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> Why don’t you get an Android phone, to which I reply: I’m not turning my texts green. So the author is complaining about proprietary tech on his iPhone (Ligh

> Why don’t you get an Android phone, to which I reply: I’m not turning my texts green. So the author is complaining about proprietary tech on his iPhone (Lightning port analog audio adapter) when open alternatives exist (3.5mm jack), while also claiming other proprietary tech (iMessage) in the face of open alternatives (standard SMS) keeps him using the iPhone.

asdsa5325 8y ago
Apple's business model revolves around making their customers feel superior to others. That's why customers have no problem with seriously overpriced hardware, since it's an effective gate-keeping measure.
Inityx 8y ago
Apple is such an effective cult. https://medium.com/message/its-kind-of-cheesy-being-green-2c72cc9e5eda https://medium.com/message/its-kind-of-cheesy-being-green-2c...
- pdelbarba 8y ago
  Thanks for the link. I've never used an iphone so I was extremely confused by that argument.
- scarface74 8y ago
  So do 40%+ of smart phone users in the US belong to a cult?
j45 8y ago
Most android phones that are comparable to iPhone (direct monthly security updates) are a very short list. Google's Pixel is a great phone, but it has a USB-C phone. I wouldn't go near any other phone for lack of updates, and premature "death" of the phone from lack of updates. The hardware coming from Samsung is excellent, but their software practices are unacceptable when they are at or near the price point of an iPhone.
Kratisto 8y ago
I understand the sacrifice though. I've always been an Android guy, but I'm left out of a lot of group chats because of it. I play on multiple sports teams where I'm the only one without an iPhone. They have a group chat for the team, and I'm the only one left off. Same with just difference friend groups. I try and get people to use whatsapp, hangouts, groupme, or just anything else and no dice. I've considered switching to an iPhone just for social reasons, but can't bring myself to do it.
- mrguyorama 8y ago
  Android phones can do group texts. That's how at least 50% of my activities with friends get planned, and some of them have iPhones
  - Kratisto 8y ago
    I'm not sure if there is a limit on number of people or maybe they just don't want "green" messages. Either way it's conform or be left out.
- sametmax 8y ago
  I have the same problem because I don't have a facebook account. I'm left out of a lot of discussion and miss out on invitations because of it. But if I really look back, I can't remember any of it. Nothing was actually that important. It seems like it is on the moment, but the really important stuff, people make the effort to reach out to me for it. It's actually a good social filter.
  - Kratisto 8y ago
    That's fair. It's just annoying for things like a soccer team. If someone has an update about game time or something, someone has to text me specifically.
- kenjackson 8y ago
  Android doesn’t support group chats? That can’t be right...
mrguyorama 8y ago
>I’m not turning my texts green. Since when does he have to on android? Seeing as google produces about fifteen messaging apps, you get all sorts of color (and style) choices! That's if you choose a locked down phone that doesn't let you make your own themeing choice
- ryandvm 8y ago
  No, it's about the fact that Apple signifies non-Apple users with green text bubbles. So he's saying that his iStatusSymbol is such a crucial component of his identity that he's petrified of the social ramifications of his peers knowing that his fealty to Apple has wavered.
- nickthegreek 8y ago
  Having an android phone in a group text is very much a real issue for young people. I have a very active group text and the iMessage features are used constantly in that chat. The nailed it with features like posting instagrams (and having them be inline, and videos playing) to being able for us to all double tap someones joke and hearting it. We do know a guy who has a droid and we do jab at him about his samsung and how his chats gotta sucks. I don't think you can name a group chat if there is a droid user present either. Right or wrong, people will be left out of experiences for green chat the same way you will miss things if you aren't using the same social media app as your peers. At work I use Google Hangouts to converse with a few friends, and it blows my mind that when I post a URL, it doesn't inline it. It does now with youtube links, but they wont play inline. Think of it as Slack vs old 90's IRC. I dont know how droid chat shows up these days as I have long left the android camp with no plans of returning, but iMessage is a killer feature for Apple.
lev99 8y ago
Written like a person that has green texts.
- sametmax 8y ago
  What are green texts ?
  - Willson50 8y ago
    iMessage turns texts that are not from iMessage green.
    - Longhanks 8y ago
      It has nothing to do with iMessage. The Messages app handles SMS text messages and iMessages, the former being green bubbles, and iMessages appearing blue. The both coexist.
      - falcolas 8y ago
        Kinda. I receive a lot of voice messages from my android wielding parents, and they're always in a format that necessitates opening them in a separate app to listen to them. It's a small bit of friction, but it is friction.
s73v3r_ 8y ago
It's almost like the open stuff doesn't meet their needs, and they find benefit in the alternatives. Most people don't find simply "being open" to be a compelling virtue. Maybe more of the open source people need to recognize that, and come up with some other compelling functionality.
ronhav3 8y ago
An oddly specifically USnian complaint. Thank goodness for the dominance of WhatsApp in the rest of the western wold.

asdsa5325 8y ago

Apple's business model revolves around making their customers feel superior to others. That's why customers have no problem with seriously overpriced hardware, since it's an effective gate-keeping measure.

Inityx 8y ago

Apple is such an effective cult. https://medium.com/message/its-kind-of-cheesy-being-green-2c72cc9e5eda https://medium.com/message/its-kind-of-cheesy-being-green-2c...

pdelbarba 8y ago
Thanks for the link. I've never used an iphone so I was extremely confused by that argument.
scarface74 8y ago
So do 40%+ of smart phone users in the US belong to a cult?

j45 8y ago

Most android phones that are comparable to iPhone (direct monthly security updates) are a very short list. Google's Pixel is a great phone, but it has a USB-C phone. I wouldn't go near any other phone for lack of updates, and premature "death" of the phone from lack of updates. The hardware coming from Samsung is excellent, but their software practices are unacceptable when they are at or near the price point of an iPhone.

Kratisto 8y ago

I understand the sacrifice though. I've always been an Android guy, but I'm left out of a lot of group chats because of it. I play on multiple sports teams where I'm the only one without an iPhone. They have a group chat for the team, and I'm the only one left off. Same with just difference friend groups. I try and get people to use whatsapp, hangouts, groupme, or just anything else and no dice. I've considered switching to an iPhone just for social reasons, but can't bring myself to do it.

mrguyorama 8y ago
Android phones can do group texts. That's how at least 50% of my activities with friends get planned, and some of them have iPhones
- Kratisto 8y ago
  I'm not sure if there is a limit on number of people or maybe they just don't want "green" messages. Either way it's conform or be left out.
sametmax 8y ago
I have the same problem because I don't have a facebook account. I'm left out of a lot of discussion and miss out on invitations because of it. But if I really look back, I can't remember any of it. Nothing was actually that important. It seems like it is on the moment, but the really important stuff, people make the effort to reach out to me for it. It's actually a good social filter.
- Kratisto 8y ago
  That's fair. It's just annoying for things like a soccer team. If someone has an update about game time or something, someone has to text me specifically.
kenjackson 8y ago
Android doesn’t support group chats? That can’t be right...

mrguyorama 8y ago

>I’m not turning my texts green. Since when does he have to on android? Seeing as google produces about fifteen messaging apps, you get all sorts of color (and style) choices! That's if you choose a locked down phone that doesn't let you make your own themeing choice

ryandvm 8y ago
No, it's about the fact that Apple signifies non-Apple users with green text bubbles. So he's saying that his iStatusSymbol is such a crucial component of his identity that he's petrified of the social ramifications of his peers knowing that his fealty to Apple has wavered.
nickthegreek 8y ago
Having an android phone in a group text is very much a real issue for young people. I have a very active group text and the iMessage features are used constantly in that chat. The nailed it with features like posting instagrams (and having them be inline, and videos playing) to being able for us to all double tap someones joke and hearting it. We do know a guy who has a droid and we do jab at him about his samsung and how his chats gotta sucks. I don't think you can name a group chat if there is a droid user present either. Right or wrong, people will be left out of experiences for green chat the same way you will miss things if you aren't using the same social media app as your peers. At work I use Google Hangouts to converse with a few friends, and it blows my mind that when I post a URL, it doesn't inline it. It does now with youtube links, but they wont play inline. Think of it as Slack vs old 90's IRC. I dont know how droid chat shows up these days as I have long left the android camp with no plans of returning, but iMessage is a killer feature for Apple.

lev99 8y ago

Written like a person that has green texts.

sametmax 8y ago
What are green texts ?
- Willson50 8y ago
  iMessage turns texts that are not from iMessage green.
  - Longhanks 8y ago
    It has nothing to do with iMessage. The Messages app handles SMS text messages and iMessages, the former being green bubbles, and iMessages appearing blue. The both coexist.
    - falcolas 8y ago
      Kinda. I receive a lot of voice messages from my android wielding parents, and they're always in a format that necessitates opening them in a separate app to listen to them. It's a small bit of friction, but it is friction.

s73v3r_ 8y ago

It's almost like the open stuff doesn't meet their needs, and they find benefit in the alternatives. Most people don't find simply "being open" to be a compelling virtue. Maybe more of the open source people need to recognize that, and come up with some other compelling functionality.

ronhav3 8y ago

An oddly specifically USnian complaint. Thank goodness for the dominance of WhatsApp in the rest of the western wold.