What to pick? That’s the question. A Nokia again? An appealing iPhone? A versatile Android? Nokia was not really an option, since it is not able to keep up with the iPhone, Android and Blackberry. All because of the Symbian operating system of its smartphones. Somehow, it felt like saying goodbye to an old friend, since I have been using Nokia phones for about 14 years.

A Nokia device that I did consider was the N900. In contrast with most Nokia phones this machine runs the Linux-based Maemo. However, by the end of 2010, it was already clear that Nokia’s Maemo and Intel’s Mobilin would be joining forces in MeeGo. A choice for the N900 would be a choice for a system without a future – a dead end street.

The iPhone looks dazzling beautiful and offers probably the best user experience. Apple is so damn popular that it can demand a considerable higher price for its products, than its competitors for comparable hardware. Am I willing to pay that bonus?

Another thing to consider is that although I mainly work with Windows applications, I also work regularly with Linux systems. Because of this, the Android is a more natural choice than Apple. So it I would go for an Android. But which one? A myriad of vendors are offering Android devices.

My last Nokia, the E71, had a real hardware keyboard, which I still prefer above the virtual ones: in my opinion hardware keyboards offer a more convenient way of typing, and you can actually use a bigger part of the screen since you do not lose half of it to the virtual keyboard. This requisite limits my options.

On my quest, I found that the Motorola Milestone 2 as well as the HTC Desire Z would fit my needs. Both phones where announced but not yet available on the market. According to their respective vendors these phones would be shipped to the stores in December 2010 – just-in-time for the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the Motorola Milestone 2 was just-too-late. The company from Taiwan managed to meet its promise, so we had a winner: the HTC Desire Z.

A smartphone offers so much more than means to make phone calls. The challenge is to configure the smart device in such a way that it becomes a real personal assistant, boosting your effectively. The Nokia E71 used to be my portable memory for appointments, contacts, tasks, notes, just name it. It was all on my E71 and most of it was all in sync with Outlook 2007 on my PC. For the synchronizing I used Nokia’s PC Suite with Bluetooth. Only multimedia files were moved with the Ovi Suite and a USB cable.

The HTC Desire Z came with HTC Sync. But syncing with Bluetooth was not supported! Syncing could only be done by USB ports. Because of this, and a couple of other reasons, HTC Sync was less than a shadow of Nokia’s PC Suite. How was it possible that I was blown back in time with such a top notch Android? That was really a shock!

Be cool. Let’s analyse the situation. On one hand we have got Outlook 2007 and Windows Vista. At the other side we have the HTC Desire Z with Android 2.2 (Froyo). Fortunately, Google is my friend. On my search for a better syncing solution, I have tried several software products: freeware, shareware, donateware, payware. They all fell short one way or the other. However, I was sure that my demands were not that extraordinary, so I was determined to find a proper solution.

And there was. It was waiting for me in the cloud. In that cloud representing the internet, lots of companies are offering synchronization services. Paid, free or as a freemium. Just pick those that suite you best. By the way, a freemium offers some kind of a basic service for free, gratis. However, for any extras – premiums – you have to pay extra. For me, the solution was a mix of Google services, Remember the Milk and Dropbox. The following table is a graphical representation of my choices.

Infographic of the cloud synchronisation process between the PC and the Android:

From the PC through the Cloud to Android and back again

Except for the Outlook Notes, everything between my PC and the Android could be synced automatically in the background. The problem with my notes was solved by moving the memos to Dropbox.

The basic service of Dropbox offers you a free storage of 2 GB. That is a reasonable virtual flash drive. On the hard disk of my Linux PC as well as on the data partition of my multi-boot Windows/Linux laptop, I have created a directory for my Dropbox files. Any change made to the documents in the Dropbox folders are synced fully automatically in the background. Of course, these files are also accessible from my Android with the Dropbox app, available for free on the Android Market, as well as with any browser through the Dropbox’ website.

For the synchronization of the Outlooks Tasks to my Android and vice versa with Remember the Milk, I had to take a Pro account from Remember the Milk (RTM). Otherwise Milk Sync – the PC app – as well as the Android app, would cease operations after the trail period. Milk Sync is available at the Remember the Milk web site and the Android app is downloadable from the Android Market. Annual costs for the Pro account are $ 25. As of Januari 1, 2012, I have replaced Remember the Milk by Toodledo.

The synchronization of my Calendars (Personal, Professional, Birthdays, Holidays) and Contacts between Outlook and Google Calendar is taken care of by Syn2. The one-time fee for the Sync2 app was $ 39,95, which I consider as money well spent. The syncing of Google products with the Android is done natively and free – you do not need any additional tools for that.

Am I happy with my Android? Definitely! I was so used to syncing with Bluetooth that the lack of this feature came as a shock. At this moment, all synchronization is done in the background, through the cloud. Automatically, without any interference of my. When I make an appointment with my HTC Desire Z while travelling, this appointment is copied to the cloud within a snap. As soon as I boot up my laptop, any appointments, tasks, contacts notes and e-mails are brought up-to-date instantly. What a luxury!

Why do things the hard way?

“Musings in the Sun” is my soapbox to the world. Or better, my personal playground. My intentions with this blog are sharing thoughts about things that attract my attention, ideas that come to me and experiences I have had. Hopefully bringing some kind of benefit to you.

No, I am not an altruist. There is another reason. This one is a little bit more selfish. English is not my mother tongue, so writing for this blog gives me the opportunity to sharpen my English language skills. In case you are wondering: I am Dutch.

Want to know a bit more about me? OK! My name is Wil and I life in Raamsdonksveer, a small village in the province of North-Brabant, about 50 km southeast of Rotterdam. I have a background in sales and direct marketing with a strong passion for business development. Especially business-to-business (B2B).

When I am not working, I prefer to spend my time outdoors. Mostly on one of my bikes. I have a great road bike and an a trekking bicycle. In the winter time, when it’s too slippery to bike, I like take a hike.

Unfortunately, we have not had too much winter here – yet. At least, no snow. It is mainly grey and wet. Be careful what you wish for…, but please let it snow. Just a little bit. I promise, I will share some of my hiking photographs here.

Take care,

Wil