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Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI

flipleapp.com

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Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI

#1

Post by chitza »

This is my try at a iOS Contacts app replacement. I was frustrated by the fact that the default application wasn't showing contact pictures in lists, so I tried to design an app that makes full use of the images.

Another issue I had with the default app was the number of taps until finding a contact, so I tried to minimize that too using various approaches:

- put most contacted people on the main screen (app also proposes new tiles based on number of interactions) - group contacts (work, family, friends, etc.) then put a group tile on the main screen - search the contact list using T9 (3-4 taps to locate contact) - use action tiles to instantly communicate with a contact (phone, SMS, mail) for often contacted people

At the moment the app is free, I haven't yet come up with ideas for monetization - if you have any, please share.

Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI
flipleapp.com

Re: Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI

#3

Post by CrazedGeek »

nachteilig wrote: post #2

I'm a little confused about using a number pad to find names, as is shown in the graphic on the site. We're doing this on iPhone, so why use that old T9 mechanic? Looks like a solid effort, in any case.

I find it's a lot faster to find a contact with T9 than a soft QWERTY keyboard or just scrolling through a list. (CyanogenMod has this built in to its dialer and it is beautiful.)

Re: Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI

#4

Post by ville »

This looks very nice visually, but I had trouble adding contacts to groups, most contacts resulting in "this contact belongs to another account, cannot be added to this group". Maybe this has something to do with the fact that I have synchronized the contacts with my Google account?

The lack of native UI components also makes this app feel like an "outsider" in iOS, which is easy to notice when opening the native contact card inside the application that looks like it's from a different OS, literally.

Re: Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI

#6

Post by king_magic »

It generally takes a lot for me to be really surprised & impressed with a new iPhone app, but this is a pretty incredible app. I've been spending an absurd amount of time on the phone with a lot of different people at work and this just inserts itself so perfectly into my workflow that I wish I wrote this app myself :)

It has managed to dethrone the Phone app from my app tray, which is no easy task. Last app I moved into my app tray was Spotify, and that took forever to win that coveted spot.

It's kind of everything I wish the Phone & Contacts apps were. Love the Metro UI. You have found yourself a raving fan. Please don't stop developing this app!

I really like the T9 search, by the way. Nicely done.

Re: Show HN: Fliple - iOS Contacts with Metro UI

#7

Post by archivator »

CrazedGeek wrote: post #3
nachteilig wrote: post #2

I'm a little confused about using a number pad to find names, as is shown in the graphic on the site. We're doing this on iPhone, so why use that old T9 mechanic? Looks like a solid effort, in any case.

I find it's a lot faster to find a contact with T9 than a soft QWERTY keyboard or just scrolling through a list. (CyanogenMod has this built in to its dialer and it is beautiful.)

From a UX perspective, after the initial learning curve, T9 gives you larger tap targets and fewer taps needed (compared to QWERTY). This naturally results in faster finger movement but also less need for movement overall. It's a win-win for search.
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