[Originally posted 22 Oct 2007 by Drokkon on the Windows Mobile Owners Circle]


Sync with Live?

First I was excited to hear that Vista would introduce Contacts, Mail, and Calendar. Outlook was always too much for a home user like me, but Outlook Express was never enough. I was even more excited to hear that there was a special new "Mobile Device Center" exclusive for Vista - surely now you could sync your device to these new Vista programs!

I was disappointed to find that I could not.

However, I see now that installing Windows Live Mobile allows you to sync contacts and e-mail between my device and Live. I also see that Windows Mail in Vista is being replaced by Windows Live Mail which also syncs with Live. I also notice that Live has Calendar and Task features, although I'm not sure if they sync with Vista or my mobile device yet (do they?).

So, if Live syncing is perfected, then I guess I can sync both my phone and desktop with Live and be ok. Shoot - it might even be preferable, as I won't need to connect my phone to my computer for syncing at all (unless I want to move photos or music, I guess).

The suggestion here, I guess, is to recognize that not all Power PC users are business people who need a big Outlook solution. Many just want to be able to sync Contacts, Mail, Calendar, and Tasks with whichever free services are available (such as Live!).

Keep up the good work,

I have friends who use the Live Contacts & Mail syncing and love it.  I tried it originally with the first release of Windows Mobile 6 on the T-Mobile Wing and it really slowed everything down.  Later versions thankfully allowed you to shut off the Contacts syncing.

It's too bad Outlook is no longer included for free when you purchase a new Windows Mobile device... AND you can't sync with Windows Vista Calendar/Contacts/Mail...  a new user will have no way of syncing anything!  (Unless they purchase Outlook after the trial expires, of course.)