I’m pretty close to switching to iPhone.
If a practically brand new flagship like the Pixel 6 has more bugs than an ancient iPhone XR, I don’t think base Android can survive much longer. Basic functionality like YouTube PiP and theming glitch out regularly. Not to mention extended features like bubbles in Messages being broken since day one. Sure, I can sideload on Android, but if that comes to iPhone…
I can’t seem to make $200 per year for a device work out with Android anymore. The pixel 6 should last 3 years in my opinion, but support for the 6 has been limited since the pixel 7 came out. Even at $900, I think the iPhone could prove to be a better deal with 6 years of support backed by a history of keeping such promises. USB-C, RCS, Sideloading are all I’ve been waiting for.
Many years of android experience and none of it matches any of this at all.
In fact I just kept a smartphone for my longest record. 3.5 years on a $350 Pixel 4a. That works out to half of the amount you say you strive for but cannot make work.
Sounds like user error.
I’ve had a ton of bugs on iPhone. But I completely agree with you. especially for the average consumer, iPhone will be just the easy choice.
Also Pixel 6 is just god awful with bugs. At this point I don’t think Google can fix all of them, so many just feel related to the chip. I’d assume it’s better on their newer phones but you shouldn’t have to buy a newer phone to get a bug fixed.
I have been diehard android but this is really testing me. I want to use the best phone, and Apple had already been making the hardware. (Though, snapdragon 8 gen 2 has really redeemed itself, absolutely incredible, efficient and great chip. One of the reasons I just can’t see myself using a Pixel again)
So all the apple simps who always said Google refused to do this, what’s your retconned excuse now?
We don’t know any details. Google is trumpeting a success and indicating a willingness to assist but it doesn’t really tell us much of what it will look like. Apple is committing to RCS, the industry standard as it is (and I assume will be as I hope it breathes new life into the standard…) and not Google’s current RCS + proprietary bits implementation.
When MS created a Windows Phone YouTube app, Google blocked it with requirements that were either arbitrary (it needs to be HTML5 for example despite iOS and Android apps being native) or impossible to meet. (requiring specific access that Google would not provide)
So while Google framed it as “Microsoft just needs to do X, Y, Z and it’ll be all good!” - sounds good but it intentionally made said requirements impractical or impossible to complete.
Since Google’s been conflating their RCS implementation with RCS the standard, I think it’ll be a funny (if unfortunate) monkey’s-paw result if Apple’s adopts RCS completely as the backup to iMessage but continued carrier and Google implementation fumbling results in no change and the iPhone having to resort to SMS/MMS anyway.
(see: a while back when AT&T’s RCS could only be used between a couple AT&T Samsung phones - but I do hope it’s different this time, I got a group chat I rather take off Instagram.)
What is rcs?
It was the next, more feature-rich SMS/MMS. It floundered with carriers, Google flip-flopped several times on messaging and today, it has two forms. Google’s RCS, but I’d liken it more to Google iMessage. And RCS the standard, which Google’s implementation is based on and Apple will be adopting. I am hoping that this is a kick in the butt that everyone needs to actually get on the same page for an SMS successor.
Rich Communication Service.
It’s SMS or MMS but better.
You don’t need a messenger app and share your contacts with Facebook and Co.
You do need a messenger app. Google wants you believe you don’t but you do.
It’s baked into Google messages and Samsung messages (Samsung messages is just rebranded Google messages). It pre installed and defaulted if the person you tried to text can receive it.
Google RCS goes through the internet, not carrier networks. Most likely Google jibe service. Which you carrier may have Google implement for them, if not it will default to Google’s own jibe service.
Any bets on which implements RCS first, iOS or Google Voice?
Maybe Google can work with Google on implementing a user-level API for Android so manufacturers don’t have a monopoly on RCS apps.
Maybe Google can work with Google on implementing RCS on Google’s own product Google Voice.
This. They haven’t opened up the RCS stuff till now on Android to other apps.
They won’t. It’s part of their “slowly-closed-source-all-of-Android” plan. The old messaging app used to be part of AOSP and you could read the source, how delightful that was.
Would be a good time for a contender to start the third OS. In a few years, more of the population would have interest enough that it might actually get traction.
