Google Contacts
 | |
| Developer(s) | |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Server: Linux Client: any Web browser |
| Type | Contact management |
| Website | google |
Google Contacts is Google's contact management tool that is available in its free email service Gmail, as a standalone service, and as a part of Google's business-oriented suite of web apps Google Apps.
Features
On 10 August 2010, Google released an updated look for Google Contacts.[1] The update truly integrated Google Contacts with the rest of Gmail. The new features of this update included the following:
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Last name sorting
- Custom labels
- Undo
- Automatic saving
- Structured name fields
- More prominent notes field
The older version of the Google Contacts user interface was removed, making many users unhappy.
Google Contacts can be synchronized with mobile devices and operating systems (e.g., Android, Symbian, iOS, BlackBerry, Palm, Pocket PC), Windows Phone or with PC applications (e.g., Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird) via third party software, and Google's own Google Sync app. In addition, any system that can sync via Microsoft's ActiveSync can sync with Google Contacts.[2] There is also support for mobile devices that support the Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® protocol and/or the SyncML standard. There is built-in support for Google Contacts in Google's open-source mobile operating system Google Android.[3] Google Contacts can be synchronized also by CardDAV.
Criticism
- With introduction of higher-density screens and larger internal memories to Android devices Google Contacts were criticized for supporting only low resolution of photos with size limited by 96x96 pixels.[4][5] This issue was addressed after a long wait of Android Users on October 10, 2012 on devices with Jelly Bean to a higher limit of 720x720 pixels.[6] Although it is reported that Google Apps users still haven't received the update yet.[7][8]
- There are criticisms of the new Google Voice contacts lay out, as evidenced by the complaints of many users on this Google Forum thread
See also
References
- ^ Google Gmail team (10). "Updates to Contacts and a (slightly) new look for Gmail". The Official Gmail Blog. Google, Inc. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help); Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Syncing contacts". Google, Inc. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Nexus One - Contacts" (Video). Google, Inc. 4. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Issue 3870: Poor quality of contact images". Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ "Jelly Bean Bumps Contact Photos To Hi-Res 720x720". Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ "Hallelujah: Google Finally Fixes High Resolution Contact Sync, Updates Web Contact Sync With Brand New UI". Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Android Contact Sync - Jelly Bean 4.1.2 Not working properly with Google Apps Accounts - Syncing Low Resolution". Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "High Resolution Contact Pictures in "Google Apps" (sync with Android)". Retrieved 15 February 2013.
