What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something besides Google Msgs?

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What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something besides Google Msgs?

I hate texting, so I can careless.

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I hate texting, so I can careless.

I hate texting too, except if it's from the computer using my full-size keyboard and 28 inch monitor. But even then, I hate seeing the typing indicator, and knowing a reply is comming and having to sit there and wait. It turns a 30 second phone call into a 5 minute text conversation.

That's why I love asynchronous forms of communication, like email and, you've guessed it, BBSes and Echomail. No interruptions not waiting, no notifications; you get to decide when you get to your messages. Instant forms of communications are killing our attention and focus. Constant distraction.

-BH

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Hey boxoskulz!

On Mon Apr 27 2026 , you wrote:

What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something
besides Google Msgs?

I had a S22 Ultra and just upgraded to the S26 Ultra. Both of them, which I would then probably assume everything in between used Google Messages as the "default" app.

Are they actually forcing the issue? Or are they just getting rid of "Samsung Messages" which wasn't really ever a default app in quite some time? There are still plenty of third party messaging apps in the play store. Why can't those be used still?

Regards,
Nick

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Re: Samsung forcing Google Msgs
By: boxoskulz to All on Mon Apr 27 2026 03:40 pm

What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something besides Google Msgs?

I hadn't heard about that, but I think it's interesting that Samsung is forcing a Google app (though I'm not sure if Samsung had their own messenging app).

I had used Samsung Galaxy phones for quite a while, but currently I've been using Google Pixel phones for about 5 years, so I'm not as aware of what Samsung is doing these days. The Google Pixel phones use Google Messsages by default, so I'm used to using it. I've noticed it supports SMS, MMS, and the various protocols that let you see if someone has seen your message or not; I don't really have any complaints about it.

Nightfox
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On 27 Apr 2026, Exodus said the following...

What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something besi Google Msgs?

I hate texting, so I can careless.

I can see why. =p~

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What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something
besides Google Msgs?

I've been using Google Messages for some time now. There are a few nice features over standard SMS:

1. Archiving - I can keep my texts clean by archiving people I may not talk to a lot but still want to keep the message thread

2. Texting from desktop - This is key. Using my desktop, full sized keyboard and monitor to send/receive texts through a web browser. No more fumbling around the small keyboard or using inaccurate voice typing.

3. Copy/Paste - On the heels of the desktop use, copying and pasting information to/from texts is so much easier than on a phone.

4. Message status - I can tell if they received the message or if it's delayed.


Yeah, it's Google, but what isn't these days?

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boxoskulz wrote to All <=-

What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something
besides Google Msgs?

There are a ton of F/OSS SMS clients that just do SMS. I'm a fan of
Google Messages mostly because I live in poor cell coverage and I get
messages through RCS instead of SMS all the time.

Any of my meaningful messaging is done through Signal, SMS/RCS is
usually limited to "Leaving the office, what do you want for dinner"
messages...



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Exodus wrote to Boxoskulz <=-

What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something besides Google Msgs?

I hate texting, so I can careless.

I used to hate texting for the most part, but for short messages
dictated into my phone, it's great.

I pulled out a candybar phone recently (nokia 6300 4g) and tried using
T9 to text. I have no idea how we did that back then!



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On 27 Apr 2026, Accession said the following...

What's everyone's thoughts on this? Anyone plan on using something besides Google Msgs?

Are they actually forcing the issue? Or are they just getting rid of "Samsung Messages" which wasn't really ever a default app in quite some time? There are still plenty of third party messaging apps in the play store. Why can't those be used still?

I think they're just getting rid of Samsung Messages. What are some decent 3rd party messaging apps?

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On 28 Apr 2026, Uber-Geek said the following...

I've been using Google Messages for some time now. There are a few nice features over standard SMS:
4. Message status - I can tell if they received the message or if it's delayed.

Hey thanks! This is some nice info.. can you disable the received message notification?

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I pulled out a candybar phone recently (nokia 6300 4g) and tried using
T9 to text. I have no idea how we did that back then!

I never did. I sold phones for years, I did and still hate texting. About as much as I hate apple products. :)

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Hey thanks! This is some nice info.. can you disable the received message notification?

The notification is more like two little, barely noticble round checks under your sent message bubble. It shows on the last message and on and of your other messages when tapped. Most of the time I don't even know it's there.

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I had a S22 Ultra and just upgraded to the S26 Ultra. Both of them,
which I would then probably assume everything in between used Google Messages as the "default" app.

I've been using the Google version since I got my upgrade as well. I didn't realize it was Google until I read this. I had always used the Samsung version before, but it was lacking a lot.

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I pulled out a candybar phone recently (nokia 6300 4g) and tried using
T9 to text. I have no idea how we did that back then!

44,33,555,555,666

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Hey boxoskulz!

On Tue Apr 28 2026 , you wrote:

I think they're just getting rid of Samsung Messages. What are some
decent 3rd party messaging apps?

A quick search shows Pulse, Chomp, and Textra as the most popular, I guess. However, I don't think much of those has RCS support. I've never had an issue with Google Messages in the many years I've used it, so I'll just continue to use that.

I don't even remember if/when Samsung Messages was used. I think I remember it being on my phone, but I never felt the need to try it.

Regards,
Nick

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Hey boxoskulz!

On Tue Apr 28 2026 , you wrote:

Hey thanks! This is some nice info.. can you disable the received
message notification?

Yes, simply by switching it back to SMS, rather than RCS.

Regards,
Nick

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Hey SirRonmit!

On Wed Apr 29 2026 , you wrote:

I've been using the Google version since I got my upgrade as well. I
didn't realize it was Google until I read this. I had always used the Samsung version before, but it was lacking a lot.

What were you using before the upgrade?

I'm certain I was using Google Messages on my S22 Ultra, which was since about 2022. I honestly don't remember ever using Samsung Messages, but I'm sure I did at some point quite some time ago (a search results in that it was installed on older Galaxy phones; prior to the S21. However, I still don't know if/when it was ever the "default" app).

Regards,
Nick

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Hello Accession!

** On Wednesday 29.04.26 - 13:55, Accession wrote to boxoskulz:

A quick search shows Pulse, Chomp, and Textra as the most popular, I
guess. However, I don't think much of those has RCS support. [...]

SMS is totally insecure. Ripe for collective archiving by the phone provider and/or by the app to the mothership.

I assume those apps "interface" with the phone's texting capability and replace the orignal sms program?

They also seem to mention "contain ads" and "in-app purchases".

Sounds like they harvest phone numbers along the way to target your contacts.


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Hey Ogg!

On Wed, Apr 29 2026 18:27:00 -0500, you wrote:

SMS is totally insecure. Ripe for collective archiving by the phone
provider and/or by the app to the mothership.

.. and still being used quite a bit today. If one or both of the devices texting doesn't support RCS, it will revert to SMS.

I assume those apps "interface" with the phone's texting capability
and replace the orignal sms program?

I have no idea. I searched the top third party texting apps, was all. As I said, I'm just fine with Google Messages.

They also seem to mention "contain ads" and "in-app purchases".

Most likely. You'll have that with just about any third party apps.

Sounds like they harvest phone numbers along the way to target your
contacts.

I wouldn't doubt it.

Regards,
Nick

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Hello Uber-Geek!

** On Tuesday 28.04.26 - 13:00, Uber-Geek wrote to boxoskulz:

2. Texting from desktop - This is key. Using my desktop, full sized keyboard and monitor to send/receive texts through a web browser. No more fumbling around the small keyboard or using inaccurate voice typing.

Is that via the Link to Windows that the Samsung phone offers?


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Is that via the Link to Windows that the Samsung phone offers?

That's a Windows-specific thing and not related to Google messages.

You can go to https://messages.google.com to use the messaging app that is paired with the phone.

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On 29 Apr 2026, Accession said the following...

What were you using before the upgrade?

Samsung messages on Galaxy S20 FE

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I've been using the Google version since I got my upgrade as well. I didn't realize it was Google until I read this. I had always used the Samsung version before, but it was lacking a lot.

What were you using before the upgrade?

I had an old S8 with the VR headset and when I went to the S21 because I broke the back glass and popped the battery on the S8, the S21 was Samsung by default and a co-worker showed me the 'benefits' of Google messaging. Just been using that ever since and on my new cell as well. So the S21 was still using the Samsung version. I'm sure they pushed out an update sometime to make Google the default?

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Ogg wrote to Accession <=-

SMS is totally insecure. Ripe for collective archiving by the phone provider and/or by the app to the mothership.

"Buy milk", "Be there in 15 minutes".

I assume those apps "interface" with the phone's texting capability and replace the orignal sms program?

Similar to a PC, you assign an app as a default for SMS.

They also seem to mention "contain ads" and "in-app purchases".

Sounds like they harvest phone numbers along the way to target your contacts.

The F-Droid store has lots of F/OSS clients with the permissions needed
listed if you're curious about a less "leaky" client.





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Hey Sirronmit!

On Thu, Apr 30 2026 08:14:54 -0500, you wrote:

cell as well. So the S21 was still using the Samsung version. I'm
sure they pushed out an update sometime to make Google the default?

First search result mentioned around the time the S21 came out, so that seems legit.

Regards,
Nick

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