?
A: Just a list.

Let’s just say the late Dr. Stephen Covey might not approve of this.

BlackBerry 10 ships with an app called Remember that nicely organizes notes and tasks in one slick app. Think “Evernote meets [plug in any of the millions of Tasks apps available]“.

But the Remember app misses the mark on one key principle of any task management philosophy – prioritizing tasks!

The Remember app groups things into notebook icons. Each “notebook” can hold items like photos, lists, tasks, and web links. But the treatment for Tasks is like a plain text note – there are no task-focused features like priorities, recurring tasks, or task alerts.

Microsoft Outlook users will especially find this confusing because Outlook ships with task-focused features out-of-the-box. In fact, these features are what makes “task management” philosophies work because they require you to take a large set of things to do and organize them by priority.  Task management = prioritization.

If you want a Task Manager that works lock-step with your Outlook Tasks – including Task Priorities, Categories, and Alarms – download the free DejaOffice app for BlackBerry 10.

Sync Outlook with BlackBerry

Posted on by Rushang
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One question which remains unanswered for many business professionals who use Outlook and have a BlackBerry Z10 is “How do I sync Outlook with BlackBerry?” For Exchange Server users, this process is greatly simplified via ActiveSync. Exchange allows calendar, contacts and email to be directly integrated, with no additional software required.

But what of business oriented BB10 users who utilize Outlook without Exchange?

Sync Outlook with BlackBerry via USB or Cloud

CompanionLink offers two solutions for this scenario, as detailed below– Direct synchronization, and synchronization utilizing web-based services such as Gmail or Outlook.com.

  1. Directly sync Outlook with BlackBerry contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, and categories:
    1. Install CompanionLink for Outlook onto your Windows PC.
    2. Set the sync method to either DejaCloud wireless sync or Direct USB.
    3. Configure email directly on the BB10 device, with POP3 or IMAP.
  2. Sync Outlook to Gmail or Outlook.com, and then set up your BB10 accounts:
    1. Install CompanionLink for Outlook.
    2. Set CompanionLink to sync with either Google or Outlook.com, depending on which service you plan to use.
    3. Set up your BB10 device with your Gmail or Outlook.com account (Settings > Accounts > Email, Contacts, Calendar).

Why Direct Sync Between Outlook and BlackBerry is Preferable

CompanionLink recommends direct sync (solution 1 above), as solution 2 has the following drawbacks:

  1. Your Outlook data will be hosted on Google, a company that makes money from targeted advertising.
  2. Your data will not map one-to-one with fields offered in Google’s interface, possibly leading to data corruption.
  3. Your data may be altered every time Google changes their web-based system.

Detailed information regarding sync options with BlackBerry 10 devices and Outlook is available on CompanionLink’s BB10 webpage.

 

S4 Outlook Sync

Posted on by Rushang
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CompanionLink will support Galaxy S4 Outlook sync from day one. Because most Galaxy devices do not ship with reliable Outlook sync software, CompanionLink’s products are used by thousands to synchronize Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, journal, categories, and contact photos with Galaxy devices like SIII and SIV.

CompanionLink already supports all Galaxy phones and tablets, including the popular S III. With the Galaxy S IV, CompanionLink extends their support of Samsung’s most popular line of smartphones for people using standalone Microsoft Outlook or other CRM tools like Salesforce CRM, ACT!, Lotus Notes, and Palm Desktop.

Multiple options for S4 Outlook sync

  • USB sync
  • DejaCloud push sync
  • Wi-Fi sync
  • Sync to Gmail or Google Apps

CompanionLink multiple protocols for S4 Outlook sync. Traditional USB sync is for those who prefer to connect their S4 with their PC. DejaCloud push sync is for those who desire a hands-free and over-the-air experience. DejaCloud is a new service offered by CompanionLink with emphasis on a private business cloud that does not sell or advertise users data like other large organizations. This service is for people focused on data security between Outlook and S4 devices.

Requirements

  • CompanionLink for Outlook
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000 or higher
  • Windows 2000 or higher, or Mac OS X 10.7 or higher

More information can be found at www.companionlink.com/s4.

BB10 sync

Posted on by Rushang
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BlackBerry 10 arrives on January 30. BB10 sync to standalone Microsoft Outlook is a topic that no one is talking about. If your company runs a Microsoft Exchange Server, BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 will manage over-the-air sync of Outlook data to BlackBerry 10 devices. People without Microsoft Exchange who are using the version of Microsoft Outlook that came with MS Office are left without any tools for bb10 sync.

Google Sync end-of-life affects BB10 devices

Google’s end of life announcement for free Google Sync services devastates BB10 users with Outlook. People with free Gmail accounts can no longer sync Outlook to Gmail to BB10 devices.  This directly affects standalone Outlook users because their data is now isolated on an island (ie – Outlook) with no options from RIM to get the data to BB10 devices. Legacy BlackBerry devices used BlackBerry Desktop Manager to solve this problem. However, BBDM will not ship with BB10 devices.

CompanionLink announces BB10 sync for standalone Outlook

CompanionLink will offer direct BB10 sync support for standalone Microsoft Outlook. BB10 sync options will include USB sync that works similar to BlackBerry Desktop Manager, and DejaCloud sync that works over-the-air. CompanionLink will ship their BB10 sync solution the same day the first BB10 devices arrive in people’s hands. Support for Outlook 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010, and 2013 will be included. For more info on BB10 sync, bookmark this page that will be updated by CompanionLink as more news about BB10 emerges.

BlackBerry Link Outlook sync

Posted on by Rushang
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BlackBerry Link Outlook sync screenshot

Source: Rapidberry.net

Industry blogs shows that RIM will replace BlackBerry Desktop Manager with a product called BlackBerry Link with their new BlackBerry OS 10 launch. Screenshots leaked on various blogs show BlackBerry Link will manage pictures, music, video, and documents. However, there have been no screenshots showing support for BlackBerry Link Outlook Sync. Will RIM abandon their reliable USB sync between Microsoft Outlook and BlackBerry?

CompanionLink plans to support synchronization between Microsoft Outlook and BlackBerry OS 10 devices. You can choose from USB sync (works like BlackBerry Desktop Manager) or secure DejaCloud wireless sync. Please bookmark this website to stay current with the our latest news about BlackBerry 10 Outlook sync.

Galaxy Note 2 Outlook Sync

Posted on by Rushang
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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

  1. Download CompanionLink for Outlook from here. It’s free to try for 14-days.
  2. During configuration, select Android for device, DejaCloud for method, and Microsoft Outlook for database.
  3. 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.

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

Posted on by Rushang
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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 by Rushang
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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.

S3 Mini means business (and competition for iPhone 5)

Posted on by Rushang
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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.

Samsung adds Galaxy Express and Rugby Pro to Android line-up

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AT&T announced they will carry the Samsung Galaxy Express and Samsung Rugby Pro devices this winter holiday season. The Galaxy Express is a mass-market device that will run Ice Cream Sandwich. The Rugby Pro is a military-grade Android device that is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. It sports Push-to-talk, a 4-inch screen, and full device encryption.  (Anyone with more clarity on what “full device encryption” means, please send an email to us at social@companionlink.com.)

CompanionLink will offer sync for both the Galaxy Express and the Rubgy Pro.