Recently switched: what Android equivalent is there to these iOS features?

[Ichinisan]

So you can unify your GV SMS stuff w/ the built in imessage (or whatever it's called)?

Yes. Jailbreak and install "SMS GV Extension" from Cydia.

Costs a few bucks, but it's worth it.

If this can be done, how are they doing it, and why hasn't this been copied yet!?

That's what CZroe and I would like to know.

 

[manly]

So you can unify your GV SMS stuff w/ the built in imessage (or whatever it's called)? If this can be done, how are they doing it, and why hasn't this been copied yet!?

(though, personally, I prefer the separation since I use my GV for business)

It's a clever but understandable hack, you can Google how it's done.

I decided against the integration because you have to save your Google account credentials for the hack to access Voice, and I'm not exactly comfortable with that.

 

[abaez]

Is the 4S fully jailbroken yet? I thought it you reboot you lose it?

 

[Ichinisan]

I decided against the integration because you have to save your Google account credentials for the hack to access Voice, and I'm not exactly comfortable with that.

Actually, no. On iPhone, SMS GV Extension has an option to monitor email.

- Configure Google Voice to copy text messages to your Gmail account.
- Configure Gmail to filter those messages to an "sms" label.
- Configure your Gmail account in iOS Mail.app using Exchange protocol for instant "push" notification.
(no good reason why you shouldn't have this set up already)
- Configure SMS GV Extension to monitor the "sms" folder.

This works even better than letting SMS GV Ext hijack push notifications from the standard GV app because the GV app's link to the Apple notification API will time-out and stop receiving push notifications when you don't occasionally launch the GV app.

 

[Ichinisan]

Is the 4S fully jailbroken yet? I thought it you reboot you lose it?

It's easy enough to just run RedSn0w to re-enable the Jailbreak if you're ever forced to reboot. It just isn't very convenient.

JB hackers know another trick to untether, but they're waiting to be sure a lot of phones are sold before they reveal this and Apple fixes the vulnerability.

 

[manly]

Actually, no. On iPhone, SMS GV Extension has an option to monitor email.

- Configure Google Voice to copy text messages to your Gmail account.
- Configure Gmail to filter those messages to an "sms" label.
- Configure your Gmail account in iOS Mail.app using Exchange protocol for instant "push" notification.
(no good reason why you shouldn't have this set up already)
- Configure SMS GV Extension to monitor the "sms" folder.

This works even better than letting SMS GV Ext hijack push notifications from the standard GV app because the GV app's link to the Apple notification API will time-out and stop receiving push notifications when you don't occasionally launch the GV app.

I can't remember my exact objection, but it is a clever enough hack.

Looking at the preferences, doesn't it appear to store your Google account credentials? How else would it send out SMS on your GV # ?

 

[CZroe]

I can't remember my exact objection, but it is a clever enough hack.

Looking at the preferences, doesn't it appear to store your Google account credentials? How else would it send out SMS on your GV # ?

By replying to the email using your phone. If you are worried about it stealing credentials from your phone that you didn't out-right submit to the service then, well, any JB app could potentially do that as have some official Apple App Store apps.

 

[Ichinisan]

By replying to the email using your phone. If you are worried about it stealing credentials from your phone that you didn't out-right submit to the service then, well, any JB app could potentially do that as have some official Apple App Store apps.

I think manly is correct that it uses stored credentials to send, but you can simply generate a unique application-specific password after enabling two-step verification in your Google account.

 

[CZroe]

Well, guys, despite Google Voice setting being worded as "Receive text messages...also via messaging app" I just found out that the setting actually enables SMS forwarding that you get billed for. Worded properly, it should say that it is forwarding to your mobile number or also received through the carrier's SMS service. Because I do not use the service from the website where I can monitor the properly described setting and because the app's option was inappropriately described, I had no way to verify what it was doing. I could only trust that they would not make an option that says it is exactly the option I am looking for despite being inaccurate to say it that way and despite others in the industry setting expectations in line with what I was looking for (iMessage and BBM).

All I knew was that replies from the messaging app were coming from the mobile number (billed) and that GV did not warn that I could be billed for forwarded SMS. I expected that they would make sure users knew or else heads would roll. There was no way to see how it was received because it looked like it was working exactly as I was expecting and I found none of the other expected indicators otherwise (warnings, wordings, etc).

Tell everyone you had to get a new cell number and give them all your Google Voice number. Don't try and get them to use a separate number for texting as most people can't deal with that, just route everything from Google voice. Then call your carrier and tell them to disable texting on your line.

I've used this approach for more than a year without incident and know many other people who have done the same.

Sony is the one who screwed up everything else on your phone, they add and remove whatever they like in the process of adding their crapware to Android. Like I said the Xperia Play got universally bad reviews and you would have a completely different experience with any high end Motorola, Samsung, or HTC phone.

I've said this to those same idiots a thousand times and IT DOESN'T WORK. You can tell them to forget that your old number exists and they will still call/text your old number because it appears in the call history when you call them. My new boss has been texting me every couple days despite these SPECIFIC instructions. Granted, it will show your GV caller ID you jump through hoops and call through a Google Voice access/forwarding number, but that's really only easy with the native integration on Android and that's precisely the level of native integration I want GV SMS to have.

Now, Sony did not "remove" a notepad. Only Google is to blame for there not being a standard Android notepad app. You may expect Sony to include one and be disappointed that they did not, but I would rather had a standard one in the first place so this could not happen from any reasonable manufacturer. I set my expectations appropriately and blame the only one who can reasonably be expected to provide it if they care about Android: Google.

 

[manly]

I think manly is correct that it uses stored credentials to send, but you can simply generate a unique application-specific password after enabling two-step verification in your Google account.

Thank you for addressing my paranoia. In the meantime, I've jumped to a low-end Android phone to have access to more malware.

I'm actually okay with the Google Voice app except it doesn't always thread by contact, so you end up with a jumble of disparate conversations.