Messaging App for Android

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#1218355 20-Jan-2015 15:03

I was using Hello but it refused to sync up the contact photos, even after multiple reinstalls and re-sync attempts with Facebook. It used to work but for the last 6 months has been broken.

Tried Googles Messenger and so far actually quite like it. No contact photos but I am used to that (see above!).

Wade

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#1218366 20-Jan-2015 15:24

I see contact photos on mine, i do use sync-me but not sure if that is the reason

My only pet peeve is that as i use KK Launcher and there does not yet appear to be a messenger notification extension available yet, no doubt will come in due course, Google inbox for example already has an extension available.

sbiddle

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#1218407 20-Jan-2015 16:13

I don't really understand why Google are now splitting SMS/MMS back to another app. The concept of Hangouts was to bring everything together, and offer seamless transition between Hangouts and SMS using OTA rather than SMS when available

SumnerBoy

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#1218408 20-Jan-2015 16:14

Perhaps cos Hangouts was so rubbish... ;)

sbiddle

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#1218409 20-Jan-2015 16:18

SumnerBoy: Perhaps cos Hangouts was so rubbish... ;)

I disagree.

The concept of Hangouts was fantastic, and with integration with Google Voice which is now complete you had one app that finally gave seamless OTA and OTT integration.

SumnerBoy

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#1218411 20-Jan-2015 16:20

Agree the concept was good, but every time I tried to use it I found it very clunky to use, and had continual issues with MMSs.

It has quite possibly improved since I last tried it but I have always found the SMS specific apps much slicker.

muppet

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#1218415 20-Jan-2015 16:21

sbiddle:
SumnerBoy: Perhaps cos Hangouts was so rubbish... ;)

I disagree.

The concept of Hangouts was fantastic, and with integration with Google Voice which is now complete you had one app that finally gave seamless OTA and OTT integration.

You'd be the only person I know that thinks that.

Instead of a fast & nimble app like Google Talk used to be, this hangouts monster is slow and the interface is confusing.
I know I used to get a lot of chats from people via Google Talk (you could see who was online, away etc) and now no one uses Hangouts. It's a Ghost Town.

No doubt the promise/idea of it was good, but the execution was terrible. There's a few stalwarts that cling to it (much like I cling to TextSecure, despite it having no traction), but not many.

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lchiu7

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#1218418 20-Jan-2015 16:25

freitasm: Just installed. Have been using Hangouts on my HTC One because the HTC Messages is absolutely terrible at MMS. Will try this now (although I do like hangouts because of Google Voice as I have a US-based number used for SMS sometimes).

I am in the same boat. I use Hangouts to send via my Google Voice number SMS to my daughter in the US who has a T-Mobile phone. (As an aside my GV number forwards to my T-Mobile SIM which I use when I am over there).

It works well enough since I can now send MMS to her account which I could not via Google Voice but this option doesn't always work for me.

This is the smart reply where Hangouts will try to use the same method/number for replying.

What happens is that occasionally I will reply to a SMS and Hangouts will try to send the SMS via Google Voice and that will fail.

But I just noticed on the latest Hangouts when you start a new message with a number rather than a contact it brings up an option to use Google Voice or your Carrier number which wasn't offered before so perhaps they fixed that issue?

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insane

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#1218419 20-Jan-2015 16:33

Wade: Yes, I was using hangouts and migrated across to messenger, much cleaner UI, I never had issues with hangouts but have to say I prefer messenger, not sure why, just do! :P

Well it looks like FB messenger, just not as good. That was fun, back to hangouts!

dafman

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#1218457 20-Jan-2015 17:35

What is really great about hangouts is the chrome extension which allows me to use hangouts in real time directly through my PC browser. Don't care too much for the phone app, but would hate to give up the browser integration. It looks like this option is not available for messenger, if yes, please let me know!

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#1218516 20-Jan-2015 19:19

Installed the Chrome Hangouts to catch some authentication SMS sent to my Google Voice account... Chrome would crash every time I closed it. Removed the extension, problem gone.

Interesting because one of the Amazon auth SMS came from a six digit US number to my GV account. Hangouts Android wouldn't allow me to reply to it via GV saying it isn't a US number. Hangouts Chrome had no problem doing it.

SumnerBoy

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#1218534 20-Jan-2015 19:50

dafman: What is really great about hangouts is the chrome extension which allows me to use hangouts in real time directly through my PC browser. Don't care too much for the phone app, but would hate to give up the browser integration. It looks like this option is not available for messenger, if yes, please let me know!

Have you tried PushBullet? That has a great Chrome extension which gives deep integration with your phone. I am back to using Hello SMS (I like the Reply/Read shortcuts on the Hello notifications that are not there for the new Google Messenger) and that lets me see SMSs in my browser, as well as respond, or write new messages. Works a treat.

PushBullet also allows you to 'Copy' something on your PC into the clipboard, and it magically appears in the clipboard on your phone. Very cool!

NZtechfreak

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#1218543 20-Jan-2015 20:03

SumnerBoy:
dafman: What is really great about hangouts is the chrome extension which allows me to use hangouts in real time directly through my PC browser. Don't care too much for the phone app, but would hate to give up the browser integration. It looks like this option is not available for messenger, if yes, please let me know!

Have you tried PushBullet? That has a great Chrome extension which gives deep integration with your phone. I am back to using Hello SMS (I like the Reply/Read shortcuts on the Hello notifications that are not there for the new Google Messenger) and that lets me see SMSs in my browser, as well as respond, or write new messages. Works a treat.

PushBullet also allows you to 'Copy' something on your PC into the clipboard, and it magically appears in the clipboard on your phone. Very cool!

I have strongly recommended Pushbullet here at GZ before. If you're on Android and not using it you're barmy I reckon.

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blakamin

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#1218545 20-Jan-2015 20:05

+3 for Pushbullet.

Yabanize

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#1218585 20-Jan-2015 20:45

I use the new google messenger app, Mostly because of the really nice 'Material Design' looks, colours and animations

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