Yellow App update – now has White pages

Yellow and White combined

As I am sure most of you will be aware by now, Yellow has relased version 1.1 of their iPhone app and it now includes White Pages listings. We’ve now had a chance to have a play with it so how does it perform? Well the back-end is basically the same, but now it not only allows you to search Yellow but also White Pages. The search logic hasn’t changed so there really is nothing to report on that front. The interface has a similar layout to the previous version but actually this is where you will notice the biggest change.

Find a Person - White Pages

Firstly the “Favourites” tab has now gone and has been replaced by a “Find a Person” tab (White Pages).

nothing to see here, call 018 instead

As I said before, the search functionality works in the same way that 1.0 did. One key thing to note though – if you are looking for John Smith and his name is in the book as J Smith it will return no results so finding the person you’re looking for can sometimes take a few attempts in different configurations. Also, talking of not returning results, if they are not in the book (ex-directory) you of course won’t find them. If this happens you will get the same big green button to call Directory Enquiries (018).

would the real John Smith please stand up

White pages listings come up as above, showing name, address and phone number (edited for privacy reasons, it’s not normally blurred). Tapping on the green phone icon brings up the “Are you sure you want to call this number?” hud.

where for art thou

If you tap on a name it brings up a more detailed view, including a small map (which can be made larger – when larger you can view as “hybrid” or “map” and zoom / pan as per the standard Maps app), phone number, address, add to contacts button, email button to email the result, and on the map a directional button which takes you out of the app and into the Maps app and gives you directions from your location.

well do ya...punk

Tapping the contacts button allows you to add it to your contacts. It brings up a confirmation hud just in case you accidentally press it.

favourites arrow

So what has changed in the “Find a Business” section? Well, not much. In fact only two things have changed. One is the icon used to view the result on a map (image in gallery below) and the other is the location of the favourites. To get to your favourites you now need to tap the blue arrow next to your “What” search term. To get to the listings you tap the actual search term.

favourites star

If you have not added the item to your favourites yet or you don’t have any favourites saved then you will get a star icon instead of the arrow. Tapping this will allow you to add the item to your favourites. Interestingly, the categories pre-populated in favourites in 1.0 are gone from this update, leaving you with a clean slate.

do ya, don't ya

The usual confirmation box is displayed after tapping the star.

nothing to see here....move along please

Once added the item is saved to your favourites for later.

So with all these changes what do I think? Overall I like it and it is very handy to have. Your contacts list now includes of all of  New Zealand (well those that are listed at least), but it leaves me feeling slightly uneary, like my privacy is somehow being invaded. I know it isn’t, and I know that if my info is in the White pages it’s online as well but for some reason it feels different when it’s so readily available in your pocket. This is further compounded even more when you can view your results on a map – one minute you’re looking up the address and phone number of somebody you don’t know well enough to already have that information, the next you’re looking at  their house and garden!

What I would have also really liked to have seen added in this update is the use of caching to save your last search. If you accidentally press the home button or press the direction button, you are taken out of the app and you have to start your search all over again. Hopefully this is something we can see in the next update.

See the gallery below for some more images or hit up the link at the bottom to go to the app store and download the latest version of the app.

Privacy invasion or really useful? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.