Read texts over Bluetooth and a few others

[mutant 9]

hi I have recently made the switch to android after many many years on windows phone. having always had great experiences with Nokia windows phones I picked up the new Nokia 6 from Amazon as a cheap way to check out the OS with a somewhat stock OS.

I am trying to identify a few things that I a missing from Window Phone and would appreciate your help:

1. how can I have the google assistant read my texts over Bluetooth. this was a standard feature in WP for the last 5 years so I thought it would be on Android especially with the new Android Assistant but I am not seeing it yet.

2. Is there a way to get a notification badge on the action app icon instead of in the notification shade? I was getting so many notification I turned them all off except for the most important (phone, mail, text and visual VM) but not I feel I have no idea what is going on with any of my other apps. any other suggestions on how I can get noticications without notification overload on my lockscreen and notification shade.

3. Any way to get a dark theme on the phone without having to install a third party launcher. the continual view of white screens makes me feel like I am in the early 2000's again.

4. when on a phone call if I look at another app is their a quick way to get back to the phone call with out having to go into the app switcher and dig through all the open apps. On windows phone there would always be a bar at the top of the screen that would overlay any open app while on a phone call. this made it easy to get back to the phone quickly to go off mute and something I am missing a bit.

Thanks all!

 

[SpookDroid]

Hi there,

1) Yup. Android Auto can help with that (or if your phone has a 'driving mode').

2) Depends on your phone/launcher. Some support unread badges/counters, some don't. Moreover, not all apps support showing them.

3) Nope. Unless your phone supports themes or your launcher does (this would theme the launcher, not the rest of the system like native themes would), you can't modify the graphic elements unless you root/modify your system (and that's not for everyone, of course).

4) Most phones would show the dialer atop the notification bar or on top of the screen. This would really depend on your specific device. On newer Samsung phones, for instance, you have both the notification and a call bar on top.

 

[mutant 9]

Thanks for the responses. I don't have Android Auto in my car no do I see Drivng mode in the settings of the phone when I search. any other ideas?

also random noob question, how does having a launcher effect the performance/ battery life of the device?

Thanks!

 

[SpookDroid]

You don't need Android Auto in your car, you can download it from the Play Store

As for the launcher, it depends on which one. The more fancy effects and 3D elements it has, the more taxing it is on the processor (although most are not going to affect the battery life you're experiencing that much). Some launchers might be glitchy with certain phones (Themer, for instance, since it's widget-intensive, tends to be glitchier, but looks awesome). Most people here use Nova. It's all up to what suits your tastes.

 

[mutant 9]

Thanks

 

[J Dubbs]

I'm also a Windows phone convert, the Moto phones have a feature called Moto Voice, which is going to be the closest you can get to a Windows phone as far as reading out texts and calls, and letting you reply hands free.

 

[mutant 9]

Downloaded android auto and saw no option for reading texts and replying by voice. Just a auto response that says I'm driving. Am I missing something?

 

[SpookDroid]

When Android Auto is active it should automatically read you your texts as they arrive. Is it not doing that?

 

[CurtYogi]

My Lumia 950 recently bit the dust and I also missed this feature. I found an app in the PlayStore named ReadItToMe that works pretty close to the Cortana/WP does. It can be set up to announce the Message sender and ask if you want to read it. The hardest thing for me has been saying "Yes/No" instead of "Read it/Ignore it". It can also be configured to allow you to reply.
It took a little work to set it up because with Cortana, it just worked, and there were a few options that had to be checked. Fortunately, the developer has a "Test Reading" button that can be used to verify that it is working.
It can also be setup to announce other notifications also. This morning it read my Cortana "Get Ready for the Day" to me.