(Newb question) SMS Client

wxboss

Hello all,
I just installed GOS and I'm enjoying it so far. I do have a question though. I keep getting a notification every time I open the default SMS app stating that it is out of date and I'm not able to update it.

Is the default app a decent one or is there something else that is recommended.

Thanks!

fjfj7654

wxboss the default app seems pretty much unusable, so I just use messages by Google with locked down perms.

Blamo

I use the default app and it's comparable to your typical sms on any non GOS phone. I also use Signal. That's a pretty cool messaging app. You can do a lot with that app and your messages are encrypted. The only downside is the person you're texting needs to have signal too now.
As for your app being out of date. If you long press the app click on app info. And at the bottom you should be able to see the version number. Mine currently says 1.0.001. And i'm not having that issue.
If it's less than that and you can still use sms. I would wait for an automatic update. It updates a lot lol. More than your typical andriod updates. Hope this helps.

DeletedUser115

fjfj7654 I use the default Messaging app, it's not great but certainly usable.

I like to stick to default apps that come with GOS to avoid installing extra apps I have to trust.

SoulKeeper

fjfj7654 Is there any way to disable the stock AOSP messaging app without ADB or root? I wanna use Microsoft SMS Organizer but I hate to keep multiple apps for the same reason.

[deleted]

DeletedUser115 Makes one hyper-aware it's as insecure as it is ugly.

kopolee11

If you are using Sandboxed Play Services, then you may want to consider Messages by Google. It's an up-to-date app, with RCS support, which can allow for end-to-end encryption. Read here for more info.

wxboss

Sorry for the late reply, but I appreciate everyone's feedback.

Thank you!

matchboxbananasynergy

[deleted] The default AOSP messaging app that's currently used in GrapheneOS might be outdated from a features standpoint, but it does receive security fixes from upstream, and it is one of the reasons for it being what's included in AOSP.

I agree that things with it can be improved, and maybe in the long run it could potentially be replaced with a new app built in-house, but that is currently not an easy decision to make.

DeletedUser96

I like Silence, which is the codebase of SMS Secure, which is the predeccesor to Signal Messenger. It does not require you to use their servers or trust Signal Corporation at all.

kopolee11

DeletedUser96 The problem with Silence is that it is unmaintained, having last been updated nearly four years ago. (Source)

[deleted]

matchboxbananasynergy Didn't mean to imply that the app is insecure, just the carrier-based messaging. Personally I'm not bothered by it. Had I valued aesthetics over anything else I would've used something other than GrapheneOS.

wxboss

[deleted]

[deleted] Didn't mean to imply that the app is insecure, just the carrier-based messaging. Personally I'm not bothered by it. Had I valued aesthetics over anything else I would've used something other than GrapheneOS.

I didn't take it that you implied some sort of security issue with the app, so no worries there.
Currently, I'm checking out QKSMS since it purportedly has some spam blocking abilities. I'll see how it goes.
I appreciate your help!

de0u

SoulKeeper It appears to be explicitly recommended against: https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/504

But I didn't see a detailed explanation of exactly what would break.

I have a sense that some third-party launchers support hiding app icons.

Dan-cer

Using the inbuilt sms app it was the first time yesterday that I got spam.
I think it might be better to use another app and consider using google messages instead, also because it has a web version to type in browser.
Should I install it from F-droid?

Dumdum

Dan-cer consider using google messages

Should I install it from F-droid?

You can't install Google Messages from Fdroid. Or do you mean something else?

Stephan-P

Dan-cer Receiving SMS spam seems to me unrelated to the particular SMS app that one would be using, not? SMS spam is sent to phone number, randomly or directed, and the only conclusion one might draw from it is that one's phone number has ended up on some spam listing. You can live with it (and block the sender numbers) or change phone number.

Dan-cer

Dumdum I didn't check before I wrote this. I have since installed it with Aurora store.

Dan-cer

Stephan-P It could be that it was triggered by installing the app "Kleinanzeigen.de" (formerly "Ebay-Kleinanzeigen.de"). This is a German app similar to Ebay, but without auctions. I have since deleted the app, as I can also access the portal on my PC.