Monday, May 18, 2009

iPod connectivity with Outlook and Gmail

I’ve just found out that it is possible to link the iTouch with Gmail to store Contacts, Calendar and Email information from Gmail and synchronise that information with the iPod. There are essentially two steps.

 

Firstly, set up the Gmail account to have POP access and then follow the Gmail instructions to configure the iPod. This first step gives you your Gmail emails in your iPod inbox.

 

Secondly, go to the Settings App on the iPod and add an Email account, Microsoft Exchange then follow the Gmail instructions again to  configure the synchronization. This second step requires a data backup before starting as it will wipe the existing contact information, but when performed successfully synchronises the Contact and Calendar information with the Gmail server. The advantage of doing these steps rather than relying on the GoogleSync application and then an iTunes sync to update information is that when one of the Contact or Calendar apps is launched, then it checks the server to see if there have been any updates then and there.

 

Bringing a To-do list into the equation seems to be a matter of ensuring the To-do items are entered into the Calendar and then they appear when the Calendar is synched. This is not a completely satisfactory solution as all of the possible status markers you can have on To-do items are lost. But it’s a start towards complete Desktop and Mobile integration of Management apps.

 

Quite pleased so far.

 

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