Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with outlook and iPhone

I need a superhero riding a unicorn made of ones and zeros and electrics.

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:09:04 -0800

Is there a software solution (not Add2Exchange or CodeTwo, already tried those) that can provide two-way sync between public folders contacts and iPhone/Android devices with consistent success? My boss would like to be able to do the following:
-access and edit any of the 5000 contacts stored in our public folders via his iPhone and iPad
-two-way syncing, so he should be able to edit a contact using either handheld device and have the change push to the public folders for all other users
-two way syncing ability for other users not necessary, but one way at a minimum would be nice

Possibly relevant details:
-We're running Exchange 2010
-Boss and several other users are using outlook 2007, though a few are using Outlook 2010 and one is Outlook 2003
-we use TeamScope CRM to manage the contacts in the public folder we need to access, so any solution would need to play well with that

We've tried Add2Exchange, which stopped working inexplicably. CodeTwo Exchange sync, with multiple users granted two-way sync, began duplicating random contacts spontaneously and then all of them exponentially, so we killed that in a panic before we ended up with dozens of copies of thousands of contacts.

We're now at a loss. Have you found a reasonable solution to the public folders/handheld devices syncing issue that can handle our requirements? If not, what did your company do as a workaround?

throwaway email: superheroonaunicorn@gmail.com

Trying to Stay in Contact

NotMyselfRightNow — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:17:13 -0800

I manage my contacts in Outlook on Computer 1. I manage my iPhone on Computer 2. I don't want to put Outlook on Computer 2, and I don't want to connect my iPhone to Computer 1. How can I best keep my contacts up-to-date on my iPhone? Assume Outlook will remain on Computer 1, my iPhone will never connect to it, and I won't put iTunes on it.

I used to have a version of Outlook on Computer 2, and I would copy my contacts from Outlook on Computer 1 to Outlook on Computer 2 every so often. A little effort, but it worked great.

I took Outlook off Computer 2 in December, and won't be reinstalling it. My contacts on my iPhone haven't been updated since this change happened.

What's my best solution for managing my contacts on Computer 2 in a way that (1) I can easily export, via USB or similar, my contacts from Computer 1, and (2) that easily syncs to my iPhone via iTunes?

iPhone Overshare

Lieber Frau — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:44:16 -0800

Ack! I just realized my iPhone is syncing my personal G-Calendar to my Outlook work calendar, meaning my coworkers now know when I have doctor appointments, book club meetings, etc.! How do I set up a one-way sync solution so that I can see my work calendar on my iPhone, but my coworkers can't see my personal calendar? There are three calendars involved here:

1) My work calendar through Outlook
2) My Google Calendar for personal events
3) My iPhone 4.0 calendar, which is synced to both

When I got my new iPhone 4, I used Microsoft Exchange to be able to view my Outlook work calendar on my phone. Now it's populating my Outlook calendar with personal events from my Google Calendar! MeFites, is there a way to fix this so I can still see both calendars on my phone? I'm an intensely private person and this is FREAKING ME OUT.

I need to Get Things Done on my iPhone

tipthepizzaguy — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:06:03 -0800

I need a GTD compatible task management app for iPhone that will sync both Outlook tasks AND flagged emails over the air with Exchange Server 2003. Bonus points for three way Outlook/Google/iPhone syncronization and location aware task reminders. Hours of semi-focused googling have left me kind of hopeless that I'll find what I'm looking for... I need it to sync Outlook's flagged emails as tasks, as I use automatic flagging of incoming emails to populate almost half of my tasks list. And I need it to sync over the air (or via a web service) because I need to manage my tasks away from the LAN that Outlook/Exchange are on.

I'd love if it could also sync with Google Tasks and give task reminders based on location, but I'm not going to push my luck too much.

If anyone know's of an app or a combination of apps, web services, and desktop applications that will accomplish this, I'll buy you a beer. Or a cookie if you prefer. I'm serious.

I'm using Outlook 2007, Exchange Server 2003, iPhone 4, and Windows 7

Why no iPhone -> Outlook task sync?

Izzy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:14:27 -0800

Why no iPhone -> Outlook task sync? After two plus years there's still no elegant solution for users who want to sync Outlook tasks with their iPhone. There was some talk at one point of Apple releasing a native task app for the iPhone, but to date, this is vaporware. Task sync is a feature that is not deemed optional or a luxury on competing smartphone platforms--it's something that Blackberry users just take for granted. When I ask folks about this they either have no idea what I'm talking about or I get smug, unknowing responses like "just use the calendar!"

I've tried all of the various kludges that are available and they're so annoying (and also expose your personal data to uncertain security risks) that I just end up not using them. You mean to say I have to use the cloud to sync my local data? I do like my iPhone, but I've noticed that I'm just not as organized and as effective without having my tasks on my phone. I know that there are solutions for Exchange, but that's overkill for a single user who just wants to sync their tasks with their desktop.

Would someone please provide an explanation as to why Apple or a 3rd party developer cannot provide this seemingly modest bit of functionality? A functional spec would have to include at the very least a rudimentary iPhone task app that supports the core feature set of Outlook tasks, and also supports roundtrip task sync (desktop tasks sync to phone, phone tasks sync to desktop). Extra points for alerts on the phone (though Apple's prohibition on background tasks makes this a challenge).

How to export AutoArchive e-mail exported & transferred from MS Outlook

willie11 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:40:40 -0800

Help me get my AutoArchived e-mail out of MS Outlook and the info from off Exchange server before work shuts it down tonight, please. I'm dumbfounded. Old job is shutting down my e-mail account today and I'd like to take all of my contacts, calender and saved e-mails for my own use. I know how to export the contacts as an excel file but I cannot find the "AutoArchive" folder on my hard disk.

The IT folks delete all messages from the sever after 9 weeks or so, but my desktop version of Outlook tells me that it autoarchives the messages. Where can I find these and how to I get them?

Also, what could I import them to? Gmail? My iPhone?

The iPhone (not synched with the server, which uses something called GOOD) seems to import contacts, calender etc from Outlook. Is there a way to upload the contacts, calender and ESPECIALLY the AutoArchived email to Gmail so I have them permanently? Or at least save the AutoArchived messages?

Many, many thanks for your help!

Can the iPhone be productive without a Web connection?

costas — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:53:50 -0800

I am thinking of switching to the iPhone cult (long-time Nokia user) but I am very concerned about whether the iPhones/iTunes combo can support my day-to-day workflow, which is mostly Outlook-based. My company uses GMail/GApps, but I prefer to use them via Outlook 2007 on Windows. From Googling, I see that contacts and calendar can be sync'ed via iTunes, but all the solutions I've found around Tasks (which I use heavily) leave me puzzled: is there a solution that will let me sync Outlook tasks to the iPhone without the need for both the PC and the phone to be online (quite often in my case, esp. when I am travelling abroad)? Is there an iTunes plugin/hack that will let iTunes do that syncing? (commercial apps are not a problem).

And a related question: is there any hack/app that will let iTunes and the iPhone sync w/o USB and w/o a Web connection (i.e. Bluetooth or local WiFi)? Basically, I'd like a version of Nokia's PC Suite for the iPhone (which is very buggy, but works very well 80% of the time)

Need Recommendations for a Hosted Exchange Provider for one.

ajr — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:24:21 -0800

Any recommendations for a reliable Exchange 2007 service provider for one person? I just need a single account to use with Outlook and an iPhone. 1and1.com is my current provider. Apart from being slow, they have had several service outages on "my" server recently. I don't mind paying more for fast and reliable service. Prior posts (tangentially related to this question) have suggested Apptix, but I sent a request for service three days ago that has not been responded to yet. Not a good sign.

How can I transfer my calendar from a Motorola Q to an iPhone?

Reverend John — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:16:31 -0800

How can I transfer the calendar from a Motorola Q to an iPhone, without Outlook 2003? I have a new iPhone, and I want to transfer my calendar info from my old Motorola Q to the iPhone. I have Outlook 2000, which unfortunately won't sync with the iPhone. Not really a big deal to me, except I want to transfer my calendar info from my old phone.

The service on the Motorola Q has been canceled so I cant access the web with it. I can still connect it to my pc and sync it, upload or download programs and files, etc.

Alternately, is there any way to legitimately get Outlook 2003 really cheap?

I broke down on PowerPoint, don't make me use Outlook

shothotbot — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 20:35:35 -0800

Do I really need to use Outlook if I buy an iPhone? I was going to be strong, but it is just too beautiful. I want an iPhone. The iPhone manual says I need to synch my contacts and calendar to Outlook of all things! I currently have a Treo and would rather use the palm software - but I could also use the addressbook in thunderbird and mozila's calandar program or whatever. I just don't like using more MSFT software than I need to. I am technologically savvy and can noodle around with things if need be.