Moto X: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

[Ccota08]

I've switched back and forth between the stock Messaging app, Hangouts, and Textra for a couple of months just to test the waters with each of them. Both the stock app and Hangouts seem to work just fine with Moto Assist's Driving Mode, but I've noticed something a bit odd when using Textra. Driving Mode will still activate and read out my received text messages, and I can still reply with my voice (I know they are receiving my text messages because they are replying to them), but when I look at the conversation in Textra, my replies don't show up in the app. My replies show up just fine in the stock app and Hangouts when using Driving Mode. I have yet to test this with any other third party SMS apps; can anybody confirm if this happens with something like Handcent, Evolve SMS, or GoSMS? Is this a problem with Textra, or does Moto Assist just have some hiccups with third party SMS apps?

 

[Ron Khan]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

I use Textra as well and same issue here w/ drive assist. I believe for full compatibility you gotta use the native messaging apps.

Posted via Motorola Motox

 

[Bill Hong]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

Last night I used Driving Mode to text vocally with my sons when I went to pick them up from the airport as they deplaned. I checked my Textra record, and my conversations/replies are there as normal. Not helpful, I realize but it suggests it's not a universal problem.

 

[mhans311]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

No problems with textra for me either.

 

[Ccota08]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

Strange. Perhaps an uninstall and reinstall will settle the matter.

 

[weksa]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

I had the same issue as OP and contacted the Textra developers about it. It originates from the way their SMS works. It goes through a server or something (beyond my understanding), which helps the speediness of their texting, but it doesn't play nicely with texting sent via Google voice commands (Motorola Touchless makes use of Google). Textra has no plans to change the way their texting works, for the sake of speed. So I've pretty much given up on them. Once in a while I'll check to see if they've made the change... That little seed of hope haha.

Edit: To answer the rest of your question, the only texting apps I've used on my Moto X are the stock, 8sms (modified stock, has some additional bells and whistles), Textra, Hangouts. I ruled out Textra for the issue above. I just finalized my decision on Hangouts (really wish it would have a dark theme) mainly for seamless integration of Gchat and SMS (one less app) with Moto Assist compatibility.

 

[techitrucker]

Driving Assist only works with Hangouts and stock messaging. There are third party apps that will work with non Google apps to give you Assist like functionality but they aren't as seamless. The best one I found when Assist was having Bluetooth issues was Hands-free SMS from RDMsoft.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[mhans311]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

Just seems interesting that it works fine with textra for some but not for others.

 

[MHBlink8]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

I had this issue with Textra as well. I've been using EvolveSMS for several months now and it works flawlessly. All messages sent via Moto Assist show up in the message thread.

Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk

 

[David Coconut]

Re: Third party SMS apps and Driving Mode?

I've noticed this too and I use Textra. The replies I sent appear on the stock android texting app. It's annoying but I do not prefer the stock app enough to switch back.