iCloud Contacts and Calendar using or moving on Android, note alternative sync

[dfran1]

I know this might not be the right forum but others like I are coming from iPhones to the galaxy Siii and need to know this (hopefully nobody else posted).

When I had my droid and droid x I had a nightmare of syncing with outlook, apple, Google, and iOS, every 3 months I had all kinds of contact errors (adding duplicates, missing info, etc..)

When I switched to iOS iphone all my nightmares were gone with this (I almost have 800 contacts).

when I preordered the siii I did an extensive search and cant believe this does not pop up first in my searches but this is such a life saver for me and will be for you also if you have a mix of iOS and android.

SmoothSync for Cloud Calendar syncs your iCloud calendars
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.caldav.icloud&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5kbWZzLmNhbGRhdi5pY2xvdWQiXQ..

SmoothSync for Cloud Contacts syncs your iCloud contacts
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.carddav.icloud&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5kbWZzLmNhcmRkYXYuaWNsb3VkIl0.

Now what I have done is used both of these to use iCloud instead of Google contacts and Google calendar on my Zoom 1 (also my siii when it comes in) and had my friend do it to his droid as he has android phone and a iPad. Adding something to any android or iOS device results in a total sync to the other devices within 1 minute with absolute no data loss at all or duplicates.

WHAT A LIFE SAVER

I shut off in
-settings (using my zoom with ICS 4.0.4)
-accounts and sync
-Gmail
sync calendar (unchecked)
sync Contacts (unchecked)

In accounts and sync is my 2 SmoothSync accounts one for contacts and one for calendar and they are both on (just incase you needed to know)

Also my pictures if any also show on my android that are tired to my contacts in iCloud, so my wife and I and all iOS, Android, and contacts in my Mac computers sync perfectly thru iCloud.

Note: I did only check off the calendars I use inside of the settings for the calendar apps.
also note: that if you need to merge contacts from Google to iCloud it is easily done.
Export using Gmail on a computer web browser logged into Gmail, contacts,
-More
-export, select all contacts and select vcard format for importing into apple...
Please remember what name and where you put the file.

now go to iCloud on the same computers web browser
click on contacts and select the settings icon at the bottom then click import vcard and select your file you saved in the exporting from Google contacts.

Now the only problem with this is your contacts and calendar on any web browser from a computer will not show your iCloud contacts but that is what we have our tablets and phones for.
Best of luck

Now for mac people I use Chrome in which I sync bookmarks, computer to my zoom and hopefully siii when it comes in (Verizon here) and I use a program (bookmacster) to export them (it can sync but I had bad luck with other programs in the past and don't want anything to get screwed up) to safari and firebox and others maybe also, so I have my bookmarks on ios and android.

 

[dfran1]

There is another way (I have not personally tested it) I will be using my method above for as long as I can or I no longer use apple products (that may be years)

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to matttye for kindly taking time to find and post this THANK YOU!

When you add your Google account as an exchange account, iOS asks if you want to delete all of your existing contacts. It's very important you click NO to this question, as if you click yes it will delete all of your existing contacts and replace them with the ones from your Google account!

Here's what you do to sync everything to your Google account. I KNEW there was a way and I've just confirmed it on my iPad.
Go to settings - mail, contacts and calendar - add account... Add your Google account as an exchange account and use "m.google.com" as the server. Leave domain blank.

Once you've done this it should sync all your Google contacts to your device. To get it working the other way, go back into mail, contacts and calendar and change the default account under contacts to "Google" or whatever you just named your new account. This will copy all of your existing contacts to your Google account which can then be used by your Android phone.

The benefit of doing it this way is that your Android and iOS devices will stay in sync without any third party software and without you having to do anything.

Tried and tested

Also; Apple doesn't officially support iCloud syncing on non-Apple devices as far as I know, so who knows how long the app will work for?

I know it's not the same as having them integrated natively, but you can login to your Google account in a web browser and access your contacts that way. At least the information is available; it just means you'll have to copy/paste the information to use it.

I googled it and there are websites that say it's possible to keep Macs in sync with a Google account, but the links I found are from the pre-iCloud days so I expect things have changed since then.

Add/edit/delete works on both devices and is reflected in both devices.

Updates are not pushed so they're sometimes not reflected in other devices immediately. You can force an update on Android by going into accounts and sync and pushing the "sync now" button, but I'm not sure how to get iOS to force an update. It only took about 2 minutes to update anyway.

The best thing about this method is that it's official and supported by both parties.

 

[dfran1]

To export contacts from iCloud, iOS devices by going to iCloud.com from a computer and import them from that same computer to your Google or whatever

log in (using your iCloud login)
go to contacts
(this is the tricky part) you need to select all for all contacts or select the ones you want
hold the control (or command) keys and while holding press c, all contacts should highlight (or holding control or command keys click on the contacts you want)
click the gear on the lower left of that page and select export (on a Mac the file goes to my download folder)
*.vcf file it exports to
Hope that helps

Import using Gmail on a computer web browser logged into Gmail, contacts,
-More
-import
-Choose your file (the one you exported, from iOS)
-click import

 

[dfran1]

Future

 

[dfran1]

future 1

 

[matttye]

I forgot to mention one important thing when posting that; I'd appreciate it if you could add this post to your post quoting my method.

When you add your Google account as an exchange account, iOS asks if you want to delete all of your existing contacts. It's very important you click NO to this question, as if you click yes it will delete all of your existing contacts and replace them with the ones from your Google account!

 

[dfran1]

I forgot to mention one important thing when posting that; I'd appreciate it if you could add this post to your post quoting my method.

When you add your Google account as an exchange account, iOS asks if you want to delete all of your existing contacts. It's very important you click NO to this question, as if you click yes it will delete all of your existing contacts and replace them with the ones from your Google account!

Thank you!!! done
I put it first just to make sure

 

[dfran1]

just bumping this to make sure other are aware this works perfectly and now lots of Verizon people are getting theirs

 

[nigelj]

Just a quick post to say thanks to dfran1...the 2 SmoothSync apps you mention in your first post work perfectly. Using them has enabled me to keep the S3, as I'd already decided to send it back as I was failing with syncing/updating my calendar and contacts. There's a couple of minor things that I think SmoothSync should be able to do but can't, but overall they work fine.

 

[dfran1]

Just a quick post to say thanks to dfran1...the 2 SmoothSync apps you mention in your first post work perfectly. Using them has enabled me to keep the S3, as I'd already decided to send it back as I was failing with syncing/updating my calendar and contacts. There's a couple of minor things that I think SmoothSync should be able to do but can't, but overall they work fine.

your welcome, I received my siii yesterday and am loving it also reception is identical to the iphone 4s for me, just out of curiosity what are the things smoothsync cant do?

 

[SAL8116]

Subscribed.

 

[snookie]

your welcome, I received my siii yesterday and am loving it also reception is identical to the iphone 4s for me, just out of curiosity what are the things smoothsync cant do?

Can't sync reminders, notes, app status, tabs. I'm sure there are others that's off the top of my head. Look at everything iCloud does.

 

[dfran1]

Can't sync reminders, notes, app status, tabs. I'm sure there are others that's off the top of my head. Look at everything iCloud does.

Sorry it took me long to get back but on your note sync use catch
for android and IOS

https://catch.com/

I use AK notepad on the android and can see them on the catch notes app in IOS but you could just use the catch app for android also. Also from a web browser on any computer.

I hope this helps, I know it is not ios notes but.....

reminders, the funny thing is it is in the calendar sync but does not work, I never even used them ,I just create an event, can you?

what tabs?? Safari? If so I use chrome browser and it has sync to computer, android, and IOS bookmarks and can get tabs open on other devices.

App status ?? status of what updates?

 

[freddieso]

Thanks Dfran1 for the links, Smoothsync looks good.

I just want to ask your advice before I go the Smoothsync route.

I currently have:
- Macbook Pro (Snow Leopard OS) with Apple iCal and Address Book
- iMac (Snow Leopard OS) with Apple iCal and Address Book
- iPad2 (not using iCal and Address Book currently on this device)
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Wife to get Samsung Galaxy S3 or Apple Iphone 5

Before reading your post, I was going to transfer my iCal to Google Calendar and Address Book to Google Contacts and then sync the Google Cal and Contacts to my Samsung native S Planner and Contacts.
1. Can I do that?
2. Functionally, which is the better calendar - iCal vs Google Calendar?
3. Better Contacts program? Address Book vs Google Contacts?

If I understand your post correctly, if I decide to keep using iCal and Address Book and want my calendar and contacts to be synced with ALL the devices (especially bn Apple and Android devices), the best way would be to:
1. upgrade my Macbook Pro and iMac to Mountain Lion to get iCloud access.
2. Then I can sync Address Book and iCal from those devices to iCloud.
3. Buy SmoothSync for Calendar and Contacts which will allow me to sync my Address Book and iCal in iCloud to the Samsung native S Planner and Contacts?
4. There is 2 way sync between devices now? an entry on Macbook Pro will show up through iCloud and Smooth Sync to the iMac, iPad2, and Samsung Galaxy S3, and vice versa?

If that all works, then I'm all in!

Thanks again.

Freddie

 

[dfran1]

Thanks Dfran1 for the links, Smoothsync looks good.

I just want to ask your advice before I go the Smoothsync route.

I currently have:
- Macbook Pro (Snow Leopard OS) with Apple iCal and Address Book
- iMac (Snow Leopard OS) with Apple iCal and Address Book
- iPad2 (not using iCal and Address Book currently on this device)
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Wife to get Samsung Galaxy S3 or Apple Iphone 5

Before reading your post, I was going to transfer my iCal to Google Calendar and Address Book to Google Contacts and then sync the Google Cal and Contacts to my Samsung native S Planner and Contacts.
1. Can I do that?
2. Functionally, which is the better calendar - iCal vs Google Calendar?
3. Better Contacts program? Address Book vs Google Contacts?

If I understand your post correctly, if I decide to keep using iCal and Address Book and want my calendar and contacts to be synced with ALL the devices (especially bn Apple and Android devices), the best way would be to:
1. upgrade my Macbook Pro and iMac to Mountain Lion to get iCloud access.
2. Then I can sync Address Book and iCal from those devices to iCloud.
3. Buy SmoothSync for Calendar and Contacts which will allow me to sync my Address Book and iCal in iCloud to the Samsung native S Planner and Contacts?
4. There is 2 way sync between devices now? an entry on Macbook Pro will show up through iCloud and Smooth Sync to the iMac, iPad2, and Samsung Galaxy S3, and vice versa?

If that all works, then I'm all in!

Thanks again.

Freddie

smoothsync for contacts syncs contacts
smoothsync for calendar syncs calendar

snookie says he cant sync some reminders, but i dont use them so? and I have not tried lately either so?
I don't use the google way, I just reposted it as an option that matttye suggested , you may want to PM him on the google way

I don't know if the google way is better but I can tell you the smoothsync way for me works perfect.

I do have 10.8.1 on both my macs. (I think 10.7 works with icloud if I remember correctly)
yes 2 way sync with smothsync works perfect, it may take 2 minutes to show but it does.

Contacts and calendar work great, I use nova launcher and cant find this s planner you are saying is native? Is that the direct name is it a widget on the home screen ? otherwise yes to the last 1, 2, 3, 4

 

[fransh]

i actually figured there's a way to transfer contacts from icloud to the lovely s3. just log onto icloud with your apple id. go to your contacts..., scroll down and select all, on the options...download all as vCard file, email the downloaded file to any of your email. open the email on your smart s3, download the attached file and on the saving options that pop up, save as contact and choose phone or sim as you wish.

You don't have to buy anything if you're a smart person using a smart phone

 

[dfran1]

i actually figured there's a way to transfer contacts from icloud to the lovely s3. just log onto icloud with your apple id. go to your contacts..., scroll down and select all, on the options...download all as vCard file, email the downloaded file to any of your email. open the email on your smart s3, download the attached file and on the saving options that pop up, save as contact and choose phone or sim as you wish.

You don't have to buy anything if you're a smart person using a smart phone

This is great for a person wanting to transfer contacts, but time wasted for someone trying to sync them between android and IOS, as I did state in my OP how to get contacts out of google and into IOS, one would just reserve that.

I think you need to edit your smart person in the post, and remove it. That was kind of offensive....

Sync - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sync or synch may refer to:

File synchronization or syncing, to synchronize directories or files on computers

Synchronization, the coordination of events to keep them in time

 

[owentaba35]

It reboots by itself when it's not