Database Info

SMS on Android

Hello chaps
I've just got an HTC Legend and love pretty well everything about it ...except...
The SMS side of things is awful - you access it via the "Messages" widget, not sure if this is a native Android app or an HTC add-on but it's rubbish. All you get is a list of messages you've sent and received with no indication as to which is which and messages from the same person are bunched together into one on the list - it's just awful and there seems to be no way to change it so just an "inbox" view or whatever.
In addition, when you compose an SMSthe text entry box statys tiny and docks at the bottom so yuo get the recipient at the top and the message at the bottom with a big space in between unless the message is really long.
I'm amazed how bad it all is. Is there a good market replacement for it?
Cheers
K

Check out Handcent. Not only does it make the list more similar to an iPhone-esque style, but adds a bunch of extra features like colored trackball alert if you're rooted, or a Quick Reply function, where you can quickly send a message to anyone using your hardware buttons.

Is this some kind of joke!? April 1st has passed!
kurtalden said:
Hello chaps
I've just got an HTC Legend and love pretty well everything about it ...except...
The SMS side of things is awful - you access it via the "Messages" widget, not sure if this is a native Android app or an HTC add-on but it's rubbish. All you get is a list of messages you've sent and received with no indication as to which is which and messages from the same person are bunched together into one on the list - it's just awful and there seems to be no way to change it so just an "inbox" view or whatever.
In addition, when you compose an SMSthe text entry box statys tiny and docks at the bottom so yuo get the recipient at the top and the message at the bottom with a big space in between unless the message is really long.
I'm amazed how bad it all is. Is there a good market replacement for it?
Cheers
K
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Handcent is the best IMHO....
There should be a messaging application you are using... not just the widget.

I would have to agree that Handcent is a pretty decetn app!

is it possible to disable the default sms proggy and let handcent be the only one?
Sent from my HTC Legend using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

sackynuts said:
is it possible to disable the default sms proggy and let handcent be the only one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, It should just be a matter of going into the stock Messaging app. On the main screen that shows all your threads, press menu, go to Options/Settings (whichever one is there, cba to look at my phone at the moment) then just disable notifications. That means it should never bother you again (unless you want it to - in which case just re-enable that)

launcherpro beta

Just came across this new launcher in the market, it is a free app. Definitely worth trying out, was using helix before this one and don't get me wrong I still love helix, but I have to say scrolling from screen to screen and up and down app drawer just have no lag at all, definitely worth trying out launcherpro beta made by Federico Carnales

I see no diffence really

I like this more than helix launcher
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

just tried it graphically I like it better but no landscape kind of kills it

I just switched to this and I like it alot. Only thing is I wish I could have it open up handcent instead of the stock htc sms app. At least the new version of the htc sms sizes down photos for mms now so I can deal with it for now.

adamboyd83 said:
I just switched to this and I like it alot. Only thing is I wish I could have it open up handcent instead of the stock htc sms app. At least the new version of the htc sms sizes down photos for mms now so I can deal with it for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine opened handcent..? first time i clicked the messaging icon on the quick launch (bottom row) it asked me which application i want it to open by default

jeremysterling said:
first time i clicked the messaging icon on the quick launch (bottom row) it asked me which application i want it to open by default
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what it did for me as well.

jeremysterling said:
mine opened handcent..? first time i clicked the messaging icon on the quick launch (bottom row) it asked me which application i want it to open by default
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What the hell? I go no option window

Wow. I wasn't going to try this cause I was happy with sense. But this thing kicks the crap out of every launcher out there (except sense, I just love me some sense). Nice find, OP.
EDIT: I just noticed something sick! It actually does the helicopter view with multitouch as well as the home key! This will be an awesome home replacement once they add more options like rearranging the bottom row of icons

Leukay said:
Wow. I wasn't going to try this cause I was happy with sense. But this thing kicks the crap out of every launcher out there (except sense, I just love me some sense). Nice find, OP.
EDIT: I just noticed something sick! It actually does the helicopter view with multitouch as well as the home key! This will be an awesome home replacement once they add more options like rearranging the bottom row of icons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with the pure speed of this thing once they add changing bottom icons and maybe screen indicator it would be on top of every launcher in my book.

Adding pages.
One thing to keep in mind if you add more pages. It loads default with 3 pages, 2 being the "main" widget page. If you add more pages like 5 or 7, page 2 is still the main widget page, it doesn't add pages equally on both ends, just on the right side, so your having to rearrange stuff.

gottria said:
One thing to keep in mind if you add more pages. It loads default with 3 pages, 2 being the "main" widget page. If you add more pages like 5 or 7, page 2 is still the main widget page, it doesn't add pages equally on both ends, just on the right side, so your having to rearrange stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you just change the default page, so if you switch from 3 to 5, you can switch the default page from 2 to 3? That's one of the options in the Preferences page.

Yes you can. But you will have swip to the right 5 times to get to the last page.
FireHawkMadLibs said:
Can't you just change the default page, so if you switch from 3 to 5, you can switch the default page from 2 to 3? That's one of the options in the Preferences page.
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Click to collapse

thatguythatdid said:
just tried it graphically I like it better but no landscape kind of kills it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New version released today. It has landscape.
I am with the group of people that were not given the option to use handcent as default. I even cleared all defaults and tried again. Oh well, it is pretty nice and I'm sure will continue to be developed.

ccapasso said:
New version released today. It has landscape.
I am with the group of people that were not given the option to use handcent as default. I even cleared all defaults and tried again. Oh well, it is pretty nice and I'm sure will continue to be developed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I was using the stock HTC Messaging app, it made me use that as the default. However, when I pushed the the AOSP Mms.apk (which just seems like the right thing to do to me... it works so much better) it asked me what program I would prefer to use. So, here's my suggestion:
rm the current Mms.apk, and then push whichever you prefer and see if it works.

thatguythatdid said:
just tried it graphically I like it better but no landscape kind of kills it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New: Option to auto-rotate the launcher to landscape mode when the device is rotated.

My new favorite launcher. Fastest I've used by a large margin, not a single FC so far.
Needs two things to be perfect, to me:
1. shortcut customization
2. transition customization (ie, don't zoom in the app drawer, just redraw the screen...no transition needed)
If any of you haven't tried this one, give it a shot, the difference in speed and responsiveness gives me hope that other lag issues can be solved purely in software.

Still suing this even though it still wont open up Handcent instead of the stock app. I like that he added the home button within the app drawer. I'm sure the customization of the bottom apps is coming. looking at the site a lot of the comments are asking for it.

This is a pretty good home replacement. I always kinda missed the pinch zoom on home screen with launcher2, now i get the best of both

Very clean and smooth, but wont use until shortcuts can be changed. Just what they open (messaging for me) not necessarily the apps themselves.

Friendstream replacement for AOSP ROMs?

This is the only thing that I've been missing since moving from a Sense ROM/launcher.
Does a nice scrollable widget exist that's similar to the stock Friendstream one?
EDIT: I've tried out Socialite, but it seems to never sync properly and eventually force closes on the CyanogenMod nightly builds.

I miss it too.

Try Pure Messenger Widget.
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.org-koxx-pure_messenger-zmmq.aspx

joackie27 said:
Try Pure Messenger Widget.
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.org-koxx-pure_messenger-zmmq.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP if you try Pure Messenger let us know what you think. I use Socialite and it seems to work okay... but could be better of course.

spiicytuna said:
OP if you try Pure Messenger let us know what you think. I use Socialite and it seems to work okay... but could be better of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: I was just too tired to realize what I was doing incorrectly. Trying to get a widget setup that looks decent.
All of the different variants of the Sense style widgets look really "off" for some reason. Looking further, it's definitely the pictures, as they trail a bit off the left side of the widget. (See pic)
I'm also not fond of the left/right arrows on the widget. I only set up FB, so I don't need non-working buttons.

Pure Messenger will make you forget Friend Stream every existed.

TooSlo said:
EDIT: I was just too tired to realize what I was doing incorrectly. Trying to get a widget setup that looks decent.
All of the different variants of the Sense style widgets look really "off" for some reason. Looking further, it's definitely the pictures, as they trail a bit off the left side of the widget. (See pic)
I'm also not fond of the left/right arrows on the widget. I only set up FB, so I don't need non-working buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the scrollable version with ADW/LauncherPro. It is better than FriendStream.
Like so:

Nice setup TheBiles.
PureMessenger > friendstream with the ability to use skins, add email and sms along with twitter and FB to stream, ability to select preferred clients for clicked feed, and oodles of config settings in a nice scrollable UI with ADW or launcherPRO. Well worth a buck-fifty.

I wouldn't consider Pure messenger better than Friendstream myself.
It's nice... but sadly needs a few fixes in my opinion
1) Won't display 'mobile upload' picture notifications properly. It only shows 1 picture in the internal viewer with no way to go directly to the person's photo list.
2) Pictures display as filenames in the list view, rather than the actual thumbnail as sense does. (This might be considered user preference, but I'd prefer to see a picture rather than <randomwords>.jpg )
3) No support for built in HTC applications for Facebook nor Twitter (aka peep). While the internal viewer can be dismissed in favor of a real 'app', the selection is limited to bout 3-6 apps none of which are the built in parts of HTC's rom. (Of course if you're not using HTC roms then this isn't problem
Overall it's a great app, and the best out there I've seen, don't get me wrong.. but Friendstream still has the edge in actual functionality for basic use. Sure, No themes, lack of customization hurt, but when it comes down to using the product for what it's intended for (Keeping up with posts/photos from your friends) it has a few issues IMO.

Socailite, its from LG but u can find the apk on here

davebu said:
Socailite, its from LG but u can find the apk on here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP said it wasn't working for him in the first post...
Sent on the go from my HTC EVO

Had a chance to play with Pure Messenger Widget a bit more today.
Overall it seems "ok" but lacking in some ways as well. You can't post directly from the widget, which is a huge strike against it. I want the widget so I don't have to clutter my homescreens with redundant apps.
Guess I accidentally went past my 24 hours so I am the proud owner, or some such thing.
TheBiles said:
Use the scrollable version with ADW/LauncherPro. It is better than FriendStream.
Like so:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the scrollable widget currently, and like I said, it's neat to watch updates, but it's a killer that I don't see an obvious way to post anything to FB/Twitter through the widget, instead I'm forced to use the app.
It just feels "clunky" for lack of a better term.
I will say that the widgets can be set up to look better, it just seems that some of the skins are definitely not ones any OCD person would want to use.

TooSlo said:
EDIT: I was just too tired to realize what I was doing incorrectly. Trying to get a widget setup that looks decent.
All of the different variants of the Sense style widgets look really "off" for some reason. Looking further, it's definitely the pictures, as they trail a bit off the left side of the widget. (See pic)
I'm also not fond of the left/right arrows on the widget. I only set up FB, so I don't need non-working buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which launcher is that? How do you get it to look like that?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

DanBergundy said:
Which launcher is that? How do you get it to look like that?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's Launcher Pro. I'm using the Froyo wide dock (in settings) and just setting up normal apps and using the Launcher Pro icons for them.
I like how it looks with a nice black/white theme.

TooSlo said:
Had a chance to play with Pure Messenger Widget a bit more today.
Overall it seems "ok" but lacking in some ways as well. You can't post directly from the widget, which is a huge strike against it. I want the widget so I don't have to clutter my homescreens with redundant apps.
Guess I accidentally went past my 24 hours so I am the proud owner, or some such thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Erm. You just click that little star, and select "update status." You never have to open the official apps. You can also click that little arrow and select "open Facebook" so you don't ever need an icon on the screen in the first place.

TheBiles said:
Use the scrollable version with ADW/LauncherPro. It is better than FriendStream.
Like so:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get that toolbar at the bottom. It looks a lot like mine but with a few more icons. Is that a 4g between the wireless and sat?

PAPutzback said:
Where did you get that toolbar at the bottom. It looks a lot like mine but with a few more icons. Is that a 4g between the wireless and sat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's Extended Controls. The second icon is the Froyo hotspot toggle, but it does have a 4G toggle option. I just don't have it on there because 4G doesn't work with CyanogenMod at the moment.

TheBiles said:
Erm. You just click that little star, and select "update status." You never have to open the official apps. You can also click that little arrow and select "open Facebook" so you don't ever need an icon on the screen in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well crap, it looks as though I'd always been fat-fingering the arrow and only saw the "open Facebook" link in there.
I recant my previous statements and accept that this is a damn fine alternative to Friendstream. (after a little getting used to)

The only issue that I have with Pure Messenger is this: When a FB contact posts something on someones' wall it doesn't show who the other person is, even if the other person is one of your contacts it doesn't show.

Got socialite running on newest cyanogen nightly. Its pretty nice really, I actually like it better than friend stream.

SMS font size randomly changing?

Is anyone else seeing that sometimes for no reason I can discern, the font size will change on the SMS bubbles from Small to Medium?
Driving me a bit bonkers.

Yep. also I switch my sms display list to 1 line instead of the default 2 or 3 and it will randomly switch back. very annoying

Yeah I'm having this issue too.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Yup, I'm seeing that too. In addition, it seems to ignore me when I try to manually make a font size switch.

are you guys accidentally pinching or pulling while on your text messages?
that changes the sizes

Pirateghost said:
are you guys accidentally pinching or pulling while on your text messages?
that changes the sizes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good suggestion. Didn't know that. But that's not the problem in my case. My font size changes between medium and a size that I can't get to by pinching.

wow
Haha same problem! Goes from small to medium too!

It works like pinch and zoom on browser. Play with it till you are comfortable with it.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Having the same issue gotta be a software quirk.

is it possible to use a 3rd party SMS on ICS?
Any reason not to use one until the problem is resolved?

Same problem here.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

i can confirm i've also been seeing this problem. i'm def not causing it myself. i will get a text and open it and the font size is already changed back to medium. i hate this quite a lot.

the other day mine was so small i could hardly even read the text...pinched and zoomed it back to normal (fairly small but readable) and haven't been able to get it to go back that low again. We will see what happens.
It seems like there are a few small software glitches that could probably be fixed by our lovely dev's if we just had some ROOT!!

also having text issue with email app
+1 for malfunctioning font sizes in messages app.
Also, i have noticed that in teh email app, my mail's smallest font size is HUGE. no matter if i change the font size to 'small' or pinch to zoom out, the smallest size is huge and causes many of my messages - especially ones containing images or charts - to be nearly impossible to read without lots of panning around. this was never an issue on my artix 4G with GB. the zoom out feature would allow for enough zoom to make the text way smaller than necessary. Anyway, this is killing my productivity on the go. i use the email app specifically for my corporate email via exchange, just as i did on my atrix.

imo there shouldn't be selectable sizes for the font size via the menu. there should just be pinch to zoom in and out. not sure why both are here.
also to note, if you set it to medium and pinch zoom out, that size of the text there can get even smaller by selecting text size small and pinching some more. very weird how they implemented this.

I am definitely having this issue too. The best thing to do is call HTC Tech Support so they can log the issue. Eventually as enough people report the issue they will recognize it and get it fix.
Even though it is a pain, it is the best thing to do in the long run so HTC gets it fixed.
Here is the url for the tech support contact info
http://www.htc.com/us/support/phone-support

This is a known issue. I've received following update from HTC
Nicholas from HTC Support, UK
" I have asked a collegue and this issue is currently under investigation, an update will be pushed out shortly to resolve this"

Count me in as well.
I do like the smaller font size in the messaging app though. But it never stays that way. Always goes back and forth.
Sent from my HTC One X

Ha! Same issue here. While it hasn't annoyed me, just confused me, it's nice to see that they're looking into it.

It boggles my mind how HTC can push this phone to market with such an obvious and seemingly easy-to-fix bug. I want my sms inbox to display 1 LINE...not the default 2 or 3. Yet every time the sms app is killed or the phone reboots, it goes right back to 2 lines even though in the settings its still listed as 1. So annoying.

The Unicorn SMS App

I'm looking for an SMS app that doesn't seem to exist, so I thought I'd post here in case there's a cool project I'm missing or some interesting ideas anyone has to share.
What I'd Like:
An SMS app with the following features:
-Both SMS and MMS work reliably and consistently
-Material Design compliant
-Swipe to return to conversation list
-Quick reply
-Avatar images in the conversations
What I've Tried and Why I'm not a Fan:
-Hangouts: No swipe or quick reply, the workflow/2-tab system in inefficient and ugly
-Textra: Weird font and no avatars in the conversations
-QKSMS: It bugs out on my phone...it thinks I have on-screen buttons (I have capacitive) and it puts a giant bar at the bottom of the screen, but stuff I can't see or interact with goes under that bar.
-Evolve: So much going on, it's so busy and sort of laggy and clunky even on my brand new Droid Turbo.
-Chomp: It keeps yelling at me that it can't find my APN settings even though every other app including Textra made by the same company works fine. Also only partially Materialized. OCD.
_Google Messenger: No quick reply or swipe.
-Go: Too much stuff for my taste
-Verizon Messages: Super ugly.

empoweredh22 said:
I'm looking for an SMS app that doesn't seem to exist...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try YAATA
i think it meets (almost, if not) all the above mentioned :good:

I use YAATA and love it

YAATA would be perfect if it would turn Wi-Fi back on after sending a MMS

Thanks guys, I'll have to check that one out. Just got it installed and I'm playing with all the settings. When I initially opened it the font and pictures were huge and I felt like I was holding a Fisher Price toy but it has a ton of settings it looks like so I'm feeling a lot better now that I've played with a few of them. I figured there was a great app I was missing, so thanks for the help guys!

empoweredh22 said:
-QKSMS: It bugs out on my phone...it thinks I have on-screen buttons (I have capacitive) and it puts a giant bar at the bottom of the screen, but stuff I can't see or interact with goes under that bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a fix for this in the advanced settings of the app

Someone pointed out the navigation bar fix option to me over in the G+ community for the app, but it didn't work in my case. Nothing changed.

Never heard of qksms before. Absolutely love it. Thanks xda and all members for suggesting approximately 70% of all my installed apps. ?

Indeed...actually QK started working for me again after I rebooted my phone. Not sure why I didn't think of that. I originally found out about that here too, and YAATA is actually really nice also. QK is still prettier, but YAATA seems to have fewer bugs right now.