(Comparison) Handcent vs Chompsms vs Stock - T-Mobile, Samsung Galaxy SIII

Hey guys I just want to have people's opinions about the above apps. I have S3 and have been using my stock messaging app with SMSpop up to handle the notifications when I receive texts. Lately I've been reading about these two messaging apps and I have been interested in trying them especially because I want emoji support (I hate my iPhone friends lool). Anyways tell me what messaging app you use and why you love it.
I know what someone will say maybe you should try them out and do research. I have seen review videos for both apps, but I don't really have the time to try them out one by one. I'd rather read reviews than try them.
If I do install a 3rd party messaging app I can keep SMSpop up? Or do the 3rd party apps take care of those functions as well? Such as personalized LED lights per contact and custom text tone for each contact?
thanks for your time and recommendations.
:good::good:
I also get paranoid installing and deleting things in my phone because if it slows down I feel like the program installed a file that didn't delete when I uninstalled. I know I'm paranoid but I know both apps use ads to support their free version.

I have used handcent on all my android phones. I've tried go sms and chomp sms but I always end up back woth handcent. I don't remember if the other two had pop up text, but handcent does. I'd suggest just try each one for a few days and see which one you like best.
Sent from Flip's S3

Honestly... You do have time. Ha. Both handcent and chomp will receive your messages. And it only takes a couple seconds to install... If you install it receive messages and end up not liking it un install and try the other, they're not going anywhere and having it won't halt your daily life. So you absolutely have time to try each out if you desire. And if you watched a lot of video reviews some of these questions should have been answered... Personally I used to always use handcent mostly because of the feature to use a password to access texts. But I also like it as a texting app
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

iSchadenfreude said:
Hey guys I just want to have people's opinions about the above apps. I have S3 and have been using my stock messaging app with SMSpop up to handle the notifications when I receive texts. Lately I've been reading about these two messaging apps and I have been interested in trying them especially because I want emoji support (I hate my iPhone friends lool). Anyways tell me what messaging app you use and why you love it.
I know what someone will say maybe you should try them out and do research. I have seen review videos for both apps, but I don't really have the time to try them out one by one. I'd rather read reviews than try them.
If I do install a 3rd party messaging app I can keep SMSpop up? Or do the 3rd party apps take care of those functions as well? Such as personalized LED lights per contact and custom text tone for each contact?
thanks for your time and recommendations.
:good::good:
I also get paranoid installing and deleting things in my phone because if it slows down I feel like the program installed a file that didn't delete when I uninstalled. I know I'm paranoid but I know both apps use ads to support their free version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Used Handcent for a long time, but then my wife got an HTC 8x (Windows mobile) and my daughter an iPhone 5 w iOS6, and neither of them could see my emojis; I tried all three " how to encode emojis" settings in Handcent, none made a difference. Even though including emojis isn't exactly a deal breaker , I like fiddling with apps so I tried Go SMS Pro - worked fine with emojis, but access to Quick Text was cumbersome (needed several taps). So now I am using chompSMS - emojis work fine, access to quick text is easy (though it's called "templates"). The only thing I don't like is that all three SMS apps have outgoing messages on the right, incoming on the left. For some reason (don't really understand it myself !!) I prefer it the other way around. You can make that switch in Handcent & Go, but not in chomp.....

I honestly don't recommend any of the above apps unless you have a slow phone. I'd use GO SMS Pro, fully featured and flies off the handle. It pops up text messages too, and has a free add on where you can use and see all iOS 6 emojis.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Are you rooted? If you are just use this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1922104
I don't know what happens when you flash straight up but I manually unzipped on phone and placed files in correct location while backing up originals. This will give emoji in stock app so you can your current setup and still have emoji!

I have used handcent for a long time on many different devices. I have tried other apps, GoSMS and Chomp, and have always returned to handcent. I like the privacy inbox and the fact that it does not run as a service like GoSMS. I do like GoSMS, but find it ridiculous that you can not disable it as a service.
Also, handcent has a setting to change its priority allowing security and location apps like Cerberus and Androidlost to work properly.

Thanks guys
I've used all of them for a while now. I decided to stick with Chomp sms its basic but works really well hasn't crashed and my battery has seen no change. Even MMS I feared would appear when I used this app did not surface so overall it was a nice experience and I am sticking to it. I wish I had more friends so I could test out the group message but if its something I don't use a lot I am not gonna worry if it works 100% correctly.

IMO GO SMS is the best for functionality and themes. Only thing I don't like about it is that every time I send MMS is resizes the crap out of it whereas stock handles it pretty good but then again it could be my fault for not changing or changing something in the settings.

i use handcent as well. love the popup even on the lock screen. you can read and reply without unlocking your phone, good assortment of themes and lots of settings

chompsms. The rest either don't work or full boatware (cough cough go sms)

x1tyme said:
chompsms. The rest either don't work or full boatware (cough cough go sms)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard rumors about that as well. I also heard GoSms isn't optimized for OS higher than Android Ginger Bread...

x1tyme said:
chompsms. The rest either don't work or full boatware (cough cough go sms)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Never had any issues with Chomp. And the main person I text (my wife) has an iPhone 4s that I jailbroke and is running Chomp's iOS version which is a jailbroken app called BiteSMS. Emojis/MMS work perfect between the two of us.

I'll just leave this here...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.contapps.android.messaging

I've read mixed reviews of messages +. What do you find so good about it? I use the stock tw messaging app right now.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

circuit.007 said:
I've read mixed reviews of messages +. What do you find so good about it? I use the stock tw messaging app right now.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used stock mms since I got my phone, and believe me I tried gosms as well as handcent but I still kept going back to stock. gosms was too bloaty like a previous poster mentioned while handcent has that ugly gingerbread feel to it. stock looks and feels slick and has just the right amount of customization and not overloaded with features like gosms.
Then i tried messages+ (in addition to contacts/dialer/call log+) and oh man. It has the same slickness as stock and I just really love the UI. its not laggy at all, it feels as though this should have been the stock mms app. Oh and it has the AOSP popup feature.

everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is mine. if your a day over 15 and you use a stupid sms replacement then you need to look deep into your soul because this is srs bizns.
the simplicity and beauty of aosp's app is what set's it apart. if google could do anything to improve it i would be impressed because imo its perfect
the other ones are garbage. not even a fair comparison because the other one's are for children.

GO SMS ftw. And yes it does have pop up text and its very customizable.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

I personally use GoSMS. It has a few features that other's do NOT... Like the ability to have seperate & customizable MMS receive settings (mmsc, proxy, port, etc) custom user agent, and change the way it resizes MMS pictures and what the maximum size can be - all separately and independently from the stock mms app.
It does have pop up notification, custom status bar icons for individual contacts, custom individual message tones.... very nice. And its themeable which I do like...
I can't speak of handscent... but I will say this, I was an iPhone user for 4+ years before my current GS3, and on the iPhone BiteSMS is kind, which IS ChompSMS on android -- and I tried it but overall liked GoSMS better... I can't speak of the service running, etc... I will say MOST of the themes cost money, so that sucks - and I use the free ones.
I'm on T-mobile USA, and the NETWORK limits MMS to 300k - plain and simple, so regardless of anything else, your image is going to be resized by the network to 300k regardless what app you use.... (unless something has changed recently on T-mobile network). Another advantage of GoSMS is the customizable UAPROF (user agent) --- This is the string the phone sends to the network server telling HOW to deliver the MMS to your device. The wrong UAPROF results in crappy images. The RIGHT UAPROF results in very nice images. THIS IS A BIG FACTOR IN QUALITY OF MMS - ESPECIALLY IF YOUR USING UNLOCKED PHONES OR NON-BRANDED PHONES ON CERTAIN NETWORKS.... That *ALONE* makes GoSMS worth it (depending on your phone & network combination)
ChompSMS was fine, I just liked GoSMS better for whatever the reason? they're pretty much the same (minus the customizable settings in GoSMS). Now that I'm using a T-mobile branded phone on the T-mobile network, none of the custom settings matter anymore, and if I use the stock mms/messaging app on my current custom rom (darthstalker) I am able to send MMS over wifi just like sending over data. Also receive over wifi....
* RANT *
Why I hate the default messaging/mms app.................. When I get a picture, it plays as a slideshow in a tiny preview unless I save it and view in gallery. UNACCEPTABLE. GoSMS doesn't do that.... I get a picture and I see it using the default viewer - in full screen. NOT AS A SLIDE SHOW. If the default app would do this, I'd probably be using it with some kind of smspopup tweak.
/rant

Believe this thread has served it's purpose.

Related

Which Messaging app do you use?

I was just wondering what Messaging app do you guys use? I did a fresh install of Skyraider 3.5 and am now using the stock HTC app. I like how simple it is, but I don't like the profile pictures. Since I don't link my contacts, all the pictures are just stock gray and that kind of gets annoying. I've been a longtime Handcent user though.
Immikey said:
I was just wondering what Messaging app do you guys use? I did a fresh install of Skyraider 3.5 and am now using the stock HTC app. I like how simple it is, but I don't like the profile pictures. Since I don't link my contacts, all the pictures are just stock gray and that kind of gets annoying. I've been a longtime Handcent user though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was a handcent user from the get go; however, with my phone it was laggy and would not pop up right away when i open it and saw delays, etc. In a nutshell it was sluggish.
That's when I tried chompsms. The 2 are as we all know, very similar. However, I have come to like chomp as it is faster on my phone and loads my convo's which are extremely lengthy very quickly and there is no delay.
I like both, however chomp works much better on my phone.
Handcent with Swiftkey. Haven't used anything other than Handcent and the stock messaging app, and I have no interest in switching to anything else.
I used to use handcent, now I pretty much just stick with the stock. No real reason, does what I need it to do, send SMS/MMS.
I use GO Sms. I like it more than Handcent. The problem is that it needs to work with the stock messaging app(which kinda sucks.)
Sent from my Evo 4G using XDA app
I use handcent because it splits threads for me so I can send my 1000 character texts without a problem and anyone ccan get them.
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
I use stock with sms popup for the same reason I don't use Sense roms- I don't need 2 facebook apps, 2 twitter apps, 2 sms apps, etc.
I have always liked handcent.
Chomp here. Love it. No reason to change.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I use Handcent also, it has a lot of great features... But, lately I have noticed that it hasn't been playing my MMS videos or the sounds attached them (qcp) ? I am using cm7 mod build #17 with the stock kernal, all data has been wiped all cache wiped then flashed... any thoughts ?
Handcent, works perfect on stock rom / rooted.
Super fast and love the black background and the fact that it will give super long texts when it splits up into multiples on others stock app.
I do believe that's a rom issue.
Nunoriffitti said:
I use Handcent also, it has a lot of great features... But, lately I have noticed that it hasn't been playing my MMS videos or the sounds attached them (qcp) ? I am using cm7 mod build #17 with the stock kernal, all data has been wiped all cache wiped then flashed... any thoughts ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Handcent!
INC. SR3.5, Lou #9, 40gb, 1800mah
Handcent just because it's so easily customizable.
I had always felt like my Handcent pop up messages were delayed. Phone would ring, screen turn on then a second or 2 later the popup would appear.
Since installing CM7 though, it has been instant, no delay between ring and message popup. Not sure if this was fixed in Handcent or not, but either way, CM7 is amazing
used handcent for awhile but now I just use the stock miui app
Stock with SMS Popup. Handcent makes me feel like im using an iPhone. If I wanted to use an iPhone I would of bought one.
Sent from God, who uses Virtuous 3.2
keith.mcintyre26 said:
I use stock with sms popup for the same reason I don't use Sense roms- I don't need 2 facebook apps, 2 twitter apps, 2 sms apps, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen! It's amazing (dare is say...Incredible?) how long my battery lasts now that I am not using 2 apps that do the same general function as 1 app. Just plain stupid.
Stock HTC Messaging for me. On AOSP roms, I use Handcent. I haven't tried Chomp or GO SMS or any of the others.
I switch between the stock htc one and Go SMS

[Q] can someone tell me why cyanogen only sends mms at 1kb

Anyone? It seems no one will ever comment on the posts I make at their forums? I am testing cyanogen 7.1 out for a bit.
Some background info. Doubled wiped everything except sdcard. downloaded a fresh cyanogen 7.1 and flashed it. I have the GPS fix, and the gapps thing flashed with tiamat 4.0.8
So can someone tell me how to either fix this or why it does this?
This is a huge dealbreaker.. It compresses whatever photo i try to attach and it losses quality of the picture... I like the stock android and having to use handcent to send my mms seems like a *WTF* should i do this moment...
Apps like Handcent and Go SMS are better than the stock messaging app anyway. Why would you be willing to throw away the entire ROM over the messaging app when you can use more powerful messaging apps that don't compress the image AND have more customization options?
I've used stock CM, Handcent and Go SMS. By far my favorite one is Go SMS. Way better than the one that comes with CM.
I have used them both. I dislike them. Its just the feel. And the popups I just dislike the whole thing even after i messed with the settings to get rid of what i dont like. The options arent there and i do dislike them.. Also it wont send multiple split messages it freezes my ability top send messages and i need to reboot my phone....
And the Messaging app isn't the only issue.
Btw not my first or second time using CM either..
cmsjr123 said:
I have used them both. I dislike them. Its just the feel. And the popups I just dislike the whole thing even after i messed with the settings to get rid of what i dont like. The options arent there and i do dislike them..
And the Messaging app isn't the only issue.
Btw not my first or second time using CM either..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? I don't get any pop ups whatsoever on mine. Not quite sure what you mean. And what options are you looking for? Out of all the ROMs I've tried CMseems to have the most flexibility and most customization options. What exactly are you looking for in a ROM? Handcent and Go SMS also provide more flexibility and customization options than the stock messaging app. Let me know what you're looking for and maybe I can point you toward a ROM that fits.
Concordium said:
Huh? I don't get any pop ups whatsoever on mine. Not quite sure what you mean. And what options are you looking for? Out of all the ROMs I've tried CMseems to have the most flexibility and most customization options. What exactly are you looking for in a ROM? Handcent and Go SMS also provide more flexibility and customization options than the stock messaging app. Let me know what you're looking for and maybe I can point you toward a ROM that fits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not that I'm looking for felxibility i just want to get my mms to stop sending at low resolutions.
It may be the user agent but every one of them makes me receive a pic at 8XX by ^XX resolutions..
I just want the stock one to have correct mms. And preferably a mms with a user agent for my phone or a equivalent phone. I have been searching for days and no one seems to post a fix. All the fixes seem to be for tmo for what i can find :/
Well I understand that you want your stock messaging app to work properly. However, I don't know a means to directly resolve the problem. Test with Handcent/Chomp SMS/Go SMS, reflash your ROM/kernel, update your radio, wimax, nv, etc., and if worse comes to worse....completely unroot your phone back to bone stock. Seems ridiculous that something that drastic is needed to fix your issue. But I did that as a last resort for my phone and it fixed my 2 month long SMS/MMS issue that I had been having.
Here OP try this. Is splits and the limit is big
http://db.tt/eOzGdVB2
Work out for you?

imagejpeg_2

My phone saves picture attachments as imagejpeg_2 and I have to change the file name every time so it doesn't overwrite the default imagejpeg_2 picture.
Is there anyway to disable this or make it so it will automatically saves as imagejpeg_3, imagejpeg_4, imagejpeg_5, etc. My friend has the regular Epic with the keyboard and his seems to save the pictures that way.
stock messaging app?
I couldn't tell you, I've never used it. Even with my first Android half a forever ago (Samsung Moment, *shudder*) it only took me 10 minutes to stumble upon Handcent SMS, and I've never used anything else...I should probably get the pay version. I love that goddamned app.
Though Go makes awesome stuff, so, I'm sure GoSMS is pretty good too...
...and doesn't the stock messaging app also compress and down-scale outbound pictures so much that they are nearly useless?
daneurysm said:
stock messaging app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like "ChompSMS"
Yes, it's the stock messaging app.
+1 to this. im using the stock msg app and it always defaults to that label. anyway to fix that doesnt include going to a 3rd party app?
Yeah, I hate this problem it has to be a bug. Does anyone know if its been reported?
+1 happens to me also, default messaging app
Same here.. On my evo 3d, stock, or my preferred app: go sms pro, it names all my mms attachments as: imagejpeg_2. Jpg, or imagejpeg_2_3. Jpg etc etc
Originally thought this was a go sms issue, but does the same under. Stock messaging app.

SMS integration in ICS

Hi Im a haver sms user and I love gosms. Cause here its possible to get an pop up for the incoming sms and directly answer it.
How is the stock sms app integrated in ICS? Is it possible to get an popup and answer the sms as fast as in gosms? I would appreciate If somebody could explain me the sms feature of his nexus galaxy. Cause I couldnt find any information on the web. maybe Im the last guy who texts. Thx
i am afraid the stock SMS app has not changed much from gingerbread. generally just some UI updates.
MIUI's SMS app is wonderful. It has the popups you are talking about. From what I've seen, it is not too different from past Android builds.
Looks like GoSMS is your answer. I've also seen WM7 Notification Add-On, that provides the popups, available for download in the market. I tested it and it worked but I didn't like it.
I'm sure we'll have a MIUI build eventually also (whoo whoo!)
Hm quietly disappointing. I want to have everything in a consistent look. Are you talking about an sms app from miu or a completerom?
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk
Sms popup works flawlessly. Used it for years and is perfect. Uses the standard android layout so fits in with ICS easily. Try it out, I'm 100% sure you'll love it.
Everyone I've told it to can't live without it now
Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk
I also used sms pop up. Skipped it as I switched to gosms. But the fact that gosms (more functional) is based on the android gui makes it once again interesting.
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk
Has anyone had any success with themes with gosms? The colors just go insane when i try any theme and i've tried manually adjusting every setting with little luck. The whole app just looks like crap.

SMS APP for android phone

hi,
been away for quite some time as I have switched to iphone 6 plus and iphone 6s plus.
just bought the new note 7 and want to know if anyone can share what is the best free sms app for android phone or namely note 7
If you want the option for end-to-end encryption I'd recommend Signal.
I have been using the stock messaging app since I got the phone and it's not bad at all. I have always used Textra on my previous devices.
I've been using go sms pro. I've tried others but keep coming back to rhis one
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
My choice was always default or Chompsms"android"/Bitesms"ios"
I used to use Hangouts, and switched to Google Messenger a few months ago. I'm enjoying it thus far.
Material messenger. Fast. Pretty. Fluid. Closest thing to iOS messaging as far as aesthetics go
I've been using Google Messenger for a while now. It's decent but it does do the sound alert even when you have it open. I dislike this a lot and wish it just did something subtle like iMessage does but I like the clean interface so I keep it. I will say that Textra is pretty nice. My personal opinion is that Hangouts should GDIAF but that's just me.
Textra, best by far imo. Fast, neat features, customizable. Enjoy
I really like YAATA. It's very customizable.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-yaata-sms-mms-replacment-app-t2835295
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
Handcent (also called Next) SMS is my favorite. I actually DL'd and installed a bit older APK I found on google because they borked the newest update to Next/Handcent SMS somewhat, so I am using the previous version before the update. I installed all my themes I have been using for several years for Handcent and it looks and works just like I had it on my N2, N3 and N4. I really like the "private" option to put some contacts texts into a private folder separate from the main text screen. This app is so much better than messenger + or the stock sms app IMHO.
i've actually used all the sms apps mentioned here. I'm now using mood messenger. Pretty good..cute animations too hehe.
can you install all mentioned sms apps and tried them or it will crash as all will try to alert when there is sms received ?
or i must download try one for few days then delete and download another and try and see how it goes ?
sorry for being lazy to try but if anyone have previous experience, can share their experience.
I've been using android for years and while I know there are a lot of sms apps, it still surprises me how many different opinions there are on which is best. I most recently have been using textra on my note 4 and I enjoy it. But with the note 7 I decided to see if I could find a better sms app. Still looking, but thats why I came here. Textra is worth a try though.
v1hypersg said:
can you install all mentioned sms apps and tried them or it will crash as all will try to alert when there is sms received ?
or i must download try one for few days then delete and download another and try and see how it goes ?
sorry for being lazy to try but if anyone have previous experience, can share their experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
koppee1 said:
i've actually used all the sms apps mentioned here. I'm now using mood messenger. Pretty good..cute animations too hehe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you can try them all, but it will clog up your notifications with several different ones running. I disabled the stock messages app and the messenger + app and only use Handcent/Next SMS. I have tried a few others before but for me personally I really like the features, look and feel of Handcent/Next. I hear lots of people who like Textra but I personally didn't like it more than Handcent. You can try them all out for yourself though.
Tb0n3 said:
If you want the option for end-to-end encryption I'd recommend Signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like signal but they simply suck when comes to MMS. They lower the resolution on images waaaaay too much
Sent from my SM-N930V using Tapatalk
For me and for most people, I think they would like using WhatsApp.

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