Google’s solution to the green bubble iMessage problem is insanely great – Macworld

We all know how annoying group conversations can be when one of the bubbles is green, but its about to get better. Googles solution to iPhone tapbacks is rolling out to Android phones beginning today and its very slick.

Tapbacks in iMessage are the reactions that appear when you long-press on a text. On the iPhone, you can choose one of six reactions and they appear above the message when texting between iPhone users. But when an Android user joins a group conversation, tapbacks become clunky text strings that clutter the conversation with Mike laughed at or Karen loved and then repeats the message.

Thats gotten a whole lot better now. We were able to test the feature on a Pixel 5 and the implementation is surprisingly solid. Instead of Jason liked this message when an iPhone user selects a tapback, Android users will see small emoji under the message rather than above it, but otherwise they function just like they would if they were using an iPhone. As a result, iPhone users wont have their conversations cluttered with tapback texts and Android users wont feel like second-class citizens. Its a true win-win and the smartest messaging feature Googles implemented in years.

Your Android to iPhone conversations will be a lot cleaner now that Google translates tapbacks.

IDG

To get the feature, you must be using the Google Messages app and have the Show iPhone reactions as emoji toggle turned on in the Advanced settings. It appears to work with every carrier, though the rollout is staggered. As of now, it only appears to be live on some Pixel phones. WhatsApp is also reportedly readying its own tapback system that should appear in an upcoming WhatsApp beta before rolling out to users.

The emoji dont exactly line up with Apples reactions, but theyre relatively close enough where there shouldnt be too much confusion. Heres what Google has chosen for the six tapback responses:

Tapping the emoji brings up a banner at bottom of the screen that says Translated from iPhone with the appropriate emoji. Responses come in as quickly as a text message would and even have a nice bit of animation that all feels incredibly natural.

Googles solution to one of the most annoying parts of the iMessage experience is admirable. While some may take issue with the choice of emoji, its hard to not be impressed with the results. As with all things Android, itll take a while for it to become widespread, but its safe to say that one of the biggest annoyances about texting between iPhones and Android phones has been solved.

Update 2/3: WhatsApp is also working on its own tapback solution.

Michael Simon has been covering Apple since the iPod was the iWalk. His obsession with technology goes back to his first PCthe IBM Thinkpad with the lift-up keyboard for swapping out the drive. He's still waiting for that to come back in style tbh.

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Google's solution to the green bubble iMessage problem is insanely great - Macworld