I am amazed that there is not one single tool out there that can properly handle the syncing of Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Email with an Android mobile device.
If somebody has a micro business and has been using an email account from an ISP such as e.g. sbcglobal.net for a long time and wants keep using it, there is really no way to sync Outlook with the Android.
I have spent most day today testing CompanionLink. CompanionLink will come as close as you possibly can at this time syncing Outlook directly through USB or WiFi with an Android device, such as the Motorola DroidX NMB810. However, CompanionLink needs a lot of more work and unless you have plenty time to waste, won't work flawless with the DroidX and Outlook. Here are the issues I encountered:
- Recurring events, which have been created during daylight savings time days of the year, will show up one hour earlier on the DroidX calendar. Recurring events, which have been created during standard time of the year, will show up one hour later during daylight savings time calendar days.
- The sync worked only after a fresh reboot of Windows XP and the DroidX. When CompanionLink completed a sync over WiFi, I was not able to successfully execute another sync after that. Either the DroidX would simply hang up and I had to use a soft reboot to get it back working again, or the CompanionLink on the PC would come up with random error messages.
- Initially we encountered Application errors of CompanionLink. After running Microsoft's Outlook personal folder repair tool "Scanpst.exe" we were able to get past the initial crashes of CompanionLink.
So, after a full day with Outlook, CompanionLink, and the DroidX we decided to toss them all but Outlook: CompanionLink is now uninstalled. It needs more development time and more testing before it is ready for primetime. IMHO, CompanionLink is running a paid Beta test with the masses right at this point. Not worth my money. The DroidX will be returned to Verizon for the lack of Outlook sync capability.
When you purchase a DroidX, know this: You need to get used to and fully adopt the Google applications cloud, such as Google Contacts, Calendar, etc, or you need an enterprise Exchange Server, which can by synched through other additionally required applications from the Android Market with your MS Outlook corporate account.
So, to answer the thread's heading: - "CompanionLink Pro is horrible. Any other Outlook sync programs?" - I would have to say this:
CompanionLink is on the right track to fill IMHO a huge void in the Android market segment for Outlook users with personal POP3 or IMAP accounts, accounts with ISPs, etc. or for micro and even small business, but needs a lot of more work and testing.
CompanionLink is not ready for prime time syncing Outlook with Android! At this point, CompanionLink does crash often and the data sync is simply not correct as outlined above.
Any other
Outlook sync apps? - No, unless you are ready for a
hosted MS Exchange account with a hosting provider such as
Mailstreet | A Division of Apptix. It may be the perfect fit for you if you have an email address with your own personal or small business domain.