The Official Android Thread Part XV: Time For Some Oreo!

[Peter Zezel]

So it seems Android Pay is coming to Canada very soon. People who bank with Scotia have been able to add cards.

 

[Power Man]

Holy ****

https://twitter.com/musicnews_facts/status/810183922281840640

 

[aleshemsky83]

If you believe that's real I've got a bridge in brooklyn to sell you

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Lolz

 

[Power Man]

If you believe that's real I've got a bridge in brooklyn to sell you

I'm listening

 

[aleshemsky83]

I'm listening

He directly faces the security camera which is suspiciously placed, the explosion looks like a stock explosion you find in any video editing software, him collapsing motionless on the ground looks strange, and the camera feed suddenly breaks for some bizarre reason.

There's also barely any news about it from credible news orgs

 

[Power Man]

He directly faces the security camera which is suspiciously placed, the explosion looks like a stock explosion you find in any video editing software, him collapsing motionless on the ground looks strange, and the camera feed suddenly breaks for some bizarre reason.

There's also barely any news about it from credible news orgs

I meant I'm waiting for him to name his price for the bridge

 

[M.C.G. 31]

CeeLo came out and said it wasn't real and it was something for him to do to introduce a new persona.

 

[Power Man]

CeeLo came out and said it wasn't real and it was something for him to do to introduce a new persona.

Yeah

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Question.

For Android, is there a similar thing like Apple has with iMessage on the Mac that could easily and seamlessly get texting on a PC from an Android phone?

 

[Power Man]

Question.

For Android, is there a similar thing like Apple has with iMessage on the Mac that could easily and seamlessly get texting on a PC from an Android phone?

Hangout
Whatsapp has a desktop extension that works really well
Facebook Messenger


Keep in mind that those are not seamless SMS/messaigng solutions like iMessage, but they are solide workarounds

Hangouts could have been Android's iMessage, but Google prefers to realese 1000 separate text and messaging apps

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Hangout
Whatsapp has a desktop extension that works really well
Facebook Messenger


Keep in mind that those are not seamless SMS/messaigng solutions like iMessage, but they are solide workarounds

Hangouts could have been Android's iMessage, but Google prefers to realese 1000 separate text and messaging apps

:: sigh ::

This is what I was afraid of. None of those is really appealing, unfortunately. Google needs to un**** this.

 

[Peter Zezel]

The Google Messenger app has RCS support and some carriers are rolling it out. Eventually Android will have something similar to iMessage.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

The Google Messenger app has RCS support and some carriers are rolling it out. Eventually Android will have something similar to iMessage.

"Eventually"

Meaning potentially 5+ years.

 

[guinness]

"Eventually"

Meaning potentially 5+ years.

Meaning never. Google always A/B's software. In a couple years, they'll kick Allo and Duo to the curb, it's just what they do.

Allo
Duo
Hangouts
Messenger
Voice

Hangouts could/can do video, texting, messaging, works with your Google account, and has a Chrome extension too.

Then they come up with Allo and Duo, which is fine in theory, but then you're back to depending on people installing them. The only thing I miss about iMessage, was Facetime. I've read that Duo is a really good video calling app, but Allo offers nothing of value, and Assistant only works in Allo on non-Pixel devices (unless you root).

I do like what Google has added to Messenger, especially being able to search for, and insert GIF files, and even has some sticker packs like Allo.

Voice has just languished on the vine, and I just use it for a junk phone number service.

My mom just bought an Android (ZTE Axon 7), so soon she'll be all in the Googlesphere. Even my dad, who has an iPhone 7, really likes her new phone, and he's way more into Google than she is, so I could see him switching too. On the plus side, it would get them away from the awfulness that is iTunes.

The problem I have with Android, is that going forward, it's difficult to recommend a Pixel, if Google sticks to that 2 year update plan, otherwise, I have to roll the dice with Oneplus, ZTE, Huawei, maybe even Moto (ewww). My Nexus phones have been the best phones I've owned.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

iMessage and its seamless across platform (Mac & iPad & iPhone) use is probably what will keep me with Apple.

 

[aleshemsky83]

Well if every other person you know is using I message, it would be useless to switch even if you did find a viable alternative on Android.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Well if every other person you know is using I message, it would be useless to switch even if you did find a viable alternative on Android.

It's not just that. It's the seamless ability to get texts and iMessages on the computer. I can do both. iMessage is laughably better than anything else out there.

You can still text someone with iMessage. I don't care about the program itself. I care about the ability to sync all my devices and respond while on the computer as well. Was hoping Google un****ed their messaging over the last 4 or so years since I had one. Crazy that they haven't yet.

 

[Peter Zezel]

"Eventually"

Meaning potentially 5+ years.

Right now some users on Rogers can use RCS and one US carrier can too. Hopefully it's not 5+ years, but who knows.

The big thing will be if Apple integrates it in their message app.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Right now some users on Rogers can use RCS and one US carrier can too. Hopefully it's not 5+ years, but who knows.

The big thing will be if Apple integrates it in their message app.

There's no doubt that Apple will.

All of this doesn't matter to me, though, if a desktop app doesn't exist. I do far too much work from my laptop. That's why I love the seamlessness of iMessage and how it's synced across platforms.

It's such an oversight, IMO.

 

[guinness]

There's no doubt that Apple will.

All of this doesn't matter to me, though, if a desktop app doesn't exist. I do far too much work from my laptop. That's why I love the seamlessness of iMessage and how it's synced across platforms.

It's such an oversight, IMO.

Most of the world literally doesn't care though - they use whatsapp or some other 3rd party messaging app outside the US, and SMS/MMS are anachronisms. Their only computer is likely a smartphone because that's all they can afford, and texting is expensive.

At least on /r/android, the issue with Google is that rather than continue to improve on Hangouts, which is their take on iMessage (video calling, vertical integration and still does all that), they release yet another messaging app, which requires all your contacts to install that same app, and that's just an uphill battle against FB Messenger, whatsapp, kik, etc. That's partly why I want RCS to happen, with improved texting and pcitures but even that gets push back from the carriers, and with the now GOP controlled FCC likely killing net neutrality, I don't see that improving.

I remember when iMessage was supposed to open too, so it's all about the vertical lock-in.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I mean, I don't really care about third world countries, though. They shouldn't factor into this all that much. Just being honest and all.

Agreed re: the GOP FCC. It's going to be interesting to see where that goes.

 

[aleshemsky83]

It's not just that. It's the seamless ability to get texts and iMessages on the computer. I can do both. iMessage is laughably better than anything else out there.

You can still text someone with iMessage. I don't care about the program itself. I care about the ability to sync all my devices and respond while on the computer as well. Was hoping Google un****ed their messaging over the last 4 or so years since I had one. Crazy that they haven't yet.

I'm just saying even if they did fix all those things, what reason would there be to switch when everyone you know uses I message (and I assume they do as it doesn't work otherwise).

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I'm just saying even if they did fix all those things, what reason would there be to switch when everyone you know uses I message (and I assume they do as it doesn't work otherwise).

Because it wouldn't matter. iMessage being popular isn't what keeps me. The fact that I can text message from my computer (that syncs with my iPad and iPhone) is what keeps me. If Google had a similar program that worked as such (a seamless blend of SMS texting and whatever proprietary thing they wanted), I'd heavily consider switching. As of now, everything they have is basically gimped.

Most I know using iMessage is kinda meaningless in the scheme of things. The ability to text/message across platforms and devices is the functionality I want (and currently have with Apple).

 

[Stories]

Because it wouldn't matter. iMessage being popular isn't what keeps me. The fact that I can text message from my computer (that syncs with my iPad and iPhone) is what keeps me. If Google had a similar program that worked as such (a seamless blend of SMS texting and whatever proprietary thing they wanted), I'd heavily consider switching. As of now, everything they have is basically gimped.

Most I know using iMessage is kinda meaningless in the scheme of things. The ability to text/message across platforms and devices is the functionality I want (and currently have with Apple).

Maybe not the best, but if you want to text from a computer, you can always use something like Pushbullet or AirDroid. Granted, depending on what phone you have, MMS is kind of wonky on those services. I personally use Pushbullet, but I don't text much, in general. Almost all my communication happens through either Hangouts or KakaoTalk. Both of which have PC clients.