Apple Plans to Bridge the Gap Between iPhones + Androids
The clash between the blue text bubbles of iOS and the green ones of Android is soon ending. Anticipated changes are set to address persistent issues like fuzzy videos, dysfunctional group chats, and encryption gaps. This would make for a more seamless experience for users accustomed to texting between iPhones and Android devices.
In a recent announcement, Apple shared plans to adopt the messaging standard RCS (Rich Communication Services). This move will extend iMessage features to Android users. This change comes with a range of improvements, including read receipts, typing indicators, enhanced group chat support, and higher-quality media sharing.
Apple is finally bringing RCS to iPhones.
Apple has confirmed its intention to integrate support for RCS Universal Profile sometime next year. RCS, positioned as an alternative to traditional options like SMS, works seamlessly over both Wi-Fi and mobile data, providing a versatile communication solution.
According to a statement from Apple to CNN, they believe that “We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS.” The statement also emphasized that iMessage will continue to provide the pinnacle of secure messaging for Apple users.
This change follows requests from Google for Apple to include RCS support for iPhones. Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer, SVP at Google, had previously addressed the “green bubbles” visual distinction issue in a tweet last year. Despite the adoption of RCS, messages from iPhones to Android devices will still appear in green bubbles, maintaining the familiar visual identifier for non-iMessage communication, according to 9to5Mac.
The enduring debate over green versus blue bubbles has been utilized in advertising campaigns by Google and Samsung to highlight perceived shortcomings in Apple’s historical approach to RCS support.
In a recent disclosure, Apple acknowledged its intent to make policy changes to align with forthcoming guidelines, as reported by TechCrunch earlier this month. This suggests Apple’s commitment to adapting to evolving standards and ensuring a smoother user experience across its platforms.
Vintage Gadgets: Outdated Tech That Still Sparks Joy
A Physical Calculator
You probably haven’t seen a calculator in ages, but a Reddit user chimed in to say that, for them, the old-school scientific calculator beats the one on your phone or any app. They simply put it like this, “Honestly, a standard scientific calculator is just easier to use than your phone’s built-in scientific calculator.” It could be the fun button-tapping sound or the nostalgic thrill of typing in cheeky words with numbers that makes this person prefer calculators.
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Watches That Only Tell The Time
Smartwatches may pack in loads of features, but there’s a catch – they need regular charging and maintenance, and their battery life is shorter. On the flip side, traditional watches are a low-maintenance choice with longer battery life. In fact, a Redditor mentioned they still rock a “a lovely, inexpensive, bombproof, analog, big face Casio.” They also pointed out that smartwatches aren’t allowed at their job, so their trusty Casio gets the job done.
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CD Player, MP3 Player, and Vinyl Albums
If you’ve put a ton of effort into collecting CDs and vinyl records, and creating some killer playlists, why ditch them, right? One person told their story about growing up in the ’90s, building a massive CD collection, and stashing them all in one of those Case Logic CD binders. They fondly shared, “I still keep it with me in my car and it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane every time I open it. I laughed and cried a little when my kids friend asked me what it was and I said, ‘CDs’ and they followed up with, ‘What’s that?'” But also: not everything is available on streaming services. That obscure soundtrack or tribute album from the ’80s? Licensing issues may have prevented it from hitting the streamers. Love Joni Mitchell? Well, Spotify doesn’t have her catalog. Sure, you can subscribe to another service, but if you kept your old vinyl and have a turntable, you can listen to it the old school way.
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"I Love Wires"
You have people who can’t stand a tangle of wires in their tech setup, and then there’s that Reddit user who’s all about the wired life. They firmly believe that wired networking is “not obsolete or outdated.” According to them, it’s superior in every aspect, except for the mobility it lacks compared to wireless. They put it simply, “Wired is the ideal, you only go wireless if running cable is unfeasible for the situation.
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A Regular Doorbell
A regular doorbell does its job well. It lets you know someone’s at the door. On the other hand, a video doorbell does the same but with the perk of letting you see and hear the person at your door, even if you’re not home. Someone mentioned they’d be up for a smart doorbell if it kept the data local. They said, “I don’t want anything being sent online, so I might need to set up my own system… I’ll just stick with the traditional kind.”
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Physical Buttons
A Redditor shared their affection for good old physical buttons, arguing that not everything needs to go the touchscreen route. They stressed the importance of having car radios equipped with buttons rather than screens, believing it’s a safer choice. They explained, “It’s easier for me to push a button to change the music while keeping my eyes on the road/ I can’t do that if my car has a screen. It increases distracted driving incidents.”
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