On Tue, 12 Feb 2019 15:30:29 -0000 (UTC), Joe Beanfish wrote:
> I used textra for many years on multiple phones because it would
> give a popup over the lock screen showing the text and allowing
> response right there without opening the app proper or unlocking.
>
> On my latest phone I tried and use Verizon's (non-default) Messages+
> which has the same feature. Haven't had much incentive to look further.
Thanks for that additional vote for "Textra".
I'm using it now as my default SMS app, in order to test it out.
I agree with your logic that, if the default SMS app is working for you,
then keep it. In my case, it worked fine, until I wanted to send a bunch of
large photos over MMS, and then I realized I needed an autoshrink feature.
At some point, I wanted to _schedule_ a nag screen for my grandkids to do
something they needed to do, and then I realized another fault of the
default SMS app.
Later, I wanted to keep a handful of contacts at the TOP (pinned so to
speak) of the screen, where, again, the default SMS app failed me.
At some point I wanted the DEFAULT "keyboard" to be the microphone, where I
searched in the _wrong_ way (I was looking for keyboards), when only
yesterday did I learn that Textra seems to have a "default mic" feature of
some sort (woo hoo! ... maybe finally I'll get what I've always wanted!).
So I agree with you that, since every phone comes with a default SMS/MMS
app, that we don't need to change it unless we have some other needs.
I'm not sure why, a few months ago, when I tested at least a dozen SMS
apps, that Textra didn't remain, so maybe it has "something" annoying that
I forgot about (e.g., like nag screens or some other ilk).
At the moment, I'm looking mostly at these three:
o Pulse SMS
o QK SMS
o Textra SMS
We probably should list "desirable" features, which would then allow us to
better compare SMS apps.
I'll start with a list that others can help us flesh out (in no order yet):
Key features (no one SMS app will have them all so prioritize individually)
o It should be free with zero ads
o It should autoshrink outgoing MMS photos
o It should automatically save incoming MMS photos to the gallery
o It should schedule (and repeat) outgoing messages
o It should be able to _default_ to the microphone keyboard
o It should forward entire conversations
o It should enable password-protected private conversations
o It should have a configurable delayed-sending feature
o It should allow "active notifications" (if you like that sort of feature)
o It should backup and restore to the memory of the phone (or the net)
o It should allow the user to configure the order of the conversations
o It should allow automatic cleaning of messages older than a set date
o It should have a richly configurable automatic reply feature
o It should enable a blacklist
o It should _easily_ change the font and font size & background/foreground
o It should _easily_ add contacts for group messages
o It should _easily_ add or take photos (or emojis if you're so inclined)
o It should _easily_ copy & paste
o It should _easily_ share contacts
o It should _easily_ delete entire conversations
o It should _easily_ enable delivery confirmations (if desired)
o It should _easily_ send/receive SMS/MMS messages (duh)
o What else?
NOTE: Every one of these features exist in the 3 apps suggested above,
but not every app has every feature; hence you must prioritize your needs,
which will determine which SMS app you end up choosing.