Urgent Help Please - Mobile phone auto sync to PC

[skid]

Help please, we're trying to develop a technical solution to a manual work process and we need to speed things up using a camera phone (taking evidence of audit) photos.

Please only reply if you 100% know how to answer this. I keep geting 'maybe's' and I'd love an informed answer from some one really in teh know.

To aid our process I need to find a camera phone with software so that when the mobile is connected to the designated computer, the camera will auto sync images TO the computer. All we can find is phones set up to auto sync images FROM the computer.

To make things clearer we don't want any operator input from opening the computer, transferring files etc, this has to happen automatically just from the phone being connected to the compuer device.

We can write watch files on a PC, to monitor a set folder on the PC, and and process these images how we require, but we need to get the photo's to transfer directly to the PC automtically.

I've tried mobile suppliers but none of their technical departments have a clue.

Has any one real world experience of any camera phone beig easy set up for auto sync TO a PC?????

Many thanks
M

Edited by skid on Thursday 4th March 17:53

[Tanguero]

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

[marshalla]

Can you not just set up a watch program which waits for the phone to connect in mass storage mode and then grabs the photos from it ?

[Tycho]

you'll need to let us know what os is on the phone or what mobile will be used.

Edited by Tycho on Thursday 4th March 20:00

[jasperwade]

Tanguero said:

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

activesync won't but wmdc which is the vista version will.

Alternatively get a phone that takes a mini sd card, and set the autoplay on the pc so when a card is inserted it auto imports the photos

[buggalugs]

Sounds like you need something custom-y, presumably you'd need to attach info to these pictures such as case numbers, locations or whatever as well. I know someone up 'ere that might be able to knock up a mobile app for you, but unfortunately everyone down south drinks shandy.

[skid]

Tanguero said:

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

Thanks for the reply - but can you confirm this??..and how??? I think you've only seen it sync one way, as I have.

My windows mobile syncs, but the wrong way round, it will sync from the PC to the phone, but not auto sync taking the images from the phone to the PC.
If you know how to ensure this can happen please let me know and how.
thanks

[skid]

marshalla said:

Can you not just set up a watch program which waits for the phone to connect in mass storage mode and then grabs the photos from it ?

Hmmmmm....... what do you meanin mass storage mode?
We can set the watch file to read a folder and then process the images how we require, however didn't consider if the watch files could link directly to the storage card or specific folder in the phone.
Would the watch folder program fall over when the device wasn't attached?

If you canhelp - thanks

[skid]

Tycho said:

you'll need to let us know what os is on the phone or what mobile will be used.

Edited by Tycho on Thursday 4th March 20:00

This is the thing, we'll use anything that will auto sync from the phone to the computer automatically on connection.
I've told all phone retailers and cell providers and that they'd have an order for a handull of hand units when confirmed, but non of them can be arsed to answer my question properly. They all think 'they might'. I can't waste time and money on a maybe, I need a definate.

[skid]

jasperwade said:

Tanguero said:

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

activesync won't but wmdc which is the vista version will.

Alternatively get a phone that takes a mini sd card, and set the autoplay on the pc so when a card is inserted it auto imports the photos

OK - this is more like it. What is WMDC? can you clarify more? Also am reluctant to use Vista due to technicalities with our existing set up. Long story. Getting this to work on XP would be ideal.

We can easily get phones with mini SD's, but 'setting the autoplay on the pc' etc etc - do you mean physically removing the card from the phone and slotting onto the PC? Unfortunately this isn't an option - long story again - we just need it to sync, auto copy etc when the phone is plugged in.

If I haven't understood this please explain again, I'd much appreciate it.

[skid]

buggalugs said:

Sounds like you need something custom-y, presumably you'd need to attach info to these pictures such as case numbers, locations or whatever as well. I know someone up 'ere that might be able to knock up a mobile app for you, but unfortunately everyone down south drinks shandy.

Interested - don't need to attach anyhting to the photo's other than time stamp, all other details will be handled by a barcode scanner linked to a computer, the camera phones are just to evidence the activity and transmit the image to the same computer automatically when connected.

Please post some contact details or PM me re an APP. Bit reluctant to farm this technology out incse we have failure in the future and we don't know how to fix as outsouced solution - however not ruling it out.
Please drop me a line.
thanks
M

[cyberface]

If you want an instant solution and aren't too bothered about sticking with Windows - a Mac and an iPhone will do this *very* easily without any tricky setup.

However the iPhone camera quality is poor - the 3GS is significantly better than earlier iPhones but it's still poor compared to the competition, and doesn't have flash and doesn't work well in low light conditions.

But if you need a *fast* solution to auto-sync then I can guarantee that a Mac (with iPhoto and iTunes installed) and an iPhone with 'auto-sync on connect', will do what you want.

Incidentally, the Google phone (Nexus One) may be a more focused (sorry) solution to your requirements, since the camera app on the phone automatically tags each photo with the location and time - the location either approximated from cell towers, or if you have the GPS on, accurate to GPS standards. And it then looks up the address in Google Maps and tags each photo with the exact location (e.g. 12-14 Akehurst Lane, Sevenoaks) which may be useful for your requirement. Syncing this on connection isn't something I've tried yet though - and I'm syncing my Nexus One with a Mac, not a PC, so the process may well be different.

[skid]

Lots of good ideas - keep them coming

[Tanguero]

jasperwade said:

Tanguero said:

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

activesync won't but wmdc which is the vista version will.

Alternatively get a phone that takes a mini sd card, and set the autoplay on the pc so when a card is inserted it auto imports the photos

Activesync will and does! It does exactly this for me several times a day. ActiveSync version 4.5.0 running on WindowsXP SP3. Please check your facts before telling me I am talking bks

[gamefreaks]

skid said:

To aid our process I need to find a camera phone with software so that when the mobile is connected to the designated computer, the camera will auto sync images TO the computer. All we can find is phones set up to auto sync images FROM the computer.

To make things clearer we don't want any operator input from opening the computer, transferring files etc, this has to happen automatically just from the phone being connected to the compuer device.

I have just tried on my Windows Mobile 6 device. I can't seem to get it to sync images automatically. it will sync them, but does need input from the user.

ETA: This is on Vista with WMDC.

Edited by gamefreaks on Thursday 4th March 23:16

[Tanguero]

skid said:

Tanguero said:

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

Thanks for the reply - but can you confirm this??..and how??? I think you've only seen it sync one way, as I have.

My windows mobile syncs, but the wrong way round, it will sync from the PC to the phone, but not auto sync taking the images from the phone to the PC.
If you know how to ensure this can happen please let me know and how.
thanks

I do this every day. New pictures on my mobile device appear in the synchronised folder on my PC without any intervention on my part.

Disconnect your mobile device.
With ActiveSync setup and not connected, click the "Options" button
In the Sync Options tab of the Options dialog highlight "Files" at the bottom of the list.
Allow ActiveSync to create a shared folder on your PC
Connect your device
Active sync ill now ask how to deal the new items on the mobile device
Tell it to combine the device items with the PC
Your shared folder will be filled with the contents of the device ioncluding pictures.
When you next reconnect the device new files will be transfered to your PC automaticaly.

I rely on this functionality regularly and I believe it does exactly what you want.

Edited by Tanguero on Thursday 4th March 23:22

[gamefreaks]

Tanguero said:

skid said:

Tanguero said:

Any Windows Mobile based device that uses Microsoft ActiveSync can be set to automaticaly synchronise images on the device with the PC when it is pluged in, without operator intervention (apart from plugging it in obviously)

Thanks for the reply - but can you confirm this??..and how??? I think you've only seen it sync one way, as I have.

My windows mobile syncs, but the wrong way round, it will sync from the PC to the phone, but not auto sync taking the images from the phone to the PC.
If you know how to ensure this can happen please let me know and how.
thanks

I do this every day. New pictures on my mobile device appear in the synchronised folder on my PC without any intervention on my part.

Disconnect your mobile device.
With ActiveSync setup and not connected, click the "Options" button
In the Sync Options tab of the Options dialog highlight "Files" at the bottom of the list.
Allow ActiveSync to create a shared folder on your PC
Connect your device
Active sync ill now ask how to deal the new items on the mobile device
Tell it to combine the device items with the PC
Your shared folder will be filled with the contents of the device ioncluding pictures.
When you next reconnect the device new files will be transfered to your PC automaticaly.

I rely on this functionality regularly and I believe it does exactly what you want.

Edited by Tanguero on Thursday 4th March 23:22

I'm not sure you can do this on Vista (which uses WMDC rather than Active Sync)

I have just tried and while I can get it to sync existing files on the device, I can't seem to sync a whole folder.

Maybe its just me being thick though!

Will have a go on my work PC tomorrow. (I have XP and Active Sync on that)

[skid]

Yes I want amy mobile devie (windows or any other) to sync from the phone and update the PC - but runnning XP.

Avoiding vista like the plague as causes us too many problems with our unique system

[Tanguero]

skid said:

Yes I want amy mobile devie (windows or any other) to sync from the phone and update the PC - but runnning XP.

Avoiding vista like the plague as causes us too many problems with our unique system

I have given the answer above using ActiveSync 4.5.0 on Windows XP SP3

[TonyToniTone]

ActiveSync will only work if the files you need to sync are in 'my documents' or below on the device, if your files are located in DICM on your storage card ActiveSync will be of no use.