2 out of 5 stars
Tired of all those stacks of business cards? The free iPhone app CardMunch could be the solution. The app promises to convert all those paper business cards into the user's contact list, but the app's execution is far from perfect.
The app's site claims that real people transcribe each and every card, ensuring close to 100 percent accuracy.
I wanted to love this app. After all, it'd make my life a lot easier, but CardMunch fell short on so many levels.
Users take photos of each individual business card and have them transcribed into contact entries. The app neatly organizes all of the cards alphabetically with the typed entry and the photo as backup.
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The only part of this app that works without flaws is the photo process. One can easily scan in a stack of business cards in just a few minutes. Unfortunately, that's the only completely functional part of this app.
The time delay for having cards transcribed varies greatly, and there's no telling how long it will take. It'd be nice if the creator included some kind of "waiting time" or "loading" meter to show how long it will take so the user isn't left guessing.
The app also claims high accuracy but the first card I uploaded, along with several others, came back with multiple errors in the spelling of names. When the user attempts to correct the entry by clicking "edit," the app shuts down.
If you're willing to deal with the glitches, CardMunch can organize your contacts and make it easy to connect with contacts on LinkedIn. But, honestly, I'm not sure it's worth the frustration.
Maki covers arts and entertainment and life and style. Call her at (701) 780-1122, (800)477-6572 ext. 1122 or send email to jmaki@gfherald.com .
