ActiveSync 4.x Desktop Software GuideCESD|200248In January 2005, after much speculation of the release a Microsoft Windows Mobile division leak disclosed details of formal work on ActiveSync 4.0. This document describes ActiveSync Version ActiveSync 4 - HistoryActiveSync 4.0 (4.0.0.4200) BETA emerged as the first evidence of the fourth generation Windows CE sync client on January 5th 2005. Little is currently known about ActiveSync 4.0's features or its release. The user interface at this early beta stage has not received significant updates to the 3.8 release which appeared on January 6th 2005. The most significant improvement that can be seen already in the pending ActiveSync release are the modifications to the 'Get Connected' wizard, now renamed the "Synchronisation Setup Wizard". The final ActiveSync 4.0 beta was built on the 4th March 2005 with a version number of 4.0.0.4328. ActiveSync 4.0 officially RTM'd at build 4.0.0.4343, but was only released via the web as a Developer Preview release. No formal RTM public redistributable was made available before or at the RTM and launch of Windows Mobile 5.0. Currently the only way to obtain ActiveSync 4.0 is on the CD which ships with Windows Mobile 5.0 devices or ROM upgrades. ActiveSync 4.0 changed the ActiveSync formula considerably. For the first time, users were able to specify where they installed the program to on their computers file system. More fundimental changes on the release revolved around the removal of on-personal area connectivity options from the synchronisation mix. The main reason for the removal of these features on the face of it was to reimpliment them in the corporate server solution Exchange 2003's new Windows Mobile connectivity module, leaving individual users or non-Exchange commercial users with little choice as 4.0 became mandatory for all new Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. Services for connections with Microsoft SQL server are included, along with a Synchronisation update for Windows Media Player 10 (KB894476 - not available at the time or writing) which allows you to access the auto synchronisation functionality from the Windows Media device manager directly from ActiveSync, without the need to shell out to Windows Media Player itself. Windows XP SP2 also has an integration update in the form of MS KB890927, this patch changed the USB layer of Windows XP to prevent Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (RNDIS) connected devices from locking up the PC when they disconnected. Fortunately, despite this and numerous other fundamental change to the USB layer of ActiveSync, the 4.0 release for many failed to work correctly, introducing new problems. As a result, ActiveSync 4.0 was never formally RTM'd, and never made available to download as a web release. ActiveSync 4.1.0.4841 was released to manufacturing on 18th November 2005 and became the first web reditributable of the ActiveSync 4 generation sync client. ActiveSync is a critical update to ActiveSync 4.0 as Microsoft were forced to silently recall ActiveSync 4.0 due to the discovery of critical show-stopper bugs in the CD release version that was dispatched with the early Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. Despite the recall, OEM's expected Microsoft to honour the release schedule for Windows Mobile 5.0, and when the first lines of devices began to emerge from OEM's, they shipped with the crippled sync client. Following on from the synchronised platform release of ActiveSync 4.1, ActiveSync 4.2.0.4876 was the first formal update relase for ActiveSync 4. The installer for version 4.2 was properly branded as a 4.2 release, and included revised EULA terms. Changes in the 4.2 release were formally stated by Microsoft as being:
ActiveSync 4.2 also shipped with a new troubleshooter utility, designed to detect and resolve connectivity and synchronisation issues with Windows Mobile devices. The utility, which is available from the Help menu of ActiveSync looks at the system network and firewall configuration, as well as PIM and active connection status to diagnose problems in real-time. At the end of the diagnostic and repair process, the user can opt to transmit the status report to Microsoft for diagnostic purposes, presumably to help improve ActiveSync and the diagnostic tool in future releases. ActiveSync 4.5 build 5096 was released on the 13th February 2007, and marks the final release of the ActiveSync lineage. ActiveSync has been repleased with the standalone Windows Mobile Device Center program for Windows Vista and the integrated Windows Device Centre in Windows 7. Confirmed Features (by HPC:Factor)
Speculation on ActiveSync 4.0Contrary to original expectations, ActiveSync 4.0 has not been simultaneously release to the public with the Windows CE 5.0 based 'Windows Mobile 5.0' release (Magneto). ActiveSync 4.0 is still locked in the Developer Preview release, with Microsoft having made no comment on its progress. This document will be updated as Microsoft make more information available. System Requirements for Version 4.0 / 4.1 / 4.2 / 4.5
Operating System Requirements:
DownloadMicrosoft ActiveSync is designed for Handheld PC's running Windows CE 3.0 and higher ONLY. ActiveSync 4.x is designed specifically for use against Windows Mobile 5.0. Unless you have Windows Mobile 5.0 device, or a 64-bit Processor HPC:Factor recommends that all users download and install ActiveSync 3.8.
Software Compatibility
For more information see CESD-S-0021 Tags | ActiveSync Guide
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