There’s a new Google Messages update page that takes up your phone’s entire display every time you open the app.
Granted, keeping your apps up to date is important, and this new system will help get that across to users. But we’re not sure annoying the hell out of the user about it is the best strategy.
“Maybe later” literally every time you open anything now. It should be illegal to not give people a “no” option.
People on metered connection and low connectivity areas are probably going to more inconvenienced by this force update banner. Unable to use your message app because you forgot to update and now cannot connect to the internet.
I’m sure if you swipe down from the top, the menu will stop drop down
The problem is that sometimes they choose that, and then they pitch a fit at you when their out of date software becomes the point of entry that’s lead to them needing to figure out how to buy and trade crypto.
Software is made for the lowest common denominator to be able to use, and that means hand holding and railroading for everyone else, or else we get dumbasses who some the fuck how managed to backgrade their OS to the original Windows OS and are now exposed to literally every security risk that has been invented since that was released.
Don’t protect me from me or you’ll be protecting you from me next.
That’s still (slightly) better than apps which force close when they’re not updated, and don’t allow you to do anything at all.
Firefox on Linux has done this to me a few times and cost me a lot of progress and time.
I never had this issue. What were you using deb, rpm, flatpak or snap version?
I had it this week on my Mint laptop, with the bundled Firefox. I hadn’t used the laptop for a few weeks, so I knew it needed updates, but I needed to get something done straight away.
I opened something in a new tab, and it opened as the restart to update tab. As well as breaking my train of thought, it restarted without opening the new link, but also warned me that it wouldn’t reopen any private browsing tabs and another type of tab that I can’t remember.
However they justify it, that’s bad design.
That’s not Firefox forcing you to update, you had Firefox open while you (/your package manager) was updating Firefox and after the update was done Firefox needs to be reopened. To prevent this you just have to …not update Firefox while it is running.
What else is an app supposed to do if the server has been updated and is no longer compatible with the app version you are using?
if that happens occasionally, it’s fine. I’ve seen apps which update every other week and do this bullshit.
If this annoys you, try QKSMS instead. Go another step further and flash GrapheneOS onto your Pixel. It’s worth it for the peace of mind.
If only we could get RCS with any app other than Google’s. I wonder how long they can gatekeep those APIs.
As long as they can get away with it
Is this something akin to what Apple does by adding application layer functionality to SMS messaging? And, please correct me if I’m wrong about how the apple stuff works.
No, iMessage is a completely separate protocol and has nothing to do with SMS. It uses WiFi/Cellular data, unlike SMS. It doesn’t involve your mobile carrier at all, it all goes through Apple’s servers. They just put iMessage (which is basically like WhatsApp or Signal) and SMS into the same app and made everything confusing and annoying to use.
QKSMS is great
I have to have MS apps for work and so have two devices, one with Lineage and one stock…its amazing how bad the stock experience is on a Galaxy Tab. Samsung and Google constantly bugs me to use apps I can’t remove or turn off. Its infuriating that this is a tablet I paid for.
And even better, move to QUIK as it is it’s actively maintained successor.
Just want to leave these links here
GitHub: https://github.com/octoshrimpy/quik
F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/dev.octoshrimpy.quik/
That’s weird, isn’t Google Play already updating apps without asking?
(QKSMS master race btw)
It depends on your settings.
Does anyone know the last version that didn’t do this?
Edit: trying messages.android_20240123_01_RC04, we’ll see if it works
Edit 2: for posterity, no that version also bugs you to update. The search continues.
CalyxOS or GrapheneOS if on Pixel or Divest if your device is supported on LineageOS, and you won’t have to deal with Google’s BS.
Pulling a microsoft
I guess it’s time to switch to Linux
Great option on desktop. For mobile devices, I recommend GrapheneOS, it’s Android without all the proprietary Google bullshit and with massive privacy/security improvements.
Might sacrifice my older fold 3 to see if its possible on foldables. Dont think it is.
Unfortunately it currently only works with Google Pixel devices, but it does support the Pixel Fold, as all the foldable-related code is included in AOSP (which GrapheneOS is built from)
As a Lineage OS user I don’t have this weakness
Your OS has lots of other weaknesses (literally) though. GrapheneOS is the way to go, DivestOS is another option.
I don’t have a pixel (literally) though so graphene isn’t an option but thanks.
That’s why I mentioned DivestOS, it’s built on top of Lineage but has much better security (including the ability to re-lock the bootloader). It supports many devices, including some older devices.
