[I Can Be Your Hero]

I just wish they would pick one and support it... I am getting so tired of moving people to new products.

I think they want to make Messages their main messaging app. With development on Allo stopped and reports that Hangouts and Allo are being killed off, it seems like Google want to push for Messages to be the iMessage competitor.

Google messaging 'strategy' has been nothing short of a mess.

[GSDer]

Google messaging 'strategy'

They have a strategy?

[I Can Be Your Hero]

They have a strategy?

Guess not as the axe has dropped, officially from Google: https://www.blog.google/products/mes...-and-hangouts/

Very clearly was a dead product as soon as Google said they were going to focus on Messages and push RCS for it - meant that Allo served no purpose. Don't know how people couldn't see it/argued that wasn't going to be killed off. Lol.

[hallux]

I think this paragraph from the blog post is key

Hangouts Chat and Meet are primarily focused on team collaboration for G Suite customers and at some point will be made available for existing Hangouts users, too. We’re fully committed to supporting Hangouts users in the meantime

I read that as "Hangouts isn't REALLY going away just yet, but it will once we have a suitable replacement".

[Eggmundo]

Use WhatsApp.

[cckgz4]

I like Android Messages and I like that I don't have to make people download it for me to communicate with them. It also works in my browser on my computer and as an app on my Chromebook. Now if only I could get my petty *** friends to text me and not turn their nose up at "green bubbles"

[RealSaxondale]

So I recently switched from an iPhone 7+ to the Pixel 2 XL and LOVE the phone, the UI, the CAMERA, BUT...I can't get over how terrible the messaging is going away from iMessage...90% of who I text use iPhone and sending photos and videos is becoming a deal breaker for me. When my wife sends me a video of the kids for instance, it's getting scaled down since it's going over MMS and I receive it as a thumbnail sized grainy video that looks like it's being sent from the year 2003.

What work around have people found for sharing videos and photos with iPhone users that doesn't require the iPhone user to download specific software JUST for messaging with me. I've thought about sharing through Google Photos but haven't had a chance to test it yet. I REALLY want to keep this phone but if I can't figure out a way to work around the messaging issue I think I'm going to end up returning it and going back to the iPhone...

Teach me your Android ways and help me keep this awesome phone!

Just get better quality friends that are prepared to break out of apples overpriced and underperforming ecosystem

[NMCynthia]

Deleted

[ptkelly]

Apple's goal is to get you hooked and to have the other junkies help them keep you on the iNeedle. Break free. The world waits.

A friend has an iPad and recently got an Android phone. I was telling him the various Google apps that I thought could be moved to his iPad such as GMail, Messages, Calendar, and Docs. He shook his head and said it would be easier if Google would let iPad apps run on their phones. I laughed and said, "That isn't up to Google, is it?"

No, Apple and your friends will work to keep you on the iNeedle.