iMessage -- Apple's answer to the text message -- normally isn't a cause of concern for most iPhone users. But it's got ex-users of the iPhone in a tiff, sharing complaints and tales of woe: Texts irreplaceably lost, routed by iMessage to a divide-by-zero netherworld of "message not received." Sobering stuff indeed.
Sick of it all, Apple has (finally) decided to free prior users of iOS from the shackles of iMessage. Bloggers rejoice, reminisce -- and offer theories on Apple's change of heart.
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers now get too many text messages.
Filling in for our humble blogwatcher Richi Jennings, is a humbler Stephen Glasskeys.
Jim Edwards wrote this text about an iMessage lawsuit:
Three American consumers have filed a federal lawsuit against Apple, alleging that faults in iMessage...amount to wiretapping because iMessage "intercepts" and retains messages that should be delivered to Android users. MORE
If you want to annoy Kevin Bostic, send him a nasty text he'll never receive:
If you've got an iPhone 5s, or any other kind of iPhone, you're likely not thinking of switching to an Android, or other non-iPhone device. If you do switch, though, Apple just released a fix that handles one of the most annoying issues you would have faced by moving away from the iPhone. MORE
Texts don't annoy Lucian Constantin, they make him feel secure:
Some of the most widely used messaging apps in the world, including Google Hangouts, Facebook chat, Yahoo Messenger, and Snapchat, flunked a best-practices security test by advocacy group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
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Of the mass-market products, Apple's iMessage and FaceTime scored the highest, failing on only two requirements--the availability of code for independent review and the out-of-band contact identity verification. MORE
Straight from the unnamed horse's touch screen:
Deregister iMessage
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You may need to turn off iMessage if you are now using a non-Apple phone and can't get SMS or text messages someone sends you from an iPhone.
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Follow the steps below to turn off iMessage. MORE
Simon Sharwood finds texting easy-peasy:
The web-based tool is simplicity itself: iPhone refugees just give their phone number, then punch in the transfer code provided by TXT. If you still own an iPhone, all you need to do is turn off iMessage. MORE
Meanwhile, Molly Wood visits the land of lost pens and socks:
Apple finally released a tool to deregister your number from iMessage and be saved from the texting black hole! MORE
You have been reading IT Blogwatch by Richi Jennings and Stephen Glasskeys, who curate the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites so you don't have to. Catch the key commentary from around the Web every morning. Hatemail may be directed to @RiCHi or itbw@richi.uk. Opinions expressed may not represent those of Computerworld. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. E&OE.
