What PDA or SmartPhones will sync with Linux?
 

Hi,

I want to buy a smartphone that will synchronize properly with Linux PIM applications.

It needs to sync:

• contacts
• tasks
• calendar items
• notes

I'm not interested in sync'ing email.

If you have such a phone or device actually working with Linux applications please tell me the phone and the apps that work OK.

I currently use KMail on my KDE desktop.

I have to resort to Windows Outlook for the rest of my PIM requirements because my current PDA (HP iPAQ 2200) will not communicate with Linux (I've spent days trying to get it to work - read and re-read everything - it just does not work at all).

Please include the name of the sync'ing software you use.

OpenSync, KitchenSync, MultiSync, Synce all seem to be pretty much dead projects.

I'm prepared to buy a working software solution.

Getting desperate!

tia,
RR

This is an interesting topic. Though, I have not tried or have an smartphone, after searching i see two possible solutions.

Linux-to-BlackBerry
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10060142-1.html

iPhone 2.0 Sync Your PIM with Open Source Funambol
http://solsie.com/2008/06/iphone-20-...urce-funambol/

You can look into them and figure out if they meet your needs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qtopia
several Motorola phones like E2, Z6 and A1200
http://doc.trolltech.com/qtopia2.1/h...-overview.html

I run qtopia desktop to sync with my Sharp Zaurus handheld. .it's not a phone, just an older handheld computer.



can't you reload your ipaq with Linux ?

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Sounds great, but appears to be yet-another-dead-concept.

I googled "qtopia OR "qt extended" smartphone" and got results from half a decade ago.

Found openmoko.com, with the neo. Can't buy it in Australia.

Yes, interesting idea.

Yet-another-dead-concept: last release in 2007 and this:

Please do not even try to apply the existing instructions from the installation guide on any of the HP iPAQ H2200, Hx4700, and H6300 series of devices. The installation will fail and in a worst case you may end up with a bricked device.


Everything looks promising, but then just disappears. :cry:

regards,
RR

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions.


iPhone cannot be tethered as a modem. The *ONLY* 3G phone in the world (probably) that cannot be used as a modem!

Blackberry is the most likely answer so far.

But even the link you mentioned refers to beta stuff.

That will probably disappear too. :cry:

regards,
RR

Did you try following any of the other links at the bottom of that wikipedia article ? I know android is still in the works.. maybe some of the others are as well..

also the linuxdevices website has a list of Linux based phones. http://www.linuxdevices.com/

Best of luck in your search.

I have a palm TX and it rocks with ubuntu and evolution. Very easy and smooth. My vista couldn't sync with it. There's even a special palmOS category undersystem>preferences. So I suppose it'll also work with palm treo or the new palm pre.

Hi,

The Palm Pre is looking promising. Because I live in semi-rural Australia I need it to run on Telstra's NextG (850MHz band) and get a "Blue tick" from Telstra (some phones are better in the outskirts than others).

I won't know until it's released and sold by Telstra.

Thanks for the info regarding the Palm Tx. 4 years old now, but I can still buy it and it's still costly (nearly AUD$500).

But, if my IPAQ dies (getting close - it's held together with sticky tape now) I can look at the Palm Tx to replace it until a proper smartphone appears.

[rant]
It's amazing that these hardware device sellers make it so hard to operate with different software. They make money from selling the devices, so you'd think they'd go out of their way to make their device sync with Linux Apps, Apple Apps, MS Apps, XYZ Apps, and so on.

OT:
As an aside, I tried to get LogiTech to tell me the protocol to get the battery status for my wireless kb/mouse combo (LX310). I could have added the code to a Linux App and every one of their Linux customers would benefit. "Oh, no that's secret proprietary information we cannot provide you." What would it cost them vs what it would gain them? It's just a few bytes of protocol with absolutely no intellectual property value whatsoever!

You've got to wonder about the intelligence of these people.
[/rant]

regards,
RR

OT: I received a free Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo at the Last local Dell Event I attended, I asked the Logitech rep if it would work with Linux since that is all I run at home, He said flat out NO, Only works with Windows. Kinda silly I have this $80.00 (SRP) Wireless setup new in the box, just collecting dust. Guess I should ebay that setup before it becomes dated.

I feel your pain.

Why limit it to hardware device sellers? Seems like everyone who makes anything or sells anything commercial goes out of their way to lock you into their product; the lack of cooperation at the expense of customer service seems intrinsic to modern commerce.

BTW, I've had a succession of Palm devices over the last several years, the latest a Tungsten E2. Don't even think about getting one if you want compatibility. I'd probably get a different HP model that is known to work well with Linux and use that instead if you can. Seems like everyone wants a combo phone unit these days though, so support for older devices is, well old.

Wireless Keyboard plug & type
 

Farslayer,
Did you plug the wireless keyboard?
I have used wireless keyboards & trackballs, most from logitech for several years.
Ubuntu 8.1 even warns of trackball battery down to 14% while trackball still tracks.

What PDA or SmartPhones will sync with Linux?
 

russellr,
Can you go shopping with a computer? With an Ubuntu laptop or a liveCD of Ubuntu8.1 you can quickly determine if a PDA or phone will do as you wish.

The standard answer is Windiz only because they know GNU users support their own and write code to use unfriendly products.
You may be surprised to find what works in latest version of Ubuntu long before it is documented. After purchase, you can make it work with your chosen distro.

Motorola phones can be modified to work as Motorola intended by removing restrictions placed by cellular companies. Perhaps your favourite phone can be configured to connect to GNU. Try searching "hack name_of_phone". Or "hack model_#"

Many Android OS phones will be marketed this year.

Hi,

Great idea! Thanks for the tip.

I didn't know that Ubuntu is more hardware compatible than other Linux distros.

I only have one life, so I only really have time to work with one or two distros. ;)

Perhaps Ubuntu might be the other one I spend time with.

regards,
RR

Ubuntu 8.1 and the kernel, plus probably some layer of hardware detection and configuration softwares are much better for my purposes than 8.04 was or other distros I have used.
I did see some discussion of adding hardware detection parts of the recent Knoppix to make a better installation for one user. Can't remember where I found those posts on adding Knoppix parts to Ubu.
The latest Knoppix might be better for your shopping and I will have to try it for my hardwares.