Why can’t Apple Messages match the features seen on other messaging platforms?

[eccentricglow]

I’ve used Apple messages for years, and I’ve noticed for awhile that I do not see the same features as one would see on other messaging apps.

The number one feature I’d like to see is an archive message feature. I like having a clean inbox without deleting all of the messages. Every other messaging app that I’ve used (Signal, Android Messages, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc…) has this ability, yet Apple has never bothered to adopt this useful feature.

I’ve resorted to using the backup functionality on a computer to keep a copy of old text messages instead. It isn’t a perfect solution, but it’s good enough for now.

I’ve filed a suggestion with them years ago, but it seems like the it fell into a black hole that nobody will ever see.

Whenever I see Apple call themselves the “best” or “most advanced” - it kinda rings hollow as a long time user that hasn’t seen features added to this platform that other companies wouldn’t even think twice about adding.

What are some other features that you’ve noticed that other platforms have that Apple hasn’t even bothered to update on Messages?

 

[russell_314]

I agree having an archive function would be great but it’s not a dealbreaker for me.


I much prefer the privacy of iMessage over anything made by Zuckerberg. His name attached to an app is a dealbreaker if privacy is a concern.

 

[whrage]

Proper storage management would be nice.

 

[Minghold]

I’ve filed a suggestion with them years ago, but it seems like the it fell into a black hole that nobody will ever see.

You are not Apple's primary customer, the NSA is.

Leave the Apple app ecosystem. All of it. Then log off Apple ID.

 

[whrage]

You are not Apple's primary customer, the NSA is.

Leave the Apple app ecosystem. All of it. Then log off Apple ID.

But you are still using Apple devices.

 

[russell_314]

You are not Apple's primary customer, the NSA is.

Leave the Apple app ecosystem. All of it. Then log off Apple ID.

And what brand of phone do you think doesn’t have this “feature”. Who seriously believes the NSA didn’t have full access to any cloud or messenger service located in the USA? The feds tell Apple we’ll either put you out of business or you cooperate. It’s that simple. IMO Tim wouldn’t even need to be pressured.


The thing is I’m not worried about the NSA getting my data. I just don’t want lowlife criminals getting it. iMessage isn’t secure for Top Secret purposes

 

[thatJohann]

yeah the Apple Messages app is quite dated feature-wise in comparison to others and it also looks dated at this point. Hope they revamp it soon.

The biggest missing feature is archiving messages. It's baffling how this is still missing.

 

[crawfish963]

You are not Apple's primary customer, the NSA is.

Leave the Apple app ecosystem. All of it. Then log off Apple ID.

You linked 10 year old information. iCloud services are now E2EE and as someone who used to work for the government and wrote warrants for iCloud data, I can tell you that Apple's encryption is legitimate and they don't care what the government asks of them-it's locked down. If the NSA had a decryption method or a "back door" it would have been leaked and exported by now and in use elsewhere. It doesn't exist (yet).

 

[ManuCH]

Apple Messages is super outdated. I barely have any contacts I write to there, everyone is on alternative messengers. Which is a pity, I feel they really dropped the ball feature-wise.

 

[d5aqoëp]

Bruh... switch to WhatsApp or even ....

Spoiler

Telegram

 

[TimFL1]

The only things I’d change about Messages are these:
- get rid of the arbitrary "need 4 participants in a group to leave", no other platform has such a lock-in
- don’t flipflop between RCS and SMS, have RCS function like iMessage where the registration checks are less aggressive (I’m ok with my RCS text taking a while to send or failing, can always manually send as SMS).
- Allow forcing a messaging protocol type per thread (something like if you have multiple sims, you get to pick which line to use… add the same for the 3 protocols the app supports: "iMessage", "RCS", "SMS/MMS" so that I can swap a contact from iMessage to RCS or force RCS with no SMS fallbacks for cost control). The current setup is mind breaking with all the protocols supported and how flipfloppy the OS is about picking which one to use at times (top tier cellular connectivity but RCS is gone? Give me a break).
- Allow searching inside a thread (and not just global)
- Maybe add read and typing indicators to group chats to match other platforms?

Other than that I actually prefer how Messages is simple with barely any gimmicks (other than stickers etc which are out of sight out of mind).

 

[Minghold]

I’m not worried about the NSA getting my data. I just don’t want lowlife criminals getting it.