iMessage is a MESS!

[chizzer2003]

I love everything Apple, BUT this iMessage service is really getting on my nerves. It never syncs your conversations between your devices; the idea of having either an apple id or a phone number to send and receive messages means that your conversations are split between two different threads.

Apple should dramatically improve the syncing service between your devices when it comes to these messages. I think the problem is that it doesn't actually sync currently, instead it just receives them on both devices as opposed to checking your devices are in sync. This means that conversation bubbles are in the wrong order on some of your devices, and some messages aren't even recieved! The result is a messy and inconsistent experience. Also, does anyone agree that both the messages you've sent to someones apple id and phone number should be converged in a single thread, as opposed to been split between two? When I am sending a message, I have no idea whether it is there phone number or apple id, because it is not made clear. One has to scroll up to the contact details to find out.

 

[iAmYou]

My experience has been the complete opposite.
My iPhone and iPad are in sync in regard to iMessage.

 

[iRooney]

Go into your iMessage settings and change the caller id to your email address instead of your phone number. Now, every message you send will sync to all your devices. If someone iMessages your phone number then it will only show on your phone but your reply will end up being from the email address do the conversation will begin syncing there.

Honestly, I've disabled iMessage across the board. My phone is always on my hip so it's going to be my go-to device anyway. I'd rather pull out the phone to reply than have to stop what I am doing on the iPad.

 

[henry72]

That's so true, I'm glad someone noticed the problem of iMessage. I'm a HUGE fans of Apple and this is a bit disappointed to be honest! I can say this is the biggest problem or bug in iOS 5 at the moment. Let me explain this

I have an iPhone and iPad, when my iPad is not connect to a network during the day, all the messages will be synced whenever the iPad is connected to a Wifi network. However, the conversation is not it's not exactly the same! They are not in priority which is a BIG MESS! Not to mention if you've some photos

I'm very disappointed on this, I was very excited about this when Apple announced in WWDC. I reckon it should be sync with iCloud, so that when you enable iMessages on other devices, every single conversation will be back.

Another problem is iMessage send a full size photo to another device, which will take up a lot of space as well, be aware of that

 

[VulchR]

Certainly this conservation synching would be a nice option, but there are times when a user might not want it (for instance when trying to keep work and personal messages separate).

 

[white4s]

i've disliked imessage since the very beginning. hope they drastically improve it for the 5 and on

 

[Sylon]

I turned all notifications off on my iPad for iMSG. I got tired of hearing both my iPhone and my iPad dinging every time I get a new message. I think I just have the badge appear.


iMessage needs to be fixed. It was a fantastic idea if you only have 1 device. However, Apple should have known that with all the fanboys they have, that iMessage wasn't going to work properly across all the devices at once. Now with iMessage on OS-X, its getting even more annoying.

Not to mention, and I'll probably get hated for this, but BBM>iMsg still. BBM had it well thought out, while not that reliable, neither is iMsg. iMsg has a lot of growing up to do, its still too "young" to compete with BBM. A few more features and it'll be right there with it though.

 

[TLewis]

Lather, rinse, repeat: http://guides.macrumors.com/iMessage

 

[rdy0329]

Same boat

Same predicament. Sometimes i carry out my conversation on my iPad and when i leave the house and turn on cellular data for my iphone, all my conversations comes rushing in. I feel like my iPhone can work as a female pleasure toy. Apple should really fix this.

 

[aoifeee]

Use your email instead of your phone number for your id. I've had a great experience with imessage so far.

 

[chizzer2003]

Setting your caller id as your apple id only produces other problems however.

Firstly, you have to start again with all your conversations for them to sync, secondly, you have to give your apple id to everyone who wants to contact you via iMessage as opposed to your phone number which they will no doubt already have - and thirdly, this therefore presents the problem of your message not being automatically sent as an sms when they don't have Internet, so then they'd have to switch over to your phone number MANUALLY after realising either they or you don't have Internet connection; that is potentially dangerous when in need of quick conversation.

Tbh, I'd rather just set it as my phone number where all this is taken care of for you. APPLE REALLY NEEDS TO FIX THIS!

 

[TheSuperSteve]

Same here. Sometimes iMessages are delayed on some of my devices while the others receive them at the right time. For example, I could receive a message on my iPad and get it on the spot, while my Mac, iPhone and iPod touch receive that same message several days later.

I love Apple and I like the idea of iMessage, but it needs some drastic improvements. And yes, I have my caller ID as my Apple ID on all my devices. This issue still occurs.

 

[chrono1081]

I'm just going to leave this here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

 

[Zero Cool]

I've also had a lot of trouble with iMessage. When it first came out, I thought it was going to be amazing. Being able to pick up my iPhone or iPad and continue all my conversations. But I"ve had a lot of trouble with the synching, when it does work, the double dinging is annoying, and recently, I've had a problem with the messages not sending for ten or so minutes. Which can be very annoying when you're trying to have a conversation!

It was great in theory but as it stands right now, iMessage has been a letdown in my opinion

 

[oli356]

I can understand it being a mess with it not sending messages..

I don't see why people would use their iPads though for imessage. Personally, I wouldn't want my iPad making sound constantly. My iPad isn't always next to me and I have my phone for this, which I find is also quicker to type on.

1) Less sounds
2) Phone always next to me
3) Quicker to type on

 

[S.B.G]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4S)

I have some of the issues you (OP) experience, but the syncing usually catches up on the Mac when I first send a message from it, and results in messages out of order.

It doesn't bother me too much, considering its another beta service. But I do hope does get this working better by the time Mountain Lion is released.

 

[kolax]

I'm also very frustrated by iMessage.

iMessage and SMS should not be combined in the current implementation. Say I send an iMessage to a friend who has an iPhone and I use their phone number, if the iMessage fails to send (lack of internet but available cellular reception), it'll get sent as an SMS. If that person sent me an iMessage using my email instead of phone number, if I replied and it failed to send, it won't send as an SMS.

Apple should combine your email ID and your phone number ID. That way, if someone sends you an iMessage from their iPad, and you reply but don't have internet at that time, it'll get sent as an SMS to their iPhone and their iPad will get it whenever your iPhone has internet to send the iMessage.

Sending someone an iMessage from my Mac starts a whole new conversation, which confuses many people. If someone sends me an iMessage using my phone number, my Mac or iPad won't get it.

I don't see why Apple hasn't combined the phone number and email IDs as one entity. If you change your phone number, well, you update your iMessage account and tell your friends of your new phone number. Same thing you'd do right now if you got a new number.

 

[elmo151]

thanks for the info. I just turned it OFF

 

[kolax]

It doesn't bother me too much, considering its another beta service. But I do hope does get this working better by the time Mountain Lion is released.

iMessage is not a beta service. This is posted in the iOS forum. iMessage for the Mac is in beta, but it certainly isn't for the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.