RESOLVED: Galaxy S5 , NOTE 4 finger print scanner issue with MS Exchange Calendar

***Please see my latest review for OWA WebMail app that bypasses Calendar issue***

We all are excited about our new Samsung Galaxy S5 & Note 4 and how awesome it’s finger print scanner is. I got my S5 on Day 1 of deliveries and was very disappointed that my Corporate Exchange email restricts me to type 8 Digit PIN.

I am not a big fan of Apple iPhone and really wanted Samsung to come up with finger print recognition. The 8 digit pin for unlocking your phone is a pain in the you-know-where and I pray to Microsoft & Samsung developers to make things simple and uncomplicated. Please read my previous article for more details

I used CloudMagic software to fix this problem but CloudMagic does not support Calendars to be synced. To solve this, I wrote a powershell script to get this job done but bigger problem was to let it run in background after every 30 minutes. This would eat up my RAM (I use Surface Pro 2 and I have to think about saving memory/juice). After more search I found this solution on Youtube and is the exact thing I was looking for.

Google Calendar Sync is the utility and it’s a life saver!! Download it here

I am grateful to Mike Senn for putting this amazing video together explaining how to install and configure the software. A big Thanks !

The utility stays open in Notification area and keeps syncing calendar every 30 minute (or whatever time you set it)

Although Google had some good suggestions already available but Mike’s answer to all those new Galaxy S5 & Microsoft Exchange Corporate users is the easiest. Now, I can sync my Google calendar to Microsoft Outlook and vice versa. So, I have Cloudmagic to help sync Email & Google Calendar Sync to synchronize Calendar.

Alternatively, one can also try another method:

1. Use CloudMagic to read  write your email

2. As Cloudmagic does not support calendar, use TouchDown HD to track calendar entries as a widget + check emails.

Let the two apps sync emails /calendar/tasks and optimize them together to decrease bandwidth usage.

It enables you to have a view on calendar without putting in 8 or 4 digit pin using TouchDown HD and on the other hand you can check emails using CloudMagic.

Looks like a Win-Win argument ? !

Let me know how this turns out with your organizational/exchange challenges.

RESOLVED: GALAXY S5, NOTE 4 fingerprint scanner does not work with Microsoft Exchange

UPDATE 06/11/2015:

Please see reviews of two better apps which resolves finger scanner issue for Exchange

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I have been going through a lot of articles about how awesome the new Galaxy S5 is and being a techie I am not completely happy with my new Galaxy S5. Samsung has worked hard and spent a good amount of time to create it’s Finger Print recognition and I must say, they have FAILED in copying it from Apple’s TouchID. The Finger print scanner which Samsung refers to is the new fingerprint sensor made to fit close to the Home button. This technology has previously existed with Motorola Atrix , IPhone 5S and some other phone makers. However, there were issues in finger print recognition with them. Unfortunately Samsung has disappointed me as I heavily depend on my Corporate Emails. The corporate emails force a phone device to have 8 DIGIT (YES, 8 Digit!!!) PIN on phone to maintain security. Punching in 8 DIGITS after every 14 minutes just doesn’t make sense. IPhone 5S did have a solution to this where the Fingerprint is mapped to the 8 Digits in the background. To my disappointment Samsung Galaxy S5 or NOTE 4 does it in a different way and hence defeats the purpose of having Finger Print recognition in a phone.

Overall the idea to have fingerprint recognition is not new but solves a lot of problems for end users, if implemented well. Going by Samsung’s legacy of great innovations, the problem should have been addressed. This issue can easily be addressed with a patch and finger print recognition can have a logical mapping to Digit based PINS. The problem with Microsoft Exchange My organization and a lot of major organizations around the world rely on Microsoft Exchange for email communications. The most common pre requisite for Microsoft Exchange in such organizations worldwide is 4 digit or 8 digit PIN or passcode requirements.

I have been using Nokia’s Symbian devices and Samsung Galaxy S2 and Apple IPad for some good amount years. Microsoft has not addressed this problem till now and no matter how many online search I have done so far, I have not found a solution to skip this requirement. I am afraid, for me as an avid user of Microsoft exchange for my email requirements on a minute to minute basis will lead me to use the number PIN code instead of the Finger print recognition. This has been the case with my Samsung Galaxy S2 phone as well, where I could never use the pattern lock and still be jealous of my other friends who did not use Exchange configured on their phones. I would love to see Microsoft address to the problem and I do not blame Samsung for the mess. But, for me, the purpose of an upgrade has been defeated.   For now Samsung, Please fix this problem !

Solution as update on 04/11/2014: I installed a free app called CLOUDMAGIC from Google Play Store and it’s able to ignore the 8 Digit Pin requirement all together. You can find the app here on Play strore.

Update1: The calendar sync problem has a solution from Google. Please read my next article on Google Calendar Sync.

Update2: **Check my latest review on two more apps which resolves this issue for all Android Finger Print scanners**

Windows 8.1 Update

Microsoft has started the download of Windows 8.1 update today (04-08-2014) using it’s Windows Update Method. The much anticipated update will bring some very nice changes in the UI for mouse and touch users. I currently use Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and have downloaded the update from Windows Store.

How to get the free update

You can download the free update from the Windows Store.

1. Go to the Start screen, and tap or click the Store tile    
2. In the Store, tap or click the Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 update. if you don’t see the update on the Store home screen, see Why can’t I find the update in the Store?
3. Tap or click Download.
4. The download will start automatically.

Based on Microsoft website there are lot’s of new features that will show distinct improvements from previous version. Some of them are life savers:

1. Power & Search buttons on the Start screen

2. A better looking Taskbar for Open & Pinned apps with START button

3. Much awaited minimize & Close button

4. A more intuitive tile with functionalities of Right click option like previous Windows operating systems.

5. Better Security

The good thing is that this update is free of cost. The other good thing that I observed that Microsoft has started listening to it’s customer base. Be it Windows 8.1 Phones or the Windows 8.1 Update for laptops, Microsoft is trying it’s best to cater to user’s demands. Introduction of Cortana & other great features in Windows 8.1 only makes Microsoft stronger in front of Apple & Samsung in the phone segment. The shift in strategy is a clear indication of product improvement and that too in time.

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