I find myself more than a little annoyed.

[Mobile2010]

Take a look at the HTC Droid Z

[weegie]

ADB and lot of Android apps to replace Palm/MS-WM apps.

Is there a single application equivalent of local activesync on android yet that will tie in with desktop outlook, or is it still a bits and pieces affair ?.

Why is it compulsory to have a Gmail account for android, these two things are quite a large turn off for me.

[Hook]

Is there a single application equivalent of local activesync on android yet that will tie in with desktop outlook, or is it still a bits and pieces affair ?.

Why is it compulsory to have a Gmail account for android, these two things are quite a large turn off for me.

Technically, you aren't required to have a Gmail account. You are required to have a Google Account, which is required only when you first set up the phone and never again. It is similar to Apple requiring an iTunes account.

There are at least 2 companies that have USB syncing to Your computer. Companion Link, which is (I believe) Windows only and MarK Space, which is Windows and Mac. I'm not much help there as I really *really* like OTA syncing with Google and Toodledo. Pocket Informant will eventually have a direct sync to Outlook, but not in version 1.0.

[questionfear]

Also, the google account is to tie you to the Android marketplace. That way Google can keep a record of apps you purchased and allow you to transfer them if you switch hardware.

This is also one of the reasons Apple requires an iTunes account. If you don't want to use a google account for sign-in, do some hunting and find a device that's not "with Google" but remember that if you do, you're SOL for Android Marketplace access.

[LandSurveyor]

Also, the google account is to tie you to the Android marketplace. That way Google can keep a record of apps you purchased and allow you to transfer them if you switch hardware.

This is also one of the reasons Apple requires an iTunes account. If you don't want to use a google account for sign-in, do some hunting and find a device that's not "with Google" but remember that if you do, you're SOL for Android Marketplace access.

Please cure my dumbness. Are you saying that there are Android devices that are not "with Google?"

[questionfear]

Please cure my dumbness. Are you saying that there are Android devices that are not "with Google?"

Yes. Android is an open source OS, technically anyone can use it. Every tablet (except the Galaxy Tab) is not "with Google", and there were some phones released that were non-Google'd Android. Can't remember them off the top of my head though.

Positives to a non-Google'd device:

-No sign-in of any sort required.

Negatives to a non-Google'd device:

-No guarantees of upgrades to higher versions of the OS.
-No built in sync of any sort.
-No marketplace access (there are secondary, lesser marketplaces but they aren't very good relative to the official Marketplace).
-No guarantees that major commercial applications will run on the device.
-In many cases, no dedicated email application.
-Poor or non-existent PIM apps.
-No Google Maps application
-Little to no hardware QC, meaning the OS and the hardware may not play well together and no one cares.
-Very little to no aftermarket support.

The only exceptions to these negatives are the NOOKcolor (since it's an Android device like the ZuneHD is a WinCE device), and the Galaxy Tab, which is "With Google". Effectively, a non-Google'd Android device is an entirely different OS experience that happens to be able to run Google Android applications. It's not equivalent to picking up a Nexus One, and you should never, ever buy one while under that impression, because it will make you hate Android.

Remember, Google controls Android but allows it to be free for anyone. You need to agree to license the Marketplace, GMail, Google Maps, etc in order to have them on the device, and that's where the "with Google" comes from. And like I said above, your Google ID is your customer ID in the Android marketplace. You could ignore GMail and GTalk entirely and run with Yahoo, Hotmail, etc on an Android device very easily.

But Google needs a sign-in to link to your purchases for easy backup and restoration. If they didn't offer that, how many people would be outside Mountain View with pitchforks the first time their phone went belly up and they couldn't re-download apps they paid for?

[LandSurveyor]

Makes perfect sense. Given the choice, I would prefer to be fully assimilated.

[Varjak]

Maybe someone will actually write an app similar to Palm Desktop for local syncing of basics like PIM, notes, etc. I sure hope so.

[LandSurveyor]

Either way, I may just give in yet. I've got calendar stuff on my phone (which I seldom sync anymore as it dupes my contacts too often), Outlook at work and put some stuff on My Yahoo's calendar since it will email and text me about appointments, regardless of which phone I'm carrying. Since I've already got stuff "out there" on Yahoo, might as well just go Google.

[larrywms45]

Either way, I may just give in yet. I've got calendar stuff on my phone (which I seldom sync anymore as it dupes my contacts too often), Outlook at work and put some stuff on My Yahoo's calendar since it will email and text me about appointments, regardless of which phone I'm carrying. Since I've already got stuff "out there" on Yahoo, might as well just go Google.

I hope Auburn whoops Alabama on Friday also. That'll teach you for going with Android. Just kidding. I tried if for a year and sold it all. Too many options, too much hassle and way too much time to keep up with it al l.