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.
iMessage Hell Discussion: Tips and Tricks
- Thread starter AustinIllini
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Zaft
macrumors 601
Yes ... not to mention as well that WhatsApp has a seriously ugly UI.
I think what made it successful is that because it is based on phone numbers and there is not need to “friend” contacts, people just originally saw it as the exact same thing as SMS but for free (i.e. not necessarily a direct competitor for the IM clients you mentioned event though it eventually became one).
But while I’ve been resisting it as I don’t like to fragment my messenging experience and SMS/iMessage keeps everything neatly together, social pressure makes it extremely difficult in Europe and I am about to give in. I known I am missing out on group discussions amongst friends/colleagues/leisure activity groups which happen exclusively on WhatsApp. The only way to get back on those which were before happening via email or Facbook is to join WhatsApp. But I know once I do people will also start using it as an SMS replacement to message me which I don’t really want.
Technarchy
macrumors 604
There is a reason people love iMessage; it’s a great product. That’s the magic that keeps people coming back.
It’s up to google or whomever to create something equal or superior.
As of right now Google has and continues to drop the ball.
The best alternative for me is Facebook messenger but it still falls behind iMessage.
I’m not as glued to iMessage as some, but I have to say, it’s always nice to use when I am rocking an iPhone.
It’s up to google or whomever to create something equal or superior.
As of right now Google has and continues to drop the ball.
The best alternative for me is Facebook messenger but it still falls behind iMessage.
I’m not as glued to iMessage as some, but I have to say, it’s always nice to use when I am rocking an iPhone.
Zaft
macrumors 601
The situation would be different if carriers in the US still charged for SMS. I guess thats still a thing in europe?
Roadstar
macrumors 68000
At least in Finland SMS are technically still charged for, but plans with plenty (or unlimited) SMS are rather inexpensive, so I don't think cost is an issue. iMessage just isn't too popular here as other services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger let you send full resolution images and videos in group or individual chats without having to think or care about the phone the other end is using.
everythingapplerainbow
macrumors regular
I don't use iMessage that often, but how pleasant it is every time I use it. Because iMessage is always feel like a part of my device, not a part of Facebook.
Here in ireland most plans include unlimited or a very larger number of SMS and I know France is the same ... not sure about other countries but I expect a good number are similar.
But still WhatsApp is becoming dominent. I think there are two reason: unlimited SMS plans are usually not international, and SMS doesn’t support group chats (MMS could do but when you start mixing many type of devices and international mobile networks it becaomes neither seemless not free).
I think mobile networks and phone manufacturers have missed at trick. If they had managed to agree on a more modern and cost effective implementation of SMS as part of the 4G standards they would have kept control over the mobile IM market. MMS could even have been that as technically it is basically emails hence very cheap and interoperable, but networks were too greedy with how they decided to charge for them and a bit lazy with international interconnections.
Technarchy
macrumors 604
That’s the appeal. iMessage is just there and is baked into the device as a default option with centralized services for text and data plan messaging.
It’s always one of the things I miss most when I leave my iPhone for android for about half the year.
Apple Watch 3 has been my solution.
While I can’t draft out detailed messages using the scribble function, nor can I always use dictation, but I can at least see and ACK iMessages when I am out and about with only my Pixel 2. My Watch is still paired to my iPhone 7, which hasn’t had a sim in it since I switched my sim from that into the Pixel 2 as a primary phone for that one.
Not a cheap or easy solution, but it’s the best way for me to deal with both ecosystems at once. Odd thing is, the Apple Watch will not receive SMS or MMS from outside of iMessage, so there is one huge drawback there.
While I can’t draft out detailed messages using the scribble function, nor can I always use dictation, but I can at least see and ACK iMessages when I am out and about with only my Pixel 2. My Watch is still paired to my iPhone 7, which hasn’t had a sim in it since I switched my sim from that into the Pixel 2 as a primary phone for that one.
Not a cheap or easy solution, but it’s the best way for me to deal with both ecosystems at once. Odd thing is, the Apple Watch will not receive SMS or MMS from outside of iMessage, so there is one huge drawback there.
I think this is the main reason why Google (and others like Whatsapp etc) didnt integrate SMS into its messaging app. I remembered a few years ago, Google implemented SMS integration into Hangout but was abandoned later. iirc, there were issues/complaints from users they are being charged hundreds of dollars for overseas/roaming SMS.
convergent
macrumors 68040
How does this actually help anything? The only reason to avoid non-Apple messaging is to not be getting crap images and videos. If you are using a watch, then how is that helpful for images and videos?
I Your use case, but mine is different.
Most people I message with iMessage are simply sending texts and normal messages that would otherwise go via SMS. As opposed to missing out on their messages, I can still send and receive them. You can actually receive Images over the watch just fine, Videos, not so much.
Many of us like to keep iMessage active since we can still send and receive on our Mac or iPad devices. The watch gives us the option to still get iMessages while mobile, as opposed to fully dropping the platform.
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
Not until recently I’ve used iMessage and now my new girlfriend is using an iPhone and it’s now I use it everyday how great it is
So all the main people I text
Girlfriend
Mum
Mates
Sister
All use iMessage and as somebody who uses the iPad Pro, iPhone, MacBook and even Apple Watch it is so valuable just transferring and texting on different devices. Don’t need to have my phone by my side to text it’s so far ahead of the competition
Zaft
macrumors 601
BMox81
macrumors 65816
I guess this is my main issue-both sides of the family have iPhones and one (my side) uses iMessage exclusively.
So to them, me making a move back to Android (which I see happening in the near future) will be the worst thing ever.
All my mates are on WhatsApp though as there is a mix of iPhones and Android users so no problems on that front.
So to them, me making a move back to Android (which I see happening in the near future) will be the worst thing ever.
All my mates are on WhatsApp though as there is a mix of iPhones and Android users so no problems on that front.
convergent
macrumors 68040
Its not really bad in that context. With family, its a lot easier to work with them than if you are in dozens of random group threads with other people. As long as your family knows that if they send you pictures or videos to use something else (if quality is important), then its fine. We have started using Google Photos more, which everyone was already using for backup of pictures anyways.
tbayrgs
macrumors 604
There is.
What is RCS messaging? Here’s everything you need to know about SMS’ successor
The biggest obstacle is getting all relevant parties involved on board.
Zaft
macrumors 601
Well soon or later SMS and MMS will be replaced with RCS or something else (can't imagine we still use this outdated standard), and Apple will have to get on that train as well or they won't be able to text with others than Apple users.
Why I’m tethered to iMessage is because I exchange video clips with other parents. We all will have each other’s kids over for different events and every parent who happens to have everybody else’s kids that day sends out pictures and videos of what the kids are doing. We are all on iMessage except for one friend who is on a Samsung. We get some fuzzy pictures from her and never any videos. I’m not sure what she can see of our pics and videos. I should send to my own Samsung and see, but I never think of it when I’m doing it, it’s too hectic.
But I’m starting to just share links to Google photos now. If I can entice other people to do that I could escape iMessage. Ha...and maybe unicorns will fly outta my butt. Ouch.
[doublepost=1513396586][/doublepost]
He returned it because he didn’t like vanilla Android enough and he had some hardware issues. I don’t remember what they were. His issue with vanilla Android was that he couldn’t assign special status to certain senders in email. For example in iOS or on his Samsung he can designate some of his email contacts as VIPs and when mail comes in from them a special assigned chime rings. So he knows he’s got email from his boss or a doctor for one of our patent and he better look at it fast. He did find some sort of app that would let him do that on a Pixel but he said the side effect would be lag, according to the reviews the app was getting.
He’s really either a Samsung and Apple guy. Pixel is just not his thing.
convergent
macrumors 68040
This "could be" the future if the players cooperate. Currently AT&T is using RCS for their Advanced Messaging so it could be the perfect solution for my family since we are all on AT&T. It works on all the AT&T phones except guess who... the iPhones. Apple is probably doing something to prevent it from working with iMessage.
After trying several things, I'm not using FB Messenger as my default messaging client and all of them have that so it seems to work OK.