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MEDC 2005: Microsoft Releases ActiveSync 4.0


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Guest Paul [MVP]
Posted (edited)

Timed to coincide with the announcement of Windows Mobile 5 and the release of the developer tools, Microsoft have released ActiveSync 4.0, the sync companion to the new operating system (but it also works with older devices!)

activesync.gif

Made available to MEDC 2005 attendees on a free DVD and expected to be available online soon, the readme file lists the following new features:

Feature: Improved USB support

Benefit: ActiveSync 4.0 provides the fastest USB transport between your desktop PC and your mobile device to date.

Feature: View Exchange Server Synchronization status on your PC

Benefit: You can now view server synchronization status while synchronizing with a Microsoft Exchange server through your desktop PC's internet connection.

Feature: Synchronization of pictures in Contacts on your mobile device with Outlook

Benefit: If an Outlook contact is associated with a picture, ActiveSync now synchronizes the associated picture  from Outlook on your desktop PC to your mobile device.

Note: Microsoft Outlook XP or Microsoft Outlook 2003 is required to use this feature.

Feature: Easier to identify friendly device names

Benefit: ActiveSync now supports friendly names for devices, making it easier to identify the device that you want to sync with over a Bluetooth or an infrared (IR) connection.

Note: ActiveSync uses your Windows login name to generate an unique device partnership ID. This login name may be broadcast to other users such as with Bluetooth discovery broadcasts.

Feature: Synchronization over a Bluetooth connection with your PC

Benefit: ActiveSync 4.0 now enables you to synchronize data with your PC over a Bluetooth connection.

Feature: Integration with Windows Media Player 10

Benefit: Easier to discover, configure, and access Windows Media Player 10 music, video and photo from ActiveSync. Also facilitates automatic synchronization of media even when Windows Media Player 10 is not currently running on a desktop PC.

Feature: Enhanced user interface and enhanced new partnership wizard

Benefit: Easier to locate key features, access the most important configuration settings, and configure the device upon first synchronization.

Feature: Synchronize Internet Explorer Mobile favorites to a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone

Benefit: Already available on Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC devices, this feature syncs Internet Explorer Mobile favorites on a desktop PC with a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone.

Feature: More robust synchronization with Outlook

Benefit: Synchronization with Outlook is now more reliable and robust than before.

Feature: Configure synchronization settings prior to first synchronization, including custom synchronization settings

Benefit: Configure all the ActiveSync options you need in a single step.

P

Edited by jlowap
Guest furby
Posted
Feature: Synchronization over a Bluetooth connection with your PC

Could you not do this for some time now? Or will it now not be quite the traumatic experince in setting up as with previous versions

Guest Uzay
Posted (edited)

Yessssssssssssssssssssssss finally...

Can't wait...

by the way, works like h*ll, msn alerts ;-)

Edited by Uzay
Guest squall
Posted

wonder if the backup now works with smartphones?

Guest Arisme
Posted

wonder if it stops locking EVC when there's a problem in the debugged target.

But I guess not, or it won't be ActiveSync anymore ;)

Guest Confucious
Posted

OK - When will this be available - Still 3.8 on MS site ;)

Guest chucky.egg
Posted

Still no mention of being able to sync with Exchange folders through USB.

Ah well, give MS a few years to catch up on Symbian and maybe then we can have it too!

Guest Monolithix [MVP]
Posted

Don't expect wonders, most of the new features are WM5 only...

Guest Richardmilford
Posted

For those of use who use both Smartphone AND Pocket PC (Windows Mobile 2003 etc etc), do you think that ActiveSync will sync both devices without having a "stroke"?

Posted

Bah, retire Active Sync - it's a useless product! Make it so you can choose where you want to put SMS/emails etc. (I love that the phone slows down cause you can't move them to an SD card). Have it so when you explore your device you can actually *do* things with a file rather than just view its properties.

(Reading back through my last few posts I come over as really negative but I don't mean to be. Honest!)

Guest Paul [MVP]
Posted

Am I the only one that is quite fond of ActiveSync? ;)

P

Guest Confucious
Posted

It's certainly a lot better than the s/ware you get with Motorolla A1000! ;)

Guest squall
Posted

active sync is fine, but most pc's at peoples work places wont let them install it ;)

usb storage access would help alot ;)

Posted
Am I the only one that is quite fond of ActiveSync? ;)

P

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, you've clearly been drinking ;)

Guest Confucious
Posted

Squall is, of course, right. Just because it's better than most doesn't mean it can't be improved but after using some of the competitors I'm glad we have ActiveSync ;)

Guest Confucious
Posted
Yes, you've clearly been drinking ;)

Aaahhh! That's why I like it ;)

Guest Pondrew
Posted
For those of use who use both Smartphone AND Pocket PC (Windows Mobile 2003 etc etc), do you think that ActiveSync will sync both devices without having a "stroke"?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like to sync both my E200 and MDA III but obviously at the mo I have to do them seperately (tend to sync the MDA III in the cradle before removing it - then sync the E200 over bluetooth as can't be bothered to plug in the SPV cradle).

Would be great if it could handle two devices at once but I very much doubt it will be able to...

Guest sSword
Posted

faster usb??.......does that mean copying movies to my fone will be quicker?.....lets hope so..

I gotta buy a bluetooth dongle for my PC now...active sync with no wires would be v handy

Guest Monolithix [MVP]
Posted

I've never had a prob syncing multiple devices (multiple SP and PPC).

AS4 still only handles one connection at a time though.

Also - while AS clearly has many faults, its miles ahead of any of the other phone manufacturers sync software (including the Nokia Data suite!)

Guest Pondrew
Posted
I've never had a prob syncing multiple devices (multiple SP and PPC).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me neither other then not being able to have two devices connected at one time. You don't mean there's a way to do this do you?

Guest chucky.egg
Posted
Also - while AS clearly has many faults, its miles ahead of any of the other phone manufacturers sync software (including the Nokia Data suite!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry but that just isn't true.

I installed the UIQ stuff the other day for one of the senior guys, and you can sync the phone Calendar, Contacts etc to any Calendar etc - not just your local one.

It's been capable of that for years. Easy to setup and use. Reliable.

In terms of functionality AS is a VERY long way behind IMO.

Guest ELDano
Posted (edited)

Activesync 4 for developers to take a look at can be downloaded Here,

msmobilenews.com has a article on it here

It should be fully functional, but I had a quick look at it and can't get it to work because it doesn't pick up my c500 on the usb cable. Maybe a pocket pc edition? or it can only be used with windows mobile 5?

anyone any ideas

ELDano

Edited by ELDano
Guest Confucious
Posted
Activesync 4 for developers to take a look at can be downloaded Here,

msmobilenews.com has a article on it here

It should be fully functional, but I had a quick look at it and can't get it to work because it doesn't pick up my c500 on the usb cable. Maybe a pocket pc edition? or it can only be used with windows mobile 5?

anyone any ideas

ELDano

It worked with my C500 - only problem was it has duplicated all my contacts. It deleted the duplicate calander entries but left the contacts so now instead of having approx 560 contacts I seem to hab=ve closer to 1000! - for some reason nota ALL contacts are duplicated, only the vast majority.

Isn't this fun ;)

Guest ELDano
Posted
It worked with my C500 - only problem was it has duplicated all my contacts. It deleted the duplicate calander entries but left the contacts so now instead of having approx 560 contacts I seem to hab=ve closer to 1000! - for some reason nota ALL contacts are duplicated, only the vast majority.

Isn't this fun ;)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll try it again when i'm at home with mine c500. Nice to hear it works..and it's always nice to make new friends ;) although 500 friend is a little much in one go :P

By the way do any of the new options that come with async 4 work in combination with the c500? like syncing directories? and what about bt syncing? did someone try that?

ELDano

Guest xerxes
Posted
Am I the only one that is quite fond of ActiveSync? ;)

P

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ActiveSync is actually one of the reasons that I moved from Palm to Smartphone instead of Treo. I love the way you can get up to go an impromptu meeting (which I do about 5 times a day on average) and know that your calendar and task list is completely up to date without having to press the button and wait for 5 minutes.

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