Google and Windows 8 (Surface Pro)

[destrekor]

On my desktop with Win8, all still appears well. Perhaps Google isn't planning on canning EAS for existing accounts/devices.
Sadly, even if it's an existing account, my Surface Pro is feeling the sting of Google's decision.

I was wondering why I synced (Live) mail accounts were bugged - turns out, can't add them to a new device syncing Contacts and Calendar(s).
So I've got email syncing in the Win8 Mail app, but it's IMAP (apparently, it's an implementation of ActiveSync on my desktop, and Microsoft wants to default to that).

Sidebar: how long has Google even supported EAS? Could I have been accomplishing perfect sync in Outlook 2010 on my gmail accounts?! I never knew that was possible, I just assumed I needed to set up an IMAP connection. Too late now, since it would essentially be a new connection.



So - what do we do? Google seems intent to never release anything important for Win8/RT/WP8 - which is going to make syncing calendar and contacts a little more painful on my newest device, and who knows what kind of pain this will cause in the future if I have to do anything to my desktop or get any other devices. And I refuse to accept the website platforms. I cannot stand having things like email and calendar stuck in the browser. Bad enough I have no other choice but to accept that for certain things (military email outside of military domains/devices), so I'd like to avoid adding any more services into the browser. Apps that are baked into the OS, with notifications built in? Yes, I'll use those thank you.

 

[dlock13]

I believe that Google supports some type of open source standard which Microsoft is supposedly building into Windows/Windows Phone with the next update. That way we can keep syncing our Google accounts.

 

[destrekor]

I believe that Google supports some type of open source standard which Microsoft is supposedly building into Windows/Windows Phone with the next update. That way we can keep syncing our Google accounts.

I take it you are referring to WebDAV, in this case CalDAV and CardDAV?

Losing Push is a major annoyance, one that would be gained back in Google simply got around to making Win8 metro apps.

I don't get why they want to play hardball when it comes to apps. Sure, it has little market share right now - and they'd probably change their minds if Win8 gains appreciable market share - but Google is also risking the loss of a fair bit of business... who knows how many will end up being annoyed with Google's antics, moves onto something else to have a more integrated experience (outlook.com ain't half bad ), and suddenly Google might start losing precious data to harvest for advertisers.

Google - keep me happy and you can have my data for eternity. I just require a little bit of appeasement from time to time. You know, like making my life easier - which is the entire reason you get so much from me as it is.

 

[Canbacon]

How rooted are you in with google's services. I'm just wondering as you can always try doing a copy of your google email/calendar/contacts to outlook. I actually haven't tried this service but I am seriously thinking about it when I get a Surface Pro.

https://secure5.trueswitch.com/hotmail/

The only thing holding me back at the moment is that my MSDN/Live account is setup with my gmail account.

 

[destrekor]

How rooted are you in with google's services. I'm just wondering as you can always try doing a copy of your google email/calendar/contacts to outlook. I actually haven't tried this service but I am seriously thinking about it when I get a Surface Pro.

https://secure5.trueswitch.com/hotmail/

The only thing holding me back at the moment is that my MSDN/Live account is setup with my gmail account.

I am absolutely in love with my Android phone and 7" tablet. I've been a Gmail user, and Google Calendar user, since they were fairly new.

I am one of those people who will stubbornly hold on to something one he has gotten quite acquainted and settled. In the early phase, I can switch at ease. But you can drag my Android devices from my cold, dead hands.

I just absolutely wanted a Win8 do everything tablet, as opposed to a limited 10" mobile OS tablet.


A switch like that does seem pretty well thought through, and Outlook.com is pretty nice (again, I hate web services in the browser, but at least it reminds me, for better or worse, of the OWA I'm familiar with)... but, I just can't neuter my Android experience like that - and maintaining two systems in that way sounds awful.

 

[Canbacon]

Ah ok, then maybe an option is to see how much premium gmail account would cost you. Once you go premium, they keep EAS active for your account and any new connections to that account. You are paying for the EAS license and the ad/stat tracking to go away.