Anyone else not thrilled with giving google your database?

[sun]

Just to add a little information.

As was mentioned in an earlier post, dev phones have the ability to bypass the gmail authentication process. You can also get this benefit from rooting your phone using one of the many ROM's that are available (I can't recommend cyanogenmod enough!). This also gives you the benefit of being able to use the very powerful apps out there(such as task killer and wifi tethering), not to mention actually making the system perform much faster.

Also, as mentioned in an earlier post, android does possess the ability to turn off syncing with google altogether. This is especially easy to perform with one of the many toggle apps out there, especially with the donut widgit that is built into the cyanogen ROM.

As for syncing your contacts from Outlook, I have not tried it (I don't use Windows), but there is supposedly a PC Suite available from HTC (says that it's for the Magic, but I believe it would work for most of the currently available Android devices...ymmv) that looks like it should work: HTC Sync Upgrade for HTC Magic

As you mention, there are other shortcomings (lack of folders in bookmarks is a big one), but overall, this is a great phone, and it can be completely severed from our Google overlords with a little bit of work and research.

Thanks for the info .. it look like rooting might be the only option... unfortunately the htc software will not recognize US based Tmobile Mytouch phones. I've tried it and spoken to their support people. Something Tmobile did in conjunction with Google i assume has restricted this function.

-sun

 

[sun]

Thanks for the kind word, cdmckay. I really do want this to work.

I was just thinking this morning about the whole contacts issue. I just figured out that there is another big problem with it for me. It appears that what is being suggested is that you export your contacts from Outlook....jump through some hoops to separate the info...then upload it to Google...then download it to the gizmo.

So....I have to do this every time a make a change to Outlook?! What they really want is for me to not use a contact manager of my own at all and just keep it all on Google's servers. I am have no interest what so ever in doing that. I don't like Outlook. I only switched to it because it synced to Windows Mobile,... but I will keep my own records. If the mothership looses it, they will just shrug their shoulders and if they feeling in a good mood, they might say they are sorry. You can't hold a company responsible for a free service.

I need an app that will sync to a program on my PC. Am I asking for too much? Is it that hard? Am I the only one?

You ARe not alone Myfriend ... not at all .. don't worry about those who attack you for having different needs than they themselves have.

-sun

 

[sun]

if you have a gmail account, and use google - you are being cached pal. Live and in your face.

What if before this phone i did neither?

-sun

 

[DanGrover]

I think the whole point of 1984 and the Big Brother premise is that it's unavoidable. The state is crushing its citizens with information gathering and propaganda. You don't have to give Google your information - you chose to when you chose to purchase their product. As long as it remains a choice you have, I'm not worried about the Big Brother aspect of it. Now, governmental Big-Brother-esque actions, well that's another matter...

 

[Andronix]

there is an app called vCard IO...

 

[dkaufman1]

So I read this whole thread and both sides are well thought out...I think the privacy concern is something to worry about...but here's an anecdote from our own Android hero, Andy Rubin...

Before Android, Andy had a hand in founding Danger, the people behind the Hiptop/Sidekick. The story goes that in a big trade show they took out a device...gave it to a show participant who was told to type a note, pass it to someone else who did the same thing and so on. After a few minutes, the device was passed back and they reach in and grab a bowling ball and drop it on the device...smashed.

Visual effect, astounding. Everyone gasped.

Then they walked over to the mangled unit and showed it was broken (duh!). They pulled out the sim, and took a new unit and plugged it in. Booted it up and a few seconds later the notes all reappeared.

That story sold me on why I wanted protection.

Fast Forward to the G1 release.

I was excited and ready to finally leave Danger staying within the Tmobile family moving (upgrading!) to the G1. Danger's cloud didn't offer export! I had a total FU moment. I was pissed. My data was locked up in a proprietary service with no local sync. I even bought intellisync which was not helpful and didn't work. No luck.

I was careful to check as previous people in this thread mentioned, Google is very happy to offer import and export of my data in various formats. Should the time come, for backup etc.

Now does that address my privacy? No. Does it mean I value cloud over privacy? Apparently. Could you have an option that does what the OP wants? Absolutely.

I think with the advances in the OS this definitely an option. If Astro can back up my apps then someone can write something to back up my calendar, contacts and email to the SD too. Then you could turn off sync, back up to SD and then back up the SD every so often. I used to that with my old Handspring (Palm OS). Just my thoughts.

 

[cdmackay]

That is my choice and if you don't understand or don't care then please don't respond negatively.

Would you point out where exactly I was responding negatively, please?

 

[MKeditor]

Would you point out where exactly I was responding negatively, please?

I think that sun got you confused with another poster. Your comments have been friendly and encouraging. This newbie thanks you.


I am just over a week into this. I like Android. I am sticking it out in faith that the free market will rise to the occasion....if google doesn't block them.

As for my contacts and calendar, I moved the sensitive contacts of the celebrities off to a word doc....then begrudgingly uploaded the data to the mothership....which was kind enough to give me back what is already mine...to the phone.

I then downloaded an app to view word docs....only to discover that the app requires you to upload the doc to their website...then they will give it back so that you can view it. They're OBSESSED with getting your information. Is there any reason that I can't have a document on my phone that hasn't been seen by a third party? This is getting silly. Why no word doc viewer?

On a positive note.....my t-mobile guy who promised me if I bought the mytouch, he would get it unlocked in time for my Sydney trip on Monday... finally came through today. It was close. He tried a number of different angles that weren't working....and I was starting to think he wasn't as powerful a wizard as he claimed to be. But I got the code and was able to throw off the leash. Now I can use my Telstra SIM and have an OZ number while down under.

 

[dkaufman1]

I think that sun got you confused with another poster. Your comments have been friendly and encouraging. This newbie thanks you.


I am just over a week into this. I like Android. I am sticking it out in faith that the free market will rise to the occasion....if google doesn't block them.

As for my contacts and calendar, I moved the sensitive contacts of the celebrities off to a word doc....then begrudgingly uploaded the data to the mothership....which was kind enough to give me back what is already mine...to the phone.

I then downloaded an app to view word docs....only to discover that the app requires you to upload the doc to their website...then they will give it back so that you can view it. They're OBSESSED with getting your information. Is there any reason that I can't have a document on my phone that hasn't been seen by a third party? This is getting silly. Why no word doc viewer?

On a positive note.....my t-mobile guy who promised me if I bought the mytouch, he would get it unlocked in time for my Sydney trip on Monday... finally came through today. It was close. He tried a number of different angles that weren't working....and I was starting to think he wasn't as powerful a wizard as he claimed to be. But I got the code and was able to throw off the leash. Now I can use my Telstra SIM and have an OZ number while down under.

A few thoughts - one - have you heard of google blocking apps like the other guys? I haven't. In fact the opposite, any app gets on the market. I am sure there are some that might violate a TOS, but what you want clearly does not.

Second - I fully expect devs to eventually fill the market you seek of contacts/calendar with no Google integration.

Third - there are many apps for many cloud style services on the device, I think that is very much the attraction of this type of tool. Interesting though, Google is not always the "mothership" sometimes it is other companies using their cloud.

Fourth - Try AK Notepad. It's what you want for the doc file. Save the doc file as a .txt or maybe an .rtf. Then put it on your sd card. You can then open it via ak notepad, edit it, and it is only local. It's basically the missing "notes" application that most PIMs include. It doesn't sync. Make sure you manually back it up of course.

 

[MKeditor]

A few thoughts - one - have you heard of google blocking apps like the other guys? I haven't. In fact the opposite, any app gets on the market. I am sure there are some that might violate a TOS, but what you want clearly does not.

The only thing I heard like that is the HTC sync software not being available in the USA>

Fourth - Try AK Notepad. It's what you want for the doc file. Save the doc file as a .txt or maybe an .rtf. Then put it on your sd card. You can then open it via ak notepad, edit it, and it is only local. It's basically the missing "notes" application that most PIMs include. It doesn't sync. Make sure you manually back it up of course.

That sounds promising. I will give it a shot. Thank you.

 

[punkzanyj]

Not my data.

So you don't have any friends, family, coworkers, or distant relatives with gmail accounts? Even hosted accounts that don't end in @gmail.com? Because if you do, and you've sent them any email, if any of them owns an Android phone and has your name and number in their contacts -- then yes, your data is indeed on google's servers.

Run!

 

[MKeditor]

ha ha.

 

[Brian]

hasnt anyone mentioned the apps that are just for exchange sync? you just have to pay money for it. if youre so concerned with security then you shouldnt have a cell phone...the nsa is recording everything you say anyway, the phone company has all of your call records, its just a server, its not like theyre selling your information off to anyone

 

[Yary]

Second - I fully expect devs to eventually fill the market you seek of contacts/calendar with no Google integration.

If there will be such contact app on the market with no google integration, or better yet to give you the choice of what to sync with google and what not to sync with google, it would also need to have the ability of functioning with other apps on the phone such as Call Log & search. Or better yet, an app that would take over the default app and be able to dictate all that.
And have a full Local computer Sync functionality (having a choice of syncing everything with the local machine).
That will be when I would migrate from my Pam Treo to an android phone.

 

[Yary]

A combination of "Acontact" & "Easy Dial" integrated into each other with the ability of dictating what to sync and what not to sync with google and the ability to sync everything to the local machine.

 

[trick202]

Square peg - round hole.

Is this just a Brit saying?

 

[Yary]

Square peg - round hole.

Is this just a Brit saying?

No pegs, no holes.
Open Source.

 

[sun]

Would you point out where exactly I was responding negatively, please?

No i can't. My apologies. The first paragraph was a response to your comment the second was an overall comment to this thread..

-sun

 

[kabbie_mcfeely]

What most of you dont realize ...

If you have home phone service, home internet service, cell phone service, ANY e-mail account, ANY messenger account or any other communication type service, someone has your info.

You cant get away from it.

I for one dont care. With my military service and other jobs, big brother knows more about me than I do. Its part of the problem with having so much technology.

 

[punkzanyj]

I don't quite get this logic.


I don't trust google, a large, easily identifiable corporation which can be quickly and easily communicated with and to which I can issue a summons if I have a legal issue.....


but I do trust some random dev who creates sync software to not somehow be spying on my information or in some other way compromising my privacy.

 

[slbailey1]

You can also cancel any syncing that is done with Google.

I'm getting the Sprint Hero and I have a hosted Exchange account. I DO NOT WANT ANY of my contacts, appointments, or email synced with Google. How do I go about cancelling any syncing with Google?

 

[Yary]

What most of you dont realize ...

If you have home phone service, home internet service, cell phone service, ANY e-mail account, ANY messenger account or any other communication type service, someone has your info.

You cant get away from it.

I have in my contact list a lot of very sensitive info about my customers that I keep only on my phone and my computer. So we are not talking about some phone numbers, email addresses or street addresses.

 

[punkzanyj]

I'm getting the Sprint Hero and I have a hosted Exchange account. I DO NOT WANT ANY of my contacts, appointments, or email synced with Google. How do I go about cancelling any syncing with Google?

buy a dev phone, or buy an iPhone/Blacberry/Palm/WinMo device.

 

[kabbie_mcfeely]

sigh, yes, that's completely obvious. which is why those concerned about the privacy of their mail don't have gmail accounts.

ALL e-mail goes thru a server some where, where it is cached. There is no SAFE e-mail. Heck even the Goverments e-mail system gets hacked from time to time.

I'm getting the Sprint Hero and I have a hosted Exchange account. I DO NOT WANT ANY of my contacts, appointments, or email synced with Google. How do I go about cancelling any syncing with Google?

So its ok for your phone company to know who, what number, when and where you call someone ? Yes, any cell phone company can get pretty close to the location you were in when you made a call.

I have in my contact list a lot of very sensitive info about my customers that I keep only on my phone and my computer. So we are not talking about some phone numbers, email addresses or street addresses.

If you call any of the people on your "sensitive" list, your phone company will have the info about them. Granted its just a phone number and name, but if you have some spare cash and that info, you can find out alot about a person.

Bottom line, it doesnt matter what you do via phone or computer, someone knows about it.

YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM BIG BROTHER !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AceStar]

I trust Google way more than I trust my ISP. If Google turned into a scam outfit and sold on your data without telling you or something, the world is a lot more likely to know about it than with some small ISP somewhere. Likewise, if Google had a massive data breach you'd much more likely find out about it than if it happened to your little ISP or something.

If I were you I'd be more worried about every single non-encrypted piece of information between you and the internet passing via your ISP (which includes your ISP for your home broadband, as well as your phone carrier). ISPs can and do keep records of what you do (partially to cover themselves legally if someone on their network ever starts trading child porn or something), and phone companies, who you call, so yeah, how much do you trust all the system admins at your ISP with your data?

I rely on the idea that if Google ever started scamming people or being negligent about data safety, the world is more likely to hold them accountable and it will be bigger news.
.