google contact vs phone contact

[bmwguy330]

Im still a noob when it it comes to the android phones. When i go to edit some of my contacts it gives me the option to edit either "phone" contact or "google" contact. can i just use one or the other? Why is here 2 diff contacts for just some of my contacts? Thanks

 

[capnhowdy18]

Phone contacts will be saved directly to the phone. If you lose that phone, those contacts are gone.

Google contacts will sync with your gmail account. If you lose the phone, they are still in the gmail account. Thus if you got another android phone and used the same gmail account, they will all sync back up.

In short. I see no reason to not use gmail. If someone would like to enlighten us to a downside to google contacts, please do.

 

[ben dover]

google contacts are linked to your gmail contacts and are stored on google's servers. the phone contacts stay on your phone.
If your phone crashes or you loose data for some reason, just signing into your google account will automatically pull all your contacts back down to the phone.

It's quite handy.

Only issue is that when you add pictures to a google contact, it down sizes them to a low res so when you make a call and their picture comes up, it looks kinda crappy.

phone contacts on the other hand doesn't lower the resolution so the pictures look much better.

If you want to get really crazy, you can create all google contacts and also create phone contacts and then link the phone contact to the google contact. it will then use the better picture and any changes you make to that contact is also updated on the google contact.

Edit: I used the word "contact" a lot there... haha

 

[Insp_Gadget]

My recommendation is to use Google.

If you use the "Phone" account, the contact information only exists on the phone... nowhere else. So if you lose your phone or need to wipe it, the contact information is gone forever.

Also, if you only use the "Phone" account, you will have a harder time transferring your contact information to a new phone if you ever need a replacement.

For an example of what can happen if you only use the "Phone" account, see this thread: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-evo-4g/27278-contact-wont-sync-phone-gmail-new-post.html

 

[bmwguy330]

so you can create bothe a google contact and phone contact and press the "link" utton on the contact menu and it will link both ?

 

[Insp_Gadget]

so you can create bothe a google contact and phone contact and press the "link" utton on the contact menu and it will link both ?

Yes, that's an option, but you will also be using more memory/storage space to store that "single" contact. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[bmwguy330]

ahh ok, I think Ill just use the google contact. thanks for all the help

 

[ben dover]

ahh ok, I think Ill just use the google contact. thanks for all the help

no problem! even though the pictures in google contacts aren't as good, I haven't created any phone contacts to link because I flash new roms almost everyday right now since I'm updating CM6 every night and it's a pain to restore the contacts, and relink them.

maybe we should start a petition to get google to increase the resolution of their gmail contact pictures! problem solved! haha

 

[PM-Performance]

as said above, use the Google one so it actually backs up the contact. If your phone gets wiped for some reason and you didn't say buh bye to those contacts.
I lost a couple booty calls that way
Lesson learned the hard way

 

[bmwguy330]

ok well i went to gmail on my computer and added some contacts but it didnt update them on my pone. is there a sync button i need to push? thanks

 

[capnhowdy18]

You can hit sync all widget, or go to settings, accounts, sync all, or wait till it syncs manually

 

[bmwguy330]

haha im a dumbass i shoulda looked there. thanks

 

[bmwguy330]

ok i tried to sync it but the contacts i added on the computer (gmail account) are not showing up on the phone. do i have to do it from the phone first and it will sync to the computer or does it matter where i add the address first

 

[Insp_Gadget]

ok i tried to sync it but the contacts i added on the computer (gmail account) are not showing up on the phone. do i have to do it from the phone first and it will sync to the computer or does it matter where i add the address first

It should not matter. I've added contacts from the desktop and from the phone. No problem syncing.

 

[capnhowdy18]

In the people app on your phone hit menu then view. Make sure google is checked. Not sure if the show auto gmail contacts needs to be checked. Also make sure they have phone numbers or, the only contacts with phone numbers is unchecked.

 

[ben dover]

I know this is stupid but I'm an IT tech and you always start with the basic
are you adding the contacts to the gmail account that you're logged into your phone with?

haha, just thinking through the issue with you

 

[bmwguy330]

In the people app on your phone hit menu then view. Make sure google is checked. Not sure if the show auto gmail contacts needs to be checked. Also make sure they have phone numbers or, the only contacts with phone numbers is unchecked.

all except Facebook are checked

 

[bmwguy330]

I know this is stupid but I'm an IT tech and you always start with the basic
are you adding the contacts to the gmail account that you're logged into your phone with?

haha, just thinking through the issue with you

Thanks for the help. I only have one Gmail account.

 

[bmwguy330]

ok now its working. not too sure what changed. ill have to mess with it a bit and see if it continues to work