Ask NerdGirl: Why is There No Easy Way to Sync Outlook to Android?

by n3rdg1rl Feb 9, 2011 2:25 PM – 4 Comments

We get many email inquiries that are mostly about the lack of simple and reliable solutions to sync contacts, calendar, tasks and notes to Microsoft Outlook from Android phones. So today’s set of questions cover just that!

Wow! Love your email. Thanks.
Do you know an especially good calendar app that links with contacts? I used to be able to do that in my Palm pilot a looong time ago and I still miss it.

-Terry

I can use the HTC to sync contacts/people and calendar but I need to sync Tasks and Notes and is there any app/program I can get that would sync all of my Outlook to Droid Incredible – I always had Blackberry’s and no problem ever syncing – this is discouraging — HELP

Charlotte Grieselhuber

NerdGirl:

Just got a G2 and need everything that is on my Blackberry synchronized over to the G2, (as well as future 2-way syncs). Though my info is stored currently in Outlook, I’m not a big “Outlook user”. This PIM was just the way to have things stored and synchronized with Blackberry. (Previously had Palm OS and adapted then to their method of storage, retrieving and syncing).

I primarily want the phone to be really user friendly (I make a lot of calls and notes in the car), and need all those embedded phone numbers that I have in the contact note field, the ones in my tasks and in my to-do lists. I would also like features like having caller ID opened when a number is retrieved from any of those fields as well as a quick way to move the names and numbers and or addresses that might be in the notes, tasks and to-do sections of my data over to appropriate contact fields.

How and what do I synchronize with? Is it more than one app? Do I have to use Google calendar? – because I never used it and I primarily want to make and receive phone calls easier and get numbers easy (from my entries or the web and then dial). I’m not big on scheduling and alarms although I probably should be more organized

Thanks for your help.

Brian

Brian you will have to use your Google Calendar with your phone then sync using these methods. Terry, Charlotte and Brian unfortunately there are many workarounds to this recurring issue for Android. No one has released a solid solution to satisfy all needs of coming from one PIM to another or syncing tasks and notes. Either way I’ll list other desktop software and apps that claim to solve these however we have not reviewed them to confirm. You will have to try them to see which works the best for you.

We did install the Google Calendar Sync Software. We can get entries from Outlook Calendar to Gmail Calendar to Android (Galaxy Mesmerize) calendar —- but if I enter a new appointment on the Android, I cannot get it to sync back to Gmail Calendar and Outlook Calendar on my hard drive.

What are we doing wrong????

JeanL

JeanL be sure the select “2-way” option and allow the least amount of time in the “Sync every ___ minutes” field. Else you can force an update by right-clicking the Google Calendar Sync icon in the bottom right system tray and click “Sync”. Afterward check your Outlook and Gmail calendars.

Keep sending those questions to nerdgirl@androidtapp.com!

Tags: Android Advice, Android Questions, Ask NerdGirl, Google Calendar Sync, Help with Android, How to Get Calendar and Contacts on Android, Outlook Calendar and Contacts Sync

Categorised in: Android Advice, Ask NerdGirl

4 Comments

By Tristan Thomas on February 9, 2011 at 3:06 pm:

Out look is becoming a thing of the past. Mostly black berry users use it and thats why it is becoming a thing of the past. It may suck for outlook users but I recommend you switch over to Google apps and email products.

Sync outlook is also a hassle for iPhone users however Google’s focus has always been on an easier integration method. Once its all set up it is set up and no more worries.

Kill outlook.

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By Ken on February 9, 2011 at 7:11 pm:

Nerd Girl et al, I have been using ‘Enhanced Mail’ (US 1.99)recently and this seems to solve the multiple email, exchange, contact, calendar issue. I have been using it to great satisfaction.

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By Lars on February 10, 2011 at 8:50 am:

I’ve been using gSyncit (http://www.fieldstonsoftware.com/software/gsync/) and although I only use it to keep contacts in sync, it also supports the other types of Outlook content (calendar, notes, tasks, etc) It costs 20 bucks, but the app is contantly being fine tuned and enhanced, so I think it is money well spent.

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By David @ CompanionLink on February 10, 2011 at 2:36 pm:

Hey NerdGirl,

First of all, thanks for suggesting CompanionLink! I just wanted to confirm that we definitely do support Outlook to Android sync. I also wanted to clarify a few things for Terry and Charlotte.

I recommend they both take a look at DejaOffice, our free Android app for contact, calendar, task, & note management (http://www.dejaoffice.com/androidapp/). It adds a lot of business-class features, including the ability to link calendar events to contacts.

Charlotte, you specifically mentioned needing to sync your Droid Incredible with Outlook. Take a look at CompanionLink for Outlook (http://www.companionlink.com/android/outlook/). When you combine it with DejaOffice, it should accomplish exactly what you’re looking for. We offer a 14-day free trial, so definitely try it out to make sure it fits.

Hopefully that helped! I’m following this comment thread now, so if anyone else has questions about DejaOffice or CompanionLink, feel free to reply to me.

- David
CompanionLink Software

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