Monday, May 14, 2007
Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition Supports File Synchronization
Posted by Kris Kumar in "SOFTWARE" @ 03:05 AM
Can't believe the title? I am still coming to terms with what I have just found out. Not sure if Microsoft has declared this in the Windows Mobile 6 feature list, or if I somehow didn't read the feature list properly and skipped over this much desired feature. 8O It is too good to be true. When Microsoft launched the Windows Mobile Smartphone edition, they decided not to include two ActiveSync related features that is available on the Pocket PC edition - file sync and Outlook notes sync. Now with the introduction of Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition, one of this limitation has been removed. WooHoo! 
Figure 1: Here is the proof.In the above screen shot you can clearly see the item called "Files" in the ActiveSync synchronization list. I am using my Dash with Windows Mobile 6 upgrade, and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 running on Windows XP. Now, here is the catch; if you are using Windows Vista you are out of luck. Vista's Windows Mobile Device Center does not support file synchronization. :( It does support media synchronization using Windows Media Player but not documents and other file types. Hopefully, Windows Vista users will see an update that will fix this and bring it on par with ActiveSync 4.5. Now that Windows Mobile 6 Standard (a.k.a. Smartphone) includes Office Mobile the file sync feature will prove handy for a lot of our readers. Interested in seeing some screen shots? Then continue reading after the break. 
Figure 2: During the first-time partnership setup process the user is greeted with this message. Click on the image for the legible version.
Figure 3: Files synchronization is one of the options in the list, along with Contacts, Email and Calendar etc. Click on the image for the legible version.
Figure 4: A shortcut icon is created on the desktop for the My Documents folder on the Windows Mobile device. Click on the image for the legible version.You can drag and drop files on to the desktop icon, and it will get copied to the My Documents folder on the mobile device's main memory. ActiveSync maintains a mirror image of the device's My Documents folder on the PC. That brings up another limitation, ActiveSync sets up the sync relationship with the My Documents folder in the main memory of the mobile device. I could not find a way to change it to the My Documents on the storage card. So if you have a lot of documents, or want to quickly and easily transfer media files over to the storage card then this file sync will not work for you. Regardless of this limitation, file sync is a welcome addition to the Windows Mobile 6 feature list. Thank you, Microsoft!
Figure 1: Here is the proof.In the above screen shot you can clearly see the item called "Files" in the ActiveSync synchronization list. I am using my Dash with Windows Mobile 6 upgrade, and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 running on Windows XP. Now, here is the catch; if you are using Windows Vista you are out of luck. Vista's Windows Mobile Device Center does not support file synchronization. :( It does support media synchronization using Windows Media Player but not documents and other file types. Hopefully, Windows Vista users will see an update that will fix this and bring it on par with ActiveSync 4.5. Now that Windows Mobile 6 Standard (a.k.a. Smartphone) includes Office Mobile the file sync feature will prove handy for a lot of our readers. Interested in seeing some screen shots? Then continue reading after the break. Figure 2: During the first-time partnership setup process the user is greeted with this message. Click on the image for the legible version.
Figure 3: Files synchronization is one of the options in the list, along with Contacts, Email and Calendar etc. Click on the image for the legible version.
Figure 4: A shortcut icon is created on the desktop for the My Documents folder on the Windows Mobile device. Click on the image for the legible version.You can drag and drop files on to the desktop icon, and it will get copied to the My Documents folder on the mobile device's main memory. ActiveSync maintains a mirror image of the device's My Documents folder on the PC. That brings up another limitation, ActiveSync sets up the sync relationship with the My Documents folder in the main memory of the mobile device. I could not find a way to change it to the My Documents on the storage card. So if you have a lot of documents, or want to quickly and easily transfer media files over to the storage card then this file sync will not work for you. Regardless of this limitation, file sync is a welcome addition to the Windows Mobile 6 feature list. Thank you, Microsoft!
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