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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[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 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.

[–] GreenEngineering3475@lemmy.world 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.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 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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[–] eee@lemm.ee 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.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 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.

[–] GreenEngineering3475@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago (6 children)

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

[–] Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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.

[–] InnerScientist@lemmy.world 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.

[–] Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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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[–] AstralPath@lemmy.ca 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.

[–] DynamoSunshirtSandals@possumpat.io 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.

[–] SquigglyEmpire@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

As long as they can get away with it

[–] okamiueru@lemmy.world 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.

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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.

[–] milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee 5 points 6 months ago

QKSMS is great

[–] kalpol@lemm.ee 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.

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] kalpol@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

Hey no did not know about this. Thanks!

[–] MSugarhill@feddit.de 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] atro_city@fedia.io 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I guess it's time to switch to Linux

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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.

[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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)

[–] muhyb@programming.dev 15 points 6 months ago (11 children)

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

(QKSMS master race btw)

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It depends on your settings.

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[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago

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

[–] ColdWater@lemmy.ca 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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.

[–] keyez@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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.

[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 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.

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 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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[–] Toes@ani.social 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?

[–] GreenEngineering3475@lemmy.world 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.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 months ago

Pretty sure a lot of apps do this now

[–] dukatos@lemm.ee 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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[–] algorithmae@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 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.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

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

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