this post was submitted on 03 May 2024
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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.

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[–] [email protected] 69 points 6 months ago (3 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

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

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 6 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (6 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

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.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (4 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

As long as they can get away with it

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

QKSMS is great

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Hey no did not know about this. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I guess it's time to switch to Linux

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

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)

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago (11 children)

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

(QKSMS master race btw)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It depends on your settings.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Use Fossify SMS, QKSMS or QUIK SMS (updated fork of QKSMS)

If you're tired of all this Google bullshit, switch to a better Android ROM like GrapheneOS or DivestOS, these don't include any of Google's proprietary spyware and improve your privacy/security.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Pretty sure a lot of apps do this now

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (6 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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.

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