Unceremoniously pulled a day after being introduced, the Google Material Theme for Android Messages is now returning. A new version of the app is beginning to roll out today with features like dark mode available once more.
Earlier this year, Google announced a refined messaging strategy that centered around “Chat,” the company’s RCS initiative. At the core of that was the Android Messages app, and with a coming update, it seems Google Assistant will be integrating with that app…
A few months after we first showed it to you, Google rolled out the new Material design for Android Messages just yesterday. Shortly after, though, Google has mysteriously rolled back that update.
After we first enabled it in June, Android Messages 3.5 is rolling out this morning with the Google Material Theme in tow. Meanwhile, a teardown of the latest version reveals work on customized stickers — a given for any Google product that is vaguely social — and revamped search that is still under development.
In recent weeks, Google Contacts, Duo, and Phone have all been updated with the Google Material Theme. We’ve been tracking a similar redesign for Android Messages since June and it’s now beginning to roll out today, alongside a dark mode.
Update 8/18: Google has rolled back the Material Theme update to Android Messages, thus removing the dark theme in the process. As we noted in our APK Insight of version 3.5, the redesign is rolling out via a server-side update.
The latest version of Android Messages is rolling out today with Google continuing development on two exciting features. The first involves the “dark mode” that we’ve previously spotted, but now functioning alongside the Material Theme redesign. Work also continues on Chromebook pairing for closer integration between phones and laptops.
Google last month introduced the highly anticipated ability to send and receive texts from the web. The feature reflects how Google is centering its messaging future around Android Messages and ultimately RCS. That standard, long touted as an upgrade to SMS, is finally getting adoption from all the key players around the world and users are closer than ever to benefiting from it.
But as the world makes this shift, it can be a bit confusing to see what distinguishes Google’s Android Messages app and the RCS standard. Oh, and what’s that “Chat” thing I’ve heard about?
Announced last week, Android Messages for web is now fully rolled out to all users that want to send text messages from a desktop. In addition to quick access to emoji and stickers, Messages for web supports sending kaomoji through convenient shortcuts that should be very familiar to Hangouts users.
Android Messages for Web went official just last week and so far, it seems like everyone is loving it. Having access to your messages from the desktop is great, but locking it to a tab can be a bit annoying. Thankfully, a third-party developer has managed to build an unofficial desktop client for all major platforms.
Google’s messaging strategy has been a disaster for years, but lately, the company has been working to fix that. Recently, alongside the reveal of Google’s “Chat” RCS initiative, the web client for Android Messages went official. Now, that handy tool is available for everyone.
After years of solutions from third-party developers, Google is finally offering an official way to send and receive messages from a desktop. Simple and built into Android’s official SMS/RCS client, Messages for web will likely see a wide adoption and give Google’s mobile OS a way to compete with Apple and iMessage.
Following the web component going live this morning, Google has officially launched Android Messages for web. The feature allows Android users to send and receive SMS/RCS messages on a desktop computer through the web.
Google revealed in April that its primary messaging service for consumers would be based on RCS, with messages sent over the SMS successor referred to as a “chat” instead of a “text.” Those features will be built into the existing Android Messages client with Assistant and Message for web functionality touted. That latter feature, specifically the web component, is now beginning to roll out.
At long last, Google has introduced Android messages for web which allows users to send and receive text messages on their computers. The functionality is still rolling out, but if it’s live in your Messages app, here’s how to set everything up.
With Google adding more features to Android Messages such as RCS support and the ability to text from the web, you might be interested in making it your default SMS app. If so, the steps are pretty straightforward, and once you make the switch, you won’t have to touch it again. Here’s how.
Along with the upcoming Messages for web feature, the latest version of Android Messages reveals that Google is working on a Material Theme for its default RCS client. We’ve managed to enable this under development look that brings the app in line with other recently updated Google services. There is also an in-progress revamp to search functionality that includes filters and GIF lookup.
Google’s messaging strategy has been a mess for years, but with the company’s “Chat” RCS initiative on the horizon, things are definitely looking up. Now, in addition to a web client for Android Messages, it appears the company is also working on a Chrome OS client.
Since our last APK Insight of Android Messages, Google announced a significant rebrand of its RCS initiative. Upcoming Chat features include Messages for Web, Smart Reply, read receipts, and much more. Version 3.2 rolling out today reveals more about how the web client will work and a possible dark mode.
Over a year ago, Google announced that Android Messages would be preloaded by 20+ OEMs as the official RCS client. Now, Google is finalizing its RCS partnerships with carriers and OEMs and will be calling the RCS standard “Chat.”
With version 3.0 of Android Messages beginning to roll out this week, Google is already working on the next update to the SMS and RCS client. We’ve received a dogfood (or internal test) version of Android Messages 3.1 and it reveals upcoming support for Android P, a built-in GIF picker, and more about the web app.
From Android Messages hinting at a push to Hiroshi Lockheimer noting it for MWC, Google is working to replace SMS with Rich Communication Services. The latest development sees the first stores and end users in the U.S. able to take advantage of business messaging features.
Version 2.9 of Android Messages is rolling out and a teardown reveals that Google has very big plans for its official SMS/RCS client. Currently in development is an Allo-like web client that would allow users to check and reply to messages on the web. Meanwhile, this latest update also reveals Google Pay integration and a push to increase RCS adoption.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google has what feels like a million messaging apps right now, but most of the company’s best ideas have landed in the severely underused Allo. Now, though, it seems Google is planning to bring one of Allo’s best new features, a web interface, to its SMS app Android Messages.
Found in Allo, Gmail, and Inbox, Smart Reply is a convenient time saver that suggests responses based on the context of a conversation. Today, the feature is rolling out to Project Fi subscribers who use Android Messages.