Where's iMessage for Android?

WHY APPLE KEEPS IMESSAGE LOCKED TO A SINGLE PLATFORM IN A CROSS-PLATFORM MESSAGING WORLD

iMessage is Apple's text and media messaging service, bundled into the Messages app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. And that's where the platform support ends. There's no iMessage for Android or for Windows. There's certainly no iMessage for Windows Phone or BlackBerry. Unlike Apple's Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and iWork, there's not even an iMessage in the iCloud. But, on the heels of Facebook buying WhatsApp for $16 billion and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) being far too late to the cross-platform party... should there be?

If our friends, colleagues, and family all use Apple devices, a few glitches aside, iMessage is close to a perfect solution. If our friends, colleagues, and family aren't all in the Apple ecosystem then iMessage falls back on SMS/MMS. Not everyone wants to use — or pay for — carrier text and multimedia messaging service, however, so that's where cross-platform IM like WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, Line, WeChat, and others come in.

If Apple released iMessage for Android — and perhaps others platforms, including the web — then iOS users could both stay in Messages.app, and stay connected to their cross-platform contacts. Apple could also potentially gain a messaging user base as big as WhatsApp, Line, or the other giant services. So why haven't they?

BlackBerry's missed BBM boat

BlackBerry was once in a similar situation. Evolving from the pager they grew to support email first, then BBM. By 2006 they were an incredibly popular handset manufacturer with an incredibly popular messaging service attached to their platform. And those two things, their handset popularity and their messaging popularity, were inextricably linked.

By 2010, however BlackBerry's handsets had fallen behind iPhone and Android. There was talk of BlackBerry taking BBM cross-platform but nothing ever came of it. They were seemingly afraid that if they let their messaging system go, their users would go with it. It wasn't apparent to them at all that their messaging business could surpass their handset business. That BlackBerry as a company could be valued at around $5 billion and WhatsApp, a cross-platform clone of BBM, would one day go for $16 billion. So BlackBerry waited. They waited until many of their users had moved on and only then did they take BBM cross-platform. And instead of a position of strength and dominance, they find themselves fighting to survive.

Could Apple face a similar problem? Could keeping iMessage restricted to iOS hurt them the same way failing to make BBM cross-platform earlier enough hurt BlackBerry?

No.

Products vs. businesses

Apple doesn't mistake their products for their business. Instead of protecting the iPod and the Mac, they pushed ahead with iPhone and iPad. Now, as digital music sales have tanked and PC sales have slowed, Apple is more successful than ever. That's because Apple's business was never iPods and Macs, it was personal computing devices. They try very, very hard to obsolete themselves before someone else can obsolete them.

Facebook has proven themselves to be similar. Facebook's business isn't Facebook. It's attention. Facebook is just a product. Rather than obsoleting themselves the way Apple does, however, they buy companies that appear to be on a path towards obsoleting them. Hence Instagram and now WhatsApp. Facebook doesn't care about people using Instagram or WhatsApp instead of Facebook any more than Apple cares about someone using an iPhone or iPad instead of an iPod or Mac. They just care that they're using Facebook products.

BlackBerry, on the other hand, thought handsets were their business and they were wrong. Handsets were just their product. Attention was their business as well. Namely the attention their phenomenal communication experience gave them. Security, physical keyboards, blinking notification lights, and the handsets themselves only contributed to the delivery of those communications to get and keep that attention, be it pages and email in the early days or BBM after it was developed.

Apple isn't in the attention business. Apple is not the compelling scene through the window. Apple is the window. Apple doesn't much care what scene you're looking at through the window, as long as it's Apple's window you're looking through. And that's a very different dynamic.

The secrets to success

To stay successful, BlackBerry had to make sure they kept their users' attention. Facebook likewise. Apple does not. To stay successful Apple has to make sure the devices through which people give their attention have Apple logos on them, regardless of where that attention is going.

Part of doing that is ensuring that iPhones and iPads provide a base-level of functionality right out of the box. The other part is making sure the iPhone and iPad remain the absolute best gateway to the internet and to apps beyond what they come with in the box.

iMessage is there to make sure anyone with an iPhone or iPad can easily keep in contact with the people they care about. Phenomenal HTML5 support and killer Cocoa frameworks are there to make sure any developer can easily and delightfully launch any other messaging app imaginable on the App Store. Which is exactly what they've done.

So where's iMessage for Android?

Apple has traditionally been a far better hardware and software company than they've been a services company. Not only wouldn't cross-platform iMessage play to their strengths, it would further burden their resources.

As much as you or I or many other people might like iMessage to go cross-platform, to be able to use Messages.app to chat with our Android and Windows and other friends, colleagues, and family, to use it on any device or on the web, Apple doesn't need it to. 1) Because iMessage's only major reason for being is to increase the overall value of Apple's actual business: personal computing devices, and 2) because every other service has gone cross-platform for iPhone and iPad, often first and best. Not only isn't that a problem for Apple, it's a key reason for their success.

iPhone 6 will have 5-inch display, says new report

Apple’s next-generation iPhone 6 will finally match up to its key Android rivals and pack a 5-inch, Full HD 1080p display. That’s according to new rumours emerging from Japan, published in Mac Fan magazine.

The move to a larger screen would not be a huge surprise. Apple is said to have been testing larger, phablet-style phones for months, with a slew of stories of 6-inch devices emanating from supply-chain sources throughout the summer.

This new piece of tittle tattle, though, says a 5-inch number is nailed-on. While Mac Fan’s sources' credentials as sources of juicy info remain unclear, it's undoubtedly fair to say that a device of that size wouldn’t be seen as too large by most consumers.

The magazine also claims the iPhone 6 will launch in September 2014. That seems almost a given, what with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 arriving in the same timeframe in the past two years.

Expect to hear plenty more gossip about Apple’s next iPhone as 2014 looms into view.

Finding the missing iPad apps

APPLE DIDN'T INCLUDE VOICE MEMO, WEATHER, CALCULATOR, PHONE, COMPASS, AND STOCKS APPS ON THE IPAD, BUT THE APP STORE HAS GREAT ALTERNATIVES FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE!

iPhone owners who pick up an iPad are often surprised to find that, while many things about iOS are the same, the built-in apps are not. Apple's Weather, Stocks, Calculator, Compass, Phone, and Voice Memo apps, all front-and-center on the iPhone, are nowhere to be found on the iPad Air or iPad mini. The why - that Apple perhaps didn't feel the interfaces scaled well to the big screen, or simply didn't think they were as absolutely necessary on a tablet as they are on a phone - doesn't really matter. What does matter is that the App Store has us more than covered with several excellent weather, calculator, stock, and voice memo apps for iPad to choose from. Which ones are the very best, however, and more importantly, the best for you?

Best weather apps for iPad

Since there's no iPad version of the built-in iPhone and iPod touch Weather app, if you want to find out the temperature or check the forecast on the big screen, you need to turn to the App Store. But there you run into a second problem - too many great weather apps to choose from. It's one of the most popular app categories on the store, and developers and designers have had a field day making the perfect weather apps to suit a wide range of needs. So many, in fact, choosing just the right one to suit your needs can be almost overwhelming. That's where we come in. From minimalist or power-packed, here are our favorite weather apps for iPad!

• Best weather apps for iPad

Best Stock Market apps for iPad

Even though the iPhone's built-in Stocks app is nowhere to be found on the iPad, it's still is an amazing tool for managing your finances either at home, at work, or on the go. From checking on your investments, to monitoring trends, to knowing when to buy and when to get out, when to short and when to stay long, there are ton of apps that help you do just exactly that. Which stock apps is best for you? Here are our favorites!

• Best Stock Market apps for iPad

Best calculator apps for iPad

Apple doesn't include a Calculator app on the iPad the way they do on iPhone and iPod touch, so if you want to tally up your numbers or do complex equations, you need to go to the App Store. And that's a good thing, because there are several excellent - and different - calculators to choose from. The question is, whether you need simple arithmetic, scientific or engineering equations, or full-on graphing, which is the best calculator app for you? Here are our favorites!

• Best calculator apps for iPad

Best voice memo apps for iPad

Whether you're a student attending lectures or a professional with a need to record meetings or conference calls, voice memo and audio recording apps are a must have for lots of people. While the iPhone has one built right in, the iPad does not. Luckily, the App Store more than makes up for it with plenty of very good voice memo alternatives. From basic recording to advanced annotation, which one is the best, and more specifically, which one is the best for you? Here are our favorites!

• Best voice memo apps for iPad

Best compass apps for iPad

Unlike the iPhone, the iPad doesn't come with a built-in Compass app. That might sound fine, since you're more likely to be out and about and in need of finding your way with an iPhone. However, the iPad is a great travel companion as well, whether you're on a business trip, out hiking, or out on the high seas. And if you have it, why not use it? Luckily the App Store is full of great compass apps for iPad, the only problem is figuring out which is the best one for you. That's where iMore comes in! These are our favorite compass apps for iPad!

• Best compass apps for iPad

Best phone apps for iPad

Apple hasn't ever included a Phone app on the iPad, and maybe that's just as well. Do we really need to see people with 7.9- or 9.7-inch devices propped up to their heads? Yet iPad owners may certainly need to make calls too, and like the giant conference phones of old, in some cases, bigger really can be better. So, if you absolutely, positively need to get your call on, and the iPad is what you want to use, you'll need to check out some alternatives. Luckily, there are several excellent voice calling apps to choose from, and one is even built-right in!

• Best phone apps for iPad

Best jailbreak apps for iOS 7

FROM QUICK REPLY, TO CUSTOM GESTURES, KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS, AND MORE, HERE'S HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR IOS 7 JAILBREAK ON IPHONE AND IPAD!

Jailbreak lets you do far more with your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad than is possible out of the box. For some it's an unwanted complication, for others, dream functionality come true. Part of the power of jailbreak comes from the apps and tweaks that it lets you run. Available from Cydia, the jailbreak app store, they can change almost everything about the look and behavior of your iOS device. But which ones are worth your time and effort? Which ones are the best? Here are my favorites!

BiteSMS

BiteSMS is hands down the best replacement for the Messages app. It's been around almost as long as jailbreak itself and has always been heavily supported by the developer. It features quick reply and quick compose options with gestures that are completely customizable through Activator. You can also by credits via BiteSMS which is great for folks that send a lot of international messages since it's much cheaper than carrier rates. BiteSMS is currently in beta for iOS 7 but you can install it now by simply adding a source.

If you want a better messaging option than what the Messages app offers natively, there's no other option but BiteSMS.

• $7.99 (Free trial) - More Info

Activator

Activator basically controls all the swipe gestures on your iPhone or iPad and allows you to customize them until your hearts content. Want to double tap on the status bar and launch a quick compose window for BiteSMS? Activator lets you do that, and so much more. Tweak controls for music, a swipe to email a specific contact, or to launch your camera. The possibilities are endless with Activator.

If you want to customize gestures to your personal liking, you need Activator.

• Free - Cydia Link

SwitchSpring

SwitchSpring not only gives you a quick way to respring your iPhone through Control Center but a super easy way to kill all apps from the multitasking tray in one go. Although I really like the card interface of the multitasking section of iOS 7 and the live previews it offers, it isn't always the most efficient way to quit a ton of apps. With SwitchSpring I can kill all my apps in less than three seconds.

If you want an easy way to kill everything in multitasking, SwitchSpring is a super convenient way to do it.

• Free - Cydia Link

SwipeSelection Pro

SwipeSelection Pro is a keyboard tweak that makes editing text a lot easier. Instead of having to tap in between words and use the magnifying glass, SwipeSelection Pro lets you scrub right on your keyboard to fine tune where your cursor ends up. That also means you don't ever have to remove your fingers from the keyboard. There's a free version as well, but the Pro version was completely redone for iOS 7 and gives more customization options than the older version.

• $1.99 - Cydia Link

iFile

iFile is a full blown file manager for the iPhone that lets you browse the entire file system unrestricted since it gives you root user permissions. It also lets you view several file types that iOS doesn't let you view by default such as ZIP files. I don't use iFile itself that frequently but I do use it all the time in conjunction with other apps when I don't have a computer around and need to open a file that my iPhone doesn't let me natively.

If you need root access to your iPhone's file system or open many different file types on a regular basis, get iFile.

• Free - Cydia Link

CCControls

Before Control Center was around, there was SBSettings. Now that Control Center's here, there's still a lot of advanced options to be had and CCControls gives you them. With more toggles than you can shake a stick at, it's the best option. It even has different themes built right in to make it easier to tell what controls are activated and what aren't.

• Free - Cydia Link

F.lux

There are few things as bad as checking your iPhone in a dark room and being blinded by it with no warning. It's no secret that ambient light sensors in iPhones and iPads have never been that great. F.lux takes things a step further and actually warms the screen color depending on the time of day so you don't end up being caught off guard by a hard, bright screen.

If you have sensitive eyes and find your iPhone screen tones to harsh in dim lighting, F.lux is awesome.

• Free - Cydia Link

Best iOS 7 apps for iPhone

AMAZING IOS 7 IPHONE APP REDESIGNS AND RE-IMAGININGS YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD RIGHT NOW!

Whether you're new to the iPhone or you've just upgraded your existing one to iOS 7, one of the first things you'll want to do is load up on apps that show it off. Luckily there are lots of apps that are already updated to support the new interface. We've been keeping track of all the app updates we've seen come through and here are some of our absolute favorite apps when it comes to showing off the brand new look and feel of iOS 7!

Tweetbot 3

Tweetbot has long been a favorite among iOS users when it comes to Twitter clients and for good reason; it's feature packed to the brim and has always had a user interface to die for. Tweetbot 3 may be an all new purchase but it's a completely new app that's just as refined and feature packed as the last version. If you like the look and feel of iOS 7 and want a Twitter client to match it, you won't be disappointed.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Fantastical 2

Not only is Fantastical 2 one of the best calendar apps for iOS, it's one of the most beautiful too. The first version of Fantastical fit with the look and feel of iOS well enough but Fantastical 2 takes it to a whole new level. Not only that, it combines Calendars and Reminders for the first time ever. Not to mention it's a much more elegant solution than the Apple native apps in our opinion.

• $2.99 - Download Now

MyFitnessPal

If tracking calories and workouts is your thing, MyFitnessPal not only does it will, it does it for free. The overall interface hadn't been updated in quite a long time so when I saw a new update come through, I was shell shocked when I opened the app, but in a good way. Menus are easier to read and navigate and the fonts and menus have been updated to look better on iOS 7. If you're looking for a weight loss or workout companion, check out MyFitnessPal if you haven't already.

• Free - Download Now

Launch Center Pro

Launch Center Pro by Contrast (previously App Cubby) is the app to have if you want easy access and shortcuts to all your stuff in less than two taps. With customizable menus and actions, your iPhone is yours to command. We've loved past versions and the iOS 7 ready version is no exception. With flattened menus, a new icon, and updated graphics, there's a lot to like.

• $4.99 - Download Now

Mileage Log+

Mileage Log+, which is also by Contrast apps, is a gorgeous mileage tracker made specifically for iOS 7. Those that have used Trip Cubby should be familiar with many of the features as it's pretty much an update to it. Additional features now include automatic route estimation, gorgeous maps, color coding, and more. If Apple made a mileage tracker app, it may very well look just like Mileage Log+.

• $9.99 - [Download Now[(https://itunes.apple.com/app/id723129092?at=10l3Vy&ct=d_im)

Foursquare

Foursquare is everyone's favorite check-in service and it's already been updated with support for iOS 7. From the menu bars to the updated keyboard stylings, Foursquare has decked out the existing interface with elements that make it flow much better with iOS 7. Even the icon's received an overhaul as well. If you're an avid Foursquare user, you'll definitely want to pick up the update.

• Free - Download Now

Reeder 2

When Google Reader bit the dust, the original Reeder app did little but update to add support for Feedly. Saying Reeder 2 was worth the wait is an understatement. With a completely new icon, interface, font set, and more, it's a gorgeous update that nails what apps running on iOS 7 should look like. If you need an app to access RSS feeds from, Reeder is one of the best around. Note Reeder 2 is currently only available for iPhone. An updated Mac version will come later.

• $4.99 - Download Now

PCalc

One of the most used apps on all our iPhones is a calculator. Whether it's figuring out a tip or doing schoolwork, a calculator is a staple for almost any device we use nowadays. PCalc has been updated for iOS 7 and features tons of new themes along with some updates to current features as well.

• $9.99 - Download Now

Rdio

Rdio hasn't technically been updated for iOS 7 but it still looks great. It's actually been one of my favorite apps when it comes to design for a long time now. Everything from the transparency of the menus to how the entire interface just flows so great together. Oh and did I mention it's pretty much one of the best streaming apps ever too?

• Free - Download Now

Perfect Weather

Weather apps are something most of us, if not all of us, have on our iPhones. While the native Weather app for iPhone is updated in iOS 7, it lacks a lot of the information some of us want such as radar maps and more information on current conditions. If you want a happy medium between great interface and feature set, Perfect Weather is it.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Amount

Conversion apps can help us convert all kinds of things from distance to currencies to virtually anything else. Amount combines pretty much every kind of conversion you'd want to perform into one easy to use and beautiful app. It's also been updated for iOS 7 and looks amazing. It's also one of our favorite currency conversion apps as well.

• $0.99 - Download Now

Omnifocus 2

If you're an Omnifocus user or you're in the market for a new task management app, Omnifocus 2 is now available and the entire design was built around iOS 7 and better usability. I recently [reviewed Omnifocus 2]( and came away quite impressed with the improvements not only in terms with design but with the overall user friendliness compared to past versions. If you don't currently have a workflow for task apps, make sure to check it out. Omnifocus for Mac was one of our favorite todo apps for OS X as well.

• $19.99 - Download Now

TeeVee 2

TeeVee 2 is an amazing little app that tells you in just a quick glance when your favorite shows are on. You can view episode summaries, descriptions of different shows, and even receive alerts for upcoming shows if you choose. While TeeVee 2 hasn't specifically been updated for iOS 7 yet, it works great already and the interface just fits right in. It's beautifully designed and in some ways reminds me of the clean look and feel of Rdio. And that's a good thing.

• $1.99 - Download Now

GetGlue

GetGlue received an update a little while ago that made it one of the first apps to start the trend of making flat icons to match iOS 7. The entire app has received the same treatment. It ditches all the gradients and textured menus in favor of a much simpler interface. Not only that, the update brings with it much better informational pages on tv shows and movies that make it even easier to join in on the conversation and view all the information you could want on a particular title.

• Free - Download Now

Calendars 5

Calendars 5 by Readdle is one of my favorite alternative calendars apps because it supports natural language input. Just tell it what you want to add to your calendar and it can do all the heavy lifting for you. It can also bundle reminders into one app as an all in one solution. The Calendars 5 update was designed with iOS 7 in mind and is hands down one of the best apps Readdle has ever released. If you're looking for an alternative calendar app, Calendars 5 should be towards the very top of your list.

• $4.99 - Download Now

Google+, Google Maps, Gmail, etc..

The official Google apps have yet to be officially updated for iOS 7 but most work just fine and look great. Many people have pointed out in the past that Google has managed to nail the iOS 7 interface and design before even Apple did. Their native iPhone apps are a testament to this theory as pretty much all of them look like they belong on iOS 7. Don't believe me? Try any one of them for yourself and see what you think.

• Google+, Free - [Download Now](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google?at=10l3Vy&ct=d_im /id447119634?at=10l3Vy&ct=d_im)
• Google Search, Free - Download Now
• Google Maps, Free - Download Now
• Gmail, Free - Download Now
• Google Drive, Free - Download Now

Twitterrific 5

Twitterrific has been updated to version 5.5 and brings with it an even sleeker interface that shifts the focus completely to your timeline. A few months back, Twitterrific 5 launched with a completely re-designed interface that was already very iOS 7 like. The new version refines a lot of the interface as well as adding new features such as support for Safari Reading List bookmarks, more gesture support, the ability to open links in Chrome, and more.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Cal

Cal is an alternative calendar app that adds depth and life to scheduling meetings and events. You can link Cal with your Facebook in order to import friends and other information. It pulls from your native iOS Contacts as well. If the native Calendar app under iOS 7 is a little too flat and plain for you, Cal has a look and feel that still belongs but still manages to not be as boring.

• Free - Download Now

Any.DO

Any.DO is by the same makers of Cal and also looks right at home on iOS 7. The two apps can work hand in hand quite nicely too so if you'd like a task manager to bundle with Cal, there's no better choice than Any.DO. Luckily, the layout is just as great and also looks like it was made for iOS 7.

• Free - Download Now

Clear

Clear is one of the best minimal task apps available for iPhone. With its gorgeous gesture driven interface, it doesn't get any more bare bones or simple than Clear. Pinch to close lists, swipe down to add items, and switch between many gradient color themes. It's great for shopping lists any any other simple kinds of task lists. It already fit into iOS 7 but with the new update, it's even more refined with update typography and more.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Screens 3

Screens is one of our favorite VNC clients and when it comes to screen sharing, it doesn't get much better. Screens 3 has just been released as a completely new app and it brings with it an all new interface that's made to compliment the new design in iOS 7. If you've used Screens in the past, you are already aware of how simple the setup process and actual use is. If you want a plug and play screen sharing option, it's one of the best options out there. And it just got even better.

• $19.99 - Download Now

eBay

If you have an eBay account and regularly sell or buy items, you'll be pleased to know that eBay has already been updated with iOS 7 compatibility. Not only that, the entire interface has been updated to match the look and feel of iOS 7. More gestures have also been adding including swipe to search. Improvements have also been made to finding favorite buyer and seller profiles.

• Free - Download Now

Flipboard

Flipboard has been a long time favorite when it comes to reading news on the iPhone and iPad. It's been updated with support for iOS 7 including a cool parallax feature that brings awesome visual features for magazine covers. Using the parallax feature, magazines literally come to life. It's a great example of what developers can do with the depth of iOS 7.

• Free - Download Now

Pixter

Pixter Scanner was updated a while back specifically to update the interface to be more iOS 7 like. It was actually one of the very first apps I saw that actually updated the interface to match. Not only that, Pixter is a great OCR (optical character recognition) app that works great for scanning and translating or storing large blocks of text. If it sounds like a type of app you'd need, look no further than Pixter.

• Free - Download Now

Apple Store app

The Apple Store app has been updated with a completely redesigned icon and all new layout inside the app to match the overall look and feel of iOS 7. If you haven't ever used the Apple Store app before, it isn't just a great way to browse and buy Apple products straight from your iPhone, you can also book Genius Bar appointments, check store locations and hours, and more.

• Free - Download Now

Shazam & Shazam Encore

Shazam lets you tag any song you hear on tv or the radio in just seconds. From there you can access the iTunes Store to buy music in just one tap. You can also view recommendations and share your tags with friends. The new iOS 7 update makes the user interface of Shazam even better.

• Shazam, Free - Download Now
• Shazam Encore, $6.99 - Download Now

OpenTable

OpenTable for iPhone make sit easy to book dinner reservations at thousands of restaurants in just a few taps. It also ties in with Siri which makes finding information, directions, hours, and reviews on a restaurant simple. the OpenTable 6.0 update has made the interface match that of the rest of iOS 7 as well as making searching even easier.

• Free - Download Now

Finish

Finish is a super popular task management app for iPhone and one that's had one of the best interfaces for quite a while now. It has now been completely redone and is built specifically for iOS 7. With new features such as AirDrop support and repeating tasks, it's better than ever.

• $0.99 - Download Now

Evernote

Evernote is one of the most popular note taking apps and is supported by tons of apps and developers across the world. The newest update is a complete rework with not only iOS 7 support but a great new interface that makes searching and accessing your notes even easier than ever.

• Free - Download Now

Byword

Byword supports Markdown and plain text editing from both iPhone and iPad. Their universal app has just been updated with support for iOS 7. It includes an updated interface that loses the linen textures and adds new menus and a much cleaner interface. It also adds Markdown syntax highlighting, better navigation, and support for AirDrop.

• $4.99 - Download Now

Mailbox

The popular alternative mail client Mailbox has also just been updated with support for iOS 7 that they're boasting is lighter, cleaner, and faster. Some menu items look to having been re-arranged in order to make getting to commonly used items even faster. If you're a Gmail user and you aren't happy with the default Mail app, check out Mailbox.

• Free - Download Now