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Hello,
I have a sincere and honest question. I came to a conclusion but I hope I am wrong...
- I notice that several months after WP7's launch there is still no official Google Maps app, still no official YouTube app, still no Google Earth app, almost no GPS navigation apps with offline maps.
- All the non official Google Maps alternatives created by third party developers are pretty slow. I asked some developers why, and have been replied that the main reason is that Microsoft forces them to use the apparently sophisticated but very slow Bing map system based on Silverlight (for zooming). As a result the map image takes between 30 seconds to 1 full minute to display on my phone (what a shame). I tested and compared with two iPhone and Android phones using Google Maps, same place, same network, the map image appear in less than 10 seconds.
- Today Shape Services, the developer of IM+ announced that it will not have Windows Live Messenger support because Microsoft doesn’t allow it.
http://www.wpcentral.com/im-will-not-support-windows-live-messenger
Therefore I am starting to wonder why I cannot have Google Maps on my phone. Why so many GPS developers (such as CoPilot or Tom Tom) refuse to join WP7. Or why IM+ cannot have Windows Live Messenger support.... ??
And unfortunately my conclusion is that MS are maybe taking this terrible approach:
* MS refuse to allow apps that they think will duplicate functionality,
* Mainly MS actually want to impose their own services, such as Live Messenger, Skydrive, Bing and Bing Map, despite such services are either not available or mediocre in certain territories. In particular I am thinking of Bing Map which is so bad that it is almost unusable outside UK and US.
Microsoft have the right to take this kind of Apple's approach, ok. But then, as a customer, I would like to know it as soon as possible.
--> Practically does it mean that if I am using WP7 I will be forced to use Bing Map instead of Google Maps, MSN videos instead of YouTube, Bing instead of Google search, etc?
--> Practically does it mean that, as a customer, I will not have the choice between several alternative apps having similar functionality, just because MS will not allow them? For instance, does it mean I will never have the right to use an alternative Keyboard (Swype for instance) instead of the keyboard MS force me to use?
For instance does it mean that there will be no alternative player than Zune? (which also means no DivX|avi, the customer being bound to the only codecs MS will allow)
If so, I would like to know, because it's a weird philosophy, and a philosophy which I am definitely not ready to accept anytime soon... I don't want WP7 to be a new IPhone, even more locked down, with no freedom of choice at all...
Especially if I am totally not satisfied with the quality and efficiency of the various MS services such as Bing.
I probably made the wrong choice after WinMo and was maybe silly to stay loyal to MS.
Am I wrong?
Any clue?
It is google blocking its services from microsoft. They want android to succeed so they dont even give us the code for a youtube app (they gave it to apple for the origional iphone) let alone a google maps. Half of that is pure speculation so don't quote me on it but u try to watch a video in the stock YouTube app (the one in the market made by microsoft) and tell me how it looks.
Not sure why you are surprised, MS has made it clear that WP7 is going to be more tightly controlled than WM was but even then, they are not as draconian as you think. There is a gps program with offline maps available in Germany, Navigon. They have been asked several times if/when their program would be available elsewhere and their response seemed to indicate they were waiting for more users to come on board before releasing it.
As for youtube, MS recently filed a complaint in Europe against google claiming they are not allowing MS the proper access to deliver a better youtube experience. Even then, you have Supertube and Lazytube so I'm not sure what else is needed.
As for google maps, thats a google product and unless it is required that all mapping programs use bing (which is not the case, check GPS Navigator aSpass http://wmpoweruser.com/gps-navigator-aspass-provides-off-like-gps-map-caching/) that is up to google to make available. Swype wont be happening, been said a few time if I recall correctly.
Seems this time around MS it keeping a tight reign on certain categories of applications to ensure WP7 gives a consistent user experience. Just another factor to consider before purchasing a WP7 device.
Thanks for your replies,
So, i understand that WP7 will never have any official YouTube app or any official Google Maps app in the near future.
I can deal with LazyTube/SuperTube to replace YouTube
I cannot deal without the official Google Maps app, as all the other maps are too slow and too basic (no PoI, no Street View, etc).
And what about the fact that Microsoft refuses that Shape Services includes Windows Live Messenger support in IM+
And mainly, what about the fact that it seems almost impossible on WP7 to have:
- an alternative keyboard
- an alternative browser
- an alternative media player?
Whatever IE mobile is ok, whatever the WP7 keyboard is correct, it is a question of choice.
What about if people would like to use Swype instead of the regular WP7 keyboard, or Opera instead of IE?
At least would it be just possible to use such alternative programs? Or is MS' approach to forbid any alternative app?
efjay said:
Seems this time around MS it keeping a tight reign on certain categories of applications to ensure WP7 gives a consistent user experience. Just another factor to consider before purchasing a WP7 device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be fine only if services proposed by Microsoft were available worldwide (which is not the case) and were decent (which is not the case).
Well about the browser, I can't remember where I read it, but MS said that they are not blocking any browser application (Surfcube is a example)
Newness and Nokia
Hi all
I think that the problems and limitations of WP7 are to do with the fact that it is a new OS. The Mango update will bring a lot of APIs which developers will use to make better applications.
Also, I don't think Microsoft will let WP7, or any of it's main products, fall far behind the competition and I think that part of the deal with Nokia is to bring better mapping/navigation software to WP7 specifically.
Android has clearly had a lot more investment but in a couple of years WP7 will be a serious competitor.
Cheers
andrew-in-woking
arturobandini said:
Hello...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've expressed your issues with Bing Maps a lot here but as I said before Microsoft is probably waiting on Ovi Maps to integrate into the OS to make the services useful outside of the US/UK. So I think your frustration will last a little while.
As for Google services I would guess it's more about Google not being interested in WP7 at the moment and Microsoft being happy to have that pretext to promote Bing. It's a new OS so I'm sure that will change eventually. Also remember Microsoft filed a complaint about Google so I might not be too far off.
Copilot, Tom Tom, etc. not being there is just about them not seeing the point with a small user base, that should change too eventually.
Now choice I'm afraid will stay limited. I think clearly WP7 wants to be somewhere between Android and iOS but much closer to iOS (for now at least). I think they will want the OS to mature before allowing alternative solutions (Opera and Skyfire came a while later on iOS). So yes I think you bought the wrong phone as I doubt all this will change in the short term and maybe Android is what you need until WP7 is a strong player.
Personally I'm happy the way things are as WP7 aims to be an OS about integration and that's harder to make when there's too much choice. I'm annoyed about IM+ not having WLM messenger but after Mango that would have been redundant (I would have preferred to have it until Mango, they could have removed it later). Ideally they should be aiming to integrate all IM services to messaging (a huge task). Same goes for other services.
gremmmy said:
Well about the browser, I can't remember where I read it, but MS said that they are not blocking any browser application (Surfcube is a example)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surfcube is still IE at its core though.
gremmmy said:
Well about the browser, I can't remember where I read it, but MS said that they are not blocking any browser application (Surfcube is a example)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not completely correct. Surfcube - just like other browsers available on the marketplace - is built upon the IE engine. So all that's different from IE is the UI on top of the engine. Currently it's impossible to provide browsers with other engines like Opera for example due to the lack of APIs. I don't know whether this will change with mango or not.
As a matter of fact, Microsoft is at least partly going a way Apple has been going with their products for years. If you want a mobile device with an OS that you can tweak to your personal desires, you should go for an Android.
Remember, APIs for wp are in their infancy, mango will extend them, who knows how much. But a company like Microsoft push out they first party app and services first is fine with me. If they work right, I won't have to look for an app that does the exact same thing. I love the fact that I don't have to load a crappy Facebook app just to post one thing, or having a built-in upload to Facebook in the camera. And now with the new APIs with integrating apps into different hubs and apps, should "save us from our phones" more.
And for IM+ it could be API isn't available for Live messager.
I'm afraid we won't see any Google Maps before Ovi integration with Bing.
As for browsers all available now are just IE with different UI.
I remember Opera saying they are not interested in making a browser right now.
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway? I spent an hour on the phone a couple of days ago trying to explain to one of my computer illiterate friends how to use it. I eventually had to install it with him and discovered the incredibly horrible and terrible UI.. won't miss it one bit.
pillsburydoughman said:
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the most used IM client worldwide.
pillsburydoughman said:
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway? I spent an hour on the phone a couple of days ago trying to explain to one of my computer illiterate friends how to use it. I eventually had to install it with him and discovered the incredibly horrible and terrible UI.. won't miss it one bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why didn't you just have him go to www.live.com?
And as stated, its the most used IM in the world. Skype is second.
pillsburydoughman said:
no loss there, who uses windows live anyway? I spent an hour on the phone a couple of days ago trying to explain to one of my computer illiterate friends how to use it. I eventually had to install it with him and discovered the incredibly horrible and terrible UI.. won't miss it one bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
skype will have Microsoft logo soon..... and it will be on WP7 included in the OS...
and as someone said Windows live massanger is the most used IM in the world..
if the idea is to impose their own services they wouldnt have allowed flory (gtalk) and they would reject im+ (for using icq, gtalk, and many other non ms services).
if this was the idea they would have rejected shazam encore, since they are going to implement the same service.
unfourtunately i suspect that the issue with wlm is the deal they made with miyowa
as you can see they talk about a a "deal" between miyowa and microsoft for wlm
http://blog.miyowa.com/?p=1118
just search more posts and you can see they mention multiple times have some sort of agreement...
i know its far fetched but i think its more likely that the agreement they made included exclusivity until ms made their own native app. IMO this sounds more reasonable than not allowing duplicated functionality
edit:
personally i hate this, i would like to uninstall the miyowa app (its crap) and use im+ while we wait for native wlm.
revrak said:
if the idea is to impose their own services they wouldnt have allowed flory (gtalk) and they would reject im+ (for using icq, gtalk, and many other non ms services).
if this was the idea they would have rejected shazam encore, since they are going to implement the same service.
unfourtunately i suspect that the issue with wlm is the deal they made with miyowa
as you can see they talk about a a "deal" between miyowa and microsoft for wlm
http://blog.miyowa.com/?p=1118
just search more posts and you can see they mention multiple times have some sort of agreement...
i know its far fetched but i think its more likely that the agreement they made included exclusivity until ms made their own native app. IMO this sounds more reasonable than not allowing duplicated functionality
edit:
personally i hate this, i would like to uninstall the miyowa app (its crap) and use im+ while we wait for native wlm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might have a point there as everything gets dropped except Miyoma Messenger which is so crap I'd rather not have WLM rather than using it. They should be banned from making another app ever again.
revrak said:
unfourtunately i suspect that the issue with wlm is the deal they made with miyowa
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or it may be with the way IM+ implemented WLM functionality. This could've taken some reverse engineering.
revrak said:
if the idea is to impose their own services they wouldnt have allowed flory (gtalk) and they would reject im+ (for using icq, gtalk, and many other non ms services).
if this was the idea they would have rejected shazam encore, since they are going to implement the same service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And don't forget that just-added official Evernote app, which kind of directly competes with the OneNote/SkyDrive/Mesh combo (and currently beats it, IMO).
Here's the thing...I am planning on making my next phone either the new Nokia or the Focus S pretty much whichever releases first. I came from a 3gs and now have a Captivate and I want WP7 users to tell me the top things they miss from their previous OS...whether it be Android or IPhone. I am pretty much trying to figure out what I am going to be giving up in the switch to WP7. Thanks for any replies and no trolls please lol.
I think in general you'll be gaining a very trouble free, polished, and well integrated experience, while giving up more customization and a giant marketplace. i think coming from ios and android the biggest things you'll miss are your apps, if you were a big app user.
Notifications. WP doesn't show your notifications in one place like Android or even a popup like ios. You have to have the app pinned the home screen. If you have a lot of apps this could get annoying
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Oh and no google apps on WP. No Gmail no maps no voice. Not official ones anyway
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I know I lose words with friends but i'm sure there is a replacement of some kind in the app store plus xbox live integration will even that our for me (hopefully). Missed calls and messages are really the only important notifications I need. I do use gmail as my main email tho so will that cause any problems? Also how does bing maps compare to google maps? Nokia drive looks really nice if I go that route. What about any kind if visual voicemail? Any alternatives to google voice?
Gurgs said:
I know I lose words with friends but i'm sure there is a replacement of some kind in the app store plus xbox live integration will even that our for me (hopefully). Missed calls and messages are really the only important notifications I need. I do use gmail as my main email tho so will that cause any problems? Also how does bing maps compare to google maps? Nokia drive looks really nice if I go that route. What about any kind if visual voicemail? Any alternatives to google voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You see icons/numbers for missed calls, messages, emails on the lock screen and on the live tiles and there are notifications for all of them.
You can use GMail with the mail client (IMAP), also Google Calendar works fine. I am not sure about Bing Maps in the US but here in Austria it's useless. But there is a good (free) unofficial Google Maps app. Visual voicemail is only supported by some carriers.
Gurgs said:
Here's the thing...I am planning on making my next phone either the new Nokia or the Focus S pretty much whichever releases first. I came from a 3gs and now have a Captivate and I want WP7 users to tell me the top things they miss from their previous OS...whether it be Android or IPhone. I am pretty much trying to figure out what I am going to be giving up in the switch to WP7. Thanks for any replies and no trolls please lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
abysmal support for instant messaging apps. That's my only gripe.
Words by post is the alternate. Its superior to words with friends imo
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I came from WM6.5. I miss the bluetooth support. WP7 does not have SPP, so no external bluetooth devices will work, only bluetooth headsets etc. I can't use my bluetooth external GPS. Since my LG has a really poor GPS, this really bites.
Other than that, I really like the WP7 experience now that Mango is out.
Big issues for me compared to IOS.
- Lack of apps. The big ones like Facebook have been ported, but little ones (like language learning apps and dictionaries) - forget it.
- Lack of games. Always playing with my ipod touch, never play with my WP7 phone. Not enough good titles.
- No audio scrubbing in music player. Can't fast forward properly or jump around in tracks - makes it useless to for playing podcasts/audiobooks. Still have to use my ipod for listening to language CDs.
- Poor support for podcasts imported from Itunes. They appear in random order, also much prefer itunes to zune.
- No way to backup a WP7 phone. If you lose your phone or have to upgrade your firmware, wave goodbye to all your save data, settings and sms messages. You'll also have to manually re-install all of your apps.
karan1203 said:
Words by post is the alternate. Its superior to words with friends imo
Sent from my T8788 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is words by post cross platform? WP7 -> iPhone? My wife has the 4s and that would be great...
Notifications, Swype (I like typing with one hand), screen orientation lock and LED flash light app.
Other than that, there are little limitations here and there that will probably be addressed in the future updates.
topkop said:
Notifications, Swype (I like typing with one hand), screen orientation lock and LED flash light app.
Other than that, there are little limitations here and there that will probably be addressed in the future updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there only one choice for keyboard in WP7? If so how does it compare to stock keyboards on other platforms?
Gurgs said:
Is there only one choice for keyboard in WP7? If so how does it compare to stock keyboards on other platforms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is just 1 keyboard with Windows Phone 7.
I used to use Swype with Windows Mobile.
The keyboard for Windows phone 7 does have autmatic corrections and word suggestions. It ends up being just as fast as swype.
I have a quantum, which also has a real physical keyboard, which is nice when typing a long email.
No issues with the on screen keyboard. It works very well.
Aphasaic2002 said:
- Poor support for podcasts imported from Itunes. They appear in random order, also much prefer itunes to zune.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, podcast handling is one of the things I like in Windows Phone! I used to download podcasts using ITunes and using Zune to sync to the phone. There is an easier way.
Now I have the phone automatically download and manage the podcasts itself (without using a PC). The phone downloads podcasts automatically when it is plugged into power and connected to Wifi. I've set it to keep the last 5 episodes of each podcast - works great so far and less hassle than launching iTunes every day!
More details here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1286101
Gurgs said:
Is words by post cross platform? WP7 -> iPhone? My wife has the 4s and that would be great...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Words by Post is on WP, Android & iOS so yes.
Audio and Video Scrubbing. How this was missing in 2010 let alone 2011 just doesn't make sense.
Gurgs said:
I know I lose words with friends but i'm sure there is a replacement of some kind in the app store plus xbox live integration will even that our for me (hopefully). Missed calls and messages are really the only important notifications I need. I do use gmail as my main email tho so will that cause any problems? Also how does bing maps compare to google maps? Nokia drive looks really nice if I go that route. What about any kind if visual voicemail? Any alternatives to google voice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YouMail has an app called Magikmail that work as a Visual VM replacement unless AT&T gets its act together.
Bing Maps works very well for everything except a decent driving GPS, but a $5 app called Turn-by-Turn directions fixes that for me.
Missed calls and Messages- you'll have no problem at all with the very good notifications on the tiles for those, as well as the notifications on the lockscreen.
There are a few GV apps in the marketplace that work decently well.
Words with Friends alternatives- Alphajax and Words by Post
Other than that, I miss the LED notifications and being able to have a lastpass plugin for my browser. Overall, not really much that I miss from the other 2 options and a lot to like in WP7 over them.
---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:49 PM ----------
Aphasaic2002 said:
Big issues for me compared to IOS.
- Lack of apps. The big ones like Facebook have been ported, but little ones (like language learning apps and dictionaries) - forget it.
- Lack of games. Always playing with my ipod touch, never play with my WP7 phone. Not enough good titles.
- No audio scrubbing in music player. Can't fast forward properly or jump around in tracks - makes it useless to for playing podcasts/audiobooks. Still have to use my ipod for listening to language CDs.
- Poor support for podcasts imported from Itunes. They appear in random order, also much prefer itunes to zune.
- No way to backup a WP7 phone. If you lose your phone or have to upgrade your firmware, wave goodbye to all your save data, settings and sms messages. You'll also have to manually re-install all of your apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some good points here. I have only found 1-2 apps that I miss, but won't argue there are some things I'd like to have.
Haven't been upset by the audio issue- FF and REW work just fine for me. What am I missing that's so amazing?
Podcasts? No way- iTunes is horrible. Zune isn't that much better. Why use either? Just have the phone do it without needing to sync to either? Way past the iOS paradigm here.
Somewhat agree on the backup. Zune does do a backup when you do upgrades, but I think there's no way to do it otherwise. Annoying. And yes, until the Skydrive API is really more available, there aren't good methods for saving app data... but when it is, it'll be better than the other 2, assuming MS doesn't screw it up massively.
Well the Focus S coming out in two weeks pretty much answers which phone i'm getting. And this thread makes me realize i'm not giving up much of anything to leave Android, not to mention not having to flash a new ROM on my phone every week to keep up with the times lol
I think that the only things i miss from Android are...
•Tethering (new phones have it though, and possibly my HD7 via an update)
•TV Listings for Android (how is it that there is not a single app that can display all my US/Puerto Rico channel listings with shows and times? no... not a show tracker, i mean a full TV Guide)
•Adobe Flash (slow, buggy, laggy... but i could watch anything on the web )
•USB Mass storage (although i wonder why? come to think of it, i dont use it that much)
Still, the good FAR exceeds the bad here and my next phone will still be WP7 for sure!!! Titan or Focus S maybe (why TMO gets the crappy one???)
I know its a bid old but it seems like no one talks about it. After several official and unofficial grooveshark apps has been pulled from the marketplaces, grooveshark has launched a html 5 version.
The problem is that it doesn’t work on windows phone even though i really like my windows phone this is a ground breaker too me.
I really want wp to succeed but the pile of things that wp doesn’t yet support or "missing" is just too many.
http://devjar.me/post/16069427404/windows-phone-7-plagued-by-ie9s-flawed-ajax
There are other music applications on the marketplace. The only difference is that you need to pay for your music with those applications than on Grooveshark.
For me its two things:
1. Windows phone is lacking an important app
2. Other phone users sees this as another features wp is missing (as of proper html 5 support)
and what you are saying is like "oh we don't need skype, we have tango for free calls, and IMs for messaging"
Really digging the new Imessage that I've seen friends use, is there something that's comparable for us? help
what is special about imessage?
Free messages to iphone users.. that's special. you can use hangouts or Allo.
imessage and facetime are all i miss about ios.
Whatsapp kinda fills the void.
I've gotten everyone I know on Telegram. Clients exist for iOS/Android/Windows Phone/Tablet/iPad/OSX/Linux/Windows/Web (And probably more).
AIM (Aol iNSTANT mESSENGER) or IRC?
I would like to be able to see if read, have the option of facetiming I guess, gifs, stickers, embedded pictures,links,invisible ink, assistant etc within one app. My Samsung doesn't have that.
Allo/whatssup doesn't have all the features .
I love my droid and have never had an iphone but really loving the new imessage I saw on ios10.
I don't get what the rave is all about with iMessage. Dont all plans offer unlimited SMS & MMS? Or am I missing something?
Unlimited SMS is nice but when you have little to no service at the house or work you need a messanger.
iMessage is superior - but the issue for android is fragmentation. Google needs to implement a standard app across all devices that is both SMS/messanger that doesnt require "sign up". So even if manufacturers want to use their own sms app by default - users can still "iMessage" other android users without them going and downloading the same app and signing up, or having to ever open the app prior...I.e. WhatsApp.
iOS users would be more apt to download and use the app as they know they could message any android user. They would not have to play hot potato between apps to message different friends on android. Same goes for android to android.
Would be even better (probably wouldn't happen) if the app was default on ios as well, as they definitely would never be giving Google access to iMessage.
khaos64 said:
Unlimited SMS is nice but when you have little to no service at the house or work you need a messanger.
iMessage is superior - but the issue for android is fragmentation. Google needs to implement a standard app across all devices that is both SMS/messanger that doesnt require "sign up". So even if manufacturers want to use their own sms app by default - users can still "iMessage" other android users without them going and downloading the same app and signing up, or having to ever open the app prior...I.e. WhatsApp.
iOS users would be more apt to download and use the app as they know they could message any android user. They would not have to play hot potato between apps to message different friends on android. Same goes for android to android.
Would be even better (probably wouldn't happen) if the app was default on ios as well, as they definitely would never be giving Google access to iMessage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still dun understand how much different is iMessage compared to whatsapp? I know you need to download whatsapp but who dun have whatsapp nowadays?
~80% of my friends & family are on ios, maybe two of them had WhatsApp. My android friends was a toss up between hangouts and WhatsApp.
Chyeo1979 said:
what is special about imessage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EVERYTHING
the simplicity of being able to share your high quality pix and videos with a convenience of a text message..
Let's face it this is the deal breaker that apple has that samsung just can't break.. a lot of Apple fans are drawn to Android devices but without Imessage it makes them stay..
I hate claiming I have a better camera to a bunch of iPhone heads only to put a stake in my heart and " oh yeah prove it and send me a hq video " end of argument isheeps 3-android-2
---------- Post added at 01:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------
varun.gid said:
Free messages to iphone users.. that's special. you can use hangouts or Allo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can almost guarantee a few of your friends will not download an app and add bloatware so Android can have a taste of imessage .. i always say can yall download this app so i can send you pix n videos I get a lot of just get an iPhone and make it easier for everybody
Just wondering if there are users out there. At the moment I use Verizon's Message +
Until Google gets with the program and adds SMS support, nope. Not many people want to have two or more messaging apps. It's sad too, I would definitely use it if it supported SMS. I was one of the millions of people who downloaded it when it was released only to be disappointed, heavily. I think they'll port at least some of the functionality to Android Messages though. They've already added Gif and search support, and smart replies is apparently coming soon too. So, whatever. If they add assistant to AM I'll be plenty happy.
gettinwicked said:
Until Google gets with the program and adds SMS support, nope. Not many people want to have two or more messaging apps. It's sad too, I would definitely use it if it supported SMS. I was one of the millions of people who downloaded it when it was released only to be disappointed, heavily. I think they'll port at least some of the functionality to Android Messages though. They've already added Gif and search support, and smart replies is apparently coming soon too. So, whatever. If they add assistant to AM I'll be plenty happy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I guess I'll stay put.
pbman1953 said:
Thanks, I guess I'll stay put.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, last time I checked, I had like 3 friends that use it. Not enough by far for me to want to use it. Check out Android Messages. I personally like it the best out of all that I've tried. There's another thread on here somewhere with other messaging apps that people like.
Does it work with Wifi, because Messages+ works like Whats app on Wifi
pbman1953 said:
Does it work with Wifi, because Messages+ works like Whats app on Wifi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it does. I personally love Allo. I was stuck on my iPhone for awhile because I loved iMessage but every since I've been using Allo it made the transition a lot easier.
Most of my friends use it so that's a plus. If none of my friends were on it then I probably wouldn't use it as much.
Goog1e Phone said:
Yeah it does. I personally love Allo. I was stuck on my iPhone for awhile because I loved iMessage but every since I've been using Allo it made the transition a lot easier.
Most of my friends use it so that's a plus. If none of my friends were on it then I probably wouldn't use it as much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You and your friends are in a very small minority of Allo users. I have more friends that use Hangouts (just 1 lol) than Allo. As mentioned before, until it supports SMS, then no one in the U.S. has a reason to switch. And all other countries get more functionality from WhatsApp already so they wouldn't switch anyway. Allo is pretty much doomed to fail.
My wife has an iPhone, and I will never use one, so we use Allo. I like that it's cross platform
They need to add SMS fallback and make Allo the default messaging app (get rid of Android messages or put Allo features into Android messages). Once that's done, it will gain adoption. I think these days, it's foolish to have a messaging app optional to use. iMessage works because everyone on the iOS platform can use it immediately.
pipnmike said:
They need to add SMS fallback and make Allo the default messaging app (get rid of Android messages or put Allo features into Android messages). Once that's done, it will gain adoption. I think these days, it's foolish to have a messaging app optional to use. iMessage works because everyone on the iOS platform can use it immediately.
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AND they don't have a choice. iOS doesn't allow any 3rd party apps to handle cellular based calls or text messages.
PuffDaddy_d said:
AND they don't have a choice. iOS doesn't allow any 3rd party apps to handle cellular based calls or text messages.
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But making it the default (exactly like Chrome) would be a good thing, because 70% of people will use the default app because they simply don't know any better and don't care.
The other 30% care and can easily augment or switch apps, but adding SMS and making it at least the initial default would be the smart play. However, being the smart and obvious 'solution' to the whole ****show that is Android messaging pretty much decisively means Google won't even consider it.
Google voice basically has me locked to hangouts #shrugs
For all the good stuff they do for the OS in terms of usability, etc, i just don't get why they can't get their act together on a simple messaging app
pipnmike said:
For all the good stuff they do for the OS in terms of usability, etc, i just don't get why they can't get their act together on a simple messaging app
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It's because Google has given up on merging SMS with Allo and is betting on RCS technology to be the solution going forward. Too bad only Sprint has it and doesn't work between different carriers. Ugh!
Until I can use it for sms....it stays off my phone.
Sent from my Google Pixel 2 XL using XDA Labs
I use it on the regular but not with a lot of people. I stick to that and SMS currently
PuffDaddy_d said:
It's because Google has given up on merging SMS with Allo and is betting on RCS technology to be the solution going forward. Too bad only Sprint has it and doesn't work between different carriers. Ugh!
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And it's the DUMBEST thing! I could definitely see if ALL of the US carriers (as well as a lot overseas of course) were planning on rolling out RCS within MONTHS of Allo's release, but no one but Sprint has even announced that they are working on it to my knowledge. Sooo, it's, hey, use our app and don't let it die for literally YEARS while we wait for carriers to adopt this new standard. We don't want to go backwards and use SMS... Brilliant
The team lead has left Allo (and Google I think), sooo, maybe the new person won't have their head up their @$$? Wishful thinking I'm sure.
It's such a shame, I would love to be able to use Allo.
It is useful for sharing videos and pictures to users on Sprint and at&t as they will not transmit die to those networks size limitations on mms.
And even on Verizon and TMobile which do not seem to have a limit on the size of pictures.
Allo allows you to send files as large 200mb. Telegram allows up to 1GB or 2GB per file.
smartymcfly said:
It is useful for sharing videos and pictures to users on Sprint and at&t as they will not transmit die to those networks size limitations on mms.
And even on Verizon and TMobile which do not seem to have a limit on the size of pictures.
Allo allows you to send files as large 200mb. Telegram allows up to 1GB or 2GB per file.
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I thought all major networks had a 1mb limit
PuffDaddy_d said:
I thought all major networks had a 1mb limit
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I can send full size photos to people on TMobile and most people on Verizon. There has only been one person that I know on Verizon has trouble receiving mms from me.