027 Getting Started with Contacts App

May 3, 2018

Wrangling your address book and all those contact listings can be a big challenge. We share tips on how to get started using the Contacts app on your iOS device so you can be more efficient and organized. Tune in for a great discount on a ticket to Macstock 2018! Full show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com


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News:
Apple Reports Record $61.1 Billion in Revenues and EPS of $273, Beating Wall Street Estimates — The Mac Observer

Apple Watch Business is Equal to a Fortune 300 Company, Up 50% — The Mac Observer

Apple Seeds iOS 11.4 Developer Beta 3 — The Mac Observer

Should T-Mobile and Sprint Be Allowed to Merge? Not if You Believe Their Past Statements.— Slate

Tips:
Swiping left to delete a conversation or text from your listing of text messages in the Messages app now shows a confirmation message asking, “Would you like to delete this conversation?” and then shows the word Delete in red. This can be annoying for some despite it being there as a feature to protect people from accidentally deleting messages by swiping too quickly. We hope Apple will make this customizable in the future because now it’s just as easy to accidentally mute or “Hide” alerts from people when you didn’t mean to! This Apple Communities discussion explains it in more detail.

It’s not that common, but if ever you have the need to remove all the photos from your iOS device in a snap, The Mac Observer has a handy tutorial here: iOS: How to Quickly Delete All iOS Photos and Videos

• Settings > General > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary
• This is handy if you’re experiencing an odd problem with the capitalization of wrong words as you type. It could be looking for names in your contacts list that are also words causing them to become automatically capitalized where it should not occur.

Introduction to Contacts app on iOS
Settings > Accounts & Passwords

• You can have multiple accounts that populate your Contacts listing. Be aware of which have been enabled because it could contribute to duplicates.
• Create a separate Apple ID for the sole purpose of sharing a contact list with a partner, family member, or spouse. This way, you can use your main iCloud account for your own professional and personal contacts that are kept separate. Select contacts on a separate iCloud account can be shared and synchronized with those who access that designated account on their devices to collaborate with you. For example, family members will all have the same contact cards for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and close friends. If someone changes their address, one family member can edit the card and it will synchronize with everyone else.
• Use the right tool for the job. A contact list is not the right tool for managing passwords. Do not store passwords or any important information in your contacts list notes because other apps you use may require access to your contacts database and will upload that information to their servers where a data breach could occur exposing that sensitive information. Use a dedicated password manager instead.
• Instead of adding ICE (In Case of Emergency) to names, use the Medical ID feature in the Health app to add emergency contacts. First Responders know how to access the Medical ID from locked iPhones. Teach young children how to access this screen from a locked phone as well. It’s also how they’ll learn where they can dial the local emergency code (9-1-1 in the U.S.)
• Use the Favorites list in the Phone app for an easily accessible list of numbers you call most frequently

Apps and Gear:
Contacts app


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Meta: 027 Getting Started with Contacts App was recorded May 2, 2018. “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. In Touch with iOS or “ITWIOS” is an independently produced podcast, publication and social identity and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. iOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. All other Apple Inc. trademarks discussed are the property of Apple Inc. A full list of Apple trademarks is available here. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc. We may use affiliate links for products in show notes. When appropriate, software, products, or services provided for review purposes will be disclosed. Unless otherwise noted, these products or services are not a sponsor. Your patronage helps to support our content production at no additional cost to you and does not alter our honest opinion of said product or service.