To Sync or Not To Sync...

[rachris2]

Hey y'all. I'm new to BB, but real old to PDA's, so I think I've got a problem.

With my previous smartphones, when I made a change in Outlook, and the phone was connected, the sync software would immediately make the change to the phone.

With the BB desktop, this doesn't happen. At least not on my configuration. I'm using Vista with BB desktop v4.6. Rather than use the desktop s/w that came with the phone, I just d/l'd the latest version from BB.

I noticed this problem yesterday when I added a contact I wanted to call. I had to close the desktop and restart for the contact to go to the phone.

Today, I've been testing a few things. Modify a record, add a new record, etc. Both for tasks and contacts. Nothing happens until I restart the desktop. I can manually sync, but that's not exactly what I had in mind for user friendly functionality.

So what am I missing?

[stevetaz]

Hi:

With Desktop Manager open select Synchronize and select the Synchronize tab.

Is Synchronize Organizer Data selected and is the box for Automatic Synchronization selected?

SteveTaz

[stevetaz]

Also, in that Synchronize window, but the Configuration tab, highlight Address Book > Configure > Advanced Settings > Conflict Resolutions ...What is selected?

You might want to play with those to see what happens.....

SteveTaz

[rachris2]

Gads! The plot thickens

I've been running some tests (using Tasks).

First, I removed s/w I've installed since I got the phone. The only odd thing I noted was 3 programs (eWorks, eFile and eOffice) I figure must be packaged desktop s/w. They uninstall, but won't delete from the Application Loader list.

With BB unplugged, I created a task in Outlook and a task on the BB.
Plugged in BB and sync initiated.

With BB plugged in, I created a task in Outlook and waited 15 mins. No sync.
With BB still plugged in, I created a task on the BB and waited 15 mins. No sync.

Unplugged/replugged BB. Sync initiated.

So I got frustrated and unplugged the BB and this is where things get weird.

I was going to browse the web for a minute when I discovered the BB browser is gone.

At first, I thought it was because I had discovered the hide/show all feature (very nice, I might add). Did a Show All and it's just gone.

My guess is it's a result of install/uninstall of Opera Mini. I tried a power off/on, but no change. I'm assuming pulling the battery out with the BB turned on is the same as power off/on?

Since I've only had the device a few days, I'm thinking master reset. If do that, I need some help. Like how do you do a master reset? How does the desktop s/w respond to a master reset? Does it just sync all the Outlook items again and reinstall all s/w on the Application Loader screen?

BTW, while typing this, I realized I didn't uninstall Live Search and Mobipocket. I uninstalled Live Search and now I have a white screen with BB and PC icons and arrows between the two icons. Nothing else happening.

What do y'all think?

[stevetaz]

Your list is so long I am going to have to respond tonight when I get out of work, but I will try to hit a few highlights...

1) The eSuite is an add-on and is not packaged with the device unless maybe you got a trial version.

2) The BB sync/Reconciliation is not like you are used to with the Treo. Email reconciles frequently, but contacts may not for two hours or so. Are you on a BES system or BIS? I am guessing BIS so you probably don't have wireless sync for anything but Email.

3) Internet: Under Options > Advanced Options do you see Browser listed? What is displayed? You may need to resend the service Books.

4) A battery pull with the device ON is like a soft (warm) reset. To do a "master reset" (wipes the handheld):
Options > Security Options > General Settings > Press the Menu key and select Wipe Handheld...This should not delete most added programs.

More later.....

SteveTaz

[rachris2]

Thanks for the quick response! Much appreciated...

My responses:

1) Yes, the eSuite is trialware. Not sure where it came from. That's why I figure it probably came with the desktop s/w when I d/l'd it. I didn't install it myself.

2) Yes, I'm BIS. e-Mail only. Everything else comes directly from Outlook. I'm comparing this whole sync problem to my last device, which was WM. When I'd enter/modify any item, a few seconds later WMDC would start the sync automatically. Is that not the case with BB?

3) Yes, I have Browser listed. When I select it, a window titled Browser is displayed with "Default browser configuration:". That's it.

4) I'm leaning toward a Master Reset at this point, but will wait for any additional posts.

Thanks again...

[stevetaz]

2) Yes, I'm BIS. e-Mail only. Everything else comes directly from Outlook. I'm comparing this whole sync problem to my last device, which was WM. When I'd enter/modify any item, a few seconds later WMDC would start the sync automatically. Is that not the case with BB?...

I don't think so. I am on BES, which does essentially do that because we have wireless reconciliation, but even that is not instantaneous. You could look into a hosted BES service for those features.

I will also caution that if you are going to try comparing the customization of a BB to WM, the BB will not be nearly as customizable. However the biggest plus of the BB is that it is not WM!!!! It doesn't take 42 taps to get through all the submenus and it doesn't crash. I have been on the BB seven months now and have never crashed once....yet. Now that I opened my mouth....

3) Yes, I have Browser listed. When I select it, a window titled Browser is displayed with "Default browser configuration:". That's it....

But next to (or under) Default Browser Configuration do you see a selectable choice of two such as BlackBerry Browser or Internet Browser? You should be able to move the cursor over with the trackball and highlight the type of browser configuration, BlackBerry or Internet.

Just to be clear, had you used the Browser and since then it disappeared? You do have a BlackBerry data plan with your carrier, eh?

SteveTaz

[rachris2]

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to make this a WM smartphone. Maybe the honeymoon will wear off later, but right now I'm pretty satisfied. I'm just trying to understand a new OS/device.

My sync issue is this: when the device is plugged into the PC, and I make a change in Outlook, doesn't that change immediately/automatically get made on the device? Or should I get used to unplugging/plugging in the device to manually initiate a sync?

The browser has disappeared. I have used it a lot since getting the BB and it's been fine. Now there are no selections on the browser screen.

I have a data plan with my Verizon acct. Unlimited (and waaay too expensive, your lucky you've got Sprint).

HTH...

[stevetaz]

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to make this a WM smartphone. Maybe the honeymoon will wear off later, but right now I'm pretty satisfied. I'm just trying to understand a new OS/device.

I would never think that! There is definitely a learning curve changing to a whole new OS and it can be quite frustrating. The BB OS is, to state the obvious, very odd to me. Even after all the time with it I am still stuck in the Windows file system format and way of doing things as well as the Palm OS, which I used for 10+ years. It is getting better for sure, but it is still awkward and confusing to me.

My sync issue is this: when the device is plugged into the PC, and I make a change in Outlook, doesn't that change immediately/automatically get made on the device? Or should I get used to unplugging/plugging in the device to manually initiate a sync?

I do believe you are trying to get functionality that isn't there. It could be because Windows Mobile and Windows and MS Outlook are so closely intertwined that they work that way. I really never tried that with the Palm system on my Treo either to know if that would instantly update, but I really doubt it.

You should be able to start a manual sync without disconnecting by starting the DM, but that is on my office laptop so I can't test. Again, I am on BES so I really don't use that much as I don't worry about syncing the few contacts I add occasionally. However, even on BES contacts don't update until I connect to DM.

The browser has disappeared. I have used it a lot since getting the BB and it's been fine. Now there are no selections on the browser screen.

Try this.... Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table > Menu Button> Register Now. Do a battery pull and see if it works. If it doesn't then go to the Verizon BIS site, log on and resend the Service Books.

If that doesn't work you will have to call Verizon to see if they changed your account provisioning.

I have a data plan with my Verizon acct. Unlimited (and waaay too expensive, your lucky you've got Sprint).

You are very correct, but I am even luckier since my company pays the bill....

SteveTaz

[rachris2]

Again, thanks for the feedback. So the sync functionality for BB's is similar to Palms in that you have to initiate the sync. I can live with that.

So are there BB cradles, similar to the Palm cradles with a sync button? I've seen some cradles, but not sure if they work like the Palms.

Doing the Host Routing Table worked great. In fact, my phone had started to drop every call after a minute or 2. This fixed the problem(s).

So what does Host Routing Table do? And why did this fix things?