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Google's plan is to annoy you relentlessly until you update Messages

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.

Toes ,

But we’re not sure annoying the hell out of the user about it is the best strategy.

Are there any other options? I’m assuming that this only occurs in the situation where automatically updating didn’t work out?

GreenEngineering3475 OP ,

Are there any other options?

A persistent banner asking to update at the bottom of the search bar is a good idea. Barring access to an essential app under any condition is just bad UX.

eee ,

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.

Anticorp ,

Firefox on Linux has done this to me a few times and cost me a lot of progress and time.

GreenEngineering3475 OP ,

I never had this issue. What were you using deb, rpm, flatpak or snap version?

Anticorp ,

I’m not near my computer to confirm right now, but I think I installed it manually from the tar file. I think there was an issue with the flatpak version on Pop!_OS, but I can’t remember what, since it has been years since I originally encountered it. I can confirm tomorrow if you want.

It’s weird that someone downvoted your question. I upvoted it to put it back at one. Idk why people downvote questions so often on this platform.

GreenEngineering3475 OP , (edited )

Firefox flatpak version had a lot issues. It has improved a lot, still a long way to go.

I have exclusively used Firefox flatpak for the last year and updates has been quite smooth. Never had my session closed automatically(to my memory) due to an update, usually waits for me close the session and when I reopen its updated.

My experience is limited to Ubuntu.

Kusimulkku ,

I think I installed it manually from the tar

I’m going to guess user error

Anticorp ,

It’s not. There are several threads about it online

HakFoo ,

Xbps on Void does it for sure.

Tippon ,

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.

InnerScientist ,

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.

Tippon ,

I didn’t say that it forced me to update. This set of replies is about apps that force close and don’t let you do anything.

My Firefox updated in the background, because that’s how I set my system up, but instead of letting me keep working and updating on the next app start, it forced me to stop what I was doing and update there and then, while telling me that it wouldn’t be restoring any private tabs that I had open.

As a contrast, I was also running Chrome. That also updated, but waited for an app close before completing the update. It didn’t interrupt me, and it didn’t lose any of my open tabs.

Firefox has it wrong in this case.

BradleyUffner ,

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?

eee ,

if that happens occasionally, it’s fine. I’ve seen apps which update every other week and do this bullshit.

muhyb ,

That’s weird, isn’t Google Play already updating apps without asking?

(QKSMS master race btw)

CosmicCleric , (edited )
@CosmicCleric@lemmy.world avatar

That’s weird, isn’t Google Play already updating apps without asking?

My understanding is that yes, you are correct, it’s auto-updated in the background.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.en

aluminium ,

Its on by default but you can turn it off. I did so because it takes a good chunk of battery life away when your phone out of the blue decides to start updating apps.

CosmicCleric , (edited )
@CosmicCleric@lemmy.world avatar

Its on by default but you can turn it off. I did so because it takes a good chunk of battery life away when your phone out of the blue decides to start updating apps.

Believe there’s a setting to have it only do updates when there’s wifi available, which takes less battery.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.en

TrickDacy ,

Not clicking that sketchy link. Also it makes no sense to quote an entire message like that.

CosmicCleric ,
@CosmicCleric@lemmy.world avatar

Not clicking that sketchy link.

You’ve never heard of a Creative Commons license?

It’s not ‘sketchy’ at all.

Also it makes no sense to quote an entire message like that.

Actually you can just highlight the comment you’re replying to before hitting the reply button, and the Lemmy web client will copy it down for you quoted.

I started doing that when I found out people were going back and changing the reply to me after I successfully countered it, to make my reply look incorrect or off-subject.

Basically, documenting the conversation at that moment of time, so my reply is not misrepresented later on.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.en

TrickDacy ,

Fuck bots

CosmicCleric ,
@CosmicCleric@lemmy.world avatar

Fuck bots

You’ve never heard of a Creative Commons license?

The wiki article about Creative Commons…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.en

Markaos ,

What’s sketchy about creativecommons.org/licenses/…/legalcode.en ?

TrickDacy ,

That isn’t what they posted, they obscured the url with a bunch of garbage text. I’m not bothering to check the url when the text looks like that.

Markaos ,

Well, feel free to click on this link then: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.en

(it’s just a link to Google homepage - the point is that you really shouldn’t trust the link text lol)

Anticorp ,

It depends on your settings.

muhyb ,

I see. It seems it’s not the out of the box setting but can be opt out.

Anticorp ,

“Maybe later” literally every time you open anything now. It should be illegal to not give people a “no” option.

PhlubbaDubba ,

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.

Mango ,

Don’t protect me from me or you’ll be protecting you from me next.

GreenEngineering3475 OP ,

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.

brax ,

I’m sure if you swipe down from the top, the menu will stop drop down

southsamurai ,
@southsamurai@sh.itjust.works avatar

I might worry about that if I ever opened the app.

Rascabin ,

For me, i couldn’t reply via notifications until I updated. That’s usually the case for me.

subignition ,
@subignition@fedia.io avatar

Google Photos has also been doing a fullscreen update hassle where you don't have an "don't ask again" option 😑

RubberElectrons ,
@RubberElectrons@lemmy.world avatar

Ohhhh, is that why google photos has suddenly been crashing relentlessly since I updated? Sheesh

viking ,
@viking@infosec.pub avatar

I uninstalled that crap years ago in favor of Key Messaging. Has an awesome keyword filter and spam blacklist.

dan ,
@dan@upvote.au avatar

deleted_by_author

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    Kecessa ,

    SMS is pretty much the default option in North America

    apfelwoiSchoppen ,
    @apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world avatar

    Slowly changing, glacial pace.

    TrickDacy ,

    God forbid you communicate through a channel not governed by Facebook

    viking ,
    @viking@infosec.pub avatar

    Yes exactly, so that’s why I need an SMS app that’s filtering all the spam out and is as least intrusive as possible. I only want my 2FA messages to go through, nothing else.

    MSugarhill ,

    Yeah, I need it for all folks jot using Signal.

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Is it open source?

    viking ,
    @viking@infosec.pub avatar

    Nope, but I don’t care about that.

    atro_city ,

    Pulling a microsoft

    Kbobabob ,

    I guess it’s time to switch to Linux

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    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.

    Sanctus ,
    @Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

    Might sacrifice my older fold 3 to see if its possible on foldables. Dont think it is.

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    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)

    ColdWater ,
    @ColdWater@lemmy.ca avatar

    As a Lineage OS user I don’t have this weakness

    Andromxda , (edited )
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Your OS has lots of other weaknesses (literally) though. GrapheneOS is the way to go, DivestOS is another option.

    keyez ,

    I don’t have a pixel (literally) though so graphene isn’t an option but thanks.

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    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.

    brax ,

    Pretty sure a lot of apps do this now

    BradleyUffner ,

    Didn’t all android apps take up your entire screen when you open them?

    AstralPath ,

    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.

    kalpol ,

    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.

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Have you tried the Universal Android Debloater?

    kalpol ,

    Hey no did not know about this. Thanks!

    milicent_bystandr ,

    QKSMS is great

    DynamoSunshirtSandals ,
    @DynamoSunshirtSandals@possumpat.io avatar

    If only we could get RCS with any app other than Google’s. I wonder how long they can gatekeep those APIs.

    SquigglyEmpire ,

    As long as they can get away with it

    okamiueru ,

    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.

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    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.

    MSugarhill ,

    And even better, move to QUIK as it is it’s actively maintained successor.

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Just want to leave these links here

    GitHub: github.com/octoshrimpy/quik

    F-Droid: f-droid.org/en/packages/dev.octoshrimpy.quik/

    dukatos ,

    It is even worse: I disabled it on my Poco and it reappeared couple of days ago. Fuck Google!

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Can’t you remove it with the Universal Android Debloater or just flash a custom ROM?

    dukatos ,

    Yes, I removed it but Google installed it again… This phone can be unlocked and flashed with LineageOS, I just had no time to play with it…

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Which Poco is it?

    dukatos ,

    Poco X3 pro

    Andromxda ,
    @Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    You could install DivestOS, it’s a more secure OS build on top of Lineage. Here’s the link for your device if you want to check it out: divestos.org/pages/devices#device-vayu

    dukatos ,

    Thanks!

    Fogle ,

    Has anyone else lost the ability to scroll their messages with the bar showing you the dates?

    GreenEngineering3475 OP ,

    The bar shows dates?

    Fogle ,

    Yes when you grab and scroll it shows the date

    sbv ,

    That sounds like an awesome feature, but no, I don’t have it. And I’m not sure I ever did.

    lud ,

    I don’t think I have ever seen that feature. Seems nice though.

    It’s probably just Google A/B testing like usual. Hopefully everyone gets it eventually.

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