Microsoft Now Rolling Out iMessage Support on Windows With Several Limitations

[Treq]

They aren't far superior for many types of work. Windows does almost everything the Mac does except for cross platform interoperability between devices. The differences are mostly preferences for the UI and workflow. Macs are superior at battery life on laptops, yes, and efficiency in general. They are superior for audio engineering/music production because of the low latency core audio that literally just works without fussing with drivers, but that doesn't mean you can't do full on audio engineering and music production on Windows. But graphics work, video editing, and many other things are pretty much the same on both. Compiling code is also good on M chips. I use both Macs and Windows, but I'm not deluded into thinking either are far superior than the other. They both have pros and sometimes significant cons. Macs are not even remotely perfect with some issues still not being fixed after a decade. Use what you like. You won't be held back from doing anything on either platform.

Well in my experience they are far superior for editing, color timing and most other film production work with the exception of visual effects. But again, as I said previously, they are far superior at many tasks, but I did not say all tasks. I use Linux, Mac, and windows. They all have their strong points. Why do some people not actually understand what I have written? My response was to someone who stated that the iMessage was essentially the only reason to prefer macs to windows machines. That is not even close to true.

 

[Choco Taco]

Well in my experience they are far superior for editing, color timing and most other film production work with the exception of visual effects. But again, as I said previously, they are far superior at many tasks, but I did not say all tasks. I use Linux, Mac, and windows. They all have their strong points. Why do some people not actually understand what I have written? My response was to someone who stated that the iMessage was essentially the only reason to prefer macs to windows machines. That is not even close to true.

That "someone" you were responding to was me regarding iMessage, which I clarified isn't what I meant. I meant cross-platform interoperability is definitely a big plus for Macs that Windows will probably never have. Hand off, air drop, all the things that make Macs Macs put them on another level from other operating systems in that regard. Macs are a different experience if you are all in on Apple products.

 

[blazerunner]

Wait... this was never available in Windows? LMAO!!!!!!!!!

 

[russell_314]

LOL, Apple doesn't provide API and then it's somehow MS fault that they can't access the data... you can't argue with Apple fans

You mean there are Apple fans here? It's almost like this is an Mac forum or something 🤣

 

[russell_314]

How do you know? Do you know the details of the API used?

Because the letters in the text, I'm literally on the screen or you couldn't read it. By the letters being on the screen, the data has to be on the computer. It's not running in macOS virtual machine

 

[russell_314]

You said all messages which is simply not true. The implementation only has access to messages that iOS opts to pass along via notifications which is why there are so many limitations. Any previously existing conversations are not visible and group conversations are impossible.

OK yes technically you are correct. It's only on Messages after you enable this setting. It probably can't pull messages you had from 2008.

There is no data mining going on.

Of course not. Microsoft would never do that.

 

[Choco Taco]

Wait... this was never available in Windows? LMAO!!!!!!!!!

No, it's proprietary. Why would Apple want this on Windows? For the same reason they don't want it on Android. They want to sell their own devices.

 

[russell_314]

It literally doesn't have access to the messages unless the messages come in while the phone is connected to the PC. Just like how a third-party smartwatch or vehicle head-unit has access to message notifications. This is an Apple limitation.

Of course. Obviously,if you disconnect it, it's not going to have access to your messages but then it's not going to work either. At that point you're not using the feature

 

[Hastings101]

Surprised it has taken them so long. I know Dell has had a way to do messages with iPhones in some bloatware app they include, probably other manufacturers too.

 

[Treq]

That "someone" you were responding to was me regarding iMessage, which I clarified isn't what I meant. I meant cross-platform interoperability is definitely a big plus for Macs that Windows will probably never have. Hand off, air drop, all the things that make Macs Macs put them on another level from other operating systems in that regard. Macs are a different experience if you are all in on Apple products.

Yes, you did clarify. As did I. Now I wonder why we are arguing. I guess there were others on this thread who just didn’t understand and we got cross commented unintentionally. Sorry if that’s the case. Either way, have a great day.

 

[blazerunner]

“lack of support for group chats, photos, videos, and conversation history beyond the current chat session”

Yup it’s Microsoft…


No thanks I don’t want Windows to have access to all my text messages.

But you're ok with Apple having access to all your text messages?

 

[svish]

Hopefully in the future more features will be added.

 

[Choco Taco]

Yes, you did clarify. As did I. Now I wonder why we are arguing. I guess there were others on this thread who just didn’t understand and we got cross commented unintentionally. Sorry if that’s the case. Either way, have a great day.

I think I'm just being pissy. Sorry.

 

[Treq]

But you're ok with Apple having access to all your text messages?

View attachment 2194245

Clearly you don't know that Apple doesn't have access to any of my iMessages. It's encrypted end to end.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Apple’s going to kill this quickly sooner or later. Even with limitation, Apple won’t like the fact that iMessage is being sent out from non-Apple device.

Yea right. Free data mining for them.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Clearly you don't know that Apple doesn't have access to any of my iMessages. It's encrypted end to end.

From your phone to their servers not all the connections in between

 

[The point and shoot pro]

Clearly you don't know that Apple doesn't have access to any of my iMessages. It's encrypted end to end.

Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

Well in my experience they are far superior for editing, color timing and most other film production work with the exception of visual effects. But again, as I said previously, they are far superior at many tasks, but I did not say all tasks. I use Linux, Mac, and windows. They all have their strong points. Why do some people not actually understand what I have written? My response was to someone who stated that the iMessage was essentially the only reason to prefer macs to windows machines. That is not even close to true.

Well no, but ok. Windows machines are the machine of choice for video work. Mac used to be like 10 years ago. Windows based systems now are just so much faster than anything apple put out that most studios (besides those owned by apple) use windows systems now as they just eat through editing work. Far superior thats fan....person speak if I ever heard it. See picture posted by others.

 

[makitango]

“I don’t use it, so I don’t see a point” is always such a winning statement. There are millions more iPhone users on Windows than on Macs. If you can’t see why this would be useful, I don’t know what to tell you.

Having said that, the entire selling point of Macs is iMessage capabilities and there’s also Apple’s walled security garden, so in general, I don’t see this lasting very long … as nice as it would be to have.

Exactly. It‘s like saying „I don‘t care about privacy and I have nothing to hide so I don‘t see a point“

 

[Nuno Lopes]

For the last 18 years have been fundamentally an Apple tech user. Windows only in VMs. Back than what actually pushed to move to the Mac from Windows for everyday tasks and work was indeed the iPhone and the iPad. Before the Macs were used occasionally.

But the way I see it if I was still using Windows primarily, don’t know why I would choose an iPhone over an high end Samsung Android. The second has way better integration with Windows than an iPhone … wider range of assistants and smartspeaker, home automation facilities and so on. I find that the integration robusteness that Apple has been proud of, today is kind of lacking compared to what it was. Yes, there are more points of integration yet it’s implementation is less reliable … more out of band issues.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

For the last 18 years have been fundamentally an Apple tech user. Windows only in VMs. Back than what actually pushed to move to the Mac from Windows for everyday tasks and work was indeed the iPhone and the iPad. Before the Macs were used occasionally.

But the way I see it if I was still using Windows primarily, don’t know why I would choose an iPhone over an high end Samsung Android. The second has way better integration with Windows than an iPhone … wider range of assistants and smartspeaker, home automation facilities and so on. I find that the integration robusteness that Apple has been proud of, today is kind of lacking compared to what it was. Yes, there are more points of integration yet it’s implementation is less reliable … more out of band issues.

I have my reasons to use an iphone over an android phone right now. Those reasons are soon coming to an end I think with sunbird and beeper coming on line soon. But right now I NEED imessage for a communication tool with my son who has autism. He does not use anything else other than imessage.

 

[I7guy]

Nice to have basic iMessage functionality whilst working on my windows desktop.

 

[I7guy]

[…]

But the way I see it if I was still using Windows primarily, don’t know why I would choose an iPhone over an high end Samsung Android. […]

One reason to choose an iPhone is I don’t really need iOS to windows ecosystem. Somethings integrated would be nice but after x years with an iPhone and y years with windows; what ever I wanted doesn’t really matter much with my workflow.

It’s more important to have my iPad ties more closely to my iPhone.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

Nice to have basic iMessage functionality whilst working on my windows desktop.

Agreed, it's all that is needed really. Send and receive messages via the PC. I can even "airdrop" photos to my pc via unison instantly as well. Not that I need to since I have onedrive therefore all my photos / videos / documents are automatically on every device I own and use regardless of platform. It's nice to not be behind the wall.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

One reason to choose an iPhone is I don’t really need iOS to windows ecosystem. Somethings integrated would be nice but after x years with an iPhone and y years with windows; what ever I wanted doesn’t really matter much with my workflow.

It’s more important to have my iPad ties more closely to my iPhone.

This too, to an extent.