Block unwanted texts with Android’s
new messaging app
After a brief flirtation with Hangouts as the
central hub for messing, Google has given
Android a new SMS app. Messenger is
available to download for free from the Play
Store now, and it’s really rather good.
As well as a beautiful Material Design-infused
UI that surpasses the other Material text apps
like Textra and QKSMS, Messenger is packed
with features that make it a fully fledged
replacement for whatever app you’re using
for text messaging right now
Top features in Messenger
It’s great for sharing videos, photos and audio
clips—tapping the attachment icon when
composing a message opens a mini window at
the bottom of the screen that enables you to
snap or record your attached file in real time
(or you can select a pre-exisitng file, of
course).
It’s a new UI idea that we don’t remember
seeing elsewhere, and is the kind of thing that
could be adopted to great effect in other
messaging apps.
There’s also beefed-up searching, and colour
coding for messages to help you find your key
content, as well as an archiving system to
keep your main screen clear.
Block junk texts
Perhaps the best of all is the in-built ability to
block junk texts.
Simply tap on a text within your Inbox, hit
the three dots menu button and select People
& Options.
Here you can assign custom settings for
individual contacts, including custom
notification alerts, to help you always identify
incoming messages from your most important
contacts.
But there’s also a Block option.
Tapping this effectively blacklists that contact
and their number. Their messages won’t be
blocked from entering your phone entirely,
but you won’t get a notification for a message
from them, and that message will be
automatically archived. In short, you’ll never
see it unless you go looking for it.
A new text messaging app won’t be among the
most exciting features of the new Lollipop and
Material Design movement, but it may well be
one of its most successful. By moving away
from the clutter and confusion of Hangouts,
Messenger is an ideal example of a highly
focussed app that does one thing and does it
extremely well.
Messenger is available for all Android phones
running Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) and above

Download at http://gurusplanet.cc.vg