Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Testing New iMessage Features Such as Mentions and Retracting Messages, Could Extend to Mac App
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah, it’s beyond ridiculous that they don’t have a simple way to select/send photos on the Mac.
The photo select interface is pointless on a Mac. It's only there on the iPhone because of the small screen and limited/clunky multitasking. Just find an image anywhere (Safari, Chrome, Photos, on your desktop, wherever) and drag and drop it into the iMessage window. This isn't exactly hard to find: Macs have had universal drag and drop where you can drag almost any object between almost any two applications for 25+ years.
I almost exclusively us iMessage, unless someone happens to send me a message on Messenger, which only happens if I'm selling something. In fact, in my experience most people almost exclusively use iMessage, unless you count Snapchat (of which I don't use, but I know a few people that do).
[automerge]1583849738[/automerge]
Same here.
[automerge]1583850001[/automerge]
Except that most people I know use iMessage. And that the few Android friends already just use regular text messages. And that my Messages seamlessly sync between my phone, iPad, and Mac. And that I can send and reply to text messages on my mac. And that I don't have to download an extra app just to message people. There are plenty of reasons for people to use iMessage, just like there are plenty of people who have reasons to not use iMessage.
Last edited:
No, the reason it's integrated into the iOS app is because sending photos is crucial to a good messages app and Apple wants to make the process as seamless as possible. Why should I have to boot up a separate application to send a photo? Even apps like Pages on the Mac have a way to import photos without opening the Photos app.
Keeping it iPhone only served a purpose at some point. Green balloons and broken MMS successfully pressured a couple members of my family to dump Android. OTOH, anyone who is going to switch probably has by now.
I refuse to use WhatsApp because it's spyware, like everything from Facebook. Using iMessages exclusively works pretty well for me in the US, I hardly know anyone who uses Android.
it's a longshot, but unless Signal gets a lot more popular, Apple may be the only company in a position to challenge the hegemony of WhatsApp in Europe. To do this they would obviously have to release an Android version. Offering iMessage's end to end encryption on Android would be a huge privacy win not just for android users, but also for iPhone users who would be able to send encrypted messages to more contacts. With Apple Music there is a precedent for Apple releasing an app on Android. Of course in that case there is a more obvious profit motive, here there is little to no financial upside. But, Apple claims to support privacy as a human right (https://www.apple.com/privacy/) and Tim Cook has specifically discussed doing the right things for accessibility and the environment without consideration of "the bloody ROI" (https://www.theguardian.com/environ...ok-climate-change-sceptics-ditch-apple-shares). If Apple is consistent at all they will have the courage to make iMessages cross platform to help more people protect their privacy.
I'm not so sure on that statement of being superior with features and reliability.
1. my phone service if suspended STILL allows me to receive iMessages (and SMS' sent to my number).
2. I can still receive video/audio calls over Wi-Fi just like WhatsApp and others so a draw here.
3. changing my number just seamlessly works. When others change their number messages don't automatically continue to send/receive ... the other party has to 'accept' the new encryption key and wait for YOU to allow connection to your new mobile number.
messaging apps should not continue to use a mobile number as a basis for verification or connection. IMHO. I feel features and stability is relatively the same across all top-tier messaging services.
would be great for 1 to battle and rule them all, especially if it was agnostic to the mobileOS providers. One way or another some consolidation will occur again and some will end up just like BBM did. Apple needs to be fearful of falling under the same path as BlackBerry's BBM.
Just because you use iMessage doesn’t make it a good messaging app. It’s sorta fine one on one but when people send multiple messages in a row it’s nice to be able to quote the one you are responding to. It’s absolutely horrible as a group messaging app not being able to quote or @people. These are options that have been around forever with whatsapp and telegram.
These other apps also stay in sync and over multi platforms. The only real valid argument is if you believe iMessage provides better security and privacy but honestly I’m not sure that’s even the case whatsapp is encrypted but I’ll give iMessage the benefit of the doubt since Facebook owns whatsapp.
it’s not a good messaging app because of all it’s missing features not because it’s Apple app or anything. If it had those features and was multi platform I’d look to make the switch but I don’t see multi platform ever happening so forget it. Not everyone is able to live an Apple ecosystem 24/7.
i'm all for them making imessage great again. i always prefer to use native apps for better integration, but it does lack a lot of features when compared to some competitors.
I thought WhatsApp was end-to-end encrypted, so how can the web work?
I like Telegram a lot, but it’s not end-to-end encrypted by default and when you turn it on, it only works on one device. I can use Signal on my computers, iPhone, and iPad and i’s end-to-end encrypted.
Last edited:
There are lots of reasons to use iMessage because if the person doesn’t have iMessage, it just sends a text. I’m not going to download yet another messaging app just to chat with someone. I have iMessage/text, Signal, and Telegram, and I’m not downloading another messaging app just to message someone.
You have to pair it with your phone with a QR code, and the phone needs to be online. It's a bit clunky, but it works ok and does the job for most use cases.
It's not possible to just log in on a random computer and use it.
No it doesn't! That is the reason I love about it. You can choose to compress it if you want to
It’s easy to spot a non-American. It’s someone who thinks soccer is a sport (and calls it football).
Rest of the world use other cross platform messaging tools such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal since they don’t have to buy very expensive iPhones to use iMessages.
Google itself is pushing RCS messaging which is specific to Android but with very little success due to carrier issues and also it is not end to end encrypted.
At some point when iMessages and RCS marry with strict privacy enforcement it may be possible for iMessages to be platform independent but I still feel that a Apple would not allow that!
I wish they'd release a PC desktop version so I could use it at work instead of having to stop and pick up my phone to reply to a message
I wouldn't mind cross platform though. My sons have iphones but my brother doesn't so we use Hangouts to group chat
I wouldn't mind cross platform though. My sons have iphones but my brother doesn't so we use Hangouts to group chat
Yeah... we wouldn't want a third-party holding the keys to decrypt the conversation (<cough>iMessage in the cloud<cough>).
I switched to Signal. It's vastly better. It's like everything iMessage is plus a bit more and available on every platform. And you can actually verify your contacts, something iMessage doesn't allow.
I like Signal also, but it’s useless if no one else uses it. I think I have 2 friends that do.
Oh great, they're turning Messages into a catalyst app? That's fantastic! I can't wait until I can't use any keyboard shortcuts at all! They already changed it so that you can't press enter after deleting a conversation, because god forbid you want to use keyboard controls. I remember when Apple was really good with keyboard controls, and you didn't have to use the ****ing mouse for every single thing (looking at you, windoze)