Note 4 Hangouts vs Stock Messenger

[timmo]

Turning off vibration helped a little, but it still repeats words multiple times. Sucks.

The reason I like hangouts is so that I can message my friends on android, iOS, Mac, PC and Chromebook (yes, I have way too many devices in my life). It seems to be the best option for multiplatform messaging.

 

[TigerDave99]

BUT...i don't like it or SwiftKey because the numbers are not always present on top as with the Samsung keyboard.

In Swiftkey: Settings > Layout > Number row.

 

[Starfleet Captain]

Chomp user here.
I used to swear by Handcent back in my Evo 4G days. Then I switched to GoSMS in the days of the Evo 3D. But both apps became to bloated and laggy. And don't get me started on the hassle around the themes.

I really liked Textra but it's too plain. chomp, even with its annoying ads in the free version strikes the right Balance.

Posted via the Android Central App using my Galaxy Note 4 from Sprint

 

[timmo]

I'm an ex GoSms user as well. I switched to Handcent after trying out all the different recommendations. I found Handcent to be the closest to GOSMS without the bloat or lag. It's been lag-free for me on the Note 4.

 

[timmo]

In Swiftkey: Settings > Layout > Number row.

Works like a charm... For now, I'm happy with SwiftKey ☺

 

[zmann]

Messenger plus, which comes pre loaded in sprint note 4,is better than both.

NOTE 4,, GO BIG OR GO HOME!

 

[sstephen17]

Tried Messenger plus the first day I got my Note 4. Did not like it; kept saying I had unread messages that I did read. I think the stock messenger app is fine. Works well enough for me.

 

[gafly]

Turning off vibration helped a little, but it still repeats words multiple times. Sucks.

The reason I like hangouts is so that I can message my friends on android, iOS, Mac, PC and Chromebook (yes, I have way too many devices in my life). It seems to be the best option for multiplatform messaging.

Question... Do you also have the hangouts dialer installed?

 

[timmo]

Question... Do you also have the hangouts dialer installed?

I do not. I had it installed on my prior phone (Nexus 5), but never ever used it. I have no desire to use it... Just text messaging for me. I do use Google voice and have that app separately installed (I don't integrate it at all with Hangouts).

 

[gafly]

I do not. I had it installed on my prior phone (Nexus 5), but never ever used it. I have no desire to use it... Just text messaging for me. I do use Google voice and have that app separately installed (I don't integrate it at all with Hangouts).

Ah, I was asking because the dialer was causing my hangouts app to be slow and buggy just like you've described. I uninstalled the dialer and all of the problems with freezing while typing and slowness in general went away.

 

[alex346]

Textra hands down! To me it's visually the nicest sms app out there and it is buttery smooth .... also love that it has a dark mode and other color customizations as well

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[raf66]

I came over from iPhone and had heard Hangouts was a must-have text app that would come close to the functionality of iMessage. I downloaded it with high expectations and when I tried to send a couple texts it instead sent invites to the recipients asking them to download Hangouts. I had no idea that it was going to require my friends and family to download and use the app. I just assumed it would simply send/receive texts as any text app would do, with maybe a little more style or panache and with the ability to do group texts to Android and Windows phones as well as iPhones.

I just went back to the stock texting app. Not many of my family and friends are techies who want to download and use some app that isn't already on their phone.

The only question I have is whether I can send, receive and respond to group texts from iPhone users. Right now I seem to GET them but it doesn't appear that anyone gets my responses TO them.

 

[alex346]

I came over from iPhone and had heard Hangouts was a must-have text app that would come close to the functionality of iMessage. I downloaded it with high expectations and when I tried to send a couple texts it instead sent invites to the recipients asking them to download Hangouts. I had no idea that it was going to require my friends and family to download and use the app. I just assumed it would simply send/receive texts as any text app would do, with maybe a little more style or panache and with the ability to do group texts to Android and Windows phones as well as iPhones.

I just went back to the stock texting app. Not many of my family and friends are techies who want to download and use some app that isn't already on their phone.

The only question I have is whether I can send, receive and respond to group texts from iPhone users. Right now I seem to GET them but it doesn't appear that anyone gets my responses TO them.

You have to enable SMS texting within the hangouts app then you can send and receive SMS messages just like on the stock message app

You probably had hangouts requests sent out because you were trying to initiate a hangout as opposed to an SMS conversation

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[raf66]

You have to enable SMS texting within the hangouts app then you can send and receive SMS messages just like on the stock message app

Posted via the Android Central App

Thanks. Does Hangouts still require my contacts to download the app first?

 

[raf66]

Alex, thanks for the tip. Now that I enabled SMS in Hangouts I've been able to send/receive texts from an iPhone user and an Android user, neither of whom have Hangouts. I'll give Hangouts a second look now.

 

[alex346]

Alex, thanks for the tip. Now that I enabled SMS in Hangouts I've been able to send/receive texts from an iPhone user and an Android user, neither of whom have Hangouts. I'll give Hangouts a second look now.

No problem, glad I could help!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[HOLLYWOODANT215]

Alex, thanks for the tip. Now that I enabled SMS in Hangouts I've been able to send/receive texts from an iPhone user and an Android user, neither of whom have Hangouts. I'll give Hangouts a second look now.

Every android phone has hangouts just like every iphone has imessage... Difference is its it popular to the point ppl realize we have the same experience as iphone kinda if they just open the app ppl never Open it lol

Posted via Android Central App

 

[eclectic11]

Textra

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[timmo]

Ah, I was asking because the dialer was causing my hangouts app to be slow and buggy just like you've described. I uninstalled the dialer and all of the problems with freezing while typing and slowness in general went away.

SwiftKey makes the lagging and freezing less than the Samsung keyboard, but it's still there. Hangouts must be a memory hog... I don't know what else to do. So frustrating for such a powerful phone. I don't have this issue on any of my non-Android devices. It just can't keep up with my lightning fast typing

 

[zmann]

Tried Messenger plus the first day I got my Note 4. Did not like it; kept saying I had unread messages that I did read. I think the stock messenger app is fine. Works well enough for me.

I don't seem to have this issue,, apps do get updates to fix bugs.

NOTE 4,, GO BIG OR GO HOME!