New Google Calendar Palm Sync Tool

Posted By: PIC Wednesday, November 8, 2006 1:47:31 PM

GooSync is a new program that provides an over the air synchronization client for Google Calendar with Palm OS and Windows Mobile devices. The program will sync the internal datebook application with Google Calendar. GooSync is listed as a beta application and the service is available for free. They company says they are also working on syncing contacts from Gmail accounts for a future release.

CompanionLink also offers a sync solution for Google Calendar for the Palm Desktop and Microsoft Outlook. Thier solution retails for $29.95.

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it asks for my google password!

auto194419 @ 11/8/2006 6:08:04 PM # Q
what the ****?! sync can be done via url. no way i'm giving out my google password to these morons.
RE: it asks for my google password!
Eugenia @ 11/8/2006 6:16:02 PM # Q
I am sorry, but the moron is you. The sync is done via a URL, but in order to connect to your account and access the private information a password is required. The syncml kind-of-syncing is done by the Goosync guys, not by Google. This is why the GooSync guys NEED your login/password in order their script be able to login to Google's servers and fetch the info for you.

Yes, it would have been nice if you didn't have to give your password to third party people, but blame Google for this for not providing SyncML functionality. They only provide SMS functionality, which can't be used with PDAs (only with phones), it isn't as convenient and it's not free (you pay for the SMS received, at least here in USA).

So, it's up to you if you want to trust Goosync in exchange for the functionality they offer.

RE: it asks for my google password!
driveblind @ 11/8/2006 10:32:48 PM # Q
Their Terms and Conditions also don't say a thing about privacy, so I think I'd hold off on signing up for anything there.
RE: it asks for my google password!
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 11/8/2006 10:36:53 PM # Q
Loli,
Calm the F down. The only moron is YOU. driveblind made a legitimate point that anyone using this service is potentially giving up some private info and her/his warning will be appreciated by many who may otherwise have felt safe using this service.

Why is it that so many former Be employees/fanatics are such a**holes? Self-righteous trolls like you are the lowest form of Internet life.


If you have any cojones (and I suspect you're sporting bigger rocks than you hippie-dippie hubby) you'll apologize publicly to driveblind.


TVoR

RE: it asks for my google password!
Eugenia @ 11/8/2006 11:48:27 PM # Q
Voice of Reason, I *never* said that there is not a privacy issue with Goosync, I never dismissed this. My reply was directed to the original's comment line of text that says "sync can be done via url". The author called morons a company that gives a service for free, without understanding the technical merits of their request for your google password: that this is NEEDED otherwise they can't serve the data to you. It can't be done otherwise and what really ticked me was the fact that the commentator didn't seem to realize that fact.

This is similar like going to a third-party bank ATM, and it's asking you for your PIN number in order to give you money. Just because the ATM is not your bank's, you start calling them morons for asking your PIN number? I am sorry, but this is exactly the same thing with what the first comentator is bitching about. YES, there is a _potential_ privacy problem if Goosync is not careful with their source code, but technically speaking, this service can not be carried out without giving your login/passwd to them.

So, I am all about apologizing to the guy above, as long as he understands the technical limitations that make the login credentials a necessity. I have nothing to do with that company btw, I learned about them via your news item.

BTW, I even blogged about this because I find the service exciting:
http://eugenia.blogsome.com/2006/11/08/google-calendar-syncing/

RE: it asks for my google password!
Eugenia @ 11/9/2006 12:00:10 AM # Q
BTW, I was never a Be fanatic (in fact Be users hated me for telling it like it is in their face regarding BeOS' limitations -- please make a better research about me), neither I was a Be employee (my husband used to work for them) and I am certainly not an internet 'lowlife'. If there is someone who needs to apologize, that's you because you flew off the handle without making an assesement why I did the reply I did to the guy above. As I explained, the guy does not seem to understand how SyncML works and he called "morons" an apparently "ok" company for their free service. Why didn't you shout at him for making such a comment in the first place and you only shouted at me? Is there a problem you have with Be, Inc. or something and you see me as your lamb to sacrifice? I can assure you, I don't give a monkey what Be, BeOS does or did.

RE: it asks for my google password!
Eugenia @ 11/9/2006 12:17:26 AM # Q
>bigger rocks than you hippie-dippie hubby)

Leave my husband out of this, he has nothing to do with it (and he was never at Palmsource btw, so you don't have to have a grudge about him). It is really low of you to even speak about him. JBQ is one of the most intelligent, kind-hearted and good people you could ever find. Maybe there are times that I do deserve to "hear" it, but JBQ has never, ever, EVER provoked anyone.

>you'll apologize publicly to driveblind.

I was *not* replying to driverblind!!!! My reply was for the auto194419 guy who was the one who called GooSync morons by not understanding how their system works!

WHOA Nellie!
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 11/9/2006 12:51:05 AM # Q
Loli,
Again, you need to calm the F down. Take a deep breath and count to 10 before you press "Post Comment" again.

First of all, whether or not the original poster (who I copy + pasted incorrectly as "driveblind") understood the technical reasons behind this company's architecture, the fact remains that she/he raised a valid point: anyone using this service has to give our their password to an unknown 3rd party and no one can promise this info won't be abused. (Much like the situation recently discussed here re: iskoot and their Skype redirection service.)

Your immediate reaction? Flame the HELL out of the original poster, auto194419. Very classy move. Then again, you were always a real "classy" broad, weren't you?

Secondly, as I alluded to, almost everyone even remotely associated with Be seems to have a Jobs-like smarmy attitude that makes them easy to dislike. Yes, I already know exactly who you are and who your hippie-dippie hubby is. To be honest, I'm kinda surprised he married you, but that's a whole other conversation I won't get into here. Your kneejerk savage flaming of the original poster highlights what a TROLL you truly are. As I said before, I hope you have the rocks to apologize to the OP for your silly outburst.

I never said Jean worked at PalmSource and contrary to (apparently) popular opinion here, I DON'T have a grudge against everyone at PalmSource. There were actually one or two mighty fine people there scattered amongst all the idiots and it was sad to see them forced to bail out on that sinking ship. And I'll talk about Jean any time I want. Unlike you, he'd blow off the "hippie-dippie hubby" comment as a good-natured jab that was never meant to be an insult. If I really wanted to insult him, I'd start talking about YOU.

Out of respect for Jean, I'm walking away from this one. [Cue shocked gasping by thousands of Palminfocenter regulars...] We'll see if you have the guts to apologize for your little psychotic break we just witnessed above.

TVoR

RE: it asks for my google password!
Eugenia @ 11/9/2006 1:33:55 AM # Q
>understood the technical reasons behind this company's >architecture, the fact remains that she/he raised a valid point

Which I AGREE with. What I did NOT agree with is calling the company "morons" by not understanding how SyncML works.

You obviously have a personal grudge against me (very obvious that it was developed years ago), so that's my last comment on the subject. I will apologize to the guy above after he apologizes for his comment and acknowledges that he doesn't know how SyncML works. He could have just said "hey, I find it dangerous to give my password to this third party company". Instead, *he* called them morons. And yet, *I* am the one who hears it from you, not him. Obvisouly, a grudge at work.

Have a nice day.

RE: it asks for my google password!
otter @ 11/9/2006 5:59:22 AM # Q
TVoR, you're an idiot and a creep. Shut the F up.
RE: it asks for my google password!
snark @ 11/9/2006 7:05:30 AM # Q
Just agreeing completely with you on what you're saying (both the "SyncML" thing and TVOR blaming the wrong person), Eugenia!

RE: it asks for my google password!
stickboy @ 11/9/2006 7:17:45 AM # Q
The Voice of Reason said:
> Your immediate reaction? Flame the HELL out of
> the original poster, auto194419. Very classy move.
> Then again, you were always a real "classy" broad,
> weren't you?

Look, the original poster flamed the company by calling them morons. Eugenia responded informatively using the same language as the original post. Whether the original poster had a valid point is irrelevant.

And what was your immediate reaction to Eugenia? Name-calling with profanity, "lowest form of Internet life", etc. Yeesh.

RE: it asks for my google password!
moofie @ 3/2/2007 10:29:43 AM # Q
Does the Palm InfoCenter comment system have an "Ignore User" feature? It certainly should. Whatever signal TVoR might have ever transmitted is vastly overwhelmed by the noise.
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Not working

pascanu @ 11/9/2006 10:23:08 AM # Q
Doesn't work on my Treo 650. It gets stuck at the last 10 or so appointments. The weird thing is that I didn't get it to work even after deleting all my appoinments from both my Treo and my Google Calendar.
I checked the support group (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/goosync?hl=en) and it looks like they are working on a fix...

Handspring Visor -> m505 -> Zire71 -> Zire72 -> Treo650
RE: Not working
architect @ 11/9/2006 3:55:28 PM # Q
Thank you! Finally a comment about the functionality of the product. I was getting fed up reading the pissing match in the above thread.

If it doesn't work on a Treo 650, them i'm also guessing that it won't work on a Treo 600?

Reply to this comment

Not quite there yet...

staceym @ 11/9/2006 5:53:20 PM # Q
One of the best features of Google's calendar is the fact that you can own, administer or simpy view more than one calendar. This feature is great for sharing individual family / co-workers calenders. Thus ideally one would be able to synchronise several different calendars to different categories on the Palm. Alas, the very limited help available on GooSync's web site suggests it will only sync your primary calendar.
CompanionLink offers the same feature, via my own PC and direct connection to Google at a cost of $30. Still, I like the ability of being able to sync away from the PC...
For that some may be able to utilise CalendarPublish, by http://www.saraiya.com/. I have tried it on my T3 with some success, though they have told me its unsupported. Its all most ideal as it allows me to sync my primary calendar and 5 others. Alas it identifies the 'others' not by placing those items in categories. Rather it appends notes to the individual palm entries with extra data including the private google URL it came from.

Looks like I'll need to wait a little longer for my ideal solution to emerge...


RE: Not quite there yet...
christoffa @ 1/10/2007 7:40:05 AM # Q
Hi Guys,

Just a quick update on GooSync.
We have now added Google Authentication Proxy (in short we no longer need your login and password) you simply authenticate www.goosync.com from with your Google Calendar.

We also fixed loads of Palm related bugs.

Give it a try

Cheers
Chris (GooSync)

RE: Not quite there yet...
LaneLester @ 6/2/2008 10:13:46 AM # Q
Pretty nice. I got GooSync working wirelessly with my Palm Tungsten C. The power of Google Calendar for me is multiple calendars, and unfortunately, the free account gives you only your personal calendar. To get multiples, you have to subscribe for 19.95 pounds/year ($31US), which is too expensive for me.
Reply to this comment

Goosync- Contacts & Calendar on Google & handheld

Geek Geezer @ 7/28/2008 8:09:27 PM # Q
The two places I most often acquire new contacts are in the field via the handheld, and through inbound email. The challenge has been to get these two contact databases to synchronize with one another. With the same contact database on both the handheld and the web, you've got your (data)bases pretty well covered.

Now this seems pretty self apparent to me, but not to many others I guess. For a lot of years I used Yahoo as my home port and I spent time with Intellisync for Yahoo to not much good effect. Support for the program was nonexistent and I was never able to get it to work cleanly with my T3. Yahoo has focused on mobil applications of late, but their solution is to make the website usable on a handheld device with an over-the-air connection. Makes sense if you're looking for ways to burn minutes on a cell phone, but my T3 doesn't have an over the air connection once I'm away from the Bluetooth access point in my house. So we cast about for another solution.

What I've found is Google in combination with Goosync, (the paid version, not the freeby). Once this was set up, the handheld calendar and contacts databases synced nicely with Google. I was a bit charry because of the way that Palm handles additional email and phone fields in their database, but the application did a very credible job of mapping to Google's database structure.

There's always room for improvement of course. It would be nice if contact categories could get mapped to google groups. And the price for a one year subscription is steep, (especially given the current exchange rate). There is, however, currently a special on which will allow you to buy a "lifetime" subscription for $5 over the cost of a one year subscription, Plus, I'll get a little back canceling my mail account at Yahoo. Finally, there is a 30 day money back guarantee, so if it doesn't work for you you're not out anything.

For what it's worth-
GG

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