[Q] What's the best contacts app? (not stock) - Epic 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Ok, i've been looking around and have found a few, but I was wondering what everyone else is using.
I need to use my phone for business, and quite honestly, the built in contacts app is lacking a few features. The worst is lacking the ability to sort contacts by company name or last name.
If you have replaced your contacts app, please let me know which one you are using and what you think about it.
Thanks!

If you're using Froyo, you can open up contacts, menu, More, Display options, then pick Sort order (and some other configurable settings).
I've tried a couple contact managers in the past.. and none were any good. I would just search appbrain or androidzoom.com, etc.
Hope that tip helps though.
sent from my RAZR

Thanks, I have played with Froyo a bit, but went back to Eclair due to some issues. I was thinking of trying the latest release, so thanks for the info.
I have searched though the app stores and have found a few, but based off of reviews and lack of updates, I didn't feel they were all that good.
I wish I had the time to learn to code, I would just make one myself...
Ok...i'm off to play with Froyo

Well, Froyo does allow sorting by last name, but it does not offer any other sorting methods
Anyone else have any experience with alternative contact managers?

i have an epic, running 2.2, and using launch pro plus they have a people widget, works pretty good

Haven't had a good business contact manager since I got rid of the Treo 755p. Maybe if enough people rag on Dataviz they will port over their contacts database called: Beyond Contacts

I'll take a look at the widget, but I'm looking more for a true contact manager.
Beyond Contacts would be a promising port if they were interested.
I am surprised with all the apps that are out there that a decent contact manager doesn't seem to exist.

Have you tried Youlu Address Book?
http://www.appbrain.com/app/youlu-address-book/com.youlu
I think its pretty slick.

kiekan said:
Have you tried Youlu Address Book?
http://www.appbrain.com/app/youlu-address-book/com.youlu
I think its pretty slick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pressed your thanks button by mistake, youlu is good, but doesnt have # or * buttons !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been able to group my contacts into countless categories, and even put contacts into multiple categories (friends and coworkers for example) once I logged onto my contacts list via Gmail, creating my own categories, clicking the checkbox that the person applies to and then automatically gets synced it to my phone. I have to click a few times (Phone > Contacts> Groups > Google) to get into those categories vs just going directly to my list, but its still easier and almost quicker to use then when I was using ContactsGroupU on my Moment.

Related

Android 2.x Facebook Sync ???

Android 2.x has an option for adding a Facebook account under the "Accounts & Sync" menu. However, none of the cooked ROMs I've tried have actually got this function to work.
I am just curious, what exactly is it meant to do? Senseâ„¢ has Facebook integration that includes the ability to perform a few functions via the People app, as well as pull down contact pictures (the most common feature I guess). What does vanilla Android's "Facebook Sync" actually do?
I would imagine part of it involves contact images, but is that all?
actually you can download an application not that much good but it would b enough to handle the facebook activities
go to market and download addressbook application
then download facebook mix in this will be an external to that application
MolMol
Sincmypix is the perfect tool to sync contacts pictures! Just try it.
It's safe because you don't enter password in the app.
I am affrait of internal password applications.
profete162 said:
Sincmypix is the perfect tool to sync contacts pictures! Just try it.
It's safe because you don't enter password in the app.
I am affrait of internal password applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Syncmypix is a good one! +1 for that
I tried syncmypics a couple of days ago, and it mixed everyone's photos up. was very confusing. and it took me quite a while to go through and delete all the photos afterwards.
Am glad it's working for you guys though. Just wish there was something that worked for me too.
Hey guys,
Thanks for replies... Not quite the answers I was looking for though... What I really want to know what the Vanilla Android 2.x Facebook sync is *supposed* to do, whatever that may be.
However, although this is slightly off-topic, if you chaps are looking for the best way to get your Facebook pics into your contacts, then I've found what I feel is the best solution for you.
I tried SyncMyPix which in theory is great, but in practice, it's completely hit and miss (at least if you have a 200+ list of contacts as I do). In the end, I settled for a completely external application that syncs your Facebook pics to your actual Google Contacts online. Android then syncs the Google Contacts, pics included, as normal.
This method worked brilliantly for me, and I suggest you give it a shot.
Google Contact Sync
booon said:
and it took me quite a while to go through and delete all the photos afterwards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can delete all the pics from Results -> Menu.
I had that native sync working and it pulled down about 300 people into my contacts list, the ones with mobile numbers listed anyway, thank god it didnt override my google cloud contacts!!
StNickZA said:
Hey guys,
Thanks for replies... Not quite the answers I was looking for though... What I really want to know what the Vanilla Android 2.x Facebook sync is *supposed* to do, whatever that may be.
However, although this is slightly off-topic, if you chaps are looking for the best way to get your Facebook pics into your contacts, then I've found what I feel is the best solution for you.
I tried SyncMyPix which in theory is great, but in practice, it's completely hit and miss (at least if you have a 200+ list of contacts as I do). In the end, I settled for a completely external application that syncs your Facebook pics to your actual Google Contacts online. Android then syncs the Google Contacts, pics included, as normal.
This method worked brilliantly for me, and I suggest you give it a shot.
Google Contact Sync
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, this is just great.
StNickZA said:
You can delete all the pics from Results -> Menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't see that. whoops!

Send Facebook messages directly from Contacts

Hey there,
I just unpacked my T-Mobile USA Vibrant (modified Galaxy S). I love the phone, but as always, there are things that I think are missing. So I played around a little bit with it and one thing kept bothering me.
The phone integrates all my Facebook contacts, which is great. But I think it would be a slick feature if you could actually send them a message directly from the contact list. As of now, I have to go into a browser or use the FB app to send messages and I think it would be a lot more convenient to just go into the contact and send a message from there (like a text basically).
Does anybody now if there is an app or some piece of software that can help me out here? If not, do you even think it is possible to do it? I am not a developer, but I can imagine there are some issues, cause as far as I know Samsung didn't open there UI code for developers yet (or showed any intention of doing it).
So I am excited what you guys think of that and hope there is a solution somewhere out there
Phill
edit: I just saw there is a specific Vibrant forum. If the admins would like to put this post in the right place I would appreciate it. However, I think the issue is omnipresent among all versions of the SGS.
This would be a fantastic mod for contacts I would think I don't know why someone hasn't done this previously. I think if we get the guy doing the standard froyo / eclair dialler / contacts mod to do this it will be extremely innovative.
Contacts -> Groups -> Facebook -> menu -> Send message -> Choose recipient
Wow, long path... Should work though.
hey yea that works. but it is kind of a long way dont you think? Thanks anyway, it got me one step closer What I think would be a tremendous improve is to add the fb msg feature directly to the first contact screen. You know, when you slide left on a contact for texting and right for calling. If there is no number available but a fb contact it should automatically go to the fb messaging.

Weird CM7 contacts/favorites question

1. In my "contacts" section, I am missing three people (my girl and two close friends). Discovered pretty quickly that they are in my "favorites" section in the stock CM7 dialer. The strangeness comes when I remove them from my favorites, they don't return to my general contacts listing. I don't want to make a new entry for these people and have hella doubles in my synced google contacts, am I doing something wrong? Is this a bug of some kind?
2. I can't seem to find a way to "link" contacts like I used to be able to in Sense, but perhaps that was just a nicety of Sense. If there's no way, I'll just have to do some painstaking contact maintenance and clean it up for good.
Thanks in advance for the help
1. Confirm your settings under Menu->Display Options. It may not be showing all of your contacts by default. Make sure to check the actual gmail/other accounts to see if groups are unchecked..
2. Edit a contact, then press Menu->Join.
thegregbradley said:
1. In my "contacts" section, I am missing three people (my girl and two close friends). Discovered pretty quickly that they are in my "favorites" section in the stock CM7 dialer. The strangeness comes when I remove them from my favorites, they don't return to my general contacts listing. I don't want to make a new entry for these people and have hella doubles in my synced google contacts, am I doing something wrong? Is this a bug of some kind?
2. I can't seem to find a way to "link" contacts like I used to be able to in Sense, but perhaps that was just a nicety of Sense. If there's no way, I'll just have to do some painstaking contact maintenance and clean it up for good.
Thanks in advance for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AWESOME. I kept searching in "settings," completely overlooked display options as if it weren't even there! Thank you, all problems solved!

[Q] Dialer not searching ??

Just got myself a GN and I was a bit disappointed with the dialer.
With my old phone I could just spelling the name of a contact and the dialer would list contacts.
GN just puts in the numbers no direct search ??
Is it some option or something I am missing or do I need another dialer??
Love the feel of it just wish I did not have to go to contacts to find a number...
The stock dialer does not support T9 Smart dial. Either use another dialer, or use the google search bar to search for the contact you want to call.
Or spend a minute amount effort and tap the search icon in the bottom left of the dialer then start typing the name. It's not really much time wasted...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
I also wish the T9 dialer was built into stock Android as it is with HTC Sense, Touchwiz and MIUI.
If you would like Google to change this, star the following threads in the Android issue tracker:
http://code.google.com/p/android/is...t9&colspec=ID Type Status Owner Summary Stars
http://code.google.com/p/android/is...t9&colspec=ID Type Status Owner Summary Stars
http://code.google.com/p/android/is...t9&colspec=ID Type Status Owner Summary Stars
While it may not be much more effort, it is quite clear that this feature is available in other stock dialers, then why not in google's own?
I also store my contacts on the sim card and if anyone has noticed, then you cannot import all contacts into phone at once. You have to manually go through all contacts which again is a sore point.
I think that is a valid point to expect in the dialer, not whether searching seperately is an option or not!
s1977 said:
While it may not be much more effort, it is quite clear that this feature is available in other stock dialers, then why not in google's own?
I also store my contacts on the sim card and if anyone has noticed, then you cannot import all contacts into phone at once. You have to manually go through all contacts which again is a sore point.
I think that is a valid point to expect in the dialer, not whether searching seperately is an option or not!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not synchronise your contacts with google, so if you:
1. lose your phone.
2. Phone gets broken
3. Somebody steals it
it only takes 2 minutes before you have all your contacts again.
There are a lot of Contacts apps around on the market, and i bet even 1 of them supports transferring your sim contacts to the phone.
Earlier i used GO Contacts, but they don't support ICS yet. So for now im using DW Contacts (looks ok, only used it for an hour though).
Herman76 said:
Why not synchronise your contacts with google, so if you:
1. lose your phone.
2. Phone gets broken
3. Somebody steals it
it only takes 2 minutes before you have all your contacts again.
There are a lot of Contacts apps around on the market, and i bet even 1 of them supports transferring your sim contacts to the phone.
Earlier i used GO Contacts, but they don't support ICS yet. So for now im using DW Contacts (looks ok, only used it for an hour though).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and accepted, but that behaviour has been standard all along. Rather than make me select one contact at a time from my hundred contacts, that one simple click would have been better. Anyways I prefer not to upload contacts into the cloud because
1. I may not have the consent of some of the ppl that I hold details for, e.g. bosses and they may not prefer it and
2. I personally do not know who or how this data is used/accessed in which case I would rather not. And personally judging by Google's appetite for gathering our personal data, I would rather opt out. Its just me....
Sorry OP to have hijacked your thread..
Correction - User error Apologies, I have just read the manual and it does allow for an 'import all' option to copy all contacts from SIM to phone.
To bad wish they would put that in its a very nice feature I seen no reason to be left out.
Anyone know a good dialer to use instead ?? Would love one with the same look if possible ???
Perhaps it is some sort of lawsuit infringement that prohibits them to build it into the dialer. I don't think Apple has this either, right? Maybe Microsoft has the patent on it.
3rd party dialers have this feature. In fact, I just install the MIUI dialer because it is just awesome. It is in the market and not listed under "MIUI Dialer" but "e9" or something. It works great.
[Update]
exDialer
https://market.android.com/details?...1bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5tb2Rvb2h1dC5kaWFsZXIiXQ..
Has a white and black theme.
Do you have the problem with it not clearing unanswered calls ???
_WHAT_ said:
Do you have the problem with it not clearing unanswered calls ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know from gingerbread that 3rd party apps can't clear unanswered calls. Some if the apps solves that by using the stock dialer list when selecting the notification.
Anyway its limitations in the OS and not the apps.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Why no 3rd party PIM or email apps on WP7

As above. Can't because there is no demand, can it? One of the big let-downs for me coming from PalmOS and Agendus is the really week Calendar app. Let's not get into the bizarre two week limit on past events! I also miss the tweakability of ChatterEmail. But that was then ...
So why no PIM or email apps? Is it a programming issue? Is the WP market entertainment, not enterprise? Will it change with Apollo/WP8?
Just wondering.
PS: other than that I love WP7. Just hoping for more.
truthfully the built in is so good and i use exchange so i never really thought about it. I also have yet to see anyone but you so far ask for it, so i am not thinking the demand is there yet. I have see in the marketplace a few task and calendar apps though.
ROCOAFZ said:
truthfully the built in is so good and i use exchange so i never really thought about it. I also have yet to see anyone but you so far ask for it, so i am not thinking the demand is there yet. I have see in the marketplace a few task and calendar apps though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PIM was very useful on WM, I don't understand why there is no demand for it? I guess it is what it is, Don't want to even ask because I don't what to hear some [email protected]$$ fanboy comment about that feature is so 1999 or something.
The real reason is that everything is sandboxed.
You don't have direct access. You used to just import poutlook.dll Then you could send an email. It would go into the phone's outbox for the account you wanted to send with. It would get sent on the next sync.
Now, you will be asked if you want to send the mail.
Also, I don't think there is any way to programatically get at the content of your emails. This is actually a good security piece. Imagine a dev writing a pretty cool app. You use it. Only months later you find that the content of all email messages on your phone were being sent to the dev while you used the app through a http post.
This is the why. Now, Microsoft could provide controls that would access this information.
Back in Windows Mobile, I wrote an app for users of Sense that also used the Facebook tab that would go through all of your contacts that were linked to Facebook. It would let the user update the contact with the Facebook pic. It used poutlook.dll.
ROCOAFZ said:
truthfully the built in is so good and i use exchange so i never really thought about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Built-in so good? I don't think so. Good as far as it goes maybe. I too use Exchange, that's the backend. It's the presentation of the PIM data that is so lacking.
Needs more views. Today summary. Ledger view for day. 5/7 day week view. A proper month view, with readable text and icons. Templates, filtering. Ability to duplicate events. Tasks in the tile. Lots of little things. When I think what could be packed into my little 320 X 320 Centro display ...
Have a look at the features in the iOS and Android versions of PocketInformant or Agendus.
While I'm at it, the email app needs customisable notifications per mailbox.
JVH3 said:
The real reason is that everything is sandboxed.
You don't have direct access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more I look, the more I'm getting that message. Just have to see what the future holds.
conorn said:
Built-in so good? I don't think so. Good as far as it goes maybe. I too use Exchange, that's the backend. It's the presentation of the PIM data that is so lacking.
Needs more views. Today summary. Ledger view for day. 5/7 day week view. A proper month view, with readable text and icons. Templates, filtering. Ability to duplicate events. Tasks in the tile. Lots of little things. When I think what could be packed into my little 320 X 320 Centro display ...
Have a look at the features in the iOS and Android versions of PocketInformant or Agendus.
While I'm at it, the email app needs customisable notifications per mailbox.
The more I look, the more I'm getting that message. Just have to see what the future holds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PIM is only needed for sms and history. Exchange or hotmail backs up the rest when you put contacts in unless you don't have a data plan. And if you want it all backed up... here yah go (only for stock roms)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1346276
by xda themselves
Next
Needs more views. Today summary. Ledger view for day. 5/7 day week view. A proper month view, with readable text and icons. Templates, filtering. Ability to duplicate events. Tasks in the tile. Lots of little things. When I think what could be packed into my little 320 X 320 Centro display ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me break this down for you...
Duplicate events... go to the event, scroll down, hit more details. press occurs, Choose once, everyday, every weekday, every saturday, every (Day number) of the month, ever month day (as in yearly)
For Tasks in the tile - while on agenda,
Week view? for someone that has a lot of appointments, weekview is never readable, same with month. At least in month you can tell there is an appointment and click on it.
For tasks tile that syncs with exchange try this one - http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/3455bef8-895d-49d6-9c71-131a8fd0106a
They do however show in agenda once you have opened the task
ROCOAFZ. Maybe you don't understand what I was trying to explain (BOTD). Also, please don't be so defensive, I'm not trying to diss WP. I'll be in for the long run. But if I see (IMO) a weakness I will point it out. And to me the functionality in the Calendar app is poor. Especially when other parts of the OS are so good.
Responding to your points ...
Firstly, forget about Exchange, etc. I'm not talking about backing up. I'm talking about the presentation and management of the data. I don't care where it's stored. Could be local, could be cloud - doesn't matter.
Secondly, when I use the term PIM, I mean it in the broadest possible way. I want to manage my personal info. Traditionally, on PDAs, that meant calendar, contacts and tasks. Smartphones have replaced PDAs, so now I want my current smartphone to do this at least as well.
Thirdly, the intent of the original post was to query why there are no 3rd-party PIM-type apps available for WP7. There are for iOS and Android, even BB. There were for WM6 and PalmOS. Why not WP7? A couple of replies confirmed what I suspected. The OS doesn't provide the access programmers need. Everything is very hands-off. Maybe this will change in future releases. there are indications that this may be so.
Finally, some specific comments -
ROCOAFZ said:
Duplicate events... go to the event, scroll down, hit more details. press occurs, Choose once, everyday, every weekday, every saturday, every (Day number) of the month, ever month day (as in yearly)
For Tasks in the tile - while on agenda,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I'm talking about duplicating existing appointments. Not recurring events, i.e., I had a meeting today at 2pm. We agree to meet again on Friday at 4pm. All other details the same. Previously I would quickly duplicate the event, update the date/time and I'm done. Now I must create from scratch. I right-click drag in Outlook, Google Calendar has Duplicate in More Actions - so it's not just me.
ROCOAFZ said:
Week view? for someone that has a lot of appointments, weekview is never readable, same with month. At least in month you can tell there is an appointment and click on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My choice to decide, but at least give me the choice. In month view I want to see better indicators. Maybe the smallish Lumia 800 display is at fault, or my chosen theme, but I really have difficulty noticing the existing (pretend) indications and they give no indication of what's there (task, appointment, all-day event). There is plenty of room to show boxes and bars for an 'at a glance' overview of my time. Especially in landscape view. BTW, what happened Categories?
ROCOAFZ said:
For tasks tile that syncs with exchange try this one - TaskTask
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. That, and some others, look interesting. But comes back to the issue raised by others. The only way to get at the tasks data is to go direct to the server. Shouldn't have to do that. It does work though, but should be in sync with inbuilt, not duplicating functionality.
conorn said:
Responding to your points ...
Firstly, forget about Exchange, etc. I'm not talking about backing up. I'm talking about the presentation and management of the data. I don't care where it's stored. Could be local, could be cloud - doesn't matter.
Secondly, when I use the term PIM, I mean it in the broadest possible way. I want to manage my personal info. Traditionally, on PDAs, that meant calendar, contacts and tasks. Smartphones have replaced PDAs, so now I want my current smartphone to do this at least as well.
Thirdly, the intent of the original post was to query why there are no 3rd-party PIM-type apps available for WP7. There are for iOS and Android, even BB. There were for WM6 and PalmOS. Why not WP7? A couple of replies confirmed what I suspected. The OS doesn't provide the access programmers need. Everything is very hands-off. Maybe this will change in future releases. there are indications that this may be so.
Finally, some specific comments -
No, I'm talking about duplicating existing appointments. Not recurring events, i.e., I had a meeting today at 2pm. We agree to meet again on Friday at 4pm. All other details the same. Previously I would quickly duplicate the event, update the date/time and I'm done. Now I must create from scratch. I right-click drag in Outlook, Google Calendar has Duplicate in More Actions - so it's not just me.
My choice to decide, but at least give me the choice. In month view I want to see better indicators. Maybe the smallish Lumia 800 display is at fault, or my chosen theme, but I really have difficulty noticing the existing (pretend) indications and they give no indication of what's there (task, appointment, all-day event). There is plenty of room to show boxes and bars for an 'at a glance' overview of my time. Especially in landscape view. BTW, what happened Categories?
Thanks. That, and some others, look interesting. But comes back to the issue raised by others. The only way to get at the tasks data is to go direct to the server. Shouldn't have to do that. It does work though, but should be in sync with inbuilt, not duplicating functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st, not being defensive, just pointing out the way others like myself do it. What i say may or may not work for your situation but it's good to see another way to do it.
For contacts, calendar and tasks - without exchange - they are synced to the cloud hotmail. You don't need to back them up in that case. Last time i hard reset my phone, i didn't even restore via Zune. I put in my hotmail account. That brought in my local contacts and birthdays + vet appointments for my dog. i then synced facebook. That brought in all my friends. then exchange which brought my work contacts, email calendar, tasks ect. You have to get a windows live when you 1st bring up the phone. It is an automatic backup. Now what i did lose was my app list and saved games + contact history.
For apps go to https://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/my under get my apps and you will find a list of everything you purchased or got for free. you can send each app to your phone from there. So only thing is lost is contact history and saved games. Zune sync brings back pictures and music. I wanted to change what i had on my phone and didn't care to keep the exisint pics since they were on my pc anyway so i opted not to do this.
But if you want full local backup i highlighted a homebrew way to do it that doesn't require you to be unlocked.
Tasks - for your example, if you created the event, i normally would just edit it and change the date. Granted it's not copy but does the same functionality, unless you need a record of the event that passed.
I have a Titan so my display it pretty big. I probably could show a week view but on some weeks there are so many appointments that it would have to be bars. They should allow month view to zoom into calendar even if pinch to zoom to satisfy everyone.
Categories i didn't miss because i didn't use them but someone else asked me about them before purchasing a phone. That is when i noticed they were not there. Instead of categoris, i add to the subject.
example = Meeting with consumer - Billable
Instead of a billiable category which i can't do much with i add the text because outlook will allow me to search for it. at the end of the week when i bill out, i just enter in outlook's search (i do billing from pc) billable and it will show all my Billiable appointments in a list with time and date. it works way better that way for me. I haven't quite figured out what people use categories for yet though but i do know that they are not on the phone. Probably because each calendar has it's own color.
Thanks again. But, really, I have no issues with backing up, syncing, etc
Yes, I do keep old events. Which is why I can't believe you can only go back two weeks. Thank goodness for web access.
Second half of post is interesting. I may just have to change my habits. Certainly the idea of using different calendars for colour coding sounds good.
conorn said:
Yes, I do keep old events. Which is why I can't believe you can only go back two weeks. Thank goodness for web access.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm i never notice that. In the hotmail calendar it goes back further. I always thought it followed the email since i have it for a month but i never look back that far.
I didn't know if you knew this but if you change IE to Desktop version in settings you can do full outlook web access with all calendars including shared. (i know this works on 2010 exchange at least). One thing the iphone can't do as you are locked to mobile version and Outlook has no link to change out of it.

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