Author Topic: Who designed Contacts for iPad/iPhone?  (Read 765 times)

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Who designed Contacts for iPad/iPhone?
« on: June 07, 2015, 09:41:07 PM »
At least since 2012, I've found the same irritatingly stupid information about Contacts in iOS. Links later.

My wife is tearing her heart apart because she pretty much has no choice but to be in DC for 15 days starting 6/21. Her Dad has some pretty serious health conditions, her Mom is better physically, but not mentally. They have 24/7 caregivers plus a PT twice a week and a nurses aid three days a week. Still, she is concerned that things could get worse very quickly. She started naming doctors, including her cousin who is a GP and is their doctor of choice.

I had the bright idea of putting all these names and numbers in Contacts in her iPad/iPhone so I could access them from her MBP. Then I had an even brighter idea (my folks did call me Sun, after all!) of her just putting them in my iPad! The reason was to get this info into something I would have access to, no matter where she or I might be. It was also to get her to actually be doing something instead of just thinking about the worst that could happen...

First thing she asked me was, "What would you like to call the group?" Don't worry about that, I'll name it something "logical" to me after you get all the data entered. wink.gif

OK, she's finished. "How do I create a new group?" Oh, I'll do that, give me my iPad. inspect.gif dntknw.gif wallbash.gif I can seem to see any way to create a new group! It can't be that hard, this is an Apple product, after all!

I finally give up and search the web. First clue is that the Apple page talks about iCloud Contacts and buttons that aren't on the iPad version of the app. Further search on the iMac and I came up with he following:
  • I believe you have to actually create a contact group in iTunes. <yahoo Answers, 5 years ago>
  • Creating contact groups on iPhone is a fairly simple process, however, it does require to install a third party application as the stock Contacts app for iOS doesn’t let you create and edit groups on the fly. <iDownload Blog, Mar, 2014>
  • Why Apple can't incude th[is] simple useful feature... in there[sic] OS is very disappointing. Don'[sic] tell me to download a App! Apple should be on top of these things. [Can you tell this customer is a bit frustrated/upset at Apple?] <PhilMUG, Mar 2015>
The point is, you cannot create a new Group in either the iPad or the iPhone. You must do one of two things:
1. Go to iCloud.com (and try to remember that exceedingly long password, or make the extra step of using a password manager forcing you to switch screens at least twice-because-Apple-thinks-all-iOS-users-are-old-Windows-users-who-always-view-apps-full-screen! deadhorse.gif )

or

2. Open Contact in your Mac (too bad if you are still a windows user...) and create a new Group Name there. Now it will sync with your iPad/iPhone (you hope).

Apple expects people to be able to create presentations and spread sheets on an iPad but they can't figure out how to let us create a new Group?! Really?!!! What a way to run a railroad!!! All I can suggest is that you should sell any stock in Apple, ASAP. This is absolutely, positively the most insanely stupid thing I've seen them do since... since... Frankly, I can't think of anything more this stupid than this! rant.gif
« Last Edit: June 07, 2015, 09:47:43 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline kimmer

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Who designed Contacts for iPad/iPhone?
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2015, 12:48:54 PM »
First, I’m sorry to read about the family members and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.

Second, had NO idea that folks can't create a new Group on either the iPad or the iPhone! How stoooopid is that?!?! I tend to do a majority of my work on my iMac simply because I like using a keyboard, but, good grief!

I know first hand how frustrating it is to have to rely on iPad or phone (in my case it was my old droid razr) during times of NEED. When Sneakers was near the end, I discovered that I couldn't not access the prayer group I had set up at gmail. Why? Don't know as I never searched as to why. I simply had to sit there and type in everyone's name in the BCC box. Time consuming and so it was way beyond my emotional capabilities at that time. The end result was not reaching people who should have been among the first to know the news, and it left me dealing with a lot of emotional garbage when I didn't need it. But back to your issue ...

I'd like to think that folks complaining loud and long would push Apple to fix this, but since it's been 5 years ... sigh ...

Wish I had a better answer for you.

Give your wife a hug from me.