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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

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. Ho…

No offense but it shows you haven't actually used one. By default any notifications on the phone are locked down. I can see I got a text message but I can't see the info. If I look at the phone it shows who the text is from and the contents of the text (or whatever notification we're talking about). If I swipe up I can use the phone. This experience is so far above and beyond anything google has offered to date I don't even know where to begin.

Google is so far behind on faceID it's laughable. And this is coming from someone who switched from an iPhone 6 to a Pixel and stuck with google all the way until the Pixel 4. Sorry - the hardware is getting worse, not better. And the spying/data collection has become too much. When you've got a CIO that says he'd let any house guest know he's got devices recording them and would suggest anyone that has google devices in their house do the same - you lost me.

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

#122

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 just switched to iPhone after 10 years, and have to say I love it so far.

For me Apple Watch is the star, the battery life is a bit short but it can do everything I need in a wearable device (calendar, notifications, chat) and nothing I don't need which is a bonus.

I would buy a cheaper phone and get the best watch, but your use case might be very different.

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

#123
post #94
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?

There are people who do not want to install four hundred messaging apps. There are even people who do not want to install one messaging app. Calls and texts are included in phone plans, and despite Facebook's marketing, there are still more SMS users than Whatsapp users. There is no ideal cellular messaging protocol. People aren't going to change programs because some computer person is enamored with a specific encry…

What's interesting is that in other countries such as Mexico, there is no such thing as SMS. Yes, SMS exists but nobody uses it. Nobody. You either send a WhatsApp message or you can't communicate.

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

#124
post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. Ho…

No offense but it shows you haven't actually used one. By default any notifications on the phone are locked down. I can see I got a text message but I can't see the info. If I look at the phone it shows who the text is from and the contents of the text (or whatever notification we're talking about). If I swipe up I can use the phone. This experience is so far above and beyond anything google has offered to date I don…

> This experience is so far above and beyond anything google has offered to date I don't even know where to begin.

I know about notifications being hidden when locked and expanded/shown only when you unlock. On Android, you can hide notification details from certain apps and show the details for others. For some apps I am okay to not worry about seeing the details of the notifications without unlocking the device. I don't unlock my phone to only see notifications, I have disabled most of the notifications and I unlock to do something actively. So more often than not, I want to get there without an extra step. So having an option there is the right thing. Pixel phone also gave an option do either - go to home screen or just show notifications.

> Google is so far behind on faceID it's laughable

I actually hate FaceID and like fingerprint unlock better so I don't really care about that. But by so far behind, you mean not caring if the eyes are open, sure they are far behind.

> the hardware is getting worse, not better

I didn't use P1 or P2 and jumped on P3 from 6P, I like it and didn't feel the hardware got worse. P4 battery life is bad (to say the least) but P4XL doesn't seem to have those issues.

You brought up other issues with Android/Pixel but conveniently forgot to respond how iOS is crippling options itself. Don't even want to start with all browsers being wrappers of Safari.

I am not going to respond further in this chain.

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

#125
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are people who do not want to install four hundred messaging apps. There are even people who do not want to install one messaging app. Calls and texts are included in phone plans, and despite Facebook's marketing, there are still more SMS users than Whatsapp users. There is no ideal cellular messaging protocol. People aren't going to change programs because some computer person is enamored with a specific encry…

What's interesting is that in other countries such as Mexico, there is no such thing as SMS. Yes, SMS exists but nobody uses it. Nobody. You either send a WhatsApp message or you can't communicate.

[deleted]

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

#126
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are people who do not want to install four hundred messaging apps. There are even people who do not want to install one messaging app. Calls and texts are included in phone plans, and despite Facebook's marketing, there are still more SMS users than Whatsapp users. There is no ideal cellular messaging protocol. People aren't going to change programs because some computer person is enamored with a specific encry…

What's interesting is that in other countries such as Mexico, there is no such thing as SMS. Yes, SMS exists but nobody uses it. Nobody. You either send a WhatsApp message or you can't communicate.

Nobody uses even the Messages application on iOS? Somehow, I doubt that.

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

#128
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

mostly agree except 3d touch which is clearly the most undiscoverable input method ever conceived. oh, and shake to undo, which i not once used intentionally.

3D Touch is dead. It’s not in any of the current generation phones. Also in iOS 13, undo is swiping three fingers to the left and redo is swiping three fingers to the right. The shake to undo still works. I actually think it’s easier. It’s hard to do a three finger swipe while holding the phone.

Does the redo gesture double as 'forward' in browsers? My biggest pet peeve with the new Android update is accidentally swiping back on a webpage and not be able to go forward (or if there a way, I haven't figured it out).

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

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's interesting is that in other countries such as Mexico, there is no such thing as SMS. Yes, SMS exists but nobody uses it. Nobody. You either send a WhatsApp message or you can't communicate.

Nobody uses even the Messages application on iOS? Somehow, I doubt that.

Most people use sub-$200 handsets, so the penetration of iPhones is very low and only the high class uses them. Within small social circles (mostly within the family), they use iMessage. But to communicate with anyone else, they use WhatsApp. I know a few high powered lawyers. They use WhatsApp exclusively.

WhatsApp penetration in Mexico must be about 99% in my estimation.

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