Smartphone or Feature Phone?

A

alatheia

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I have a rather bad taste in my mouth after having gotten implicated into the world of Apple.

Please refrain from commenting unless you have something constructive, helpful and educational to contribute. Please, no trolling and no derailing of the topic.

The need is for the user to have a laptop and a mobile phone to sync PIM data locally, not via the cloud/internet. PIM= Personal Information Manager such as Outlook, Evolution, EasyPIM, Entourage, etc.

It needs to sync:

calendar
contacts
tasks/reminders
notes/memos

It needs to sync via:
Bluetooth
USB
Direct wireless connection


My understanding is that Nokia's Lumia does not allow for this but that some Nokia feature phones can do this in the old Nokia Suite way. If there are more modern ways, especially in the world of WP8 that can do this, please advise. I do not mind using Symbian or S40, though.

(What I found on Nokia's website is pasted below.)

Microsoft Windows 8 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit or 64-bit (with Service Pack 1 or later), or Windows XP 32-bit (with Service Pack 2 or later).Note: excluding Windows 8 RT, Media Center and Starter Editions
2 GB of free space on your computer
1 GHz processor
64 MB graphics card
1 GB of RAM (random access memory)
1024x576 screen resolution and 24-bit colour

Note: To play high-definition video, you need a 2-GHz processor and 128 MB of video memory
Copy and sync contacts and calendar between Nokia Suite and the following programs:
Microsoft Windows 7 Contacts
Microsoft Windows Vista Contacts
Microsoft Windows Vista Calendar
Microsoft Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013
Microsoft Outlook Express
Mozilla Thunderbird (contact sync only)
Choose how to connect your phone to a computer
With a USB cable (DKE-2, CA-101, CA-53, CA-70, CA-126, CA-179, DKU-2)
With Bluetooth
Download Nokia Suite
Compatible devices*
Nokia 111, Nokia 113, Nokia 114, Nokia 2060, Nokia 2323 Classic, Nokia 2330 Classic. Nokia 2600 Classic, Nokia 2630, Nokia 2660, Nokia 2680 Slide, Nokia 2690, Nokia 2692, Nokia 2700 Classic, Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition, Nokia 2720 Fold, Nokia 2730 Classic, Nokia 2760, Nokia 3109 Classic, Nokia 3110 Classic, Nokia 3110 Evolve, Nokia 3120 Classic, Nokia 3208c, Nokia 3250, Nokia 3500 Classic, Nokia 3555, Nokia 3600 Slide, Nokia 3610 Fold, Nokia 3710 Fold, Nokia 3711 Fold, Nokia 3720 Classic, Nokia 500, Nokia 5000, Nokia 5130 XpressMusic, Nokia 5200, Nokia 5208, Nokia 5220 XpressMusic, Nokia 5228, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5230 Nuron, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5232, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5235 Comes with Music, Nokia 5250, Nokia 5310 XpressMusic, Nokia 5320 XpressMusic, Nokia 5330, Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, Nokia 5500 Sport, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia 5610 XpressMusic, Nokia 5630 XpressMusic, Nokia 5700 XpressMusic, Nokia 5730 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800i XpressMusic, Nokia 5802 XpressMusic, Nokia 603, Nokia 6086, Nokia 6110 Navigator, Nokia 6120 Classic, Nokia 6120ci, Nokia 6121 Classic, Nokia 6122c, Nokia 6124 Classic, Nokia 6208c, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 6210 Slide, Nokia 6212 Classic, Nokia 6216 Classic, Nokia 6220 Classic, Nokia 6260 Slide, Nokia 6263, Nokia 6267, Nokia 6290, Nokia 6300, Nokia 6300i, Nokia 6301, Nokia 6303 Classic, Nokia 6303i Classic, Nokia 6350, Nokia 6500 Classic, Nokia 6500 Slide, Nokia 6555, Nokia 6600 Fold, Nokia 6600 Slide, Nokia 6600i Slide, Nokia 6650, Nokia 6650 Fold, Nokia 6700 Classic, Nokia 6700 Slide, Nokia 6702s, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia 6720 Classic, Nokia 6730 Classic, Nokia 6750, Nokia 6760 Slide, Nokia 6788, Nokia 6788i, Nokia 6790 Slide, Nokia 6790 Surge, Nokia 700, Nokia 701, Nokia 7020, Nokia 702T, Nokia 7100 Supernova, Nokia 7210 Supernova, Nokia 7230, Nokia 7310 Supernova, Nokia 7500 Prism, Nokia 7510 Supernova, Nokia 7610 Supernova, Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism, Nokia 7900 Prism, Nokia 801T, Nokia 808 PureView, Nokia 8800 Arte, Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte, Nokia 8800 Gold Arte, Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte, Nokia 8800a, Nokia Asha 201, Nokia Asha 202, Nokia Asha 205, Nokia Asha 2050, Nokia Asha 300, Nokia Asha 302, Nokia Asha 303, Nokia Asha 305, Nokia Asha 306, Nokia Asha 308, Nokia Asha 309, Nokia Asha 310, Nokia Asha 311, Nokia Astound, Nokia C1-01, Nokia C1-02, Nokia C2-00, Nokia C2-01, Nokia C2-02, Nokia C2-03, Nokia C2-05, Nokia C3-00, Nokia C3-01, Nokia C3-01i, Nokia C5-00, Nokia C5-01, Nokia C5-03, Nokia C5-04, Nokia C5-05, Nokia C5-06, Nokia C6-00, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7-00, Nokia C7-00s, Nokia E5-00, Nokia E50, Nokia E51, Nokia E52, Nokia E55, Nokia E6-00, Nokia E60, Nokia E61, Nokia E61i, Nokia E62, Nokia E63, Nokia E65, Nokia E66, Nokia E70, Nokia E7-00, Nokia E71, Nokia E71x, Nokia E72, Nokia E73 Mode, Nokia E75, Nokia E90 Communicator, Nokia N71, Nokia N73, Nokia N75, Nokia N76, Nokia N77, Nokia N78, Nokia N79, Nokia N80, Nokia N8-00, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N82, Nokia N85, Nokia N86 8MP, Nokia N900, Nokia N9-00, Nokia N91, Nokia N92, Nokia N93, Nokia N93i, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N96, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 Mini, Nokia NM705i, Nokia NM706i, Nokia Oro, Nokia X2-00, Nokia X2-01, Nokia X2-02, Nokia X3-00, Nokia X3-02, Nokia X3-02i, Nokia X5-00, Nokia X5-01, Nokia X6-00, Nokia X7-00, Vertu Constallation, Vertu Constellation Quest
* Some phone models may not be available in all countries or regions.
 
You're out of luck with WP8, it's been designed as a cloud centric OS

WP7 could sync over Wi-Fi locally but that functionality was removed in WP8 to focus more on the cloud aspect.
 
grim said:
You're out of luck with WP8, it's been designed as a cloud centric OS

WP7 could sync over Wi-Fi locally but that functionality was removed in WP8 to focus more on the cloud aspect.
Click to expand...

Hi Grim, thanks for the clarification. There is a solution, however, if one wants a WP8 device and not something with S40 on it and this is called Companionlink, which allows for local sync. Pity though that one has to fork out more cash! But, at least, there is a way.
 
I don't see the problem with the cloud approach, it makes my life much easier.

I can access my contacts, photos, mails, videos, etc. from any device/location.
 
iTunes does a fairly good job of managing Outlook sync locally for contacts calendars mail and notes. I'm not sure why you're trying to jump through so many hoops to do something quite simple here. You just attach your iPhone, go to Devices in iTunes, and choose the Info panel. Or... what am I missing?
 
grim said:
I don't see the problem with the cloud approach, it makes my life much easier.

I can access my contacts, photos, mails, videos, etc. from any device/location.
Click to expand...

Grim, Pretoria East has broadband, not all of SA has. You will be surprised how close to Cape Town CBD connectivity can become a real headache. Oh, and the cost………..

Then, given the way nature is going crazy, is it wise to be down south in Africa and depending upon a cloud server somewhere in California? Not too long ago, most internet users saw their system crawl or even halt when someone dragged an anchor across the ocean floor in the Med. Only Neotel users were not affected. I am talking about everyday practicalities, mostly based upon experience, not the theory. On paper, everything just works!
 
cerebus said:
iTunes does a fairly good job of managing Outlook sync locally for contacts calendars mail and notes. I'm not sure why you're trying to jump through so many hoops to do something quite simple here. You just attach your iPhone, go to Devices in iTunes, and choose the Info panel. Or... what am I missing?
Click to expand...

iOS 7 sadly does not sync notes any longer and Mavericks also is going to take iTunes sync away.
 
alatheia said:
It needs to sync via:
Bluetooth
USB
Direct wireless connection
Click to expand...

Wifi, IR, NFC?...

I also prefer cloud syncing. All my devices are up to date - Android for work, Win8 for personal and iOS for both - and I haven't had issues with any of those platforms. Maybe, OP, you should consider moving on to the cloud.
 
alatheia said:
Grim, Pretoria East has broadband, not all of SA has. You will be surprised how close to Cape Town CBD connectivity can become a real headache. Oh, and the cost………..

Then, given the way nature is going crazy, is it wise to be down south in Africa and depending upon a cloud server somewhere in California? Not too long ago, most internet users saw their system crawl or even halt when someone dragged an anchor across the ocean floor in the Med. Only Neotel users were not affected. I am talking about everyday practicalities, mostly based upon experience, not the theory. On paper, everything just works!
Click to expand...

All your data is still stored locally on your devices so you can access it without a connection. I have copies of all my data on my PC, Laptop, Phone, Tablet and everything gets backed up to a NAS at home. All of these are accessible without a internet connection when I'm at home.

FYI if you use Microsoft cloud services in South Africa your data is most likely stored in either Amsterdam or Dublin as that is the two datacenters Microsoft uses for SA.

Microsoft is also slowly expanding their CDN in South Africa as the market here grows to justify the cost of it.

Losing a undersea cable currently won't have the massive impact it had previously as we now have two more cables than we had when that happened and they run on opposite sides of the continent.
 
alatheia said:
iOS 7 sadly does not sync notes any longer and Mavericks also is going to take iTunes sync away.
Click to expand...

I just experimentally synced a note from Outlook to my iOS7 iPhone without a problem. And why on earth do you imagine that Mavericks - an Apple platform - would remove syncing of one of their flagship pieces of software?
 
Tacet said:
Wifi, IR, NFC?...

I also prefer cloud syncing. All my devices are up to date - Android for work, Win8 for personal and iOS for both - and I haven't had issues with any of those platforms. Maybe, OP, you should consider moving on to the cloud.
Click to expand...

I also prefer the cloud but it just isn't available everywhere. Do you realise that only 35% of the global population have it? I move about quite a few places every day where my data does not get kept up to date because I can hardly send an ams, let alone using Whatsapp or make a call. My email then obviously also does not always work. It seems that the iPhones antenna is a bit weaker than my other phones but even some of them do suffer. Travel across South Africa, especially for work, and you will soon realise that the cloud will need to mature before we all can use it.
 
cerebus said:
I just experimentally synced a note from Outlook to my iOS7 iPhone without a problem. And why on earth do you imagine that Mavericks - an Apple platform - would remove syncing of one of their flagship pieces of software?
Click to expand...

I do not use Outlook but Apple's native apps. And Apple is forcing users through the cloud, that's why. If you do a quick search on this, you will find many irate Apple users complaining about this.

Your Outlook - which version do you have and is it for Windows or Mac? Even therein is a difference as they both do not work the same way.
 
alatheia said:
Travel across South Africa, especially for work, and you will soon realise that the cloud will need to mature before we all can use it.
Click to expand...

In places where signal is so bad, I prefer to only sync my phone. If I really need to, I can make my phone a hotspot, and sync my laptop. Where there is no signal at all, nothing gets synced in any case, irrespective of local sync.
 
cerebus said:
I just experimentally synced a note from Outlook to my iOS7 iPhone without a problem. And why on earth do you imagine that Mavericks - an Apple platform - would remove syncing of one of their flagship pieces of software?
Click to expand...

Look on Apple's page here, where it says that:

"Syncing Notes with iTunes and OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or later

You can sync with the Notes app using IMAP or iCloud. Syncing Notes using iTunes is no longer supported on OS X v10.8 and later."
 
Tacet said:
In places where signal is so bad, I prefer to only sync my phone. If I really need to, I can make my phone a hotspot, and sync my laptop. Where there is no signal at all, nothing gets synced in any case, irrespective of local sync.
Click to expand...

But you can……with a cheap Windows laptop, Nokia suite and a very cheap feature phone - as I have been doing all along! :D The Apples here have random connectivity issues and setting up a hotspot was tried a few minutes ago after Vinod's post elsewhere……no joy from either MBP or iPhone 5. Look, I am not here to argue about this, I know IT and I have done my homework. I was asking what solutions there were in the world of Windows as that is where I am heading back to.
 
alatheia said:
I do not use Outlook but Apple's native apps. And Apple is forcing users through the cloud, that's why. If you do a quick search on this, you will find many irate Apple users complaining about this.

Your Outlook - which version do you have and is it for Windows or Mac? Even therein is a difference as they both do not work the same way.
Click to expand...

I see now I hadn't come across this as I use Windows. Seems that they're really pushing to get everyone onto the cloud. Personally I've not got a problem with that but my connectivity is fine.

Have you tried CopyTrans by any chance? It has a Contacts module which handles contacts, calendars, sms, notes...
 
Last edited:
cerebus said:
I see now I hadn't come across this as I use Windows. Seems that they're really pushing to get everyone onto the cloud. Personally I've not got a problem with that but my connectivity is fine.

Have you tried CopyTrans by any chance?
Click to expand...

Never heard of it before but I will check it out, thanks. Cloud is slick when it is ON. :D Maybe I should roost next to a router….
 
alatheia said:
Never heard of it before but I will check it out, thanks. Cloud is slick when it is ON. :D Maybe I should roost next to a router….
Click to expand...

I'm trying it now for the first time really. The Contacts module seems to be exactly what you're looking for. Er.. except I'm not sure if it's available for OSX.
 
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