Android's Calling Card Update: Customize What You See When Friends Call!
Google's been tinkering with something cool for Android users. If you're on the beta versions of the Android Contacts and Phone apps, you might notice a new feature: customizable calling cards. Instead of setting how you appear to others, this lets you personalize how your contacts appear *to you* when they call!
Think of it this way: when someone calls, instead of just seeing their name and a small photo (or no photo at all!), you can create a full-screen calling card for them. You get to choose a photo from your gallery, snap a new one, and even pick the font and color for their name. It's all about making your incoming calls more visually appealing and, dare I say, a little more fun. It is something that I think that a lot of people will find useful and will personalize their user experience.
For example, imagine your best friend calling, and instead of the default contact picture, you see a hilarious photo you took of them during your last vacation. Or for your mom, you could use a sweet picture from your childhood. It adds a personal touch to every call. I think it's a good idea, in special because it's something you can personalize.
How Does It Differ From Apple's Approach?
This is where it gets interesting. Apple's iOS has a similar feature, but it works in reverse. On iOS, *you* set the photo and name that others see when you call them. With Android's new feature, you can't control how you appear on other people's phones. Instead, you're in charge of how *they* appear on your phone. While I think both approaches are valid, I kind of like the Android one. After all, it's about personalizing *your* experience.
However, Google isn't the first to the party. Samsung's already had a profile card feature that works similarly for a while now. It's available from your contacts' profile pages. So while it's not a brand-new concept, it's cool to see Google bringing this kind of personalization to Android more broadly. As someone who uses a lot of different phones, the more I can personalize my experience, the better!
Source: Engadget