Category Archives: Tips and Tricks

How to separate business and personal data on your phone

Posted on by Rushang
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The easiest way to do this is to use Categories to manage your contacts. You can set up Business and Personal categories, then file your contacts in those. When you add a business contact on your phone, simply tag it to the Business category.

Not all phones have Category functionality in their built-in address book app. DejaOffice (an app for Android and Apple devices) solves that.  You can create your own categories, assign colors to them, and tag contacts to them.  With the optional CompanionLink PC sync software, you can then sync those categories back to Microsoft Outlook or other supported PC software. If you choose, you can also toggle a switch to NOT sync your Personal contacts to your PC.  This keeps your personal data off your PC, if you work on an office-administered desktop or laptop.

Many people who carry 2 devices (business and personal) are now looking to consolidate into one device capable of cleverly divorcing their business and personal data.

Joe the Plumber (with a tablet)

Posted on by Rushang
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The business case for tablets

In a PCWorld article, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, insists that tablets like the iPad lower the cost of entry for computing.  This means people can save money by investing in tablets over traditional desktops and laptops.  The same holds true for businesses.  The benefits are numerous – cheaper devices, cheaper software (apps), lower IT maintenance costs due to lack of viruses for tablets and other user-inflicted harm.

Imagine a plumber (named Joe) showing up to fix a leak under your kitchen sink.  Joe uses his tablet to take a picture of the broken part in question.  The picture is automatically sent to his company’s database.  The database sends back a schematic drawing of the part.  Joe shows you the drawing, rotates it, and zooms into exactly the area of the part that is broken.  Joe taps on the area and gets a list of options to fix.  A button to Replace the part is also there.  Tapping that button, Joe shows you a 10-second animation of how the part will be replaced.  Tapping another button, Joe shows you a list of local stores that carry that part and their prices.  He also tells you how much you can save if Joe goes through his supplier of choice.

I’d hire Joe.  Not only did he fix the problem, but he gave me options and educated me about the process.  This was done using the latest technology, which tells me Joe is a person who is current with trends and how to take advantage of them. Chances are that if he’s current with technology trends, he’s also current with the latest advances in plumbing.  As a person looking to fix a plumbing problem, I’m hiring a smart plumber.

So, how can a tablet help your business?  Send us your thoughts.

Syncing data from different Outlook folders and sub-folders

Posted on by Rushang
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CompanionLink will sync data from Outlook folder.  The software will list the available folders (even Public Folders if you’re using Exchange), and let you choose which on to sync data from.  CompanionLink will synchronize data in that folder and any sub-folders under it.

To synchronize data from multiple different Outlook folders, you need CompanionLink Professional.  This version has as a feature called Category Manager that allows you to assign synchronization of different folders to a Category on the phone.  When you add a new Contact to the right Category on the phone, it automatically goes to the right folder in Outlook.

Category Manager also works great with the DejaOffice app for Android, iPad and iPhone.

Video – How to Sync Android with Outlook via USB using CompanionLink 4.0

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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Earlier this week we posted a new video showing you how to sync Outlook with Android via Google. Today we have another new video, this time showing you how to sync Outlook with Android direct over secure USB using the new CompanionLink 4.0. CompanionLink’s USB sync with Android works in tandem with DejaOffice, a suite of contacts, calendar, tasks and notes apps for Android-powered devices.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl7HkRSQbgg]

If you need additional help using DejaOffice, visit the Classroom at www.dejaoffice.com/classroom

Master DejaOffice for Apple with the DejaOffice Classroom

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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Class is in session! The DejaOffice Classroom is now open for the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. DejaOffice is a business-class suite of contacts, calendar, tasks and notes apps for Apple and Android devices. The Classroom offers a complete walkthrough guide, tips & tricks, and tutorials with accompanying screenshots on how to perform common tasks in DejaOffice. Whether you’re new to DejaOffice or a seasoned pro, you’re sure to find something useful in the Classroom. To see exactly how to turn your iPhone or Android into a powerful business tool, head on over!

www.dejaoffice.com/classroom

Tech-Tip: Samsung Captivate owners need to enable Mass Storage Mode for USB Sync

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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To successfully sync via USB, the Samsung Captivate must have Mass Storage Mode enabled. The Captivate defaults to MTP mode, which disables DejaOffice from syncing correctly. To synchronize using DejaOffice, you need to change the device’s default USB Settings to allow Mass Storage mode. Here is how to do so:

1. On the device, open Android Settings › Applications › USB Settings.
2. Change the option to either “Mass Storage”, or “Ask on connection”.
NOTE: If “Ask on connection” is selected, you will need to manually choose “Mass storage” each time you connect the USB cable.

General information on CompanionLink’s sync solutions for the Samsung Captivate can be found at www.companionlink.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-s.html

Tech-Tip: Ensure "Charge Only" Mode is set when syncing with DROID X

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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When connected to the PC, the DROID X offers multiple options for the USB connection mode. The default USB mode, “PC Mode” for DROID X, prevents DejaOffice from synchronizing since it doesn’t allow mounting of the SD card. To fix this problem, DROID X users need to change the USB mode from the default “PC Mode” to “Charge Only”. Here is how to do so:

1. Connect the phone to the PC via the USB cable.
2. Pull down the Android notification bar (tap the very top of the screen ans swipe down) and select USB Connection.
3. Select “Charge Only”, then tap OK.

Once this has been done you can sync with DejaOffice as usual. “Charge Only” will remain as the default setting, so you don’t need to go through the above steps every time. See more info on CompanionLink’s solutions to sync with DROID X.

How to Sync BlackBerry with Outlook 2010 – Video

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5g4wKaJGNo]

Many users have been reporting that they’re having trouble synchronizing their BlackBerry devices with Outlook 2010. CompanionLink offers multiple solutions to sync BlackBerry with Outlook 2010; both 32-bit and 64-bit editions are fully supported. For more information on how to sync Outlook 2010 with BlackBerry devices, visit www.companionlink.com/blackberry

How to assign categories to your Android contacts and calendar using DejaOffice

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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DejaOffice - Category SelectDejaOffice, a robust suite of contacts, calendar, tasks and notes apps for Android, allows you to assign color-coded categories to your contacts and calendar for easier organization. If you manage a large amount of contacts, splitting them up into categories can make it much easier to find the records you need. DejaOffice includes a category manger to create and rename global categories for use across contacts, calendar, tasks and notes.

DejaOffice also supports automatic sync of Outlook categories using the CompanionLink PC software. Once DejaOffice has been populated with categories, its easy to assign them to your contacts and calendar. Just select the record you wish to modify, press Menu and select Edit, and then tap the Category button to bring up a list of categories to select from. Save the record and you’re done – easy!

DejaOffice - Contacts filtered by Category

Learn more about DejaOffice for Android over at the DejaOffice Classroom. DejaOffice is available at no cost from the Android Market. CompanionLink’s sync solutions for Android devices begin at $39.95, with a 14-day free trial available at www.companionlink.com/android

Video: How to wirelessly sync the new iPhone 4 with your PC

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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The new iPhone 4 natively supports basic sync with Outlook contacts and calendar direct via USB using iTunes. CompanionLink lets you sync contacts and calendar from Outlook, Lotus Notes, ACT!, Palm Desktop and others to any Google account. The iPhone 4 can then automatically sync with Google using its wireless data connection. This means you can update your calendar from your iPhone, and it will wirelessly sync back to Google and then down to your PC.

For more info, visit www.companionlink.com/iphone

Maximize your productivity with DejaOffice – Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes Apps for Android

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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DejaOffice is our robust suite of calendar, contacts, tasks and notes apps for Android. We’ve been hard at work adding a multitude of features that you can leverage to increase productivity and complement your workflow. To better showcase these features and how they can be used, we’re proud to introduce the new DejaOffice Classroom.

www.dejaoffice.com/classroom

The Classroom contains a guided walkthrough that will show you how to take advantage of everything DejaOffice has to offer. Some of the features you’ll find in the DejaOffice Classroom include:

  • How to Install DejaOffice
  • Import data from the native Android databases
  • Filter your Contacts by Category
  • Schedule a New Event with a Contact
  • Sort your Tasks by Priority, Subject, or Due Date
  • Manage Categories and assign colors
  • Search all DejaOffice data from one query
  • Add DejaOffice Shortcuts to your Android Desktop

DejaOffice is available from the Android Market at no cost, and is compatible with the HTC EVO, Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Incredible and other Android phones.

Android Tech Tip – Link Calendar items to Contacts using DejaOffice

Posted on by Andy Sheragy
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DejaOffice, an application suite of contacts, calendar, tasks and notes apps for Android, now allows you to link your contacts to individual calendar entries, tasks and notes. This lets you easily check who an appointment or a meeting was scheduled with, or view everyone attached to a certain project in your task list. To link a calendar entry to a contact, open DejaOffice, navigate to the calendar, and bring up the details screen for a calendar event. From here, tap the ‘Add Contact’ button and your address book should open up. Select the contact you’d like to attach, save, and you’re done!

DejaOffice is available at no cost from the Android Market and at www.dejaoffice.com