As Apple recently acknowledged, iPhone users switching to Android or any other platform are running into a bug that sees messages continue to be sent using iOS’s proprietary iMessage protocol. As a consequence, messages are noted as “delivered” on iOS, but since only Apple’s own devices can read iMessages, never received. Given that the Cupertino company has already fixed what was possible on the server side of things, and now has promised a remedial iOS update, possibly in the form of iOS 7.1.2, to fix the issue completely, we shouldn’t have to wait too long for a full official fix, but in case you don’t want to potentially miss any important messages between now and then, we’ve put together a little guide detailing how you can restore immediate normality without waiting for Apple to patch it via software update.
Facebook has been actively upping its game in the mobile stakes in recent times, and alongside the announcement of the big Facebook Home launcher for Android last year, the Menlo Park company also introduced a neat little feature by the name of Chat Heads. Simply put, this feature brought universal chat bubbles that could be accessed from any aspect of Android and moved around the interface at will. Due to limitations with iOS, it wasn't possible for Facebook to replicate the feature on Apple's mobile OS, but thanks to a new jailbreak tweak, one can enjoy similar functionality on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
If you're looking for a way to improve the functionality of your iOS Messages app but don't feel like shelling out for BiteSMS for iPhone, there are plenty of decent alternatives out there. Couria, which is currently available in beta, is one such tweak, offering a neat Quick Reply and Quick Compose system for a more efficient way of dealing with messages. At this point in time, it's free of charge, and having been tailored for the relatively new iOS 7, looks very much like a native feature.
In this day and age, we're always connected. If we're not using our smartphones to communicate with each other, then we're using our tablets. If it's not our tablets, then it's our computers. One byproduct of all this is that we need ubiquitous messaging. We want our messages, our conversations and settings to move between devices seamlessly, meaning we can start a conversation on our iPhones and finish it on our computers.
Supposedly private photo sharing service Snapchat has proven hugely popular, especially amongst teenagers and anyone wanting to share images that they want to be automatically deleted once viewed. The technology lends itself to sending and receiving photos that contain sensitive information - self destructing messages if you like - but is largely used to send much less important things.
Although iOS allows you to add images to contacts in your address book, for some reason, this feature still does not extend to the SMS app. Thankfully, the jailbreak tweak SMSContactPhotos, which essentially explains itself, has been updated for iOS 7, and as seems to be particularly in vogue for this latest Apple firmware release, has been named SMSContactPhotos7.
With iOS 7, Apple decided that it would take a more personal approach to names. You may have noticed it yourself. You receive an iMessage or a plain text message for example, and in the message conversation you notice that the name is displayed as just the sender's first name, rather than their full name. Which is fine, so long as you only have one person that you converse with that has that name.
Apple's decision to revamp and revitalize the rather disheveled iChat app was undoubtedly a decision that was needed to be made, but the execution of that decision has left more than a lot to be desired. OS X users have been more than happy to let Apple know that the Messages app on their platform isn't up to scratch, but while we wait for the Cupertino overlords to do something about it let's take a look at a new Messages concept that totally overhauls the app with the aim of actually appealing to those who use the service.
iMessage, Apple's cross device messaging service for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac, has been a relative success since first appearing with iOS 5 and subsequently, OS X Lion. Yet like most fledgling services, it has had its fair share of teething issues, with a notable lack of proper blocking / reporting feature in place for spam messages. iOS 7 will allow users to block Apple IDs causing offence as we already know, but now, the Cupertino has also rolled out a nifty spam reporting feature enabling users to take action against any kind of intrusive or otherwise unwanted behavior.
The stock Messages.app on the Apple iPhone is undoubtedly one of the most used apps that exists on the device. Sending and receiving text messages as well as multi-media communications and iMessages are all handed through Apple's native Messages app, and although it hasn't changed a great deal in the last six years, it still remains extremely functional. It's usually been left up to the jailbreak community to bring additions to this application in the past, and now is no different with the new MessageSwiper package that brings additional power to the app that is likely to be extremely well received.
