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Help Anyone tried a new text message app?

S

sublow

Member
I'm liking the standard text message app on the mini as I find it hard to see what I've written and it won't tilt so I can have a landscape keyboard.

Has anyone else tried a new text messaging app? If so which one have you tried and is it any good?
 
The standard SMS App is good in many ways, but I find the same problem as yourself! I find the short width of the screen prevents accurate key taps, and being able to use landscape mode would certainly widen the buttons to solve this, but it won't landscape the SMS App as you say :-/

I downloaded the "slideIT" keyboard App. It caused new problem! I find it more convenient to 'slide' the words I want, but because the slideIT keyboard is a little higher than standard, I can't see the top 2 lines of the 'reply' to a message! It types it but is invisible as it is hidden under the very large 'banner' at the top showing the persons' Name - I wish I could reduce the height of this banner as it is completely unnecessary!

Anyway, not tried any other keyboard App, but irrespective the SMS App will not landscape no matter what the keyboard, and if your new keyboard is too deep then you can't use "reply" to a message, you have to 'create' a message to overcome this annoying feature I described above.
 
I've given HandCent a go and I'm really impressed.

I find it easier to use and you can use landscape keyboard. I've combined this with Smart Keyboard Pro so I can use qwerty in landscape and T9 in portait.

I'm loving being able to change basic things like SMS. I'm going to have a look see what else I can change.
 
sublow said:
I've given HandCent a go and I'm really impressed.

I find it easier to use and you can use landscape keyboard. I've combined this with Smart Keyboard Pro so I can use qwerty in landscape and T9 in portait.

I'm loving being able to change basic things like SMS. I'm going to have a look see what else I can change.
Click to expand...

With apps from market you can replace almost everything on the mini
 
So I see. I'm in the process of checking out K-9 Mail which is brilliant compared to the standard mail app.

I'm going to try and find a new camera app next that has zoom and works with the flash.

Why did it take me so long to upgrade my classic Nokia ;)
 
sublow said:
So I see. I'm in the process of checking out K-9 Mail which is brilliant compared to the standard mail app.

I'm going to try and find a new camera app next that has zoom and works with the flash.

Why did it take me so long to upgrade my classic Nokia ;)
Click to expand...

yes mini is a great phone only hope sony will update it better then htc did with they phones :-/

the zoom on apps is not the best
 
No I'll give you that.

I don't know why they didn't utilise the volume button on the side for zoom/camera zoom/moving up and down screens. I rarely use the volume for actually controlling the volume.
 
sublow said:
No I'll give you that.

I don't know why they didn't utilise the volume button on the side for zoom/camera zoom/moving up and down screens. I rarely use the volume for actually controlling the volume.
Click to expand...

Yes what was nice then s/e had did that
 
Is it possible to make handcent the default for messaging? I really like it but it is a bit of a pain that you have to open the app first to use it - I can make thick buttons the default for texting but can't seem to do it for handcent?
 
simmy44 said:
Is it possible to make handcent the default for messaging? I really like it but it is a bit of a pain that you have to open the app first to use it - I can make thick buttons the default for texting but can't seem to do it for handcent?
Click to expand...


I don't have problems with it, you need to turn off the popup from default message app and then you can use handcent as the default sms app
 
Does anyone else have an issue with Handcent's 'recent' contacts tab :confused:

So if I go into Handcent to compose a new message and the click on the + to add a recipient there are 3 tabs across the top 'Contact', 'Group' & 'Recent'. In the recent tab I assume it should show people I have SMS'd recently and I think it used to in that there were 3 people's names in there. However, now this is not updating and is blank :mad:
 
knudsen81 said:
I don't have problems with it, you need to turn off the popup from default message app and then you can use handcent as the default sms app
Click to expand...


Thanks for the quick reply, but I don't really know what you mean by "turn off the popup from default message app"?
 
simmy44 said:
Thanks for the quick reply, but I don't really know what you mean by "turn off the popup from default message app"?
Click to expand...
on home screen press menu >settings > sony ericsson > message and then untick message and that so now the bulid in sms app do not show when you got a sms
 
I still get the original sms app, I go to settings > sony ericsson > messaging, then the options are delivery report, notifications, notification tone, notification vibration, & SIM messages. I have tried unchecking all of these but when I go to the home screen and select the envelope icon from the top left corner of the screen I still get the usual sms app, & even when I open handcent I see no option to make that default. Sorry if it is me being thick :eek:
 
simmy44 said:
I still get the original sms app, I go to settings > sony ericsson > messaging, then the options are delivery report, notifications, notification tone, notification vibration, & SIM messages. I have tried unchecking all of these but when I go to the home screen and select the envelope icon from the top left corner of the screen I still get the usual sms app, & even when I open handcent I see no option to make that default. Sorry if it is me being thick :eek:
Click to expand...

You don't need to make Handcent the default app. You simply need to just stop using the default messaging app now you've removed its notifications. When on the home screen press the menu button (left-most button) and select arrange icons. Now you can overwrite the standard messaging app with the Handcent icon (in the top left hand corner) :D
 
There are quite a few cool text apps! handcent always seems to be a favorite set up.
Anyone tried voicetext? Interested how well it converts what you say to text... You can send text from the web with the m:IQ app too which is pretty sweet!
 
I tried voice text and the conversion is pretty good it usually give you a choice of the correct words. Not usually the top option but somewhere in the list.

You have to speak slowly and clearly so it makes using it in public a bit embarrassing.
 
I'm now using ChompSMS and loving it. I was only using Handcent because of its popup but ChompSMS now has this and I personally think it's a better app :D
 
Everytime I read the recent reviews of Hancent there always seems to be alot of peopling complaining that recent updates make it 'hang' or 'delete my messages' and various other bugs.

It is really that buggy - as i'd certainly rate reliability as a No 1 criteria, and even though the default SMS App may lack certain features I've never had it lock-up or lose message - not once.

So, I'm reluctant to install something that seems unreliable in any way.
 
rawly said:
Everytime I read the recent reviews of Hancent there always seems to be alot of peopling complaining that recent updates make it 'hang' or 'delete my messages' and various other bugs.

It is really that buggy - as i'd certainly rate reliability as a No 1 criteria, and even though the default SMS App may lack certain features I've never had it lock-up or lose message - not once.

So, I'm reluctant to install something that seems unreliable in any way.
Click to expand...

I personally didn't liek Handcent for that very reason. It seemed very slow and unresponsive at times.
I've found ChompSMS to be much smoother :D
 
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