After rolling out at the end of last month, Google Messages now lets you turn off the Gemini button on Android…
Good. Now when can I use RCS with 3rd party apps?
Depends. If your carrier implements RCS using simple HTTP auth, just download one of the 0 apps that bothered to actually implement RCS. Otherwise, your carrier may have an RCS app with an API. If your carrier doesn’t support RCS, you should probably treat Google’s RCS server the same way you treat WhatsApp, because it’s based on semi-open encryption with semi-open protocols on a closed-source, implementation-specific backend.
If you’re a developer, grab an RCS library and get coding! I’m sure people will be willing to sponsor or even pay for a good RCS app.
If you want Google to add Google Messages RCS to the SMS API, you’ll have to wait until they bother, which is probably “when someone forces them”. RCS is practically unused in the EU, the only place I’ve seen that cares about this kind of stuff, so you’ll have to contact your representatives.
That’ll only work on phones with Messages preinstalled, though, if you downloaded the app through the Play Store, it won’t be able to host any system APIs that truly expose RCS. It may also require a system update if they implement it by porting their RCS client to the Android operating system.
I mean you could but it would essentially be like ProtonMail, where the only private and secure communications would be with other users on the same platform, which would be near-zero. Would it be better? Yes, but not by much. Better off just to use something like Signal or Matrix if you’re trying to convince people to use something different.
RCS will work with iMessage users in iOS 18. I’ve already tried out with beta users and it works fine.
That doesn’t contradict anything I said.
[That] would essentially [mean] other users… would be near-zero
It contradicts your main point.
the only private and secure communications would be with other users on the same platform, which would be near-zero.
It doesn’t. 3rd party RCS–> iMessage is not anymore private or secure than 3rd party RCS --> Google. All message metadata is stored on Apple’s servers, just like it is on Google’s.
Are you just going to ignore you ever said there would be near zero users?
You’re an ass. Blocked.
I’m not ignoring anything. There will be near-zero users. I’ve just explained this. I’m not being an ass and you’ve not blocked me.
I didn’t notice it was there until i saw this article.
I’ve misclicked it a few times
I didn’t even know this happened. Mainly because the moment Google blocked rooted and custom ROMs for Google Messages. I just stopped using the app outright.
I locked my messages version when they added a line below the text input for adding media.
edit: they changed it back!!!
https://9to5google.com/2024/05/22/google-messages-single-line-text-field/
This was when I stopped using it for a while. I sent multiple feedback messages as it really irritated me.
I was going to update to the current version, but the Gemini button may or may not be there. I’m gonna wait.
It’ll probably be there, but at least it can be disabled in the settings now. It won’t go away on its own.
Man I just realised there’s a Gemini button! I never actually open the app, I use shortcuts from notifications! Good on google letting users opt out of something basically no one wants!
Oh yes, finally!
I had already blocked and reported Gemini as spam in the hopes that it would hide the button (spoiler: it didn’t)
If whoever is managing Messages let this go through, maybe it’s a good sign for other apps potentially removing their forced AI chatbots from where they don’t need to be!
Unlike WhatsApp
Unlike most apps actually. Adobe PDF has it prominent “use our AI crap” and there is no way to remove it.
Awesome! Just hid it.
I just got the Gemini button
Great, if Gemini could answer who factually won the 2020 US election, I might consider using it.
Just ask tho, biased AF.
It refuses to answer that question for me lol
