Understanding Android Contacts [Infographic]

Posted on by David Z
18

Confused about how Android Contacts and Accounts work?  We’ve created an infographic that helps explain the chaos!

Update: Now that Motorola’s DROID RAZR and Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus (featuring the next generation of Android – Ice Cream Sandwich) have been announced, this infographic is even more relevant. These two phones are sure to draw many users over to Android for the first time!

Coming to Android from a “feature phone,” a BlackBerry, or even iOS, there are a number of new features to get used to. One aspect that we’ve seen a lot of uncertainty about is exactly how Contacts work on Android.

As such, we’ve created an infographic to help visualize how Android Contacts work and hopefully eliminate some of the confusion. Check it out below:

(Click the graphic for a larger version)

Android Contacts Infographic

CompanionLink 5 Launches Today

Posted on by David Z
8

As of today, CompanionLink 5 is officially out of beta!

If you haven’t already heard what’s new, head over to our blog post announcing the beta to read all about it, but know that you can expect the following:

– A completely redesigned interface
– New setup wizards to help you configure a reliable sync process
– Multiple device profiles in CompanionLink Express
– CompanionLink Professional now allows up to 5 profiles
– Support for the latest CRM software and mobile OS’s
– Numerous bug fixes and sync improvements

Prices start at $14.95.  We have discounted upgrades for existing customers.  Visit our storefront and click on the blue Upgrade button next to the product you want to upgrade to.

The Samsung Galaxy S II Is Now Available In The US

Posted on by David Z
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Sprint has officially begun selling the Galaxy S II, which marks the beginning of the phone’s entry into the US. It has been wildly popular in Europe over the past few months, and with the specs that it has it’s no real surprise! While Sprint has been the first major carrier to carry the device in the US, AT&T and T-Mobile are set to follow shortly, though the exact dates are unknown.

Take a look at our video below to learn a bit about each of the unique variants of the Galaxy S II and hear our thoughts on whether this phone is worth the upgrade!

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzwLnAiJGI8&hd=1]

A Fresh New Look

Posted on by David Z
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Today, we’re excited to unveil our fresh new website. We’ve completely redesigned the look and feel, and we think it’s a big improvement! Not only that, but we’ve focused on making it even easier to get around. From the “Help Me Choose” widget on our home page to the brand new product pages to our handy “Getting Started” page, the new website was built to get you the information you need quickly, easily, and, quite frankly, beautifully!

So take a few minutes to check out the new site and let us know what you think! Leave your thoughts in the comments below or send us a note at marketing@companionlink.com!

The DROID BIONIC Has Landed – Now Sync It With Outlook & More

Posted on by David Z
7

It’s been 9 months in the making, but the DROID BIONIC is finally here. It was first seen back in January, but delays, rumors of cancellation, and more delays have caused the BIONIC to become one of the most hyped phones this year. And based on its specs, Motorola is hoping to deliver on that hype.

It is no doubt a powerhouse, something the specs, and the price, reflect. The BIONIC features a 4.3” qHD touchscreen display, dual-core 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage with a 16GB microSD card preinstalled, 8 megapixel camera, and much more. Running on Verizon’s 4G network, the BIONIC is listed at $299 with a new 2-year contract.

It’s place among the top Android phones is without question, but does it live up to the hype? Hear our thoughts in the video below:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFzTb6nEOOY]
As you can see, we got our hands on the BIONIC and are happy to report that CompanionLink will allow you to sync the BIONIC with Outlook, ACT!, Salesforce, and more! Contacts, calendars, tasks, memos and more all sync seamlessly. Try it for yourself with our 14-day free trial or grab a copy of CompanionLink today. Prices start at just $49.95.

What do you think of the BIONIC? Do you have questions about syncing? Leave a comment below!

CompanionLink Adds Support for ACT! 2012

Posted on by David Z
2

We weren’t the only ones with a big announcement yesterday – Sage officially released ACT! 2012 to the public. While I touched on support for ACT! 2012 in yesterday’s post, I wanted to highlight the topic in its own post.

With the release of CompanionLink 5 (currently in beta), we officially support syncing contacts, calendar activities, contact notes and histories, to-dos and opportunities between ACT! 2012 and many popular Android, iOS, BlackBerry, webOS, and Windows Phone devices, among others.

If you’re already using ACT! with CompanionLink and have upgraded to ACT! 2012, there’s very little you need to do to keep syncing – just ensure you’ve opened ACT! 2012 at least once. This allows ACT! to perform a necessary database update. After that, just make sure you’re running the latest version of CompanionLink and you’ll be set to sync!

CompanionLink 5 Beta Available Now

Posted on by David Z
2

We’re pleased to announce the CompanionLink 5 beta is now available to download! We have been hard at work on CompanionLink 5, and we think you’re going to love this update. So, let’s jump in to what’s new!

An Entirely Rebuilt Experience

CompanionLink 5 brings a brand new user interface. We wanted to make the process of setting up and maintaining your sync easier than ever. As you walk through the setup, you’ll notice new wizards along the way. These are designed to guide you through the basic configuration – how the majority of people use CompanionLink.  If you have advanced needs, you’ll be able to customize your sync using the Advanced Settings button.

Support For The Latest and Greatest

CompanionLink 5 is built to support the latest hardware and software. Support for ACT! 2012, a product that was just released this morning, is already included in the first beta. When iOS 5 and Android “Ice Cream Sandwich” land in the near future, CompanionLink 5 will be ready to support them. And as new devices are released, CompanionLink 5 will be continually updated to ensure compatibility.

Multiple Profiles In Express

Until now, if you wanted to sync more than one device, you needed to upgrade to CompanionLink Professional and use our “Profiles” feature. Profiles allow you to sync multiple devices to one or more databases. You can even customize what data syncs to each device. It’s a great feature, and one that we want to make more accessible.

So, we are.

We’re adding support for two profiles in CompanionLink Express 5. CompanionLink Professional will support up to five profiles. Now, I should note that this feature isn’t in the beta just yet, but it will be making its way to the official CompanionLink 5 release!

Everything Else

By now, you’re probably wondering when the official CompanionLink 5 release will be. Starting today, we’ll gather feedback on the CompanionLink 5 beta and make any adjustments as needed. Once we’re satisfied with the feedback and performance, we’ll drop the beta tag and officially release CompanionLink 5. We expect that process to take a few weeks.

Here’s the best news: CompanionLink 5 will be a free upgrade for anyone who’s purchased CompanionLink on or after July 1, 2010. For everyone else, our upgrade pricing is coming soon.

Head over to our downloads page to try out CompanionLink 5 today! And please be sure to send us your feedback at marketing@companionlink.com or leave a comment below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Note: We’ve been testing CompanionLink 5 extensively. However, as with any beta release, I’d like to remind you that you may encounter unexpected behavior. Please keep that in mind if you opt to try out the beta.

Sync the Samsung Galaxy S II Series with your PC

Posted on by David Z
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Samsung recently announced that their Android-powered Galaxy S II Series of smartphones will be available in three separate models beginning September 16th. The Samsung Galaxy S II Series will be available on AT&T, Sprint, & T-Mobile.

The Samsung Galaxy S II from AT&T features a 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus display, a dual core 1.2GHz processor, and AT&T’s brand new 4G speeds. The Galaxy S II will be available from AT&T on October 2.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is dubbed the Epic 4G Touch by Sprint and features a 4.52” Super AMOLED Plus display, a dual core 1.2GHz processor, and 16GB of built-in storage. The Epic 4G Touch will be available for $199 beginning September 16.

The Samsung Galaxy S II from T-Mobile boasts a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 2MP front facing camera 16GB of internal storage. The Galaxy S II will be available from T-Mobile later this fall.

Each of these devices clearly feature the latest powerful hardware, yet they lack an easy way to sync with Microsoft Outlook and other CRM databases.

Using CompanionLink, it’s possible to sync contacts, calendar, tasks and notes between the Samsung Galaxy S II Series and CRM software such as Microsoft Outlook, ACT!, Palm Desktop, Lotus Notes, and more. You can sync direct via USB, over local Wi-Fi, via our Secure Hosted wireless, or via Google.

Find more info, as well as a 14-day free trial, at www.companionlink.com/galaxy

Want to sync the Samsung Galaxy SII with Outlook?
Download a free trial of CompanionLink for Outlook today!

CompanionLink Makes The Inc. 5000

Posted on by David Z
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CompanionLink recently earned the position of #2,057 on the 2011 Inc. 5000 list. The Inc. 5000 highlights the fasting growing private companies in the United States. To earn a spot on the list, a company is required to have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2007 as well as be based in the United States, privately held, for profit, and independent.

We’re thrilled, and honored, to be featured on this list. The past few years have shown amazing growth, not just for CompanionLink, but for the entire mobile industry. Looking back to March 31, 2007 – the qualifying date set by Inc. – the iPhone had not even made it’s way into the public’s hands and Android was entirely unknown to the masses. In just a few short years, we’ve all come a long way!

Looking forward, we’re excited for the future. We’re committed to enhancing mobile productivity on all the latest devices, whatever they may be!

webOS Lives On At CompanionLink [Updated]

Posted on by David Z
31

Image Credit: HP

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

The past week has been a bit of a roller coaster for webOS fans. We feel you – in fact, we’re right there with you. CompanionLink has worked with webOS since long before it was ever webOS. Back in 1997, CompanionLink was in the room at Palm’s first developer conference. Since then, we’ve worked closely with Palm, Palm OS, and webOS. Our software has allowed people to get their PIM and CRM information to Palm devices for years.

With the advent of webOS 2.x, we ran into a hurdle – as did many developers. The communication lines with the webOS team became blurred.  First, it was the HP acquisition. Then, the bombshell announcement by HP last week.

While CompanionLink was able to provide syncing options via Google, we could not find a way to connect via USB as we had in the past. I’m happy to announce that we plan to bring USB sync to webOS 2.x and 3.x in the coming weeks. This is a tribute to those people who have hung on to their webOS devices through thick and thin. It’s a shout out to those bloggers who have spent more than two years evangelizing the webOS platform.

We’ve had a long history with the Palm platform. While the future of webOS may be filled with uncertainty, there is one thing you can count on: we will continue to support webOS for as long as we are able!

Look for an update on USB sync for webOS 2.x and 3.x in the coming weeks!

 

BlackBerry 7 Devices and CompanionLink

Posted on by David Z
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Planning on getting one of the new BlackBerry 7 devices that were released this past weekend? I have good news  – CompanionLink works great with each of them!

That’s right – the BlackBerry Bold 9930, BlackBerry Torch 9850, and BlackBerry Torch 9810 are all fully compatible with CompanionLink’s current sync options for BlackBerry. Whether you want USB sync via BlackBerry Desktop, basic wireless sync via Google, or advanced wireless sync via CompanionLink Secure Hosted, we’ve got you covered.

Head over to our downloads page to get syncing!

My HP Prediction: HP Moves to Selling Android Devices Now That They Are Killing webOS

Posted on by Rushang
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This could (really) mark the end of the road for Palm’s long and fragmented legacy. Today, HP announced they would kill development of webOS tablets and phones in the near future. Palm’s long legacy from PalmOS to webOS – spanning the past 15 years – may now finally rest in peace.

So, is HP still interested in mobile technology?

In their press release, HP said they plan to “continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.” I think this means more than discussing it over a few meetings. I think they are implying something more sinister like, “We’re going to play the Android OS game now.”

HP paid $1.2 billion to acquire Palm webOS and Palm’s patents. They obviously planned for this day when webOS would die on its own. I believe that HP will take the UI from webOS and enter the Android OS manufacturing game. They bought Palm for the patents and their UI. HP will land running with a webOS UI that works rather well from a consumer standpoint. People never had issues with the UI and experience. In fact, they actually liked it. It was the most fluid mobile experience next to iOS. Instead, the lack of a meaningful app store with development partners vested into their ecosystem is what led what to Palm’s demise.

Look for HP to announce that they are entering the Android OS circus by 2012. Footnote: I’ve wrong before.