ActiveSync 4.5 Beta 2

[zamo_x]

There is a new beta version of ActiveSync (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0e19bd46-f101-4852-96aa-398cb3b54681&DisplayLang=en).


WHAT'S NEW

Feature: Improved USB support
Benefit: ActiveSync 4.5 provides the fastest USB transport between your desktop PC and your mobile device to date.

Feature: View Exchange Server Synchronization status on your PC
Benefit: You can now view server synchronization status while synchronizing with a Microsoft Exchange server through your desktop PC's internet connection.

Feature: Synchronization of pictures in Contacts on your mobile device with Outlook
Benefit: If an Outlook contact is associated with a picture, ActiveSync now synchronizes the associated picture from Outlook on your desktop PC to your mobile device.
Note: Microsoft Outlook XP or Microsoft Outlook 2003 is required to use this feature.

Feature: Easier to identify friendly device names
Benefit: ActiveSync now supports friendly names for devices, making it easier to identify the device that you want to sync with over a Bluetooth or an infrared (IR) connection.
Note: ActiveSync uses your Windows login name to generate an unique device partnership ID. This login name may be broadcast to other users such as with Bluetooth discovery broadcasts.

Feature: Synchronization over a Bluetooth connection with your PC
Benefit: ActiveSync 4.5 now enables you to synchronize data with your PC over a Bluetooth connection.

Feature: Integration with Windows Media Player 10
Benefit: Easier to discover, configure, and access Windows Media Player 10 music, video and photo from ActiveSync. Also facilitates automatic synchronization of media even when Windows Media Player 10 is not currently running on a desktop PC.

Feature: Enhanced user interface and enhanced new partnership wizard
Benefit: Easier to locate key features, access the most important configuration settings, and configure the device upon first synchronization.

Feature: Synchronize Internet Explorer Mobile favorites to a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone
Benefit: Already available on Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC devices, this feature syncs Internet Explorer Mobile favorites on a desktop PC with a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone.

Feature: More robust synchronization with Outlook
Benefit: Synchronization with Outlook is now more reliable and robust than before.

Feature: Configure synchronization settings prior to first synchronization, including custom synchronization settings
Benefit: Configure all the ActiveSync options you need in a single step.

[xdame]

thanks. i'll give it a try.

[techlogik]

How about they actually get a working version on Vista RC1?!?! It isn't even built into the RC...which tells me they are going to have at least RC2 which they have done in the past, and even maybe RC3...

Too much junk in Vista don't work..

Anyway, this is really only worthwhile if you are not using MSFP2 and Exchange for Push..none of this really makes anything better with the software on the device itself..which is what they really need to do..increase features in the software on the device.

Two cents..thanks for the post link..

[madmatt079]

Once again...

An update from the Mobile and Embedded Devices Team: The Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) Application is an independent application apart from Windows Vista. Windows Vista RC1 includes the WMDC driver which enables you to sync music, acquire pictures and browse the contents of your device. The full WMDC application enables you to synchronize email, contacts, calendar appointments and more. The RC version of WMDC for Vista RC1 will ship very soon, while at this time WMDC is only available for Vista Beta 2.

[Juicy J]

im just installing it... cant wait to use

[jorge_culv]

Feature: Synchronization of pictures in Contacts on your mobile device with Outlook
Benefit: If an Outlook contact is associated with a picture, ActiveSync now synchronizes the associated picture from Outlook on your desktop PC to your mobile device.
Note: Microsoft Outlook XP or Microsoft Outlook 2003 is required to use this feature.


This was added in ActiveSync 4.2 at least. I recently added a bunch of photos to my contacts in Outlook 2003 and they transferred to my contacts on my Cingular 8125 on the next sync.... Not really a big deal, but just wanted to set the record straight.

[lsainsbury]

Have they re-enabled the ability to sync Outlook contact categories in this release? Hope so!! :-)

[techlogik]

Once again...

An update from the Mobile and Embedded Devices Team: The Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) Application is an independent application apart from Windows Vista. Windows Vista RC1 includes the WMDC driver which enables you to sync music, acquire pictures and browse the contents of your device. The full WMDC application enables you to synchronize email, contacts, calendar appointments and more. The RC version of WMDC for Vista RC1 will ship very soon, while at this time WMDC is only available for Vista Beta 2.

Once Again...RC1 has been out awhile now...and it doesn't have WMDC....I have it installed, and you have no options to sync anything like the current ActiveSync...my point is valid.

[Cardcaptor_RLH85]

So, they still haven't brought back Wi-Fi sync? IIRC ActiveSync 3 had it but when I was using version 3 I had a Motorola Mpx220 without Wi-Fi but when I got my Wizard that actually had Wi-Fi I had to upgrade to AS 4.1 and lost my ability to sync with Wi-FI >_< </rant> Oh well, I'll try this out and see if it works for me.

Also, I must agree that AS 4.2 photo synced with my copy of Outlook 2003 just fine ^_^

EDIT: I wish that I read the download page before I ranted. At least they tell us WHY they dropped Wi-Fi Sync ^_^

• Remote PC Sync (via WiFi or LAN) has been removed due to Enterprise customer feedback around security issues.

[lsainsbury]

Have they re-enabled the ability to sync Outlook contact categories in this release? Hope so!! :-)

...and the answer is a big fat NO :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[madmatt079]

Once Again...RC1 has been out awhile now...and it doesn't have WMDC....I have it installed, and you have no options to sync anything like the current ActiveSync...my point is valid.

Firstly, RC1 has not "been out for a while now". Secondly, if you read my post or did any research you would see that WMDC is simply not available at this point therefore your point is not valid.

More information: http://blogs.msdn.com/melsam/archive/2006/09/07/744902.aspx

[ZzFDKzZ]

Looks very nice.