Plaxo: the "Holy Grail of synchronization"

A few weeks ago I got a Blackberry Curve. It can do so much more than any phone I've ever had, it got me thinking...it's possible NEVER to lack the information you need, no matter where you are in the world. So, I began working to create that reality in my life. (Sidebar/disclaimer: I'm not one of those people who thinks it's actually important to have 24/7 access to email, a phone, my computer desktop, etc. I just think the idea of being able to is cool.)

One of the things I decided I wanted in my never-disconnected world was constant access to my calendar, contacts, and task list. I keep all of this in Outlook 2007. Outlook 2007 syncs with my Blackberry, so as long as I've got the Blackberry with me, I've got Outlook with me. But if I've got a choice between working from my Blackberry and working from an actual computer, I'd rather do the latter. So, how to sync my Outlook with some sort of Web-based service...?

That's where Plaxo comes in. Plaxo is free. It will sync with Outlook 2007. It works with Windows Vista. And it syncs calendar, contacts, and your task list. It is, therefore, the "Holy Grail of synchronization" (a phrase I stole from some other guy who was trying to achieve the same sort of always-connected existence).

I looked at a number of other services--including the obvious ones, Google and Yahoo--and either they weren't free, or they wouldn't sync with Outlook 2007, or they wouldn't work with Windows Vista, or they wouldn't sync calendar, contacts, AND the task list.

Only Plaxo would do all of this. I can get on the Web, see exactly what I could see if I were looking at Outlook at home, and do so without paying a dime. Accordingly, Plaxo wins a hearty recommendation from me.

Footnote: I don't get paid for this, nor do I get "Plaxo Points" or anything like that. I just think it's a good service, so I wanted to share.

Anklenote: Mapquest Navigator for Mobile is also very cool (though it costs money). If your phone is GPS-enabled, you can get turn-by-turn voice directions through the phone. Unfortunately, I sent the Mapquest people an email 10 days ago, and then again 3 days ago, and I still have heard nothing. I'd be happy to sign up for an annual subscription if they'd respond. But it appears they're not going to, which means that I won't be subscribing. Bad business...

Comments

[Lehigh]

If you have the Curve, download Google maps. It basically lets you use the phone's GPS without having to pay for it. It does traffic, directions (no voice, tho), location searches, movie searchers, etc. By far my favorite CrackBerry ap.

Thanks for the Plaxo tip. Whatever happened to Plax mouth rinse?

[Special Agent Johnny Utah]

Will Google Maps track your route while you're driving? I mean, does it show the progress of my car on a 3-d or 2-d map? If it does that, then I can live without the voice directions.

[Lehigh]

Yes. You get a little blue circle that shows where you are on the map, and you can zoom in and out with an i (in) and an o (out). Hitting zero always centers the map on your location. And it shows traffic on major highways(red for backed up, yellow for slow, green for all clear).

Now, it's somewhat dangerous looking at the thing while driving, but if you have a reasonable short term memory it works well enough.

BTW, if you remain in Austin through the summer please make it a personal mission to take Connie Britton out to dinner (she's on Friday Night Lights), and is fetching as all get out.

[Special Agent Johnny Utah]

I tried Google Maps yesterday. The map was pretty small, even at maximum zoom. Aside from that and the talking directions, though, it pretty much does everything the other ones do. And knowing Google, I'm sure they'll add talking directions soon enough. God bless the Internet.

As for Connie Britton, already been out with her. All I gotta say is: O-ver-Ra-ted, clap clap clapclapclap. Actually, she was a fun date. And did you know that she used to be roommates with Lauren Graham? It's true. Talk about your classic Penthouse Forum set-ups...