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

[westiewanderer]

Re: Really want to keep my Pixel 2 XL but...

But then you have to use Facebook and not everyone is on there

I haven't checked into it, but Isn't messenger a standalone app now?

 

[gibsonb2]

Re: Really want to keep my Pixel 2 XL but...

Messenger can be used without a FB account. I used to use it that way. It only needs your phone number.

Probably the other best option besides Google Photos when it comes to sharing videos. Otherwise you can't top iMessage for the uncompressed vids/pics.

 

[Rukbat]

Re: Really want to keep my Pixel 2 XL but...

SMS/MMS is slowly switching to RCS, but the carriers have to change also. Give it some time. Eventually we'll be able to send pictures and video user-to user, data or wifi, the same as iMessage. (At one time we couldn't send MMS from one carrier to another.)

Until then use an iPad or use email. (You can "send" videos of many GB if you upload the video to a cloud account and text the download link to the recipient. MEGA gives you 50GB free.)

 

[Ry]

Allo is great for media sharing.

 

[bigbearballs]

Allo is great for media sharing.

But then all your contacts need allo, Google really needs to get it together with all of these texting apps. They do a lot of things great, but this texting thing is an issue.

 

[Ry]

But then all your contacts need allo, Google really needs to get it together with all of these texting apps. They do a lot of things great, but this texting thing is an issue.

Until RCS is more widespread, alternative messaging apps is the way to go.

This is not Google's fault.

 

[Forest Dane]

What'sapp is our choice because we have a mixture of phones. Most people have it installed it seems at least in the UK.

 

[gibsonb2]

The problem with the 3rd party is apps is media sharing. It's still compressed with pics and vids. The 3rd party apps could remove those limits, but, as of now, they're still there.

That's my biggest hurdle when I switch to Android. Luckily I have an iPhone X and a Pixel 2 XL. Even with the option of an iPhone to use, I still can't ditch my Pixel. LOL

 

[Ry]

The problem with the 3rd party is apps is media sharing. It's still compressed with pics and vids. The 3rd party apps could remove those limits, but, as of now, they're still there.

That's my biggest hurdle when I switch to Android. Luckily I have an iPhone X and a Pixel 2 XL. Even with the option of an iPhone to use, I still can't ditch my Pixel. LOL

Are you implying that iMessage does zero compression?

 

[gibsonb2]

You have the option to send without compression (for pics). I believe vids are compressed to a small degree, but I may mistaken about that.

 

[hallux]

The problem with the 3rd party is apps is media sharing. It's still compressed with pics and vids. The 3rd party apps could remove those limits, but, as of now, they're still there.

That's my biggest hurdle when I switch to Android. Luckily I have an iPhone X and a Pixel 2 XL. Even with the option of an iPhone to use, I still can't ditch my Pixel. LOL

The problem is that in order to send media or messages between devices and not deal with unreasonable compression of the media, both parties need to be on the same messenger or protocol. I send pictures between my Android and my brother's iPhone no problem, but we're both using Google's Hangouts protocol (not sure what app he's using on his phone). Apple solves this between Apple devices by using the Messages protocol. It can be argued that the resistance of Apple users to use anything else (WhatsApp, Hangouts, Allo, etc) to communicate to people outside of that walled garden is causing slow adoption of alternate protocol for this. Apple users saying "use this or you don't get high quality pictures" is just as argumentative non-iPhone people trying to force iPhone users to use an alternate protocol.

We get it, using Messages you don't have to make a choice between SMS or a data protocol. Guess what - there's a world outside Apple and everybody needs to play together if we want to have open lines of communication and sharing of media. We're sorry that our choice of device doesn't fit into Apple's way of doing things. If you want to blame an entity, blame Apple for keeping their protocol so closed for so long.

 

[bigbearballs]

The problem is that in order to send media or messages between devices and not deal with unreasonable compression of the media, both parties need to be on the same messenger or protocol. I send pictures between my Android and my brother's iPhone no problem, but we're both using Google's Hangouts protocol (not sure what app he's using on his phone). Apple solves this between Apple devices by using the Messages protocol. It can be argued that the resistance of Apple users to use anything else (WhatsApp, Hangouts, Allo, etc) to communicate to people outside of that walled garden is causing slow adoption of alternate protocol for this. Apple users saying "use this or you don't get high quality pictures" is just as argumentative non-iPhone people trying to force iPhone users to use an alternate protocol.

We get it, using Messages you don't have to make a choice between SMS or a data protocol. Guess what - there's a world outside Apple and everybody needs to play together if we want to have open lines of communication and sharing of media. We're sorry that our choice of device doesn't fit into Apple's way of doing things. If you want to blame an entity, blame Apple for keeping their protocol so closed for so long.

Ok, I'll blame Apple.

 

[Frosty_Power]

Google Photos is awesome for sharing. Whom ever you share with can download full res pics to their device if they want. Once RCS comes available to everyone, iMessage will not be as important to a lot of people IMO.

 

[bigbearballs]

Can you use Textra to text from a browser like pulse?

 

[andrew_ackley]

I think you can with signal not sure about Textra.

 

[Mike Dee]

just think:

the American Indian was happy with smoke signals

 

[Eggmundo]

Why can't people just use WhatsApp?

 

[hallux]

Why can't people just use WhatsApp?

For one - isn't that now owned by Facebook? People are (understandably) skittish about using an app owned by that company, despite seeming to be segregated still.

Second - just as with iMessage, it isn't the ONLY protocol out there.

The REAL solution to this problem is in the works - RCS as indicated by others is replacing traditional SMS/MMS protocols with some carriers, and in the works with others. Once this UNIVERSAL (carrier and device) standard is widely adopted, many of these issues will be resolved and you'll be able to pick any app you want for messaging as long as it supports the UNIVERSAL RCS standard.

 

[LeoRex]

you'll be able to pick any app you want for messaging as long as it supports the UNIVERSAL RCS standard.

I might be a bit cynical, but I'm guessing Apple will have some dubious technical excuse why they won't support RCS in iMessage... Watch...

 

[Ry]

I might be a bit cynical, but I'm guessing Apple will have some dubious technical excuse why they won't support RCS in iMessage... Watch...

But RCS will be a standard that they'll have to support like SMS/MMS.