Windows Phone 8, Outlook and USB Sync

[reneg8or]

Hi

I am new here and a bit unsure of where to post this.

I want to buy a new phone and a new computer. I had the idea of getting a Samsung Galaxy SIII and a Galaxy Note 10" as well as a laptop but now I also saw an Asus tablet running Windows 8 RT. Also a Lenovo ultrabook that flips over, turning it into a tablet with a keyboard.

Now this: I need to sync my data from Outlook between phone/tablet/laptop via either USB or Bluetooth, Maybe even wireless but not through Microsoft's servers. We are based in an area with weak cell phone reception and I cannot get into my truck and drive up to the hilltop every time I need to sync data. I will most likely be buying MS Office 2010 as well.

Which Windows Phone 8 handset does this well? I picked up brochures of HTC and Nokia Lumia 920 yesterday but these don't say much and the kids in the store can't tell, either.

Any proven advice welcome, let me know what you have experienced thus far.

PS: I just came across this - scary. http://betalabs.nokia.com/trials/no...to-lumia-920-windows-8-does-not-have-usb-mode

 

[p51mustang]

AFAIK, you cannot sync or backup data to/from a WP8 handset via USB, you can only do so via data/Wi-Fi to SkyDrive.

 

[Park@82]

Who is your email provider? What do you want to sync (mail/calendar/contacts)?

 

[AlphaJohn]

I would go with Android instead, As Microsoft forgot about the old sync part with the new phones.
http://www.android-sync.com/features/

 

[McCrazieGoalz]

Seems like Microsoft still has a lot of work to do with productivity related functionality.

 

[Park@82]

Yeah I think WP needs to mature some more. This was one of the reasons I sold my WP 7 shortly after getting it. They are slowly getting there.

 

[reneg8or]

Who is your email provider? What do you want to sync (mail/calendar/contacts)?

I want to sync calendar, contacts, tasks, notes. Email goes its own separate way.

 

[Park@82]

I want to sync calendar, contacts, tasks, notes. Email goes its own separate way.

I see that Kies (Samsung) has the following options: Sync contacts, Schedule, To do, Music, Photos, Videos, Podcasts.

I don't think Kies would run on RT.

 

[Rocco1]

I had to do a hard reset on my Lumia 920.

My Contacts/ Calander and apps all synced online to Skydrive, and restoring my backup got them all back.

(though this is all using Wifi/3G, no USB possible)

USB on WP8 can only sync - photos, video and documents. (everything else is skydrive/outlook.com/hotmail.com)

 

[Park@82]

I had to do a hard reset on my Lumia 920.

My Contacts/ Calander and apps all synced online to Skydrive, and restoring my backup got them all back.

I cant recall on WP but with Android/Google you don't need to restore backups. Everything gets synced to your gmail account so you just sign in on the phone and sync = contacts + calendar back.

 

[AlphaJohn]

I cant recall on WP but with Android/Google you don't need to restore backups. Everything gets synced to your gmail account so you just sign in on the phone and sync = contacts + calendar back.

And if you do not set the phone properly same goes with your damn apps. Learned the hard way when I reset my phone to remove all the junk, only to find them all streaming back on 1st logon.

 

[AchmatK]

WP8 syncs your contacts and calendar from your Live account. Backup restore from SkyDrive is only for text messages and images
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

 

[Park@82]

And if you do not set the phone properly same goes with your damn apps. Learned the hard way when I reset my phone to remove all the junk, only to find them all streaming back on 1st logon.

Hate when it does that . Haven't found a way to cancel it once it started to restore... Only way is to reset again + un-tick that tick to keep it backed up to google...

 

[Rocco1]

I Think i confused the two -

Yeah contacts/ calendar is synced.

For backup, i think installed apps, texts, images, and a few customized settings (though not live tile arrangement nor extra downloads, like maps, or new keyboard/ speech languages) can be restored.

 

[Bundu]

I have the same question as the OP....

If I can't get a phone that syncs my Outlook calendar/contacts/Notes via bluetooth directly to my laptop, I'm staying with my ancient E72 (which does this well)