Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
Do you find the received OS X Address Book too limiting ? If so , BdContactsmight be just the answer for you . At its simplest level , BDContacts presents alternate views of your Address Book entries , offer an easily separate multi - column table view , an outline view , and even a ledge where you’re able to drag oftentimes used liaison ( and other item ) for quick reference . When run , BdContacts includes an icon in the menu Browning automatic rifle ; click it to cursorily show or hide the main BdContacts window . This ikon , however , vanish when you quit BdContacts , so you ca n’t use it to launch the program .
Once you go beyond the BASIC , though , you ’ll chance that BdContacts lets you easily associate additional data point point to your contacts . you could add note ( discrete from the Notes field in Address Book ) , to - do items , alarm clock , e - mail messages , documents , and even photos to any contact . you could have multiple point , too – so you could , for instance , add a series of particular date - stamped notes to a inter-group communication ’s platter .
It ’s important to note that these additional data items repose exclusively within BdContacts . While you’re able to edit basic Address Book fields in BdContacts ( and those change will then be establish in Address Book ) , these extra data item only exist within BdContacts . That ’s true even for to - do item , which wo n’t get sync out to iCal .
BDContacts adds a ton of functionality, but also a fair bit of interface complexity, to the basic OS X Address Book.
Each of these data detail can have multiple fields associated with it . When you create a to - do detail for a contact , for instance , you could specify a rubric , setting , category , priority , label , completion status , due escort , and Web link to go along with it , along with alert choice and multiple keywords . like pick exist for alarms and notes .
If you conceive all these pick might make for a complicated interface , you ’d be correct . The main BdContacts windowpane is divided into four sections , and there ’s a lot of entropy packed into each . There ’s so much information , in fact , that the interface is BdContact ’s biggest defect . Because of space restraint , the button at the top of many newspaper column ( used to sort those columns ) are miniscule , making them hard to strike . There ’s a confusing mix of colors , text box , and buttons , all of which are contend for your eyes ’ attention .
The complexness extends to the program ’s taste , where there are roughly 60 unlike choice to set . There ’s also a restore feature film that let you unmake one ( or some , or all ) of the change you ’ve made . To help with all this complexity , BdContacts includes an fantabulous manual of arms , as well as a issue of very utilitarian help video that show how to expend the broadcast ’s fundamental features .
BdContacts is a single - machine applications programme – there ’s no way to share your enhance contact information with another Mac . Given some of the tie - ins to local documents and e - postal service , I can see how this would be problematic . Still , if you have a background and a laptop , this restriction could be an issue if you ’ve descend to trust on BdContacts and then require to go on a trip .
BDContacts adds a short ton of functionality , but also a fair second of port complexity , to the basic OS X Address Book .
If you could get past the interface complexity , BdContacts is amazingly feature rich , and demonstrates how powerful a contact direction program can be . The program has a 12 - day trial full point , so you’re able to essay out its interface and feature before making your buying decision .
Our 186 - page Mac Gems Superguide is a regular greatest hits of Mac Gems . It ’s available as a PDF download , PDF on standard candle - ROM , or as a print Holy Scripture . Learn more about the Mac Gems Superguide .
[ Rob Griffiths is a senior editor for Macworld . ]
