Why do people like Handcent?

dbarrett480 · Dec 11, 2009

The main think I like is that if you are a Verizon user it will split messages over 160 characters. The default app will only send the first 160 chars of a message it won't split them.

jerry_032505 · Dec 11, 2009

I'm a little new to android, and very new to androidforums, but I downloaded handcent and like it. How do I remove or turn off default text on the Droid, I keep getting 2 msgs at a time. One in handcent and one default.. lol

jfritzs2 · Dec 11, 2009

I like the customizable backgrounds, bubbles, fonts, the pop-up text message, the changeable LED color and notification color according to who text you, I like the contact picture next to the text, the auto convert to and MMS, I like the speech to text, I like the options within the pop up SMS - text to speech, speech to text, option to call contact, etc. I just like to a ton better than the default, I can personalize it a lot more and thats what I want.

If default works for you, go for it, otherwise, try out Handcent and give it a go, if you don't like it, then just don't use it.

Sterlingmaxx · Dec 11, 2009

jerry_032505 said:
I'm a little new to android, and very new to androidforums, but I downloaded handcent and like it. How do I remove or turn off default text on the Droid, I keep getting 2 msgs at a time. One in handcent and one default.. lol

Go to Messages > Settings > Near the bottom is Notifications > Uncheck

This bugged me for a while also...

alostpacket · Dec 11, 2009

jfritzs2 said:
I like the customizable backgrounds, bubbles, fonts, the pop-up text message, the changeable LED color and notification color according to who text you, I like the contact picture next to the text, the auto convert to and MMS, I like the speech to text, I like the options within the pop up SMS - text to speech, speech to text, option to call contact, etc. I just like to a ton better than the default, I can personalize it a lot more and thats what I want.

If default works for you, go for it, otherwise, try out Handcent and give it a go, if you don't like it, then just don't use it.

Thanks, this was very informative

JustROLLIN · Dec 12, 2009

Is there a way to set the background to black within the threads? I was able to set the threads page to black, but then when I click into one of the threads, it turns white again. Anyone know how to set the conversation background to black as well?

Mike Anthony · Dec 12, 2009

it looks better. android conversation style, different colors/styles for different people....sms popups, quick compose. it looks better and is more convenient

Mike Anthony · Dec 12, 2009

dbarrett480 said:
The main think I like is that if you are a Verizon user it will split messages over 160 characters. The default app will only send the first 160 chars of a message it won't split them.

good to know!!

BiGMERF · Dec 12, 2009

GolfnDroid said:
I personally enjoy the speech to text; changing LED notification colors; text pop-up even when phone is asleep and I have not seen any considerable battery drain.

i second this.....

Agrajag · Dec 12, 2009

JustROLLIN said:
Is there a way to set the background to black within the threads? I was able to set the threads page to black, but then when I click into one of the threads, it turns white again. Anyone know how to set the conversation background to black as well?

I had that black once. It's definitely possible though I don't recall the specifics. I know it was easiest while going to settings when on the Bubble screen. I believe the setting was Custom Color. Be aware that many settings have the same name under different headings (I guess to save space).

I set mine to a picture. At the worst you could have a black picture. Mine is set to one of the default pictures of stones and it looks great though I had to change the date to white for it to show up.

The thing I like most about Handcent is the HUGE array of features.

The thing I like least about Handcent is the HUGE array of features.

You can do so many things with it that I often wonder how many things I'm missing out on simply for lack of understanding. I also haven't seen a comprehensive User Manual.

I agree it would be nice to have several more themes and with all the users using it you'd think this would have happened already. It is a bit limited there.

yerfdog2314 · Dec 12, 2009

I mainly like it because I wasn't able to find a way to have the original one remind me every 2 minutes or so if I missed the text. I also wasn't able to find a way to change the vibrate. I could never feel the original one.

Xystence · Dec 12, 2009

I am giving this a try again, a question I have for those who know more about the custom options of this app. Is there a way to make the popup's still come up even when your in the app already texting someone (not replying via popup box). Is there a way to slim down the popup box to just have the message the person sent to me and a reply box? and lastly is there a way to make the native messages icon open handcent? I remember the last time I had it installed it asked me for the default one, and I remember choosing messages instead of handcent then, but I do not know how to reset this.

Thank you for your time!

gandhimaster · Dec 12, 2009

I had an issue (on hero) where handcent forced closed after receiving an mms from my G/F and i lost all my texts i had on my phone. all 500 odd lol.

I assumed it was hancent's fault and uninstalled it. I hope i was right as it was pretty cool otherwise, altho i had frequent unable to send errors.

vizualeyesit · Dec 13, 2009

In addition to everything the others have posted about what they love about Handcent SMS, my favorite feature is being able to apply a custom notification to your contacts. It helps me to know who is sending a text without looking at the phone.

Agrajag · Dec 13, 2009

I have my main contacts color coordinated by their favorite color. Thankfully the main ones all like a different color and they're all available. I would like to find out if the LED is capable of any color and, if so, support them. White, yellow, brown for example. I could make all work calls white then as an example.

craigrn16 · Dec 13, 2009

alostpacket said:
I'm honestly curious what people like so much about Handcent and what sets it apart from the default app. I'm curious because I tried it but wasn't that impressed, but I figure maybe there was some feature I may have missed so wanted to hear others' thoughts.

I agree. I tried it when I first got my Droid and had it looking like the iPhone but then I was like I actually like how the android default looks better than the iPhone bubble method. The one thing I did like though was the pop up message but I found another app that can do that. I wasnt impressed with the speech to text. It was not acurate 90% of the time so I deleted the whole app to save some space. I notice most people though get it to have that iPhone look. For those people I say get an iPhone.

OstrichSaK · Dec 13, 2009

craigrn16 said:
I agree. I tried it when I first got my Droid and had it looking like the iPhone but then I was like I actually like how the android default looks better than the iPhone bubble method. The one thing I did like though was the pop up message but I found another app that can do that. I wasnt impressed with the speech to text. It was not acurate 90% of the time so I deleted the whole app to save some space. I notice most people though get it to have that iPhone look. For those people I say get an iPhone.

To say people use Handcent to mimic an iPhone is foolish and offensive to those who can't stand the iPhone. Aside from all the wizz bang features of Handcent it's most functional feature is the ability to parse long SMS messages into individual 160char messages automatically. This is a must if your running Verizon as the native SMS solution will simply truncate it to 160char and the rest of your message is simply lost forever.

onion · Dec 13, 2009

The bubble message design is retarted. I uninstalled Handcent after 5mins. The bubble messages just look stupid.

hrbib21 · Dec 13, 2009

Tried it for the third time the last two days. Battery life horrible and LAG LAG LAG. Made my phone horrible to use it's deleted and my phone is running great again. This was the only change to the phone so I don't know if it's Handcent itself or maybe it's conflicting with an existing app, who knows.

Barbara · Dec 13, 2009

onion said:
The bubble message design is retarted. I uninstalled Handcent after 5mins. The bubble messages just look stupid.

You don't have to use bubble. That's the default but you can change it.

enderwiggin · Dec 13, 2009

onion said:
The bubble message design is retarted. I uninstalled Handcent after 5mins. The bubble messages just look stupid.

In Handcent hit the menu button > Conversation Style > Android. It returns to the basic Android SMS look with all the other benefits of Handcent.

craigrn16 · Dec 13, 2009

OstrichSaK said:
To say people use Handcent to mimic an iPhone is foolish and offensive to those who can't stand the iPhone. Aside from all the wizz bang features of Handcent it's most functional feature is the ability to parse long SMS messages into individual 160char messages automatically. This is a must if your running Verizon as the native SMS solution will simply truncate it to 160char and the rest of your message is simply lost forever.

well I guess I didnt explore the app more before I deleted it. Youre probably right for that.

Barbara · Dec 13, 2009

craigrn16 said:
well I guess I didnt explore the app more before I deleted it. Youre probably right for that.

I pretty much did the same thing. I used the stock. Installed handcent and used it. Uninstalled and went back to stock. Reinstalled handcent and deleted all notifications in stock. Handcent has been updated several times since I installed it the second time. I really, really like it now!

W4LLY · Dec 13, 2009

Handcent is pissing me off and erasing/losing my texts. This is unacceptable.

calbruc · Dec 14, 2009

My favorite features of Handcent were the 160 split, the user-defined autocorrect, and the speech-to-text conversion (though it wasn't terribly accurate).

The autocorrect was killer and I don't see why more apps don't support this (I'm looking at you Gmail, stock messaging app), especially given the lack of a non-ALT apostrophe. I set it up to, say, change "itss" to "it's," or "illl" to "I'll."

Sadly though, like W4LLY, I had issues with sending and receiving texts, so I'm looking into other solutions. I guess I'll have to sacrifice convenience and customization for reliability.

Why do people like Handcent?

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