Help Alternative to Kies?

[schrodinger56]

I think it's accepted by some that Kies is useless piece of software and rightly so, I can't beleive Samsung puts out such rubbish.

Therefore does anyone know of a piece of software that will work on my S2 and Tab.

 

[Hawker]

Depends what you want to use it for.
If you want to keep phone's firmware officially up to date, then you have no option.
If you just want to transfer files, then Windows USB connections will be ample.
If you want added functionality such as sending text messages, editing contacts etc. then MyPhoneExplorer is as good as any.
Regardless of whatever you use you will STILL nee to install Kies for the US drivers.

 

[schrodinger56]

Thanks.

It does seem odd that Samsung can't produce a piece of software to allow their phone users to update the software on their phones.

Looks like I'm stuck with Gingerbread.

 

[Russell Ng]

Depends what you want to use it for.
If you want to keep phone's firmware officially up to date, then you have no option.
If you just want to transfer files, then Windows USB connections will be ample.
If you want added functionality such as sending text messages, editing contacts etc. then MyPhoneExplorer is as good as any.
Regardless of whatever you use you will STILL nee to install Kies for the US drivers.

I thought you could use ODIN to flash official firmware (if you have to)?

 

[Forbidden 403]

I thought you could use ODIN to flash official firmware (if you have to)?

Yes you can, but it does need a little extra knowledge, and alot of precautions. It is easy to screw up on Odin.

 

[schrodinger56]

Yes you can, but it does need a little extra knowledge, and alot of precautions. It is easy to screw up on Odin.

Exactly and for those of us who are somewhat technophobic and don't possess the knowledge required and the confidence to carry out such a "phone busting procedure" samsung have let us down by producing a piece of crappy software such as Kies.

It's either HTC or Apple next time I change my phone unless Samsung gets its finger out and releases a working version of Kies!

 

[Hawker]

I thought you could use ODIN to flash official firmware (if you have to)?

of course, but i said officially up to date. This means receiving updates and still being under warranty.

 

[Russell Ng]

of course, but i said officially up to date. This means receiving updates and still being under warranty.

Thought if you use ODIN and flash fully official firmware, Samsung won't be able to tell that its flashed using ODIN. For me, Kies still works, so its not a biggie, but should one day it doesn't, knowing that using ODIN won't foul up the warranty would be nice. Although warranty only last a year...

 

[cyberfyber]

Depends what you want to use it for.
If you want to keep phone's firmware officially up to date, then you have no option.
If you just want to transfer files, then Windows USB connections will be ample.
If you want added functionality such as sending text messages, editing contacts etc. then MyPhoneExplorer is as good as any.
Regardless of whatever you use you will STILL nee to install Kies for the US drivers.

MyPhoneExplorer ended up giving me the Babylon Toolbar Virus.

Why Virus? Because anything that installs itself onto a computer without your permission and is difficult to get rid of...in my book qualifies as a Virus!

Do NOT Listen to this person. Do a search for MyPhoneExplorer + Virus to see what I mean.

 

[sntaylor]

MyPhoneExplorer ended up giving me the Babylon Toolbar Virus.

Why Virus? Because anything that installs itself onto a computer without your permission and is difficult to get rid of...in my book qualifies as a Virus!

Do NOT Listen to this person.

Can't vouch for the software, but as for listening to hawker..... This mans bank of knowledge is far greater than I could ever wish to have (regarding Android, particularly the s2).... Choice of rugby teams to support is a different matter though! ;-)

 

[cyberfyber]

Can't vouch for the software, but as for listening to hawker..... This mans bank of knowledge is far greater than I could ever wish to have (regarding Android, particularly the s2).... Choice of rugby teams to support is a different matter though! ;-)

Then I suppose that was a mighty bad call on his part?

 

[sntaylor]

Like I said, I don't know about the app, maybe it didn't have the malware attached at the time of recommendation, maybe you got a rogue download.... At the end of the day his 1138 thanks speak for itself!

 

[ironass]

MyPhoneExplorer ended up giving me the Babylon Toolbar Virus.

I have just installed the latest version of MyPhoneExplorer, v1.84, to test your assertion that it, "gives you a virus"!

First, I did as you suggested and Googled, MyPhoneExplorer+virus. I went to the first, and latest, result displayed which is dated the 21st October, 2012. This report shows that MyPhoneExplorer has been tested with no less than 26 different anti-virus and anti-malware programs and services and certified virus free by every one!

See report, here:-

MyPhoneExplorer has tested clean of viruses and malware.

Why Virus? Because anything that installs itself onto a computer without your permission and is difficult to get rid of...in my book qualifies as a Virus!

I agree with your statement. However, the fact of the matter is that during the installation and set-up process for MyPhoneExplorer you are offered the choice of also installing some add-on's which you must uncheck or decline if you do not wish to install them. This is common practice with a lot of freeware installations.

I, obviously, chose NOT to install these and unchecked and declined the options and successfully installed MyPhoneExplorer on my desktop.

I then ran 3 different scans which all showed that, "Babylon Toolbar", or no other malware had been installed.

I can only but therefore conclude that you either ignored, missed or chose to install the add-on's. By doing so, you choose to install the Babylon Toolbar.

Do NOT Listen to this person. Do a search for MyPhoneExplorer + Virus to see what I mean.

Therefore, if any warning is to be given, it should be to read the MyPhoneExplorer installer set-up, as indeed you should with every installer, very carefully so that you know exactly what you are installing.

 

[naith_kk]

Most 3rd party free apps usually comes with ads and technologies which are identical to malware/virus. Its been that way for a very long time now. The richer features these apps are, the more likely they're grouped with ad-intrusive software. You can purchase a clean version provided you got the money and they have such option... but if youre not inclined to spend your money, or they dont plan to build a ad-aggresive alternative for the price of convenience... then thats the risk to live with. Been using myPhoneExplorer since the SE P1i days, and I just live with it... still use it to this day.

 

[Hawker]

MyPhoneExplorer ended up giving me the Babylon Toolbar Virus.

Why Virus? Because anything that installs itself onto a computer without your permission and is difficult to get rid of...in my book qualifies as a Virus!

Do NOT Listen to this person. Do a search for MyPhoneExplorer + Virus to see what I mean.

And I young sir, shall no longer listen to you.

 

[DGraeme]

MyPhoneExplorer ended up giving me the Babylon Toolbar Virus.

Why Virus? Because anything that installs itself onto a computer without your permission and is difficult to get rid of...in my book qualifies as a Virus!

Do NOT Listen to this person. Do a search for MyPhoneExplorer + Virus to see what I mean.

As with any program installation - carefullly read all of the screens that appear during installation. If you had clicked on decline on the second installation screen, the toolbar would not have been installed.

 

[duncanpt]

Thanks.

It does seem odd that Samsung can't produce a piece of software to allow their phone users to update the software on their phones.

Looks like I'm stuck with Gingerbread.

(It's now May 2013 and Kies is still rubbish which is why I've arrived here.)

If it's any consolation to schrodinger56 and others, Samsung aren't the only phone company that can't write PC software. My past experience with several generations of Nokia and Motorola phone-linking software has been exactly the same: it leaves much to be desired. And I'd add TomTom sat nav devices and software into the list as well.

What is so strange is that companies that make really slick phones produce rotten software products (I mean real amateur level) when they move outside their comfort zones. They'd do better to set it as a project for the local university's computer science/software engineering class and then choose the best result they get back at the end of the year.

 

[bitten]

I'm NEW here and I'm considering moving from a Blackberry to an S3, Is there an alternative to KIES??? Even at a small cost ie, < $25?

I want to sync OUTLOOK 2007 Calander and contacts.

Thanks

Ed

 

[ironass]

I'm NEW here and I'm considering moving from a Blackberry to an S3, Is there an alternative to KIES??? Even at a small cost ie, < $25?

I want to sync OUTLOOK 2007 Calander and contacts.

Thanks

Ed

Hello and welcome to Android Forums bitten!

No need to pay money if you take Hawker's recommendation in post #2.

I use MyPhoneExplorer for syncing, via Wi-Fi or USB, Outlook - phone - Google Contacts and Calendar plus much, much, more...

"Features:

Adressbook - with direct sync to Outlook, GMail, Windows contacts, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Lotus Notes and Tobit David
Organizer with calendarview and direct sync to Outlook, Google, Sunbird, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Windows calendar(Vista), Rainlendar, Lotus Notes, Tobit David and net shared calendars (WebDAV, FTP, local)
SMS - archive, export, import, excessive messages,...
Filebrowser with cachesystem to minimize datatransfer, automatic photosync...
Set phoneclock based on atomtime
and much more. f.e.: calllists, edit profiles, control phone, memorystatus, phonemonitor,..."

Screenshots, here.

Download MyPhoneExplorer, here.

Download MyPhoneExplorer app from Play Store, here.

 

[CoolBeans]

I've been using MyPhoneExplorer for a few years. I even made a small donation to the project because I was so glad someone was making usable PC to Smartphone software. Another software is called "MOBILedit". It has a much nicer interface and does cost a few bucks. But I ended up uninstalling MOBILedit and sticking with MyPhoneExplorer. Samsung has a special version of Kies for SG Note 3 but there is nothing special in it. I thought it would sync notes and memos, maybe. :/ One less reason to use the s-pen...