iOS 6 contact sync and facebook integration - new challenges

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Level 1

5 points

iOS 6 contact sync and facebook integration - new challenges

Hello,

In iOS 6 it seems that Facebook integration does not update on existing groups of contacts, but instead uses its own group within contacts on an iOS device.

When Facebook syncs with its own group of contacts on an iOS device, it seems that (manually) linking each contact with e.g. Their iCloud or e.g. a gmail exchange counterpart on the device is the only way forth to "integrate" facebook informations with existing contacts (on an iOS device). Or is it?

Another question: when (manually) having linked an existing contact with the now new Facebook counterpart, there is an option to choose a profile picture. Again, manually, you can choose e.g. Facebook profile picture. I guess this is what most people aim for; could this not be automated? Again, this does not sync to other iOS devices.

So, like the beginning of this thread; no infos within linked contacts seem to be synced across devices automatically.

So it seems, that a lot of Facebook "integration" into contacts ends up with a lot of manual work on each iOS device you might own?

Any suggestions or solutions on more effectively automating facebook integration into contacts in iOS 6 and how to keep everything synced including facebook infos?

Before iOS 6 I used a 3rd party app which seemlessly synced facebook profile pictures and birthdays directly into existing contacts (and calendar), which that way synced in its normal way via services used (icloud / gmail). But in iOS 6 it seems that facebook contacts get their own "group" in contacts, that you manually need to link to existing contacts on each iOS device you might own?

Kind regards,

Martin

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 6

Posted on Sep 20, 2012 1:15 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 20, 2012 3:29 AM in response to martin_dk

icloud has the linked contacts but it doesn't quite shows them. If you search for a Facebook Name (different than the icloud name) it will find the contact you want. But it doesn't show the facebook name! For the contacts you don't have any icloud and they were created by Facebook on your iOS6 device you don't have any file at all!

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Answer 2

Sep 20, 2012 6:02 AM in response to martin_dk

When you're in Contacts, in the upper left corner tap on "Groups". If you uncheck "All Facebook" the duplicate Facebook contacts will disappear from your contacts list. It's actually kind of nice. You can view all of your regular contacts, or just your Facebook contacts by utilizing the options in "Groups".

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Answer 3

martin_dk Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 20, 2012 6:25 AM in response to Earl_Graphite

Hi Earl,

Yes I did notice that. The question is, though: is the facebook profile picture (and birthday) still migrated to the other contact groups. Or do these data remain in the facebook contact group?

It is not possible to see, if these data are integrated in the existing contact groups (e.g. icloud / exchange / gmail contact groups).

When a facebook picture is used, the little "f" shows on the profile picture. But as mentioned in the original question, it seems you have to "link" a persons facebook contact version with the existing contact version in an existing group, to be able to integrate facebook data to that person.

At least it is not obvious that facebook pictures are automatically migrated into other existing contact groups, besides the facebook contact group itself? Do they?

Kind regards,

Martin

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Answer 4

Drewzers

Level 1

19 points

Sep 20, 2012 9:13 AM in response to martin_dk

Totally with you guys. Pretty dissapointed across the board w/ the FB contacts integration (iOS6 & 10.8.2). What I was hoping there'd be is a "Update current contacts with Facebook information". I don't want my fb friends because most are old friends or aquaitences, so on OSX contacts I wish I could take the group off like you can in iOS6. I just want to import the extra info into my contacts. Guess it's back to CoBook 😟

Plus, the "Updating Contacts" in iOS6 FB settings isn't working.

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Answer 5

Sep 21, 2012 12:01 AM in response to martin_dk

Mine only synced half of my existing contacts and i can not get it to sync the rest of the contacts to save my life, i just want to be able to use the facebook profile pic for all my contacts, it worked on ios5 but not 6. i guess i am asking too much.

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Answer 6

Sep 21, 2012 1:19 AM in response to martin_dk

When displaying both groups? Is there a way to migrate them all together in iCloud? I noticed my iOS 6 device shows 940 contacts 562 Facebook and then 503 iCloud which would be 1065 contacts so It seems some linked correctly and some didn't. Can someone explain how the linking works?

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Answer 7

Sep 21, 2012 6:04 PM in response to Drewzers

Drew, that is exactly what I wanted as well. A way to push information from Facebook into my existing iCloud contacts.

I didn't want the information kept separate (and local to just my desktop Mac).

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Answer 8

Sep 21, 2012 9:53 PM in response to martin_dk

Hi All,

As per what I experienced, the Facebook integration is actually working based on two keys: Phone number and/ or Email address that your contacts used as Facebook login.

For example, I have added Mr. A's details (mobile phone or email address that Mr. A used for Facebook login) into my original iOS 5 Contacts. And, Mr. A use the same phone number in his Facebook profile.

After that, I upgrade my iOS to iOS 6 and done the Facebook integration.

Next, I do the 'Update All Contacts' under iOS 6 -> Settings -> Facebook.

Once it is done, iOS will consolidate the existing Mr. A details + his Facebook details into same profile.

The above scenario explains that if your existing iOS contacts match the phone number or email address of Mr. A used in Facebook, then you will not encounter duplicate profile issue.

In other scenario, such as you have Mr. A's phone number only, but Mr. A does not put his phone number in Facebook profile, then you will have two Mr. A profiles in your iOS Contacts (1 original contact, 1 Facebook).

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Answer 9

Sep 22, 2012 7:54 AM in response to martin_dk

It's hard enough to keep my ever-growing contacts organized. I think I'll skip signing into Facebook integration. Maybe one day there will be an option to NOT pollute my contacts with Facebook clutter?

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Answer 10

Sep 28, 2012 8:51 AM in response to Bob Lyons

I just tested this on my iPad 3 with iOS 6 since I don't have an iPhone. When you sign into the app you are then presented with toggles for Calendar and Contacts. They are set to ON by default but just signing in does NOT start to sync your contacts and calendar. There is an Update All Contacts button that has to be pressed. After you sign in, just slide the two toggles to OFF and don't press the Update All Contacts button. Now you will have the facebook integration to SHARE things or use SIRI to post text to your facebook account.

Anyone see this differently??

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Answer 11

Sep 28, 2012 12:26 PM in response to LoganInTX

Yes. That worked. I was nervous, but I have backups of my contacts and calendar in case the flood gates opened. I was able to toggle the switches off as soon as I signed in to FB and now everything is still okay. The UI looked a little different from last week. It's probably good that I waited. Thanks 🙂

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Answer 12

O.M.K.

Level 1

0 points

Dec 5, 2012 8:30 AM in response to martin_dk

Hey guys. After i synchronized my icloud contacts with my facebook, i get the thumbnail image of the contact during calls. How can I make the facebook profile pictures as full screen size during calls. Thank you

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Answer 13

Dec 5, 2012 8:41 AM in response to O.M.K.

The only full size images are the ones you save with your phone. If you add photos to your contacts on your mac then sync to your phone they will only show as thumbnails. So it looks like FB is behaving the same way. Maybe editing your contacts and resaving them with your phone will bring back the full size picture when they call that we all like so much. Cheers :-)

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Answer 14

Prachi14

Level 1

0 points

Mar 24, 2013 2:22 AM in response to martin_dk

duplicate facebook accounts are created.

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