Microsoft Releases ActiveSync 4.5

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9e641c34-6f7f-404d-a04b-dc09f8141141&DisplayLang=en' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&DisplayLang=en</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 is the latest sync software release for Windows Mobile-powered devices. ActiveSync provides a great synchronization experience with Windows®-powered PCs and Microsoft Outlook right out of the box."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070215-winmo.jpg" /><br /><br />The latest version of ActiveSync is here, and it includes some changes that may or may not prompt you to upgrade your existing installation of ActiveSync 4.2 (or below). Among the sea of bug fixes and enhancements, you can expect to find the following:<br /><br />• Faster file transfer speed and photo sync via Outlook are only available for Windows Mobile 5.0 powered devices.<br />• Remote PC Sync (via WiFi or LAN) has been removed due to Enterprise customer feedback around security issues.<br />• Customers using Microsoft Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 with devices running the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0 will benefit from the following feature enhancements included in ActiveSync 4.5: Direct Push Technology, local device wipe, and certificate powered authentication to Microsoft Exchange.<br />• Microsoft® Outlook® 2000 is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5. It is highly recommended that users upgrade to Microsoft® Outlook® 2003 messaging and collaboration client.<br />• Conversion of database files for use on a mobile device is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5. On previous versions, this feature was limited to devices running Windows Mobile software for Pocket PC 2003 and earlier.<br />• Conversion of font files for use on a mobile device is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5. On previous versions, this feature was limited to devices running Windows Mobile software for Pocket PC 2003 and earlier.<br /><br />Note that ActiveSync 4.5 is not an upgrade or replacement for the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53695">Windows Mobile Device Center</a> in Windows Vista.

[Paul Martin]

Wow! Looks like a downgrade with all of the "not supported"s. 8O

[lorettaboy]

I wish it were an upgrade for mobile device center, as i am unable to install rom upgrades whatsoever under mdc.
I really hope that somebody addresses this problem, or i will have to install xp pro onto another partition :(

[buckyg]

Thanks for the details, I'd missed any previous mention of Outlook 2000 not being supported. I think I do have a copy of 2002 on an install CD from my PPC. I did try it before but there was some serious bug I ran into that made me chuck it. And it's not worth the $ to me for later versions.

[stllhogan]

I'm not always the biggest fan with MS but Windows Mobile is one product I enjoy and see it having little flaws, I run windows but I also run mac and linux. Windows mobile has had little flaws, which they seem to fix or work on and are able to release on OS on time or sooner, but active sync seems to have been a downgrading process for quiet some time. What happend? I don't even find it useful except that part about installing programs and rom's.

[unxmully]

I haven't read the whole list but find it amusing that of the 6 "features" listed, four of them remove functionality that is of current potential benefit to the user. Although I thought wifi synching had been dropped in all 4.* activesync versions.

[DaleReeck]

If you think AS 4.5 drops features, that's nothing compared to Windows Mobile Device Center. It pretty much won't let you set anything yourself. Not to mention break every existing AS conduit out there.

[Jimmy Dodd]

I'm disappointed to see that with each successive version ActiveSync supports fewer and fewer features. ActiveSync has always been problematic for me, and it seems that Microsoft isn't really putting any effort into fixing the problems.

[GadgetMan]

Does AS 4.5 support synchronization with MS Outlook 2007 and MS World 2007/MS Excell 2007 file format conversion?

Cheers,

[Darius Wey]

Does AS 4.5 support synchronization with MS Outlook 2007

It sure does.

and MS World 2007/MS Excell 2007 file format conversion?

If you're referring specifically to Office 2007's open XML file formats, the answer is "no". Saving in the backward-compatible Office 97-2003 file formats is a suggested workaround.

[stllhogan]

I don't know if at this point we can call it syncing anymore. One of those few things I like with palm was the active sync it needed work, but it had a nice function, like device backup and many including a slimed down one in case you didn't want the full program run everytime.

[Mark Larson]

I'm guessing you'll need ActiveSync 4.5 to sync with WM6 devices. That's MS's way of making sure we need to "upgrade" this heap of sh^t.

[johncruise]

Been burn before with AS upgrades so... I'm sticking to "if it aint broken...." (you know the rest) :?

[hamishmacdonald]

I'm getting a fatal crash during the installation when it reaches "installing RNDIS hotfix". And now every earlier version of ActiveSync fails at the same point, forcing my system to spontaneously reboot. The only way to get AS working again is to do a System Restore.

I suppose this is probably an issue with my system, but uninstalling ActiveSync doesn't correct it. Does anyone have a possible solution for this?

Thanks.

[Don Tolson]

I installed it yesterday and it seemed to work OK, except it kept coming up with a message window complaining about not being able to find the device and did I want to stop looking @ the infrared/serial ports, every time I disconnected the device.

Today, it won't start up to synchronize -- no matter if I plug in the unit OR if I try to start it manually. It just sits there saying there is no device connected.

Since I'm now using an X500 which is also my phone, I'm loathe to reset the device, just to see if I can 'wake up' Activesync on the laptop.

[bbarker]

I installed AS 4.5 beta last week so I could sync with Office 2007. I guess I'll have to install the final version now.

If you think AS 4.5 drops features, that's nothing compared to Windows Mobile Device Center. It pretty much won't let you set anything yourself. Not to mention break every existing AS conduit out there.I don't have Vista yet. Does the Windows Mobile Device Center let you set the date range of calendar and task items to sync, and email subfolders to sync?

[Don Tolson]

Gave up and went back to 4.2. At least it consistently recognizes the X500 when it plugs in and doesn't complain everytime I disconnect it.

(I tried removing and installing 4.5 again, and within about 1/2 hour, it was doing the same thing again -- not recognizing when the device was plugged in via USB).

[Godsongz]

I'm getting a fatal crash during the installation when it reaches "installing RNDIS hotfix". And now every earlier version of ActiveSync fails at the same point, forcing my system to spontaneously reboot. The only way to get AS working again is to do a System Restore.

I suppose this is probably an issue with my system, but uninstalling ActiveSync doesn't correct it. Does anyone have a possible solution for this?

Thanks.

Here I go reviving dead threads again... but hey, it took me a while to get around to installing 4.5, and it bit me in the butt.

I don't crash when I get to the "Installing RNDIS Hotfix" point, but I am getting BSOD's caused by RNDISMPX.SYS, and only since the 4.5 install. It happens on the SECOND time I connect my Acer N311 to the cradle. After a reboot, I can connect and disconnect my Acer once (and it works fine, syncs everything, etc.), but the second time I cradle the Acer, the computer BSOD's.

I'm going to try going back to 4.2

[phdarch]

You guys who downgraded to 4.2, how did you do this exactly? Will 4.2 overwrite the 4.5 install but keep your profiles etc.? Or do you have to uninstall everything and start from scratch? 4.5 crashes on my machine and won't sync. I have lots of software and customizations on my ancient PPC and would like to maintain the installation if possible. I would never have "upgraded" but the company (in its infinite wisdom) decided to change all our Outlook settings without telling us, so since I had to start over with the PIM data I figured I might as well bring Activesync up to date...big mistake :-( TIA.

[Martin Bloem]

MS Activesync 4.5 is the worst I have seen in 10 years. Choosen options cant be changes without loosing Outlook data. My Ipaq210 is 6 months old and never been used for more then 2 weeks before going back to an old IPAQ 4700 (that has no sync problems. Question: Is there an alternative to MS Activesync for my IPAQ 210



http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&DisplayLang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9e641c34-6f7f-404d-a04b-dc09f8141141&DisplayLang=en)


"Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 is the latest sync software release for Windows Mobile-powered devices. ActiveSync provides a great synchronization experience with Windows®-powered PCs and Microsoft Outlook right out of the box."

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070215-winmo.jpg

The latest version of ActiveSync is here, and it includes some changes that may or may not prompt you to upgrade your existing installation of ActiveSync 4.2 (or below). Among the sea of bug fixes and enhancements, you can expect to find the following:

• Faster file transfer speed and photo sync via Outlook are only available for Windows Mobile 5.0 powered devices.
• Remote PC Sync (via WiFi or LAN) has been removed due to Enterprise customer feedback around security issues.
• Customers using Microsoft Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 with devices running the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0 will benefit from the following feature enhancements included in ActiveSync 4.5: Direct Push Technology, local device wipe, and certificate powered authentication to Microsoft Exchange.
• Microsoft® Outlook® 2000 is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5. It is highly recommended that users upgrade to Microsoft® Outlook® 2003 messaging and collaboration client.
• Conversion of database files for use on a mobile device is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5. On previous versions, this feature was limited to devices running Windows Mobile software for Pocket PC 2003 and earlier.
• Conversion of font files for use on a mobile device is not supported by ActiveSync 4.5. On previous versions, this feature was limited to devices running Windows Mobile software for Pocket PC 2003 and earlier.

Note that ActiveSync 4.5 is not an upgrade or replacement for the Windows Mobile Device Center (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53695) in Windows Vista.

[psyjohn]

I would also like to know what options are out there for syching my phone/ppc with my laptop. I recently tried using Google's OTA synch, but lost all but a few appointments and contacts in the process (thankfully I had a backup), and then it wouldn't synch again.

ActiveSync has caused me more frustration over the years than any other piece of software, and it may be what finally sends me to another OS with my next phone purchase. It is astounding to me that nobody at microsoft gets it. Is it possible that I am the only person in the world that makes scheduling changes on my device when I'm out and about? In the rare instances that I was able to sync upon return AS would change everything back to match what's on my PC. Using ActiveSync essentially negates the functionality of carrying a handheld.

This is just another example of the early signs of microsoft's decline. They are now where General Motors was in the '80s and '90s. Still plugging along making poor decisions and totally out of touch with the real world. I, for one, can't wait for the day that MS is begging congress for bailout money and teetering on ruin. This rant is off topic, I know, but this is what ActiveSync (and other MS apps) brings out in me. (don't get me started on how it took 20 minutes to figure out how to change the line spacing in Word07).

So, back to my original question: are there other ways to sync PIM info and data besides the evil empire's cruel prank?

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Is it possible that I am the only person in the world that makes scheduling changes on my device when I'm out and about? In the rare instances that I was able to sync upon return AS would change everything back to match what's on my PC.

Did you try changing the sync logic? On your device, open up AS, go to Menu->Options->Settings, and change the conflict resolution to "Keep the item on my device".

So, back to my original question: are there other ways to sync PIM info and data besides the evil empire's cruel prank?

Apart from AS, the only other way I know of is hosted Exchange - but that costs.

[psyjohn]

[quote=Nurhisham Hussein;703171]Did you try changing the sync logic? On your device, open up AS, go to Menu->Options->Settings, and change the conflict resolution to "Keep the item on my device".[quote]

I have changed that setting in the past, but it doesn't seem to "hold" for some reason. To be honest, I haven't even tried to use AS for a long time. I use backup software and a card reader for my storage card to backup files to my computer. It may not be as convenient, but it is reliable.

[doogald]

I would also like to know what options are out there for syching my phone/ppc with my laptop. I recently tried using Google's OTA synch, but lost all but a few appointments and contacts in the process (thankfully I had a backup), and then it wouldn't synch again.

. . . So, back to my original question: are there other ways to sync PIM info and data besides the evil empire's cruel prank?

Well, if you can do without tasks, and can get the data to Google calendar and contacts, I have really had fantastic luck with NuevaSync in the last two months. I know that you said that Google Sync did not work for you, but I'm not sure if that means it was syncing with Outlook on the PC or syncing with the phone.

I should note that I am using a Mac (and, even after paying for a third party sync product, direct syncing with the computer still stunk.) I have found a great Mac tool that syncs contacts and calendars with Google, so NuevaSync is a great solution for me (plus I never have to plug the thing in.) The only thing that doesn't necessarily sync well is reminders, but I solve that by using SMS reminders from Google Calendar to my phone rather than using WM's reminders on the device.