sremick
Android Expert
Browsing through this thread, a number of the questions are already answered in the Captivate FAQ page on managing Contacts, so here's a link since it hasn't been mentioned yet:
Contacts - CapFAQ
Contacts - CapFAQ
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Help Syncing "All Contacts"
- Thread starter pkulak
- Start date
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- samsung captivate
Glucklichste
Member
In the "Synchronizing contact groups from Gmail" section, I would like to suggest you add another option - to place contacts on the phone with name/numbers only, same phone/number in gmail but along with all other details you might want - because of the name/numbers the two will link automatically, then you have all the contact info and group info together. I would have liked to know this - I just wasn't liking the alternative folder apps. Honestly - time will tell how well this works in practice, but having it set up this way right now it's looking lovely - easy to sort by folders, when I click a contact the numbers and info only shows once (because I deleted any extra info from the phone entries - no bdays, addresses, etc - or else they wind up showing twice). I can also see the gmail options of history/activities/media. When I go to edit now, you can tab between phone and gmail if necessary (phone to change group info!).
Sorry if this is completely stupid, but it took me some playing to realize I could configure it like this.
sremick
Android Expert
Seems more-complicated than just keeping your contacts in Gmail, and using the free Contacts GroupU utility to bring the groups over, which is already mentioned on the page. What are the benefits of your method over the method mentioned?
Glucklichste
Member
I guess I'm fussy. I just hated the apps for folders. It can be integrated, all working together so I feel like it should, and that was my work-around to make it so.
For me, the app for folders was annoying. I didn't like the look, feel - it wasn't integrated the way my contacts are now, it just wasn't something I'd use. Now I have the end result I wanted: contacts with native group support and info sync. The only other alternative I was liking was to stick with phone only contacts. (Which isn't the end of the world, but I'm happy I found a route to my desired end result.)
For me, the app for folders was annoying. I didn't like the look, feel - it wasn't integrated the way my contacts are now, it just wasn't something I'd use. Now I have the end result I wanted: contacts with native group support and info sync. The only other alternative I was liking was to stick with phone only contacts. (Which isn't the end of the world, but I'm happy I found a route to my desired end result.)
sremick
Android Expert
I guess it's just a matter of preference then. I'd find having to create and maintain double contacts for every contact I added to be annoying, and would find the use of a single utility to carry over Gmail groups to be far easier.
One thing to always remember is that despite how "Googlized" Android is, Contacts are still first and foremost considered a local-phone thing, and Gmail contacts are simply treated on equal footing with any other source of outside contacts that you can sync with your phone. This is the Right Thing to Do. It is not necessarily the default or a given that even a Gmail user is going to want all their contacts synced over to their phone. They might have 800 contacts in their Gmail, but only 100 people they'll ever call. Keeping all those Gmail contacts isolated in a group called "Google" helps keep things organized and separate.
Part of the reason people get frustrated is that they fail to realize this, and figure that because they're syncing everything with Gmail that Gmail should be front-and-center and the be-all of email, contacts, etc on the phone. Not the case, nor should it be. I don't use Gmail for my email, and the assumption that everyone who buys an Android phone will would be very arrogant on Google's part and lose them tons of market. People come to Android with established email accounts in all sorts of places.
The only reason I use Gmail is to "enable" my phone and buy market apps. That's it. I use phone-contacts exclusively and back them up via other means.
One thing to always remember is that despite how "Googlized" Android is, Contacts are still first and foremost considered a local-phone thing, and Gmail contacts are simply treated on equal footing with any other source of outside contacts that you can sync with your phone. This is the Right Thing to Do. It is not necessarily the default or a given that even a Gmail user is going to want all their contacts synced over to their phone. They might have 800 contacts in their Gmail, but only 100 people they'll ever call. Keeping all those Gmail contacts isolated in a group called "Google" helps keep things organized and separate.
Part of the reason people get frustrated is that they fail to realize this, and figure that because they're syncing everything with Gmail that Gmail should be front-and-center and the be-all of email, contacts, etc on the phone. Not the case, nor should it be. I don't use Gmail for my email, and the assumption that everyone who buys an Android phone will would be very arrogant on Google's part and lose them tons of market. People come to Android with established email accounts in all sorts of places.
The only reason I use Gmail is to "enable" my phone and buy market apps. That's it. I use phone-contacts exclusively and back them up via other means.
sremick
Android Expert
Export to VCF and Titanium Backup, both of which already mentioned in the links already posted to this thread.