Skinned Google Messages

[KPMcClave]

Yea this is what I finally understand. Even though I thought of myself as having Google Messages and am a Beta user, the reality is that I have the Samsung version. It does have the big empty space at the top. It does have a setting to turn on Chat/RCS features. But I have not seen any RCS features in any of my messages yet. So yeah, even though it sort of is Google Messages and the Beta version at that, like subguy said, it is basically all non-existent so far in real use.

I'm seeing the RCS features, like typing and read notifications. Are you referring to the additional compatability with iPhone reactions? Or you can't even tell when a message is read when sent by someone with RCS capability?

 

[Will_T]

I'm seeing the RCS features, like typing and read notifications. Are you referring to the additional compatability with iPhone reactions? Or you can't even tell when a message is read when sent by someone with RCS capability?

I do not see when someone is typing. Or graphic emojis, etc. The only things I see that relate to RCS are on the most recent message. It will tell me that it was delivered. Then tell me when it is read. But even that is only for the last message I sent. As soon as I send another message, those turn off for the previous one. So if I want to see when someone reads a message, I better not send any other messages in the meantime.

The one thing I am not sure of is if more of this would work well if I was messaging with another S22 Messages Beta user. For now, I only know that I am messaging with a few iPhone users and then some Android users for who I don't know what messaging app they are using.

I did ask one Pixel 2 Android user what app he used for his messages and he did not know. So probably the default Messages on a Pixel.

 

[mustang7757]

They're the same entry in Play, though. If you have a new S22 you'll get the Samsung version updates, if you're on another phone you'll get the generic one, and if you were on the (generic) beta with your prior phone, you won't get the beta on your new S22. But there aren't separate entries in the Play store for Google Messages.

I, too, show that I'm a beta tester in the Play entry for Messages, but have the Samsung version last updated on 2/22 listed in the app details.

Thing is, despite having that version indicated in the app's details, I've taken sveral Messages updates since I got the phone (and since 2/22), including earlier today. It says the app was last uodated on 3/7 in Play. The updates don't apparently fail, so what's going on there?

"The updates don't apparently fail, so what's going on there?"


What do you mean by this ?

 

[mustang7757]

Again, to be clear, if you have the Samsung S22 you will get updates to the Google Messages app in the same place (same entry in the Play store) as if you had another phone. I know this because my Google Messages in Play still indicates I'm a beta user, even though I have the Sasmung skinned version of the app on my S22 Ultra, and it's indicated as such on Play.

Yes both Samsung dynamic and google message will get updated by play store

 

[KPMcClave]

"The updates don't apparently fail, so what's going on there?"


What do you mean by this ?

I was a beta user of Google Messages before I got the S22 Ultra. Now, I have the Samsung skinned Google Messages. The app info found in the app, in the phone setttings > apps > Messages, and on Play, all indicate it is the Samsung version released on February 22nd.

I have applied updates to Google Messages via Play more than once since I got the phone (and since Feb 22nd). Those updates don't fail (no error and seems to complete as expected), but I still have the same February 22nd release of the Sasmung variant.

It seems the app has been updated a few times, but the version info doesn't indicate that any of the 3 places you can view it.

 

[KPMcClave]

I do not see when someone is typing. Or graphic emojis, etc. The only things I see that relate to RCS are on the most recent message. It will tell me that it was delivered. Then tell me when it is read. But even that is only for the last message I sent. As soon as I send another message, those turn off for the previous one. So if I want to see when someone reads a message, I better not send any other messages in the meantime.

The one thing I am not sure of is if more of this would work well if I was messaging with another S22 Messages Beta user. For now, I only know that I am messaging with a few iPhone users and then some Android users for who I don't know what messaging app they are using.

I did ask one Pixel 2 Android user what app he used for his messages and he did not know. So probably the default Messages on a Pixel.

It seems some things have been mashed together under one name (RCS). You're not supposed to see the graphic emjois. That was only on the beta Google Messages, which you won't have on the new S22s and their skinned Samsung version. Plus, it seems people are reporting the feature, while there for a brief time, has been removed from the beta.

The other RCS stuff has been a a part of Messages for a while. I suspect if youre seeing that your messages were read, that RCS is working. Are those message bubbles also a different color?

I don't think you're supposed to be able to see all at the same time whether all of your messages have been read. The receiving phone isn't going to be able to determine if the first 3 messages were read, then the owner skipped 2, then read the last 4. So, there's no point in displaying all the messages in a discussion as Read. For messages with RCS, you can long press any message and see when it was received and when it was read: long press > three dots > view details

 

[mustang7757]

I was a beta user of Google Messages before I got the S22 Ultra. Now, I have the Samsung skinned Google Messages. The app info found in the app, in the phone setttings > apps > Messages, and on Play, all indicate it is the Samsung version released on February 22nd.

I have applied updates to Google Messages via Play more than once since I got the phone (and since Feb 22nd). Those updates don't fail (no error and seems to complete as expected), but I still have the same February 22nd release of the Sasmung variant.

It seems the app has been updated a few times, but the version info doesn't indicate that any of the 3 places you can view it.

On the Samsung/google message app i got a update today , you can join the beta on it also
Says march 3rd

 

[holz75]

I joined the Beta yesterday and just updated, and now we're seeing March 7.

 

[KPMcClave]

I joined the Beta yesterday and just updated, and now we're seeing March 7.

I also had an update today and it says March 7th. As I said above, though, the version listed of the app hasn't changed from the February 22 version.

 

[anon(19759)]

Does the beta version on your S22+ have that stupid "Messages" wasted space header? I'll surely join the beta if I can get rid of that!

It seems that if I use the back button to get out of Messages and go to home screen, the next time I open Messages, I get the big header. If I just hit the home button to get out of Messages, when I open it again its full screen list view, at least, most of the time.

 

[Will_T]

Yes, I saw an update today and in the Play Store it says March 7th. But in the app on my phone it still shows the Feb 22 version. And there is nothing different that I have noticed in the app.

And also yes, if I have been in the app and scrolled down so that the empty top 1/2 of the screen is gone, and then use the home button to exit... The next time I open the app it will still be scrolled down and hiding the empty top 1/2. If I use the back button to exit, then when I return to the app it has reset to scrolled up so the empty page space is displayed again. There is no reason for that empty, unused space. It should just be gone under any circumstance.

 

[KupKrazy]

I also had an update today and it says March 7th. As I said above, though, the version listed of the app hasn't changed from the February 22 version.

It's a different version. The previous one was RC00, and this new one is RC01. Looks like different release candidates.

 

[justafew]

I also had an update today and it says March 7th. As I said above, though, the version listed of the app hasn't changed from the February 22 version.

Actually the one from Feb 22 showed the version messages.android_20220222_01_RC00.phone_samsung_dynamic

So very slight difference - but I see no differences in the app after the update. Still not showing any of the features I had before like categories, video links, iPhone reactions, etc.

 

[KPMcClave]

It's a different version. The previous one was RC00, and this new one is RC01. Looks like different release candidates.

Are you sure? Because I've had more than just today's update previously.

 

[Will_T]

It's a different version. The previous one was RC00, and this new one is RC01. Looks like different release candidates.

Thanks you are right. Yesterday I had RC00, today it is RC01. I missed that. Still can't find any differences in operation or look though. Has anyone?

 

[tjubb]

Last week on my Note 20 Ultra I had all the new chat features (iPhone emoji reactions, blue bubbles for chats with other Android RCS users and the bouncing dots when someone was typing a response). Now with the S22 Ultra, all that is gone with this Samsungized version of Messages. Is there any workaround here? I'm on beta as well. Is there a way to disable this Samsungized Google Messages app and manually install the APK of the stock Google version?

 

[KupKrazy]

Are you sure? Because I've had more than just today's update previously.

Yep, if you look at Post #21 when I posted last night my version, and then after reading all these posts and checking my version tonight, I now have the RC01 version that you have, so it looks like my phone updated the app last night.

I am pretty sure RC means release candidate so I wouldn't expect much difference between RC00, RC01, or RC02, etc. since RCs are usually for bugs.

So if anything, you alerted me that my phone downloaded a new version. LOL

 

[Will_T]

I suspect if youre seeing that your messages were read, that RCS is working. Are those message bubbles also a different color?

I don't think you're supposed to be able to see all at the same time whether all of your messages have been read. The receiving phone isn't going to be able to determine if the first 3 messages were read, then the owner skipped 2, then read the last 4. So, there's no point in displaying all the messages in a discussion as Read. For messages with RCS, you can long press any message and see when it was received and when it was read: long press > three dots > view details

Sorry I think I missed answering you. All my bubbles are green for those I sent and gray for those I received. And on none of my messages does long press>three dots>Details show read, even on messages I know were read. Only shows "Text message", "From:". "To:", "Sent" and "Received" (date and time).

 

[subguy812]

Last week on my Note 20 Ultra I had all the new cha features (iPhone emoji reactions, blue bubbles for chats with other Android RCS users and the bouncing dots when someone was typing a response). Now with the S22 Ultra, all that is gone with this Samsungized version of Messages. Is there any workaround here? I'm on beta as well. Is there a way to disable this Samsungized Google Messages app and manually install the APK of the stock Google version?

This is why I started the thread and somehow it has gone off the rails

 

[KPMcClave]

Yep, if you look at Post #21 when I posted last night my version, and then after reading all these posts and checking my version tonight, I now have the RC01 version that you have, so it looks like my phone updated the app last night.

I am pretty sure RC means release candidate so I wouldn't expect much difference between RC00, RC01, or RC02, etc. since RCs are usually for bugs.

So if anything, you alerted me that my phone downloaded a new version. LOL

Thanks for the clarification. I went and looked on APK Mirror to see if I could download the open beta version and installl as an update to the Samsung version on Play, expecting I couldn't and I was right. It failed, saying the installed version had a newer version #. That makes sense, sicne the open beta would precede Samsung's tweaked one.

The nomenclature for the 3 betas I saw (open, go, and Samsung) was all the same with regard to the Febraury 22nd date in the file name. As you pointed out, the RC factor likely means the date in the file name won't change until we get a full new version.

The go and Sasmung RC01 versions don't include the word "beta" in the file name, as the open beta version does, yet they're collected in the same place as the open beta on APK Mirror. I'm guessing this means we should have the same features on the Samsung version, if enrolled in the beta program, as on the open beta.