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Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

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Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#111

Post by [deleted] »

JohnFen wrote: post #93
gowld wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why use SMS instead of a messaging app? Why is the call network side channel the ideal cellular messaging protocol?

The call network side is universal. Messaging apps aren't. It's really that simple for me. With SMS, I don't have to agree with the other parties about what app we're going to use. We can just exchange messages without a hassle. The only downside is the lack of encryption, but I can live with that. Another consideration, and this is why I'm resistant to RCS, is that I actively don't want all the bells and whistles th…

[deleted]

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#112

Post by ocdtrekkie »

flattone wrote: post #55
AcerbicZero wrote: post #46

There was a time when I really thought Google was going to shake things up. Nexus Phones, Google Fiber, Google Fi, etc all sounded awesome. I bought a Nexus 5, switched to Fi, went through the super fun process of mixing around my google voice numbers, (breaking all kinds of stuff) but eventually I was mostly setup and functional. I'd lost some core parts of gVoice, but I figured it was just a matter of time before i…

Very similar experience here. I'm gathering energy to try leaving Google/Android all together for whatever awaits me with a pinephone (not yet available afaik). https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/ Thinking that I much prefer an interesting "how to do x thing I want to add to my experience" over an "oh I'm being corralled into undesired xyz by Google again, how to maintain / return to normal functions"

PinePhone preorders open up tonight for the Brave Heart edition! Less than 10 hours as of my comment post! https://www.pine64.org/

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#114

Post by russellbeattie »

iMessage was launched in 2011. It's been 8 years and still no real solution for Android phones. RCS isn't encrypted, which is insane, and there's still massive infighting between carriers and Google. And even if RCS actually launches in the next year or so in the U.S., there's zero mention of iMessage interop (and zero interest from Apple), which means 45% of your contacts will still fall back to basic SMS/MMS. And who knows what the international situation will be like.

This realistically means the current crazy messaging situation is going to remain for the next 5 to 10 years.

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#115

Post by cookiecaper »

AcerbicZero wrote: post #46

There was a time when I really thought Google was going to shake things up. Nexus Phones, Google Fiber, Google Fi, etc all sounded awesome. I bought a Nexus 5, switched to Fi, went through the super fun process of mixing around my google voice numbers, (breaking all kinds of stuff) but eventually I was mostly setup and functional. I'd lost some core parts of gVoice, but I figured it was just a matter of time before i…

I agree with the sentiment of being down on Google, but I just bought a Pixel 4 XL to replace my Pixel XL. They're not perfect, but they're phones that I can get, unlock, root, and actually have some sense of ownership over without any shenanigans.

Why unlock and root? Because I can take full-disk images and restore the phone to an exact bit-for-bit copy. I can use apps like TitaniumBackup and bring over app+data piecemeal or swap out data profiles. I can use F-Droid to manage open-source apps and know that I'm getting something that I can crack open or modify if needed. I can get real insight into what the phone is doing via something like SystemPanel 2 or, worst-case, adb shell and figuring it out myself. I can copy the database from any app without dealing with Content Providers. I can install Magisk modules that give me a decent native shell and use Termux to install other utilities that I need. And ultimately, if I need something not accommodated by stock, I can install a custom ROM.

I don't know how much of that is possible on an iPhone, but from what I hear, it's not much. That may be an OK option if you're willing to lock into the Apple ecosystem and take whatever they give you in exchange for feeling like your phone "just works", but if it's that important, you don't need to give up control -- just grab a cheap flip phone that will always "just work" while you retain the freedom and ability to get what you need out of your $1k pocket computer.

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#117

Post by what_ever »

0b0001 wrote: post #107
what_ever wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Couldn't you use your Android phone as you are using your iPhone? It was your choice after all to go to /r/Android and try out new apps. I am pretty sure you are using the same 90% of apps on iPhone now that you used on your Android. And for the other 10% you could very well have settled on something and be done with it. I bet you will be looking at /r/Apple in a few months.

I’ve used non-Google devices most of the time, now trying out an iPhone. Just did a factory reset and restore via iCloud. My fear of loosing my phone, incomplete backups and messed up restore is gone. Works. Might be possible with Google phones, too. For all the others it’s just messy. (I‘d agree with you, until I tried it three weeks ago. Working with computers all day, I need others to take care of my personal and…

I have upgraded from Nexus 4 to Nexus 6p to Pixel 3 and have never started off fresh. Have factory reset my phone a couple of times and have been able to restore where I was. So I can't relate to you to what you are saying.

Sort of unrelated - I hate these kinds of comment chains. One clarifies something, other comes up - what about this though. And this whole chain itself when the article is about RCS.

Also disc that I am a Googler.

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#118

Post by what_ever »

cookiecaper wrote: post #115
AcerbicZero wrote: post #46

There was a time when I really thought Google was going to shake things up. Nexus Phones, Google Fiber, Google Fi, etc all sounded awesome. I bought a Nexus 5, switched to Fi, went through the super fun process of mixing around my google voice numbers, (breaking all kinds of stuff) but eventually I was mostly setup and functional. I'd lost some core parts of gVoice, but I figured it was just a matter of time before i…

I agree with the sentiment of being down on Google, but I just bought a Pixel 4 XL to replace my Pixel XL. They're not perfect, but they're phones that I can get, unlock, root, and actually have some sense of ownership over without any shenanigans. Why unlock and root? Because I can take full-disk images and restore the phone to an exact bit-for-bit copy. I can use apps like TitaniumBackup and bring over app+data pie…

I think "just works" is way overblown. My friend just got a new iPhone 11 upgrading from 6s. FaceId is great, but you HAVE to swipe up after you unlock. There is no option, no setting to just jump to the home screen. Does it "just work"? I guess if that's the definition of working. It's been just a week and she is can't live with it.

Other "just works" - always deep link to Apple Maps, Safari and other Apple apps. How is this still a thing in a "Pro" phone?

Honestly I have been considering iPhone because of the longevity of their devices now that cameras have caught up with Pixels and added battery capacities but I can't deal with this locked down, spoon fed version of an OS. I think iPhone "just works" the way Apple wants and not how the user wants.

Disc: Googler.

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#119

Post by abawany »

OnlineGladiator wrote: post #56
OkGoDoIt wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly my experience. I finally bit the bullet and switched to the Apple side. There are things I miss from android but I trust Apple not to self sabotage much more than I trust Google these days. Which is weird, and exactly the opposite of the feeling I had 5 years ago.

I'm in this situation right now - was just debating buying an iPhone yesterday after never owning anything from Apple. How do you like it so far?

I tried a switch and the experience mostly went ok, for some funny reasons:

* Google apps (Calendar, Tasks, GBoard) really helped with the transition and were imo superior to the corresponding native apps

* Used Outlook for mail to ensure that I still got push notifications for imap accounts (vs. polling on the native Mail app)

* Used Resilio Sync to bring my ebooks over to the device vs. pfaffing about with cloud storage

* Was able to find good free apps for ssh and otp

* I appreciated the fact that incognito on Safari appears to have per-tab isolation

It took me a lot of struggling to get the device working as I wanted, so hopefully it helps you somewhat.

Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

#120

Post by kbenson »

Aaronstotle wrote: post #97

New protocol in 2019 with no support for encryption, this is not acceptable.

The protocol is from 2008. None of the carriers were getting around to supporting it (since it's federates to AT&T and Verizon have to have their own servers that talk to each other), so Google is publishing a "universal profile" so Android can talk to Android at least. This is really just Google kicking the carriers kicking and screaming into 2010 level technology. As a standalone protocol, it's not great. As an upgrade to SMS it's long overdue.
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