SMS Conversation / Notification LED

[NigelP]

Took delivery of my new HTC Desire yesterday and as a first impression, I like it, just a lot to get used to!

My first question that springs to mind, is that whilst a conversation view is handy and can see the benefit, is there any way to turn it OFF and instead have a standing SMS Inbox style, each received message having it's own entry so you can just open and view it? (like SMS inboxes on most normal phones?).

and my Second questions .. I have it set so the LED flashes if I've had a message when away from the phone (handy when on silent), BUT, when the charger is plugged in the orange LED is lit, and the LED doesn't flash, so you have no idea there's a message/notification there waiting for you, unless you keep pressing the power button to check, which isn't ideal as it can get a bit OCD "have a got a new message ... no ... what about now ... no .. oooo now?" and so on .. so not sure if there's a setting I've missed, or if thats just the normal behaviour when it's plugged in charging!


EDITED ... Rather than bump the topic, just editing my original post. Since posting the above and having used the phone now for some three months, and having gotten used to the new way of conversation view in SMS messages. Simply put - I love it now and I can totally see the logic behind it, makes viewing entire conversations with the same person easily and I would not want to go back to the old way of one message in one view (the old school way!) Just shows, you can teach an old dog new tricks and I can see why manufacturers have taken this route.

 

[nx1977]

Try an app called handcent

 

[NigelP]

Try an app called handcent

Thank you for the suggestion, I have downloaded that from the Android Store, and am using it now, but it still in effect uses the same conversation threaded message appearance. Unless I'm missing an option somewhere.

I can understand why people like Conversation threads, easy to follow etc and don't have an in box with 100 messages from the same person clogging it up, but I guess I'm old school and like that and would like to be able to read messages as an old style inbox, open each message to read it (that also is more beneficial if I'm handing the phone to someone to read a message, I don't want them necessarily being able to read the earlier message or my reply which they would in a conversation thread appearance).

Is there any other app which changes the SMS appearance? .. Or is this something I'm just going to have to get used to as this is "just the way it is" now?

 

[kaotix]

I haven't seen any messaging apps that will do single messages. The whole idea of having conversations is that you can keep track of the 'conversation' more easily and like you say, you don't have 100 messages in a single inbox all from the same person.
To be honest, I think you should stick with the conversation view and basically get used to it. You should find it more productive and find that you hardly ever have to think about what you sent to the person previously and if you do, you can scroll up through the conversation to read it back over.

 

[horeaa]

Regarding your second question ... I have the screen always on while charging so it's easy to check what's going on.
You can do this from Settings->Applications->Development->Stay awake

 

[uzetaab]

There is a widget that should have already been set up on the desktop when you got the device because it is a HTC app.

It's called Messages & looks like a old card file manager where if you slide your finger across it vertically, you can 'flick' through the cards. Each card is a separate message.

That's the only way I know of to display just a single message at a time. problem is that there is no menu list. you can get to the menu list, by tapping on the left button, but when you open a post from there is shows the whole conversation.

There's plenty of other sms programs on the market though, if you try enough of them, you'll prolly find something that does what you want. most people here just either use the default app or handcent though.

 

[NigelP]

Regarding your second question ... I have the screen always on while charging so it's easy to check what's going on.
You can do this from Settings->Applications->Development->Stay awake

Ooo thank you, that will do nicely!

It's called Messages & looks like a old card file manager where if you slide your finger across it vertically, you can 'flick' through the cards. Each card is a separate message

Yeah, I have seen that. Which sort of does what I would like, but not ideal, as only has the very last message from a contact listed, rather than all of them.

I think the general gist of the comments so far, is that there's nothing really that is available, and the conversation view is the way forward and I'll have to get used to it. Handcent is good and more customisable than the default messages application. The only way I could see an improvement, is if you were able to tap a message in the conversation to open it into a single window, I could live with the conversation view then and I'd be happy

(Well that and also moving the 'Send' button somewhere away from the side of the input screen as twice today I've sent an unfinished SMS by accident because I've accidentally pressed the send button when trying to relocate the cursor at the end of the window!)

 

[jaybea830802]

and my Second questions .. I have it set so the LED flashes if I've had a message when away from the phone (handy when on silent), BUT, when the charger is plugged in the orange LED is lit, and the LED doesn't flash, so you have no idea there's a message/notification there waiting for you, unless you keep pressing the power button to check, which isn't ideal as it can get a bit OCD "have a got a new message ... no ... what about now ... no .. oooo now?" and so on .. so not sure if there's a setting I've missed, or if thats just the normal behaviour when it's plugged in charging!

I use the application Missed Reminder, which as well as flashing the led (which only works if the device is not plugged in) also does audible reminders. You can configure different reminder frequencies for calls, sms and mms. I have five minute reminders of missed calls, and a simple notification tone such as Subtle or Simple High.