Import gmail contacts to iCloud, contact pictures don't sync, why?

[miamialley]

Preparing for coming back to iPhone, I imported my gmail contacts into iCloud (multiple times now), but for some reason the pictures with the contact don't get transferred. Any idea why? They show up fine in gmail.

 

[impaler]

Preparing for coming back to iPhone, I imported my gmail contacts into iCloud (multiple times now), but for some reason the pictures with the contact don't get transferred. Any idea why? They show up fine in gmail.

Probably not a standard format. I don't think Gmail pictures are full res anyway, and would look really crappy on your iOS devices in contacts. Recommend re-doing them with hi res photos.

 

[JoelBC]

Why would you actually import your gmail contacts into iCloud...I went through this with a friend who tried this and it was a mess, same contact in multiple locations...alternatively, which is what we did, why not simply use the iPhone as a conduit to gmail meaning all the data [and pictures] continue to reside on gmail [which acts as the server] while the iPhone simply acts as the client / reader?

 

[miamialley]

Probably not a standard format. I don't think Gmail pictures are full res anyway, and would look really crappy on your iOS devices in contacts. Recommend re-doing them with hi res photos.

Hmm. That would be annoying.

Why would you actually import your gmail contacts into iCloud...I went through this with a friend who tried this and it was a mess, same contact in multiple locations...alternatively, which is what we did, why not simply use the iPhone as a conduit to gmail meaning all the data [and pictures] continue to reside on gmail [which acts as the server] while the iPhone simply acts as the client / reader?

Well, if pictures through gmail are lower res, that's one reason. Also, I seem to recall some features not being available in gmail contacts that iCloud allowed. Fields or nickname recognition or something, I don't recall. It always seems like you lose some sort of feature. Besides, if all my devices are Apple, might as well. But, yeah, I'm not positive of the advantages at this point. Though, the low res pics would be annoying, if true.

 

[impaler]

Hmm. That would be annoying.

Yup. Changing platforms and ecosystems are annoying.

If you have a Mac, there's an app on the Mac app store called "Contacts Sync for Google Mail". Makes it much easier to not only sync contacts between the systems, but to keep them in sync.

 

[miamialley]

Yup. Changing platforms and ecosystems are annoying.

If you have a Mac, there's an app on the Mac app store called "Contacts Sync for Google Mail". Makes it much easier to not only sync contacts between the systems, but to keep them in sync.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm trying to sync my iCloud contacts with Facebook, but it's not working for some reason. Ug. Switching platforms is annoying.

 

[JoelBC]

Well, if pictures through gmail are lower res, that's one reason. Also, I seem to recall some features not being available in gmail contacts that iCloud allowed. Fields or nickname recognition or something, I don't recall. It always seems like you lose some sort of feature. Besides, if all my devices are Apple, might as well. But, yeah, I'm not positive of the advantages at this point. Though, the low res pics would be annoying, if true.

Ahhh, understand to the extent that you retrying to get the added features and functionality...the point I was reaching for is that it is best and easiest to have one "server" with everything else a "client"...

 

[miamialley]

Ahhh, understand to the extent that you retrying to get the added features and functionality...the point I was reaching for is that it is best and easiest to have one "server" with everything else a "client"...

Yeah I get ya. I agree. So I guess I'm trying to move from gmail to iCloud and be rid of gmail.