Search results for: “read receipt”

  • The RCS Puzzle: Apple’s iPhone and the missing pieces

    The RCS Puzzle: Apple’s iPhone and the missing pieces

    The world of mobile messaging has been evolving rapidly, and one of the most significant advancements in recent years has been the rise of Rich Communication Services, or RCS. This protocol promises a richer, more feature-filled experience than traditional SMS/MMS, bringing features like read receipts, typing indicators, high-resolution media sharing, and enhanced group chats to the forefront. Apple’s recent adoption of RCS on the iPhone was a major step forward, but the rollout has been, shall we say, a bit of a winding road.

    Let’s rewind a bit. For years, iPhone users communicating with Android users were often stuck with the limitations of SMS/MMS. Blurry photos, no read receipts, and clunky group chats were the norm. RCS offered a potential solution, bridging the gap and offering a more seamless experience across platforms. When Apple finally announced support for RCS, it was met with widespread excitement. However, the implementation has been anything but uniform.

    Instead of a blanket rollout, Apple has opted for a carrier-by-carrier approach, requiring individual approvals for each network to enable RCS on iPhones. This has led to a rather fragmented landscape, with some carriers offering an enhanced messaging experience while others remain stuck in the past. It’s like building a puzzle where some pieces are missing and others don’t quite fit.

    The latest iOS updates have brought good news for users on several smaller carriers. Networks like Boost Mobile and Visible have recently been added to the growing list of RCS-supported carriers. This is undoubtedly a positive development, expanding the reach of RCS and bringing its benefits to a wider audience. It’s encouraging to see Apple working to broaden the availability of this important technology.

    However, this piecemeal approach has also created some notable omissions. Several popular low-cost carriers, such as Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, are still conspicuously absent from the list of supported networks. This leaves their customers in a frustrating limbo, unable to enjoy the improved messaging experience that RCS offers. It begs the question: why the delay? What are the hurdles preventing these carriers from joining the RCS revolution?

    Perhaps the most glaring omission of all is Google Fi. This Google-owned mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) has a significant user base, many of whom are iPhone users. The fact that Google Fi is still waiting for RCS support on iPhones is a major point of contention. It’s a bit like having a high-speed internet connection but being unable to access certain websites.

    Reports suggest that Google is essentially waiting for Apple to give the green light for RCS interoperability on Fi. It appears that the ball is firmly in Apple’s court. This situation is particularly perplexing given that Google has been a strong proponent of RCS and has been actively working to promote its adoption across the Android ecosystem. The lack of support on Fi for iPhones creates a significant disconnect.

    Adding to the confusion, Apple’s official webpage detailing RCS support for various carriers completely omits any mention of Google Fi. This omission extends beyond RCS, with no mention of other features like 5G and Wi-Fi Calling either. This lack of acknowledgment doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that RCS support for Fi is on the horizon. It raises concerns about the future of interoperability between these two major players in the tech industry.

    The current state of RCS on iPhone is a mixed bag. While the expansion to more carriers is a welcome development, the fragmented rollout and the notable omissions, especially Google Fi, create a sense of incompleteness. It’s clear that there’s still work to be done to achieve the full potential of RCS and deliver a truly seamless messaging experience across platforms. One can only hope that Apple will streamline the process and accelerate the adoption of RCS for all carriers, including Google Fi, in the near future. The future of messaging depends on it.

    Source

  • Updated Mail app with simple sorting hits Mac and iPad

    Updated Mail app with simple sorting hits Mac and iPad

    Apple rolled out the first iPadOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4 betas today, bringing the refreshed Mail app to iPad and Mac users for developers to try.

    What’s New in the Mail App on Mac

    The updated Mail app now sorts your emails automatically into neat groups. The most urgent messages land in the Primary category. Other emails get split into sections like shopping orders, newsletters, special offers, and social updates.

    There’s a handy “Transactions” area that gathers receipts, order details, and delivery updates. This makes it super simple to track purchases and shipping info. Then, there’s an “Updates” section for things like newsletters, doctor appointment reminders, and subscription messages. Plus, a “Promotions” category holds emails about sales and deals.

    When you open the app after the update, this grouped view is what you’ll see first. But if you prefer the old-school style, just tap the top-right corner to switch to a basic list of all emails in order by date—no categories. If your device supports Apple Intelligence, the Primary inbox will highlight key emails so you can focus on what matters most. Time-sensitive messages from Transactions, Updates, or Promotions will also pop up in Primary.

    Apple already added this email-sorting feature to the iPhone with iOS 18.2. Now, it’s available on Mac and iPad too, making it easier to stay on top of your inbox across all your devices.

  • Mac app store issues for older Mac systems

    Mac app store issues for older Mac systems

    Mac users with older macOS versions are facing problems when trying to use the Mac App Store. Specifically, those with macOS Mojave (10.14) and older are having trouble.

    Reports started coming in around January 24, 2025, suggesting that something went wrong when Apple updated how receipts work in the App Store. Users are seeing error messages like “Something went wrong while logging in” or “We couldn’t read the data because it’s not in the right format.”

    The experience varies depending on which macOS version you’re using. If you’re on Catalina (10.15) or newer, everything works fine. But if you’re still using Mojave (10.14), you can look around the store, but you can’t buy new apps or download ones you’ve already bought once your session ends. For those on High Sierra (10.13), parts of the store’s interface might not show up, and signing in can be tricky. Users on Sierra (10.12) are seeing messages that stop them from even getting into the store.

    It looks like these problems might have something to do with Apple’s new way of handling receipts, but we’re not sure yet. For those stuck with these issues, Apple offers other ways to get macOS updates. Also, many apps can still be downloaded directly from the developers’ own websites, outside of the App Store.

    This situation leaves older Mac users in a bit of a bind, hoping for a quick fix from Apple to restore full functionality to the Mac App Store on their systems.

    Source