I've listened to several podcasts and read several articles about OS X Mountain Lion since it was announced earlier this week and I can't help but feel annoyed at how the tech pundits give so much praise to the fact that iMessage is now running on a desktop. For example, The Verge states that, "WHEN IMESSAGE WORKS, IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE THE FUTURE." and Cult of Mac states that iMessage will, "...free our cellphones from the slavery of wireless carrier texting plans."
To me, iMessage isn't very revolutionary at all since you can only send it to email addresses associated with an Apple ID and you can only send/receive them on an iOS device or through the iMessage app on the desktop. What's revolutionary IMO is Google Voice which came out a few years ago, allows you to send messages for free to any phone number, and allows you to send/receive them from any device with a web browser or the Android/iOS app. Lastly, if you're using an Android device, you can ditch your SMS plan and just rely on the Google Voice app since the "SMS" it sends are sent as data and not as real "SMS." This may be possible for the iOS app as well but I'm not sure how integrated the GV app is with the iPhone/iPod Touch.
I'll concede to the fact that you can send pictures and animated GIFs in iMessage, but you can do the same thing in email. And with many people having smartphones nowadays, email is almost as instant as text messaging, IM, or MMS.
Is there something about iMessage that I'm missing or is everyone just drinking the Apple Kool-Aid?
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Why is iMessage on the desktop seen as such a revolutionary thing?
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timchoi89's pick
For me (I mentioned this to you earlier Tim), iMessage is pretty cool (call it revolutionary if you want) because it means that I don't have to lose some amount of productivity when switching from mobile to desktop. It means that I can text and receive texts on my desktop/laptop without having to reach for my phone every time.
Now, I'm not saying this is unparalleled (there are apps like DeskSMS for Android that achieve the same general principle), but because iMessage has the support of the world's biggest company it should help pave the way for further communication innovation.
I mean, Apple has definitely had some flops (Ping, even FaceTime to an extent), but to me this is pretty serious tech that could help lead to a communication revolution where we can have a continuous mobile -> desktop experience. I would love to be on a phone call, sit down at my MacBook and be able to transfer the call to FaceTime on my computer automatically. I mean, this is a grandiose idea that I'm extrapolating from a relatively simple concept, but these are the things I think Apple is envisioning for the future of their software.
Hope this makes a modicum of sense because it's 5:02 A.M. and for all I know I could be writing about Apple's new unicorn mod for the iPod.
Now, I'm not saying this is unparalleled (there are apps like DeskSMS for Android that achieve the same general principle), but because iMessage has the support of the world's biggest company it should help pave the way for further communication innovation.
I mean, Apple has definitely had some flops (Ping, even FaceTime to an extent), but to me this is pretty serious tech that could help lead to a communication revolution where we can have a continuous mobile -> desktop experience. I would love to be on a phone call, sit down at my MacBook and be able to transfer the call to FaceTime on my computer automatically. I mean, this is a grandiose idea that I'm extrapolating from a relatively simple concept, but these are the things I think Apple is envisioning for the future of their software.
Hope this makes a modicum of sense because it's 5:02 A.M. and for all I know I could be writing about Apple's new unicorn mod for the iPod.
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timchoi89's pick
A big boost for me is that I can not only sync my conversations and keep them offline between all devices (and now my two Macs), but the little details of how the conversation work are better. For example: if I'm having a conversation over Facebook Messages, every single device gets pinged every single time. But over iMessage (and when it's working properly. Criticism where it's due: iMessage can be buggy sometimes, but it's still early in the game), if you set it up right, whichever device you answer from becomes the only one to get alerted until you start chatting from another. Yet your history still syncs in real time between all devices. That's awesome.
Tip: to set this up, add the same email addresses for Receive At on all devices, but use a different one for Caller ID on each device. That way they all get pinged when someone sends you a message, but once you start replying, the device you're using is the only one that alerts you until you switch to another device.
Another great perk is iMessage's flexibility. Granted, the setup process is clunky and not Apple at its best, but you have a lot of flexibility in how you setup your account and which addresses you use. You don't HAVE to use your iCloud email address, you can use your Gmail or your own domain or Yahoo or whatever. You can use multiple addresses, or maybe keep one address on one specific device for work, so people can only reach you via iMessage on *that* device when you're on the clock.
Tip: to set this up, add the same email addresses for Receive At on all devices, but use a different one for Caller ID on each device. That way they all get pinged when someone sends you a message, but once you start replying, the device you're using is the only one that alerts you until you switch to another device.
Another great perk is iMessage's flexibility. Granted, the setup process is clunky and not Apple at its best, but you have a lot of flexibility in how you setup your account and which addresses you use. You don't HAVE to use your iCloud email address, you can use your Gmail or your own domain or Yahoo or whatever. You can use multiple addresses, or maybe keep one address on one specific device for work, so people can only reach you via iMessage on *that* device when you're on the clock.
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timchoi89's pick
You are missing something yes.
First of all. Google voice is limited to certain countries. Canadians like myself have NOT been able to reap the benefits of sms or having our own phone number. iMessage will be released worldwide. This is a monumental factor for users in countries outside the USA, as they have had to rely on services such as BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to send cheap messages internationally. This is why RIM is still #1 in countries such as indonesia where the cost of an iPhone is enormous and Google Voice is restricted. iMessage should at least help them gain this ground in the overseas market.
That being said:
I would not call iMessage "the future" although it does have some very nice features. I DO think that it will be very popular due to the sheer number of OSX and iOS users that will have the applications.
First of all. Google voice is limited to certain countries. Canadians like myself have NOT been able to reap the benefits of sms or having our own phone number. iMessage will be released worldwide. This is a monumental factor for users in countries outside the USA, as they have had to rely on services such as BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to send cheap messages internationally. This is why RIM is still #1 in countries such as indonesia where the cost of an iPhone is enormous and Google Voice is restricted. iMessage should at least help them gain this ground in the overseas market.
That being said:
I would not call iMessage "the future" although it does have some very nice features. I DO think that it will be very popular due to the sheer number of OSX and iOS users that will have the applications.
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timchoi89's pick
For those in the Apple's iOS & OS X ecosystem this is another bit of cement that ties binds the everything a little tighter together.
Many of those people will not have used (the many) alternative solutions out there and hence will really appreciate what iMessage does for them.
It also brings to light Apple's motivation for preventing third party IM apps to truly run perpetually in the background (i.e. they were working on their own).
Sure, it would be great if it were cross platform and let other services plug into it but this will likely never happen.
I always thought that RIM was missing a huge opportunity by not having a desktop client for BBM and Apple's success with iMessage supports that view.
On the other hand I've been using a Windows Phone for the past couple of months and the deep integration of Facebook chat (and Windows Live Messenger) into the native messaging client is a great feature and one that speaks to the benefits of a cross platform approach (now if they'd only let other third party IM services plug into it...)
Many of those people will not have used (the many) alternative solutions out there and hence will really appreciate what iMessage does for them.
It also brings to light Apple's motivation for preventing third party IM apps to truly run perpetually in the background (i.e. they were working on their own).
Sure, it would be great if it were cross platform and let other services plug into it but this will likely never happen.
I always thought that RIM was missing a huge opportunity by not having a desktop client for BBM and Apple's success with iMessage supports that view.
On the other hand I've been using a Windows Phone for the past couple of months and the deep integration of Facebook chat (and Windows Live Messenger) into the native messaging client is a great feature and one that speaks to the benefits of a cross platform approach (now if they'd only let other third party IM services plug into it...)
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timchoi89's pick
iMessage may not be completely "revolutionary" but in a way it is a very refined and futuristic feeling method of communication. It's what WhatsApp tried to do and why BBM on the BlackBerry is so popular. The simplest way to describe iMessage would be a combination of instant messaging and texting, although in actual use, it simply feels more futuristic. All I've said so far is in regards to the mobile side of things with the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. However, let's bring the desktop into the equation. Then, you've got an even more continuous experience. No matter where you are, you're in the same conversation with one or more people, being able to send multimedia and text, with read receipts and "typing" indicators.
The point is, iMessage is a "continuous client" now that it's in OS X Mountain Lion. Communication is now seamless and rather than having to use multiple services, there's one pipeline for contacting a person/group of people. You probably have to experience it for yourself to really understand how smoothly everything works but this is as best as I can describe it.
The point is, iMessage is a "continuous client" now that it's in OS X Mountain Lion. Communication is now seamless and rather than having to use multiple services, there's one pipeline for contacting a person/group of people. You probably have to experience it for yourself to really understand how smoothly everything works but this is as best as I can describe it.
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I think part of it is kool aid drinking. It is new cool and great even though it has been done.
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The cool piece is that it pushes out the history to all your devices. Google Voice always annoyed me because it was unreliable and it required me to use a proxy phone number. Not revolutionary, but very nice, Trillian Pro already does this IM sessions, but this is nicer since it's baked into the OS's.
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Very easy answer: It isn't !
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GV is only available in the states.
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iMessage is a hit amongst consumers as it's one of the first widespread OTT messaging client that boast RCS-like features such as continuous chat and presence packaged in a solution that requires no additional user name, password, or clumsy interfaces.
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