iOS 10 Brings Payments, Stickers, Games, and More to iMessage

[MH01]

We went from "the customer doesn't know what he wants until he sees it" to "the customer doesn't want it as soon as he sees it" pretty fast.

Apple has completely lost it. or seems to mispredict who his customer base really is. or just doesn't care anymore.

I think they went from catering to the broad customer base, to focusing on where they think the most money can be made. Tim Cook coming out to the keynote and bowing Chinese style set the done. Apple sees China as the customer base....and boy did WWDC 2016 cater to it. Maybe it just me, but Chinese references were the only foreign language used in all the demos. And iMessage will be a huge hit in Asia

 

[Virinprew]

No matter how many features they add to iMessage, I won't be using it cuz my friends are on 'Line'. If they really want me to switch, make the Android version and pray that people move to iMessage.

 

[macfacts]

I can't wait till imessage is so bloated it looks like MS Comic Chat from 1996. It made conversation like reading a comic.

 

[CarlJ]

Good news for you, you can still just send messages and share pictures if that's all you want to do.

Indeed. If folks feel especially concerned about this, consider that you'll never have to deal with stickers and such unless either you send one (so don't), or someone sends one to you (in which case, chastise them if you fee the need). It's not like Messages is going to put up a modal dialog demanding you specify which sticker you want to send every time you open the app. There are already built-in features for sending just-recorded video and sound, and I regularly forget those are there, because the controls are particularly obtrusive.

 

[macfacts]

Indeed. If folks feel especially concerned about this, consider that you'll never have to deal with stickers and such unless either you send one (so don't), or someone sends one to you (in which case, chastise them if you fee the need). It's not like Messages is going to put up a modal dialog demanding you specify which sticker you want to send every time you open the app. There are already built-in features for sending just-recorded video and sound, and I regularly forget those are there, because the controls are particularly obtrusive.

An easy fix is if Apple had an option to strip all formating options on incoming text.

 

[Black Magic]

I am so disappointed.
Downloaded the beta to see if this crap can be disabled. This crap is the reason I stay away from FB Messenger and all those others.
I want to send messages and share pictures quickly. That's all. You can't make messaging any better than that. Period.

Well it really comes down to the crowd you text with now doesn't it? Most of the older crowd will use iMessage as it typically would taking advantage of some of the new features. Younger folks will be more apt to use stickers and such.

 

[AndrewWx]

It looks like we will finally be able to edit pictures we take in iMessage. That is something I have wanted for quite some time. Telegram has it and I use it frequently.

 

[Rychiar]

can i just please have dark mode

 

[displayblock]

You choose to install iMessage extensions.

I choose not to subscribe to Apple Music, but that doesn't prevent it from being shoved in my face on a regular basis (including the new default, unremovable iMessage extension). The bloat gets baked in and the half-hearted attempt to offer an option to disable it doesn't go far enough in my opinion. Just annoying. Brings me back to the days of carrier OS cellphones: Slip up and hit a wrong button and get launched into a VZ Navigator advertisement, over and over again.

 

[C DM]

I wish I could like that post a thousand times. I only want iMessage to send messages (and the occasional pictures). And I want it done quickly, versus waiting a minute for SMS messages (Sprint is crappy).

As other people have said, Apple devices/software is "clean and elegant", and providing so many features isn't user friendly. I feel like Apple is become desperate for new features.

And you can still do all that as you can do it now.

 

[CarlJ]

An easy fix is if Apple had an option to strip all formating options on incoming text.

Then again, if you get stickers in a message from a friend, your problem isn't with Apple, it's with your so-called friend. If stickers offend you, ask your friend to not send them - if they persist, block their number after screaming obscenities at them so they'll cease contacting you. It's a social problem, not a technical problem. If you strip all formatting, you will inevitably wind up getting some important communication dreadfully wrong because you'll miss an important detail that you instructed the client to throw out unread because it wasn't communicated textually.

I am not against stickers but I don't expect to make much use of them either. But if someone sends me what I deem to be too many, I'll take it up with them, not Apple.

 

[Zmmyt]

Sorry guys and gals, times of simple SMS are long gone.

 

[SoulCloud]

It's like Microsoft from 90s all over again. Butt load of cash and as a result they try to compete with whoever gets consumers' attention. Netscape is up to something, dive in boys! Fitness bands appear, hey let's make a watch! PlayStation's becoming visible, go along with it! Tesla becomes big deal, time to make our own car! Emojis, snaps, cheap animations everywhere, we can make them even cheaper!

There is absolutely nothing new in the new iMessage app. I understand that being in the kids' dreams is vital for business. Then do it in traditional Apple way, not the Snapchat or WeChat way.

"Psst, Peter! They said that they have some big news about iMessage!"
"iMessage is coming to Android?!"
"Spread the news, John!"

 

[C DM]

Sorry guys and gals, times of simple SMS are long gone.

Seems like they are still there just fine for those who want that.

 

[lowercaseperson]

I disagree that it is a generational thing. My baby boomer Mom uses emoji all the time, and she's only had a smartphone for a year.

I think your baby boomer mom is case and point for why Apple is shifting gears. Your mom likes emoji and uses them all the time - but doesn't care enough about bubble effects or stickers to leave the iMessage platform to find something "better."

On the other hand there are plenty of people, often young people (but not always young people), who are willing to leave the iMessage platform to find the accessories they are looking for. This update is to keep THEM in the Apple ecosystem. Seriously, the only thing keeping me tied to Apple is the fact that I love how iMessage and Photos ALREADY sync seamlessly across all my devices. My family shares all our pictures on the Photos app. I've been using Macs since 1999 and I would be long gone if my whole family would make the jump. But they won't, so here I am.

However, if I left iMessage and the other core Apple apps long ago looking for stickers (or any other accessory found on a competitors app) then the syncing/sharing features wouldn't be holding me back today.

Plenty of people are satisfied with iMessage the way it is (like your mom, and my mom for that matter) - I highly doubt they will actually leave because of stickers. But there are a lot of people who might return to iMessage FOR stickers, and even more who won't leave because of stickers (note I'm using stickers as an example of any compelling accessory found on a competitors app).

 

[CarlJ]

An easy fix is if Apple had an option to strip all formating options on incoming text.

You want Apple to intercede in conversations between you and people you know, changing the meaning of what they "said"? Why not, you know, tell them you don't want to converse in that way, instead of having Apple quietly censoring them?