Why does Apple struggle with messaging when so many others get it right?

[EvoXOhio]

This weekend I was helping my dad with a situation. His iphone was sending messages from his phone number, his Macs were sending it from his iCloud email address, he didn't have the same messages on all his machines, he had multiple iMessage threads to the same person, and his phone was missing some iMessages that were on his Mac. I helped him get it all squared away by changing the default sender to his phone number, deleting the odl threads that were messed up, and enabling iMessages in the Cloud.

Additionally, I have a laptop and my iMessages don't get 100% updated on it, despite having iMessages in the Cloud turned on. It syncs some messages to my laptop, but not all. Maybe because it's asleep for days or weeks at a time, I don't know. My son has an account on our Mac, and it does the same thing with him.

Also, myself and most other iPhone users I know have experienced an issue at least once where they didn't get an iMessage on their phone, and it only went to one of their other devices (Mac or iPad). It's not often, but it's enough to be annoying, especially if you're like me and don't check your iMessages on your other devices often.

So it got me thinking, on EVERY other messaging platform I've used (Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Hangouts, etc.), keeping messages in sync "just works". Meaning, if I launch Facebook on my computer, I see the exact same messages on my computer as I do on my phone in the Messenger app. There is no sycnhing, there is no choosing which number/address to send from, there is no issue with messages only appearing on one device, etc. All the messages are there instantly and in sync.

Anyone wonder why Apple can't get this right? Why it is so bug ridden and clumsy?

 

[Ifti]

Agreed.
iMessage should have been what WhatsApp is now.
Such a missed opportunity.

 

[StellarVixen]

iMessage is according to opinion of majority of people (including me), is the best messaging service there is. It is one of the strongest reasons why so many people want nothing but iPhone.


You obviously are one of few who have problems. My iMessages are perfectly synced across devices.


I wouldn't compare iMessages to Messenger. I do not need Facebook to suggest me bakeries near me when I send cake emoji to my friend.

 

[fisherking]

if you have an issue, ask for help. messages is great, simple (here, anyway). i share it on my iphone and my macbook. it works really well. complaining (or making blanket statements based on your individual experience is so less useful than asking for support... something this forum excels at).

 

[EvoXOhio]

This wasn't me asking for help. It was a thread to discuss why Apple has such a hard time getting this to work correctly like every other messaging platform has, and point out lal the quirks and issues it has.

I don't know a single person in real life who hasn't had one or all of the issues I mentioned above. I'm glad it works well for you, but it doesn't work well for everyone.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

Okay, I'll bite.

Yes, from time to time I have had a few issues with iMessage. In particular, my iMac not having the same iMessages as my iPhone and iPad. Alas, it was my fault, since the sync option was not activated, on the iMac. After a quick chat with support, it was resolved.

Thus far (over 8 years), I have only had a handful of issues with iMessage.
Now, could Apple fine tune it a little, certainly...

 

[gwhizkids]

So, one user (or perhaps some others) having some issues is Apple "struggling"? When others don't? Have you seen Google's mess of messaging apps? They can't stick with one for more than 9-12 months before reinventing it again. WhatsApp doesn't have a native PC app... you have to run it through your phone. Messenger, well brrrr....I avoid it like the plague since I know its just an data vacuum cleaner for Facebook.

I've occasionally had some syncing issues with iMessage/Messages. But I'll live with that knowing its encrypted end to end and has all the features I need (and perhaps some I don't need!). No one is clamoring to have Google's messaging platform du jour ported to the iPhone. But an awful lot of people would love to have Apple iMessage ported to Android.

 

[AMTYVLE]

This wasn't me asking for help. It was a thread to discuss why Apple has such a hard time getting this to work correctly like every other messaging platform has, and point out lal the quirks and issues it has.

I don't know a single person in real life who hasn't had one or all of the issues I mentioned above. I'm glad it works well for you, but it doesn't work well for everyone.

I'm having an issue with old deleted messages showing in up in Carplay. The old deleted messages are not on any of my Apple devices, but yet when I plug my iPhone in my car to CarPlay and tap Messages on the CarPlay screen, I see very old text threads from years ago showing. I posted this issue in the CarPlay section, someone replied they did an internet search and actually found lots of people with this issue.

I went off on a rant...sorry. But I agree with the OP. You would think Apple would have this down pat.

 

[TimFL1]

Only thing I think they're lacking is the macOS Messages app, that still has a long way to go to have feature parity with the iOS counterparts (e.g. messages effects are completely missing and only shown as subtitles).

Where I'm at no one uses iMessage, it's all WhatsApp (which sucks, cause my e.g. mom only uses her iPad and I could very easily reach her via iMessage on the iPad... just an example) which boggles my mind, considering 80% of my inner social circle is heavily anti-Facebook and deactivated/deleted most of their accounts.
I sincerely hope Apple gets on board fast in terms of RCS and Google pushes the API for RCS out on Android (it was recently hidden from the Android Q repo afaik?)... and then of course loads of messengers implement native RCS functionality. It'll be an unencrypted mess but I rather have unencrypted chats with Android users than use something like WhatsApp as my one and only messenger.

 

[fisherking]

really, tho... every platform, every app has some people happy, some not.

based on the number of iphones out there (and the tiny percentage who live on, say this forum, or other apple-oriented forums), seems reasonable to say that most people use messages without issue, and, for those who don't... there are forums like this.

i never understand why, when someone has an issue, they think everyone has it, and demand that apple (or whomever) deal with it asap.

have a problem? get help. simple.

 

[cmChimera]

iMessage is hands down, and far and away the best messaging platform I've used. Occasionally I have some issues with it, but they are ultimately minor, and few for a messaging platform I use heavily, every day, for the last like what? 7 years?

 

[Motionblurrr]

Blue bubbles or bust.

 

[MozMan68]

It's because all the other platforms mentioned have a single contact.

iMessage issues are typically related to the user setting up the proper phone numbers, email addresses, icloud accounts, etc. so all hardware receives (or doesn't receive) messages.

More complex, but much more flexible. Main reason I miss having a Mac for work.

 

[CTHarrryH]

If you set it up right it works right iMessage is known as one of Apple's strength. What Apple really lacks and this is an example is clear instructions about setting things up and what symptoms result if not set up Apple counts on communities to help people rather than providing instructions first.

 

[Bladery]

iMessage is terrible! I don’t know how so many people want to use it. It lacks basic functions and is buggy as hell. iMessage in the clouds doesn’t work properly and so many more problems.
Just an example: sometimes iMessage send some messages as normal text message and as iMessage. So I get it twice.
And groups are awful as well. Why would you even want to use groups in imessage when there are people who don’t have an apple device?

 

[fisherking]

iMessage is terrible! I don’t know how so many people want to use it. It lacks basic functions and is buggy as hell. iMessage in the clouds doesn’t work properly and so many more problems.
Just an example: sometimes iMessage send some messages as normal text message and as iMessage. So I get it twice.
And groups are awful as well. Why would you even want to use groups in imessage when there are people who don’t have an apple device?

ok, so imessages is terrible for you, and lacks 'basic functions'... for you. etc. how hard is it to grasp that millions of iphone users use messages constantly, without those issues?

anyway, here... my iphone & mac get along really well with messages, and i can send (& receive) from either device, and everything stays in sync.

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, iMessage has the best features, while bering end to end encrypted.

 

[bransoj]

And groups are awful as well. Why would you even want to use groups in imessage when there are people who don’t have an apple device?

I use them for group chats with people who all have iPhones which for me is the majority of folk actually so no need to use a separate chat application. Think only my cricket club chat is a mixed on so i have to use Whatsapp.

 

[NJHitmen]

iMessage is terrible! I don’t know how so many people want to use it. It lacks basic functions and is buggy as hell. iMessage in the clouds doesn’t work properly and so many more problems.

Out of curiosity: which missing basic functions are you referring to?

 

[TheIntruder]

Considering Messages is working with two, if not three different services (Apple's, SMS, MMS), it works surprisingly well.

As for confusion regarding to/from addresses, those are determined by the preferences on each client. Similar to setting up email clients.

I try not to rely on cloud storage, so I can't comment on Messages on iCloud, but that was supposed to keep messages in sync across all clients.

Messages isn't flawless, but it's one thing ex-iOS refugees and some native Android users wish they had an equivalent to; far from a weakness or struggle.

I signed up for a WhatsApp account when they still charged $1/year and because most of my social circle uses it.

Then Facebook made Koum and his co-founders very rich men, but it's clear from their departures that it's on its way to being something different, and Zucked-up. I'm seriously considering whether I wish to remain using it.

Oh, and if one wants to talk about a cluttered mess of a client, look no further than LINE.

 

[bransoj]

Hasnt there been calls for iMessage to be made available as an app for android which says a bit about what the Android community thinks of it.

 

[minimo3]

iMessage is great for basic one-to-one messaging, and it’s secure as long as you don’t enable iMessage in the cloud. However it can’t merge chats with the same individual if you’ve sent some to their iCloud ID(s), and some to their phone number (it’s normal to have 3 chats threads with the same individual even if all their contact details are saved on your phone). It’s also poor at group chats, adding/deleting a member can make the group chat splinter into a new thread.

 

[itsmilo]

I hate that you cannot quote a message. It’s a mess in group chats. To name a thing

 

[fisherking]

I hate that you cannot quote a message. It’s a mess in group chats. To name a thing

copy-paste? works here...

 

[itsmilo]

copy-paste? works here...

That seems like a horrible work around