Really want to keep my Pixel 2 XL but I can't get over how terrible the messaging is (iMessage)

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

Something something, want what you like, buy what you want, love what you bought.

It's pretty simple. No, of course you don't have to drive every car on the lot to understand that you don't want rear wheel drive when trying to drive up to the ski slope. And if your priority is gas mileage, you can probably cross that Jeep off the list without even sitting in it. Some people like one thing, others like another. No problem. Tomato sauce, gravy, ragu.

 

[Ry]

I do it no problem. I just turn off iMessage on my iPhones before I take the Sim card out. Never had a issue.

He doesn't want to be a green bubble to his contacts.

 

[Joltcola1234]

So you can't say an iPhone is better than an Android phone.

Yeah, that's pretty much the point I was trying to make.

So thanks, I guess?

 

[Ry]

Something something, want what you like, buy what you want, love what you bought.

It's pretty simple. No, of course you don't have to drive every car on the lot to understand that you don't want rear wheel drive when trying to drive up to the ski slope. And if your priority is gas mileage, you can probably cross that Jeep off the list without even sitting in it. Some people like one thing, others like another. No problem. Tomato sauce, gravy, ragu.

Tomatoe*

 

[Ry]

Yeah, that's pretty much the point I was trying to make.

So thanks, I guess?

No problemo.

 

[Joltcola1234]

No problemo.

On a side note, why do I keep getting email from this website when someone quotes something that I say? I have this turned off on my account settings.

I guess it's time to block email from Android Central.

 

[anon(1733)]

He doesn't want to be a green bubble to his contacts.

He's not the only one. Although I find it completely ridiculous that people care about the color of the bubbles. He's not the only one.

 

[Ry]

He's not the only one. Although I find it completely ridiculous that people care about the color of the bubbles. He's not the only one.

Sadly, it's a real issue.

 

[Morty2264]

iMessage is always going to be difficult for Android to counter. Anyone has to admit, that is usually the one thing that a lot of people who shift from iOS to any other platform says that they miss. If only Google can come up with something, stick with it and actually make a service that competes against it (imo, Hangouts was pretty close at one time).

I couldn't agree more! iMessage is a superb messaging platform. It's too bad Google hasn't come up with anything to truly match with it yet.

 

[radgatt]

Wherever Google decides to update Android Messages to be RCS compatible for everyone I believe it will be Hangouts all over again. Hopefully Google doesn't give up on it.

 

[tadpoles]

Sadly, it's a real issue.

My other half will not try Android. I think he's intimidated by it. He sees the voodoo I do with my phone and happily goes back to his iPhone X. I don't try to get him to 'see the light' because, to him, that light is Darkness. That's fine, I just couldn't care less as long as I can use what I like and we can communicate...and I do and we can.

 

[osubeavs728]

Sadly, it's a real issue.

Not for grown ups haha

 

[PowrDroid]

My other half will not try Android. I think he's intimidated by it. He sees the voodoo I do with my phone and happily goes back to his iPhone X. I don't try to get him to 'see the light' because, to him, that light is Darkness. That's fine, I just couldn't care less as long as I can use what I like and we can communicate...and I do and we can.

I was at the dentist and the dental tech was going on about her love for her iPhone. I didn't say anything. She suggested a particular toothbrush and a particular brand of dental floss I should try and asked me for my cell number so she could text me some links to the products on Amazon. As she was looking up the products on Amazon I peeked at her phone. Must have been an iPhone 5 or earlier as it wasn't very big and was fairly beat up. Had the usual array of icons packing the home screen.

I pulled out my Pixel 2 XL to wait for her to text me the links. She looked over and saw my home screen, which is mostly a black background with a large minimalist digital clock widget and not counting the dock, only has two icons on it. "Wow, that's really cool! What kind of phone is that?"

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Yeah, iMessage is one of the best things about owning an iPhone and an excellent messaging system. Unfortunately Google does not have an adequate competitor to it.

Your best bet would be to get your family friends to use a competing service such as Allo, Whatsapp etc. Yes, it would be inconvenient for everyone you know to suddenly start using a different app just because you bought a new phone. Otherwise if everyone you know is on Facebook, using Facebook Messenger might be suitable.

Otherwise, you could just stick to regular SMS/MMS and put up with the horrible quality until RCS has been rolled out by all carriers which will improve quality.

I don't know what the issue is and why Google don't have an iMessage competitor. Whether it's a patent issue or what, but it is frustrating when you move to the Android ecosystem.

 

[Morty2264]

Yeah, iMessage is one of the best things about owning an iPhone and an excellent messaging system. Unfortunately Google does not have an adequate competitor to it.

Your best bet would be to get your family friends to use a competing service such as Allo, Whatsapp etc. Yes, it would be inconvenient for everyone you know to suddenly start using a different app just because you bought a new phone. Otherwise if everyone you know is on Facebook, using Facebook Messenger might be suitable.

Otherwise, you could just stick to regular SMS/MMS and put up with the horrible quality until RCS has been rolled out by all carriers which will improve quality.

I don't know what the issue is and why Google don't have an iMessage competitor. Whether it's a patent issue or what, but it is frustrating when you move to the Android ecosystem.

That is true - Facebook Messenger could be a viable alternative; especially because almost everyone has a Facebook account and so there is no need to download an extra messaging app and/or to become entrenched in another messaging system.

Not that I am defending Google here, but I think one reason why they have yet to come up with an alternative messaging platform is because iMessage is so prevalent. So many people use iPhones and iMessage is so vampant that Google probably anticipates less recognition and "brand awareness" of their own messaging platforms. People may not want to be bothered with knowing about new messaging apps. I personally like Hangouts but most people are probably unaware of its existence. Perhaps more advertising or improving of new features is in order?

 

[MooMooPrincess]

That is true - Facebook Messenger could be a viable alternative; especially because almost everyone has a Facebook account and so there is no need to download an extra messaging app and/or to become entrenched in another messaging system.

Not that I am defending Google here, but I think one reason why they have yet to come up with an alternative messaging platform is because iMessage is so prevalent. So many people use iPhones and iMessage is so vampant that Google probably anticipates less recognition and "brand awareness" of their own messaging platforms. People may not want to be bothered with knowing about new messaging apps. I personally like Hangouts but most people are probably unaware of its existence. Perhaps more advertising or improving of new features is in order?

In 80% of the world imessage isn't even used. WhatsApp, line chat, and Kakao is King. I just think Google doesn't have the same spine as apple and don't want to try to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Javier P]

My wife and I used to use WhatsApp when I would use Android and the pics, etc. we would send looked terrible because of compression. If there was a way to send them without some kind of compression, I could never find it.

When you share a pic in WhatsApp from your gallery it will be compressed by default. This is generally a good thing, for local storage and mobile data usage reasons. If you want to share the whole file without compression select 'Document' instead of 'Gallery' when sharing.

 

[gibsonb2]

When you share a pic in WhatsApp from your gallery it will be compressed by default. This is generally a good thing, for local storage and mobile data usage reasons. If you want to share the whole file without compression select 'Document' instead of 'Gallery' when sharing.
View attachment 282103

Thank you for that. I will give it a try.

 

[Javier P]

Thank you for that. I will give it a try.

You could try Telegram as well, for me the best IM platform right now. Not so popular, but better than WhatsApp.

 

[sixty_four]

That is true - Facebook Messenger could be a viable alternative; especially because almost everyone has a Facebook account and so there is no need to download an extra messaging app and/or to become entrenched in another messaging system.

I have a FB account but don't use the mobile app or Messenger. And isn't Messenger a separate app than the mobile FB app?

Not that I am defending Google here, but I think one reason why they have yet to come up with an alternative messaging platform is because iMessage is so prevalent. So many people use iPhones and iMessage is so vampant that Google probably anticipates less recognition and "brand awareness" of their own messaging platforms. People may not want to be bothered with knowing about new messaging apps. I personally like Hangouts but most people are probably unaware of its existence. Perhaps more advertising or improving of new features is in order?

Wouldn't this be Allo? It was introduced at I/O nearly a year ago and even mentioned in the post you quoted but it doesn't sound like you're aware of it. The fact that it's mostly overlooked by even enthusiasts on an Android forum says a lot about how much it's caught on.