Android 7.0 Soft Chewy Center doesn't understand DND Priority Only

dontpanicbobby said:

Try starring them again.
Your OS has changed. Stuff happens.
Google changed things. Changed things a lot.
Check if your Google contacts still have priority.

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Did that first. Even re-did that a second time. The problem is in how it's all programmed.

rdsok said:

Perhaps this will help you understand the changes better so you can get it working as you want ( after learning about the changes )

https://www.howtogeek.com/260225/androids-confusing-do-not-disturb-settings-explained/

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Thanks but I've been through all that.

Let me rephrase the problem:

With the old version, Android would see a starred contact come through according to your wishes and immediately recognize it, then run around blowing horns, banging drums and generally calling the text or email to your attention. I loved all the (old) features of Do Not Disturb...loved them, hugged them, squeezed them and called them George. It was a great way to deal with my ex-husband when he got into That Mood.

The new app now requires you to select your notifications at the app level -- push out a notification? Notification plus sound? All that jazz. I receive the notifications, but the app is inflexible at this level here: Sound or no sound. Period.

Soft Chewy Center DOES allow the user to customize the notification desires per contact. So, for each text thread currently going, I can find my starred contacts and set them to SOUND: YES, PLEASE! (Just a note here: Am I the only one who finds it annoying that an upgrade requires the user to do MORE work to accomplish the same thing as before? Apparently, yes.)

Again, this all comes down to ON or OFF. New texts coming in have to be dealt with one at a time for starred contacts. In other words, I DON'T receive sound notification for starred contacts until they come in, I notice them, and set the text thread preference accordingly.

This, to me, feels completely un-intuitive. Instead of having a smart phone, I now have a "hold my hand and walk me through it, Human," phone.

*sigh*

Hi, rdsok!

rdsok said:

The version name is Nougant... not Soft Chewy Center...

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Yes, the first sentence of my post called it such -- and the subject line refers to version 7.0.

rdsok said:

I understand you are attempting to be derogatory ... but to me that attempt is actually looking childish instead. Call it what it is if you wish others to actually know what you are talking about or you will confuse others instead.

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Interesting choice of words -- again, I did refer to it as V7.0 throughout the original post...but let's come back to the words "derogatory" and "childish" later...

rdsok said:

The ability to customize the OS is Androids main advantage over iOS which limits it's users typically to doing it just one way. The downside to providing customization is the added complexity it also brings with it. ...
<major snip>
...Analogy ( even if it's a poor one )... If I were given a choice of a world with vanilla ice cream only... or one with 31 flavors... I'd pick the 31 flavors every time but I also know that I'd stand at the counter much longer trying to decide which one I wanted.

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Not a poor analogy at all ...

rdsok said:

... Adding features with many options will naturally bring with it more complexity. But by having that complexity, I'm more likely to have things setup more like I'd want them. Of course, it'd be nice if they had come up with a more elegant method ( if one even exists ) and they will likely tweak this one in time. At least they are trying to provide the customization options that their users are asking instead of just forcing us with only a single choice.

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You've mentioned "complexity" numerous times and that is where we're at in the arc of this particular tech evolution: I believe there comes a point where we design apps or software or OSs to provide a high level of customization, and then a tipping point at which the intuitiveness we are striving for fails under the weight of the complexity created. Yes, they will likely tweak in response to user feedback and the pendulum will swing back (we hope) towards the intuitive side from the highly complex side. It is the bane of any developer's existence (not just in the tech biz) to make as many people happy as possible while trying not to piss off or alienate too many others.

Now, returning to this:

rdsok said:

I understand you are attempting to be derogatory ... but to me that attempt is actually looking childish instead. Call it what it is if you wish others to actually know what you are talking about or you will confuse others instead.

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I actually wasn't attempting to be derogatory. Clearly, I struck a nerve to elicit the response you provided. From my viewpoint, I started working with tech long before the Information Superhighway came along, back when we had intra-company proprietary communications systems, worldwide, because there was no such thing as electronic mail. Long before forums, as you know, there were bulletin boards with simple Courier font, nested sentences reflecting conversations on a boring blue screen. I was on those. I'm kinda old(er).

I've seen how hard developers work behind the scenes, seen sleepless nights, watched friends and family worry about their jobs because of a glitch or a bug that can't be worked out by the deadline, watched them scan thousands of lines of code with an ulcer forming...and then to have the end result of their hard work referred to as "Lollipop" or "Marshmallow" or "Nougat" churns my stomach. You guys create what is the backbone of modern society's communication system, apps on which businesses rely every day...and someone names the end result like it's a new type of candy. You are not creating a children's game. The names chosen for each new OS upgrade don't reflect the work you do, nor does it treat the end user with respect for having any intelligence whatsoever.

</rant>

P.S. Thank you for the input. At least you confirmed that I'm not missing something in how the new system is set up. Now, I've got to get back to work.

Cheers,
Allie

lunatic59 said:

Have you tried (deep breath) settings>sound>do not disturb> priority only allows>messages>from starred contacts only? and then putting it priority mode?

If the purpose is to let only starred contacts get notifications through, then that should do it (at least it does for me)

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Hey lunie,

So (deep breath) yes. That's what used to do it under the old 6.0 Squishy Blob of White Chemicals Usually Roasted Over a Fire on a Stick...I would even get the star in my notification bar. After V7.0 came out, no star...just the DND symbol. I didn't touch anything because I figured I wouldn't need to re-set anything...but then quickly realized that all incoming texts were popping in with sound notifications. After playing around with it for far too long (and resetting my DND/Priority Only a few too many times as well), I realized I had to set the Messages app to no notifications, then go through my text threads, find my starred contacts, and manually set each one in the threads themselves.

In the end, these changes make DND/Priority Only pretty much useless for the Messages app. The bright side is that it pushes me to move my priority contacts to Signal...which those contacts won't mind one bit. Then I'd just keep two different notification settings (one for each app). Itty bitty PITA.

lunatic59 said:

For the record, nougat isn't soft and chewy just at the center. (And I chuckled more at calling MM notifications "George")

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Haha! Now if you now the origins of that phrase (in other words, where Bugs Bunny got it from), you'll really be showing your age.

rdsok said:

And I was chuckling at calling us "you guys" as if we were working for Google and not just standard users.... [facepalm]

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And why is it a "facepalm"? Why not "foreheadpalm"?

rdsok said:

Well, it's not worth my time to go on... not when the OP is just wanting to complain and not even attempt to understand the reasoning behind the change

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Oh, do go on! I was just getting the popcorn out! I realize I did say "you guys" in reference to the developers...but you can jump in there as well if you wish.

I do understand the reasoning for the change...but again, it's makes a moot point of the blanket DND/Priority Only if each incoming text has to be handled individually.

I did ask for help with the issue. I was not looking merely to complain.