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I'm not particularly interested in using iMessage on Android. But as long as Apple continue to engage in practices which hinder cross-platform communication I'm fully behind anyone that causes Apple grief when it comes to iMessage, whether that be a government or a plucky start-up.
Apple is hindering cross platform communication? So i assume apple is blocking
  1. Whatsapp
  2. Snapchat
  3. instagram
  4. telegram
  5. signal
  6. kakaotalk
  7. kik messenger
  8. skype
  9. zoom
  10. google meets
  11. Discord
  12. Wechat
  13. Line
  14. Viber
  15. Wire
  16. Session
All of which are all cross platform on Android/IOS/Windows....because last I check, Apple not bringing iMessage to Android is not hindering cross platform since the over 1 million apps in the app store have plenty of cross platform options. So that is just a hyperbolic and melodramatic take to have.

I am all for people actively innovating and trying to bring feature parity for communication. But there is a big difference in Android and IOS having Snapchat back in 2012 and Snapchat refused to make a Snapchat app for Windows phone users. So a dev made a snapchat clone app that allowed us (for a time) to be able to use the app so we can still communicate with our firends. That in itself was amazing because Windows phone users were being shut out entirely. People want to talk about kids being bullied over a green color....Imagine 2012, when you used a Windows phone and you literally had to tell people "I dont have that app". Rough times for us loyal WP7/8 and Win 10 mobile users <3

Or the Tinder days when Tinder was coming about. Imagine being a college kid trying to find dates and you could not use the most popular dating app at the time (Tinder) to meet people like your Android or IOS users. And there was no alternative.

That is completely different than Android users feeling entitled to iMessage under the Pretense that they care about Group chats (when in reality it really is about a color) and blaming Apple for hindering cross platform communication when both operating Systems have a bevy of Apps to do exactly that. Communicate across platforms. Especially since Beeper was CHARGING and profiting off the app which is scummy.

This victim mentality Android users have is laughable and sad.
 
I'm not particularly interested in using iMessage on Android. But as long as Apple continue to engage in practices which hinder cross-platform communication I'm fully behind anyone that causes Apple grief when it comes to iMessage, whether that be a government or a plucky start-up.
Apple does not "hinder cross-platform communication". They just don't actively provide it. Any communication service is free to make an iOS app. If Apple said no to Whatsapp or Signal or Element or whatever, this would be a completely different conversation. Of course Apple is free to decide which platforms they support. So, we force them to support Android. Should we also force them to support Windows? Linux? PS5?
 
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Apple is hindering cross platform communication? So i assume apple is blocking

Absolutely they do. And hindering and blocking don't mean the same thing.

Apple chooses to bundle iMessage into the default text messaging app and they choose to prevent 3rd party apps from taking on the role of default messaging handler. This gives iMessage an unfair advantage on iOS as many users will just end up using iMessage simply because its integrated into the default messaging app without considering other options which are cross-platform capable. This benefits Apple immensely as it initially gets many people using iMessage by stealth, and eventually creates significant platform stickiness. This is done with disregard to the impact on cross-platform communication experience. Of course, individual iOS users can elect to install and use another app for rich cross-platform messaging, but this isn't much help when you want to communicate with iOS users who can't be bothered juggling more than one messaging app (and I for one know many of those people). So yes, Apple's practices hinder cross-platform communication.

Hopefully, Apple adding RCS to Messages will get rid of some of these issues (although I'll wait to see how its actually implemented). If its not done well, in my opinion Apple should be forced by regulators to do one of the following:
* Unbundle iMessage and SMS messaging so that iMessage is forced to compete with other rich communication apps on a level playing field.
* Allow other messaging apps on iOS to take on the role of default SMS handler so that people can use a different app for their one messaging app rather than having to juggle multiple.
 
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* Unbundle iMessage and SMS messaging so that iMessage so that iMessage is forced to compete with other rich communication apps on a level playing field.
Why does Apple need to hinder their product (A product that works reliably) to compete with others? One can argue it already does compete as it offers most of the same (and some uniquely specific) features like whatsapp.

iMessge is largely irrelevant outside of the United States despite being natively built into the OS as a first party device so your argument falls flat when everyone outside the US relies on other apps (namely whatsapp) to communicate.



* Allow other messaging apps on iOS to take on the role of default SMS handler.
That is not how the OS actually works. This is not Android nor do I want it to be Android nor should you want to make another Android clone. Not everyone wants Android.

To do that, they would also need to wire how it works on iPad OS and Mac and that fundamentally changes things. Apple's whole ethos has been about a COHESIVE ecosystem between their products and software. You asking for it to become like Android by breaking iMessage from SMS (Why?) literally goes against the "just works" ethos of Apple.

Absolutely they do. And hindering and blocking don't mean the same thing.
Hindering insinuate Apple goes out of their way to make it difficult to use other apps and they don't. Since you have the choice to use whatever app you want to use.

WHen I need to send a picture, it gives me the option of using whatever messaging app I want to use to send it with. Not just iMessage.

Hindering would be Apple making it difficult in the share menu to find the apps I need and want to use other than iMessage.

I know you guys want to make Apple to be some big bad but your posts are getting nonsenical and not making sense. It's giving "im a victim" of a problem you are creating in your mind that doesnt exist.
 
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Apple does not "hinder cross-platform communication". They just don't actively provide it. Any communication service is free to make an iOS app. If Apple said no to Whatsapp or Signal or Element or whatever, this would be a completely different conversation. Of course Apple is free to decide which platforms they support. So, we force them to support Android. Should we also force them to support Windows? Linux? PS5?
I'd argue they do actively provide it since it is obvious outside the US, Apple users everything EXCEPT iMessage/SMS to chat.
 
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This isn't back by any stretch of the imagination, you still need to sign in with an Apple ID. The entire point of the app was to be able to use your phone number, that's something that most likely will never come back as now Apple is vigilant. These guys will just peter out as their funding runs out.

I was in favor of these types of apps, Beeper even says they are totally open to a 3rd party evaluating their security. But now that Apple has accepted RCS I feel like users are asking too much now, and that's as an Android owner myself. As long as Apple's RCS has group chat functionality, end to end encryption, and full size pictures/video then I'm happy, I'd prefer to keep the green bubble to be unique. Apple deserves to keep premium features on their platform.
 
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First of all, nobody is saying not to be friends with android users.

Second of all, android-cist? Really? You sound almost as ridiculous as the guy calling discrimination because apple uses green bubble for non android users.

Thirdly, i hope you don’t mean make iOS anything like android.
The tone in this thread is disappointing. Shouldn’t we want to have secure messaging with our android friends? Apple is the barrier here.

Keep the colors - just make it secure and feature rich. Apple can but won’t do this. Everyone here knows that it’s a competitive advantage for Apple.

So let’s call it what it is. A corporate decision not a practical one.
 
I was in favor of these types of apps, Beeper even says they are totally open to a 3rd party evaluating their security. But now that Apple has accepted RCS I feel like users are asking too much now, and that's as an Android owner myself. As long as Apple's RCS has group chat functionality, end to end encryption, and full size pictures/video then I'm happy, I'd prefer to keep the green bubble to be unique. Apple deserves to keep premium features on their platform.
There i know there were reasonable and not totally entitled Android users on Macrumors. I was holding out hope for at least one :D
 
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I mean if you wanna be a Legal Larry about it… Hard to argue that it’s immoral, though.
I don't find it hard at all. The same people that justify stealing old stuff find a way to justify pirating and modding our current software. The people that push for sideloading on iOS so they can install emulators, are the same people that will use that access to pirate our software. Not all of them, of course.
 
The tone in this thread is disappointing. Shouldn’t we want to have secure messaging with our android friends? Apple is the barrier here.

Keep the colors - just make it secure and feature rich. Apple can but won’t do this. Everyone here knows that it’s a competitive advantage for Apple.

So let’s call it what it is. A corporate decision not a practical one.
If i am worried about security i have telegram/signal/whatsapp.
I honestly really don't care (like most people) about E2EE. It's good to have of course but i am not sending anything that I am that worried about someone seeing.

It's like 2FA. I get that it is great but I hate that I am forced to use it.
 
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I don't find it hard at all. The same people that justify stealing old stuff find a way to justify pirating and modding our current software. The people that push for sideloading on iOS so they can install emulators, are the same people that will use that access to pirate our software. Not all of them, of course.
Pirating and stealng are only justifiable if you are stealing from a 3 trillion dollar company, didnt you know :D
 
Android users, i really need for you guys to come with a better and NEW argument. All the reasons you listed above are PRIMARILY important to tech fans. The average joe does not care.

I have used Android for over 10 years (unfortunately) and I am now using an iPhone that literally just works with minimal to no tweaking. That is what the primary consumer wants. That is something most androids dont offer.
I used to work in mobile. I am well-versed from RIM and Blackberry to Webos to Windows Mobile 5 and 6, to Windows Phone 7, 8, 8.1 and windows 10 mobile to Android and IOS. Heck, I even have used the Kin phones when they came out.

To counter your points

1. The average consumer does not care about themes and the MOST customization is usually a wallpaper of their significant other, kids, or pets. The averqage android users are not downloading Nova Launcher or Niagara Launcher( my favorite Android launcher that made android look less cheap).

2. Navigating the OS? Again, the average consumer does not want or even need multiple options to navigate the OS. Ease of use is not something ANdroid is known for.

3. Emulators? Your argument is emulators. WHich 98 percent of the people who use Emulators are actually pirating the games lmao.

Again do you think the average consumer CARES if your android can download a PS emulator (if the hardware even supports it) or their iPhone can;t? No.

WHich leads me to

4. The average consumer honestly does not NEED to be able to install any and everything just because they can. In the end, it is their choice to do so but I am not using it as a con against Apple.

I cant tell you the amount of people i had to deal with who installed this app from some shady place not knowing what they were doing only to screw something up. In reality, most users will use the Play store (or Amazon App Store) or whatever comes on their phone.

Android users by default are far less likely to pay for Apps compared to android which goes back to the fact that Apple does not allow third party stores like Android does. Android allows users to freely pirate as they so see fit.

As i said before, Android is an OS that does A lot of things but things that most people dont care about and nothing actually well.

But in true Android fanboy passion, anything that goes against Apple is a gift from the gods.

Firstly, I'm not an Android user, it clearly says I have an iPhone 13 Pro in the signature block. The only Android device I own is a Meta Quest 2, and that's barely Android.

Secondly, I wanna give a real world example of something Android does miles better than iOS, and that's software distribution. On iOS unless your iPhone/iPad is jailbroken you are limited to the Apple App Store only, which means only apps Apple allowed on the App Store, and said apps can be pulled if they haven't been updated in two years (even if they don't need an update.) Additionally, said apps have region locking to them, a practice that was outdated almost 10 years ago as most have stopped doing it since it made no sense to limit software distribution by region.

Linus Sebastian purchased a smart hairdryer from Europe. Said smart hairdryer requires a companion app, but said app is not in the Canadian Google Play Store as it's only in Europe. But since Linus uses an Android, it's no problem. All he had to do was install the .apk for the app which was easily accessible, and now it's on his phone and he can use the hairdryer. If this was iOS, he would not be able to do the same for a .ipa unless that iPhone was jailbroken.

This is one of the reasons I'm so advent about iOS and iPadOS needing sideloading, or more accurately, the ability to freely install software like we can on macOS.

 
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I mean if you want to try and justify piracy go
For it.

And this is why android and its users get the reputation it has.
I’ve literally never owned an Android as my main phone and never pirated an app on Android.

tHaNk u nExT
 
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This is one of the reasons I'm so advent about iOS and iPadOS needing sideloading, or more accurately, the ability to freely install software like we can on macOS.
Yeah hard pass on that. I dont want Apple to become anything like Google/Android.

Then Apple's reputation of quality becomes the same as Android being associated with Lag and Viruses because you got every tom dick and harry trying to sideload apps.

Hard Pass.
 
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The tone in this thread is disappointing. Shouldn’t we want to have secure messaging with our android friends? Apple is the barrier here.
No, it is not. There are many, many iOS apps that allow you to have secure messaging with your android friends.

Why doesn't Google just make a messaging app with support for iOS?
 
Firstly, I'm not an Android user, it clearly says I have an iPhone 13 Pro in the signature block. The only Android device I own is a Meta Quest 2, and that's barely Android.

Secondly, I wanna give a real world example of something Android does miles better than iOS, and that's software distribution. On iOS unless your iPhone/iPad is jailbroken you are limited to the Apple App Store only, which means only apps Apple allowed on the App Store, and said apps can be pulled if they haven't been updated in two years (even if they don't need an update.) Additionally, said apps have region locking to them, a practice that was outdated almost 10 years ago as most have stopped doing it since it made no sense to limit software distribution by region.

Linus Sebastian purchased a smart hairdryer from Europe. Said smart hairdryer requires a companion app, but said app is not in the Canadian Google Play Store as it's only in Europe. But since Linus uses an Android, it's no problem. All he had to do was install the .apk for the app which was easily accessible, and now it's on his phone and he can use the hairdryer. If this was iOS, he would not be able to do the same for a .ipa unless that iPhone was jailbroken.

This is one of the reasons I'm so advent about iOS and iPadOS needing sideloading, or more accurately, the ability to freely install software like we can on macOS.

Yeah, if you are importing smart hairdryers from Europe you are totally not a tech fan.

Any person who knows what a .apk is, let alone how to install it, would be considered a tech fan. Once again, power user overestimates capability of average user. I'm prepared to be scolded for saying that sideloading is advanced use - but for the average user, it totally is.
 
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Yeah hard pass on that. I dont want Apple to become anything like Google/Android.

Then Apple's reputation of quality becomes the same as Android being associated with Lag and Viruses because you got every tom dick and harry trying to sideload apps.

IT ALREADY IS! iOS has been getting buggier and buggier each year and there's been numerous vulnerabilities with the OS and scam apps in the app store that giving people the CHOICE to sideload changes nothing.

You lose absolutely nothing with sideloading. Besides, sideloading is coming whether you want it to or not. The EU and Japan mandated it remember?
 
Why does Apple need to hinder their product (A product that works reliably) to compete with others? One can argue it already does compete as it offers most of the same (and some uniquely specific) features like whatsapp.

There are many examples of companies being forced weaken their own product/s because they had been harnessing their position to gain an anti-competitive advantage. Apple does this in messaging, and as a by-product also stifles the cross-platform messaging landscape in general.
 
How is it a privilege? Save your money and purchase what is necessary to run the game(s).

No 🥰

I already purchased what’s necessary — an iPhone, and Macs, and Windows PCs, and iPads, and various controllers. And you expect me to spend over $100s of dollars if I want to play around with an old console and its games that aren’t available?

We live in a time where companies like Epic can give away games like GTA 5 for free in a promo — which gives you access to Rockstar Support if needed — but if you DARE download something out-of-print with no support, you’re a THIEF!

All legal, no logic.

Imagine Apple brings iMessage to Android. What does that provide Android users with, that they can't get already from other apps?

Being able to chat seamlessly with iOS Users, without forcing them into archaic SMS or use a different app.

I also by the way don't believe RCS will bring this, because the fragmentation already happened. Lots of people will just don't care and continue to use Whatsapp.

Sounds like Apple should just allow extremely basic iMessage functionality on Android, or else these articles and debates will never end.

Pirating and stealng are only justifiable if you are stealing from a 3 trillion dollar company, didnt you know :D

My example was a 20 year-old game which hasn’t been sold in over 15 years, and you’re making Apple out to be the victim when I download it.
 
Why doesn't Google just make a messaging app with support for iOS?
Hangouts. Google Messages. Google+. Google Talk. Google Wave. Google Buzz. Google Hangouts Part 2. google hangouts part 3. Google Photos Messages. Google Pay messages. Google Phone Messages. Google Assistant Messages. Youtube Messages.

And these are all name's of products from Google :p

Google has literally been around longer than whatsapp during messenger for nearly 2 decades now since 2005 and literally every single one of it's messaging apps sucks and is killed off.

Voice is a shadow of a itself and nobody really uses it. Google sort of has a standard with messages and RCS but it's still half-baked because Google Message's does not smoothly fallback to SMS similar to iMessage.

So it makes sense why Google is begging for iMessage and it makes sense why Android users want iMessage. Because Google literally can't create a messaging app that people want to use. People only use Messages simply because it is the default on most Androids.
IT ALREADY IS! iOS has been getting buggier and buggier each year and there's been numerous vulnerabilities with the OS and scam apps in the app store that giving people the CHOICE to sideload changes nothing.

You lose absolutely nothing with sideloading. Besides, sideloading is coming whether you want it to or not. The EU and Japan mandated it remember?
IOS is nothing like Android lmfao. Thank God, i would be sick if my phone became anything like that POS software.

More importantly, I dont deny any bugs or anythbig but honestly and truly on my 11 and 15 pro max i honestly haven't noticed anythung showstopping. I am on the Beta on the 11 and I am on 17.2 official on the pro max.

Sideloading? Hmm, we'll see. Hopefully, if they are forced to do so, they will find a way to handle it better than Android.
 
There are many examples of companies being forced weaken their own product/s because they had been harnessing their position to gain an anti-competitive advantage. Apple does this in messaging, and as a by-product also stifles the cross-platform messaging landscape in general.
There is a big difference between a competitive advantage and a anticompetitive action. iMessage is a competitive advantage for Apple. It does nothing to stifle competition among messaging services.
 
And yet you are defending piracy. Got you.
Yessir I pirate everything! A pirate’s life 4 me!!

I haven’t used pirated software in probably over 10 years, aside from retro games which aren’t available elsewhere.

Just because you can install apps without Apple holding your hand on Android, doesn’t make the platform synonymous with piracy.
 
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