How does Auto-sync work in MyLifeOrganized 2 for Android

[Marina Afanasenko (MLO Team, PR Manager)]

Hi, everyone! 

Several users asked us about how auto-sync works in new MLO 2 for Android. In general, the operations with data in the cloud are automatic and do not need additional actions from your side. But there are several delicate points. Here we will post a detailed response with the technical details in order to respond to all these questions.

1. When you open the app, all changes in the cloud will be automatically checked and synchronized if needed. Usually, this happens quickly, even before you start to do any changes in the app. But you do not have to wait until the sync process is completely performed, it continues in the background and allows you to work (which was not possible in MLO 1). When the changes arrive, you will see them immediately.

2. When you open some other app or when your device switches to the sleep mode, MLO 2 waits for several seconds and, in case of finding any local changes, automatically transfers them to the cloud.

3. After you see a reminder from MLO on the device and in case you change it (snooze, complete the task, etc) MLO waits until the device goes to the sleep mode and in a couple of seconds transfers data to the cloud. This happens automatically, you don’t have to launch MLO for that.

4. After you change your tasks in the widget, MLO waits until the device goes to the sleep mode and in a couple of seconds transfers data to the cloud. This happens automatically, you don’t have to launch MLO for that.

Important! If auto-sync does not work as described, please, check the settings of the cloud sync in the Android app. This option should be enabled, as also the access to the mobile data, in case of using the mobile internet.

This way your local changes are always transferred to the cloud without any additional actions, and you get the relevant data when you need to work with them in the app. This is how we achieved a reduce in consumption of the battery and traffic, which is also one of our goals.

However, this scheme does not cover the two following cases:

5. You set the new reminder on the Desktop, and want to receive it on the mobile device, but do not want to open MLO on your mobile device for that.

6. You make some changes on the desktop, and want to see them in the widget, but do not want to open MLO on your mobile device for that.

To make items 5 and 6 possible, we have to use PUSH technology. In this case, the server will send the information on your device in event of any changes, even when it is in the sleep mode. Such technology is the only right choice because of the two reasons:

• as for item 6, the system doesn’t let the app an opportunity to know that widget is on the screen right now and needs an update of the data from the cloud. 
• if we check the cloud for changes according to a certain schedule, it will be too consuming for the battery of your device, and anyway, your data could arrive not at the time when you will need them.

The PUSH notification solution has special features, which we should also take into account. Just imagine, how you are working all day long on your Desktop computer, making a lot of changes in MyLifeOrganized. Every time you sync to the cloud, your changes will be immediately sent to all your devices, even if you do not need them right now. As a result, your battery is consumed less economically, than if you would sync all changes once, at the end of the working process.

When we developed MLO 2, we considered the possibility of adding PUSH, and we plan to implement this function as an optional, for those users who need it. We need to make changes on the server side so that everything would work right and economically. This is one of our priority plans.

Sincerely yours, 

The MyLifeOrganized Team

[Alexey Lyubarets]

So, PUSH is not implemented yet, therefore, to get updates from desktop we just need to open MLO application on the phone. With PUSH it will be updated in background when device is sleeping.

[Roberto Penzo]

I have understood exactly as you.
And to get the PUSH way we have to wait.
When the feature will come it will be a matter of setting for those that do not fear for battery drain or data traffic.

[Dave Fassett]

PUSH is the biggest thing I'm looking for... with out this feature, I run a massive risk of missing reminders :(

[Sergey Korolev]

The same for me. Waiting for push sync to be implemented.

[Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)]

PUSH is in testing now. The upcoming cloud maintenance is related partially to the PUSH preparations. 

Andrey.

[Joel Azaria]

This sounds good on the Android side but is push enabled to/from the desktop as well or is the desktop still timed sync?

[Sergey Korolev]

Any news on push testing?

[Lasse Pedersen]

I have not been able to find a user guide for Android, or a web article about sync configuration.

Only this thread.

I reckon auto-sync simply means I don't have to press a button.

But how does it relate to the PUSH thing? Auto-sync with vs. without PUSH - what is the difference?

Do I save battery live without PUSH? What do I miss out on without it? Only the risk of not getting timely reminders?

[Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)]

Autosync - start sync on app start/exit automatically. 

PUSH - device starts sync even in background if cloud changed

If you disable PUSH you will save more battery. But you will need to start app to get the latest updates from cloud.

Andrey.