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Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

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Re: Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

#11
post #9

What’s missing/are the issues with Apple contacts?

I usually take notes if I am adding a new contact that I don't know much about (E.g. Met at a meeting at CloudHQ). This was totally broken prior to iOS 13. I recently updated the OS and it works.

Re: Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

#14
I've used my contacts systems for years. Earliest entry I can find is 1996.

It's easy to search. Incredibly easy to use. Works on Desktop, Web and Mobiles (Android, iPhone and for me, BlackBerry) and synchronises across all of them. Anniversaries and Birthdays appear in Calendars. Integrates with my email system. Info stored in it is fully encrypted. Allows for groups. Both for mailing, SMS messages and other contact apps.

Oh, it's name? Lotus Notes. (And no, I'm not joking. It is by far the best system I've ever used. Get over it.)

Re: Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

#15
post #8

I'm currently using a mix of MonicaHQ[1], Nextcloud[2], and Fastmail[3]. Obviously Fastmail isn't self-hosted, but monicahq/nextcloud are. I find it hard to use a webmail client without also having my contacts available to that mail client. I really want to use MonicaHQ more, but it just feels like a lot of work whenever I log in to it so it gets pretty neglected. My alternative is to store notes about contacts in ra…

> it just feels like a lot of work whenever I log in to it so it gets pretty neglected. My alternative is to store notes about contacts in random spreadsheets, text files, or something like Joplin.

Interesting. Could you elaborate why it feels like more work to log into tools such as Monica than to open spreadsheet, text files, or Joplin?

Re: Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

#18
I'm a super disorganized introvert but I'm puzzled by this. Do people on HN have actual systems to organize people they meet in lists and take notes about them? Is this like for sales calls or normal people also do this for regular social events? Is everyone else doing this?

Re: Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

#19
Take a look at "Time and Chaos" https://www.chaossoftware.com/chaos.aspx

Or "Intellect" that offers additionally email support. https://www.chaossoftware.com/intellect.aspx

I used to use them a few years ago but i think they didn't evolve as they should. Anyway you can try them...

Re: Ask HN: What software do you use to manage contacts?

#20
I use Contacts+ (formerly FullContact): https://www.contactsplus.com/

You can sign up for free and sync it with things like Twitter, GMail, Outlook, LinkedIn, etc. It's really nice and I've been using it happily for years. It helps with things like deduplication, keeping your contact info updated (it'll update contact records if people change their Twitter handle, etc.), and just all sorts of stuff.

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