May switch to Android - Can you assign ringtones by category? Can you sync tasks?

[jbroses]

I'm an HTC TP2 WM 6.5 user, but thinking of switching to an Android phone. I've been trying out XD Android, and am close to sold. However, I have a few dealbreakers, and I'm hoping experienced Android users can help me out:

1) Is there a way (or an app) that can assign ringtones based on Categories (Outlook or Gmail)? Photo Contacts Pro does this for WM. This is a dealbreaker for me because I have over 900 contacts, and I need to be able to assign a certain ringtone for all work contacts, family, friends, etc. Doing this manually (and having to update it for new/modified contacts) would be horrible. Any thoughts?

2) Is there a way to sync Outlook (or Gmail) Tasks with Android? The only thing I've seen so far is editing your gmail tasks list via mobile browser (at Tasks ). If anyone's tried this and has comments, I'd appreciate it.

If I can solve these problems, I think I'll be a convert! Otherwise, I may have to go to Windows Phone 7... which looks just awful...

[Marctronixx]

moved this to the general section since your questions are general to the Android OS rather than one specific phone model.

1. yes there is an app (cliche`) that can do this and you can assign ringtones to contacts as you can on the TP2.
2, yes . the android OS is birthed by google so all of your google contacts/tasks/calendars, etc will be synced in the cloud. perhaps give an example of what you specifically want to know?

dont go win7, Android is definitely the right platform.. and i am a long time (since 2001) PPC user! i finally sold my TP2 a few months ago and made the EVO my only phone. i have completely switched to Android. ive used Android since oct 2009 and the EVO is my second android device....

[jbroses]

Thanks, Marctronixx! Sorry, was looking for the general section but couldn't find it.

1 - Can you point me to a site describing cliche? I can't find it (the only thing that comes up is Cliche Japonais, and it's in French... and my French is pretty bad). Just to confirm, I want to assign ringtones to a CATEGORY, not individual contacts (e.g., I have 200 contacts in the "Work" category. I would like them all to have the same ringtone so I know immediately when the phone rings that it's someone from work. I would like my 300 contacts in the "Friends" category to have a different ringtone, etc. I want to do this without having to assign ringtones individually to each of my 900 contacts).
2 - That sounds great. I've played around with friends' Android phones, but none has a program called "Tasks." What I'm looking for is something that will sync with Outlook's "Tasks" (another piece of PIM data similar to calendar and contact entires). I don't actually know that Gmail/Google has a dedicated Tasks area (like it does for Calendar and Contacts). I would settle for any kind of free-text "Note" that can be synced automatically between my phone and PC, though. The idea being that I enter in the dimensions of my windows in Outlook, and then when I'm at the store, all of those dimensions are available on my phone as well.

Let me know if that makes sense. I'm pretty close, I love so many things about Android, these are my last 2 sticking points...

[Marctronixx]

my bag, i meant when i said "theres an app for that..." i meant THAT phrase was a cliche`..

here are some apps: group ringtone | All | By date, Androlib, Android Applications and Games directory

also go to AppBrain Android Market - find the best Android Apps and Games . it lists the android apps so you can get an idea of whats in the market. if you had an android device, you could go to this site, sign up and make a list of apps to install then they will sync to your handset in the cloud. this sit will also keep a backup of your apps.

you must have a gmail account in order to use android. once you create that and import your calendars, contacts, etc to your gmail account, those will all be forwarded to your handset and you can view such items and make adjustments there and they will reconcile to your desktop.

you can setup your exchange account on your android handset with the stock mail app or use a more robust app, called "touchdown". search for it on appbrain..