Direct to PC sync of Pimlical now available!

[RickAgresta]

DirectSync!

Just got the email tonight, so no experience yet…

DirectSync connects your Android phone/tablet directly to Pimlical/Desktop without having to go through Google Calendar (but still use Google Calendar if you want to!)

Removes any concern about security/safety of personal data by bypassing "The Cloud" and Google's servers

Eliminates problem of Google calendar purging older calendar data or calendar events far in the future, often without warning

Copy desktop calendar data directly to Android devices that do not have Google Apps or built-in calendar (Kindle Fire,etc.)

Direct Sync is far faster than syncing with Google and includes options to have desktop overwrite device or vice-versa as well as sync.

Direct Sync takes care of issues related to advancing floating events simultaneously in both desktop and Android. versions

Categories match up between Pimlical/Desktop and Pimlical/Android,so filters can be directly copied back and forth between the two platforms.

Still allows users to sync other categories in Pimlical/Desktop to Google Calendar if they wish

[internetpilot]

Drat! Beat me!

[Varjak]

Now if only they'd do the same for contacts, tasks, etc. and we'd be back to Palm-like functionality with a desktop component.

[Hook]

Take this as a first look. I have been playing with Pimlical for only a day and a half. I have the desktop (called Pimlical/D by the support forum) installed as a trial and I have the current update of Pimlical for Android (Pimlical/A) on my SPG5.

I haven't used Pimlical/A in quite a few versions because, simply, I had no interest in anything that uses the default Android data base (except my widget, which has to). There have been a lot of improvements, particularly in performance. Now, with it's own database, it really is probably the most powerful calendar app for Android, and another one, like Calengoo, that can hold years of data if that's what you want. I never used Datebk6 (or any other version), but I'm guessing it is pretty close to having the complete feature set for calendaring. Like most apps that allow you this level of control, the settings, and they are nearly endless, can be a bit geeky. To pick category colors, you use RBG sliders rather than just picking a small array of colors. Luckily, the default settings are pretty good when you are starting out. So far, CESD has focused everything on the calendar, although I believe you can do some limited linking of Android contacts to Pimlical appointments. I believe the plan is to have full task, notes and contacts functionality down the road. However, since "Pimlico Software" is really just one person, one can't predict how long it will be.

I won't talk a lot about the desktop because I have very little experience with it, but it seems very nice and has all four PIMs. The main problem is you can't sync notes, Tasks or contacts yet. However, the syncing function for the calendar is the smoothest, best direct sync function I have ever seen on Android. It has complete controls, just like the Paml conduits, so you can sync, do desktop overwrites handheld or handheld overwrites desktop. I don't know how exactly to describe why, but unlike every other Android sync I've tried that uses USB, I don't have the instinct to cover my eyes and wait in dread to see how it came out. It just evokes confidence.

And of course, you can have things both ways. You can sync with Google Calendars and also sync with your handheld. You can move Google calendar appointments to your local calendar or you can have a mix of local and Google calendars in the desktop. The sync to the handheld only syncs the local Calendar, but you can always us Google sync on the handheld to sync the Google calendars and similarly have them show in Pimlical/A. Options, in CESD's univers, are pretty unbounded and after the endless limitations of many Smartphone apps, it is quite refreshing.

While tasks don't sync from the desktops task database, you can have tasks in Pimlcal/A. They really are just appointments that show up on the calendar and will thus sync to the calendar on the desktop. They can then be moved to the task data base, but disappear off the calendar if you do.

I might buy the desktop just to support the work and help the Gorillas. There isn't enough reason yet for me to move from Outlook for my main desktop app, but if CESD ever gets all four PIMs fully syncing to Android, I will definitely be tempted. In the meantime, I am going back to Pimlical/A as my calendar app on Android and will start playing with more and more of the features.

As I said, this is a first look. My general rule is that you need a couple of weeks to know whether things you thought were wonderful end up blowing up in your face. I'll report back if anything does. But so far, this really seems to be finally showing real promise to bring a Palm-class PIM suite to Android. For those who are calendar-centric, especially those who don't want to use Google, I think it may already be there.

[Hook]

So far, this is working like a dream. I'm not using Google Calendar with this at all, other than I allowed it to read in my Google Calendars to begin. I then transfered everything to the local calendar. I tried letting Google calendar play in the mix one day just to test and it completely messed up both Google Calendar and Pimlical. Not sure what I did, but with the exception of Companion Link, I've never found anything that got Google and any desktop program on Windows to play nicely together. I was able to recover using the conduit for direct sync-- I had everything right on my SGP5 and so I did a handheld overwrites desktop sync and it was perfect. Now I do a daily sync and a daily "Backup Everything."

By the way, CESD let it be known that he has Memos sync working in the lab although it is not ready for release yet.

Another thing that is a nice surprise. Turns out, for the first time, I am doing a lot of data entry on my SGP5. The big screen combined with Pimlical/As UI makes data entry on the device easy and with the direct sync, it really is like having my TX back in service.

[koshki]

Can Pimlical/A direct sync to Outlook, or do you have to use the Pimlico desktop?

TIA,
Katherine

[SGosnell]

You need the desktop. It can sync to Google Calendar, and/or the internal Android calendar, but for anything else you need the desktop.

[Hook]

Can Pimlical/A direct sync to Outlook, or do you have to use the Pimlico desktop?

TIA,
Katherine

As Stan said, it does direct sync to Pimlical Desktop, which I have moved to from Outlook Calendar because Pimlical D does such a good job. It will eventually sync all four PIMs. I was also able to use Companion Link (the free trial will work) to move everything from Outlook into Pimlical D.

Pocket Informant has finally come out with direct sync to Outlook, but I find it problematic, as I point out here:

Pocket Informant 2.0 released with wifi sync to Outlook.

[koshki]

Yeah, well that's what I thought.

I started with DateBk when it was still WeekView on my Palm IIIxe. And it synced with Outlook.

I try to be flexible, but sometimes "evolution" just doesn't want to let me do what I want to do. Which is to simply sync my Outlook calendar with an acceptable calendar on my phone.

I don't want to buy their desktop calendar program (which I don't want to use) in order to sync with my phone calendar. And I certainly don't want to have to sync through Google to make it happen.

Seriously, am I the only person who feels this way?

[JRakes]

No, you're not the only one. I don't need or want to have to jump through all manner of hoops, on the ground or in the cloud, to do what I did 10 years ago. I don't need or want these 3rd party intermediaries.

Many of these things obviously work well for many people. But I'm finding more and more as things continue to "evolve" (or devolve, IMHO, in many ways) that I'm using my handheld device less and less. There are several reasons for that, but one not insignificant factor is all of the additional parties I'm expected to get in bed with to do something that was so simple and straightforward a decade ago.