New Android user, needs some help

[Mark_Twain007]

Hello,

I am a recent new android user (Google Pixel) coming from a background of windows phone(Lumia Icon) and a short stint on an iPhone(6s). I've figured out most of my problems, but there are still a couple need some help with.

1. Contact pictures: I got all of my contacts moved from my outlook.com to my gmail account to fix the picture sync issues that can cause, but isn't there a way to have contacts facebook pictures be their pictures in texts/calls?

2. Maybe related to 1. I'm using the built in messenger app for texting. What is the difference between messenger and message+?

3. Is there a way to make it be Waze that gets opened when I search a place in chrome and hit directions?

Thank you.

 

[SpookDroid]

Hi there! Welcome to the Green Side! Let's see if we can help!

1) Yes, but most of the time you'd need a 3rd party app to do so (I personally use Sync.ME). Some manufacturers have deals with Facebook and include this functionality on their phones but I haven't seen any that do so recently, and I really doubt Google is one of them anyway, so stick to the 3rd party option

2) I assume you're using a Verizon version. Messenger is Google's stock app. Messages+ is Verizon's. Different interfaces, but both have access to your SMS/MMS. Verizon's app, however, adds more functionality to it like the ability to send/receive texts over WiFi or use your number for texting in another phone by signing into your Verizon account on Messages+. If you don't like the interface of either, you can always use 3rd party messaging apps (a popular one is Textra) to use them instead.

3)That one I'm not sure as I've given up on Waze. BUT it would depend on whether Waze registers itself as an app that can handle directions or not. So try this: On your phone, go to the Application Manager, then find Google Maps. In the options that come up when you tap on Maps find the OPEN BY DEFAULT . If you CLEAR DEFAULTS there, now you should be able to set up which app opens up when hitting a link for Directions. NOTE: IF said link points directly to Google maps, though, there's no way to get Waze to open those.

 

[Mark_Twain007]

Thank you Spook Droid.

1. I have installed sync.me, and it was super easy and quick, so that solves that problem.

2. That makes sense. I did not realize that was a pre-installed Verizon app. Guess I can try it and see if I like it.

3. Do you have an app you prefer over Waze or do you just use the standard Maps app? I liked Waze on iOS so I thought i would keep using it. I had to modify your instructions a bit, but I did actually get it to open like I wanted. In the app manager setting I had to disable the app opening by link, before Waze defaults would kick in.

 

[SpookDroid]

I personally like Maps better because Waze just took me through weird routes sometimes. Didn't give it much of a chance, though haha. But I kept maps mostly because of Google Now. If I search for directions on my computer (or even on the app), Google knows that I'm probably going to that place when I get in my car, so it automatically suggests navigation to said place. I can't do that with Waze (well, I can't search on desktop with Waze, period! haha).

But Waze does have a few tricks up its sleeve I'd like to see in Maps, like speed limits/current speed display and, of course, the Waze user reports (which the info is fed into Maps, anyway, but you can't see individual reports like you can in Waze).

 

[11B1P]

Mark_Twain007, I'll be moving from an Icon this weekend. How did you export your Outlook calendar/s to your Google calendar?

 

[Jodecidal]

Hey Spook Droid..saw a post you did on another topic but having a hard time finding it through the app to reply..so forgive me..its about RCS on LG V20..T-Mobile...
You inquired about disabling it but I would like to know how to get it to work?
My girlfriend has an S7 with t mobile and sends me small video clips of very good quality through text but I can't do the same. Are there other settings I should be looking at in the camera options?