40 
A few years ago texting was the bomb. It was quick, easy, way better than having to open yourself up to an actual back-and-forth conversation with someone, and perfect for surreptitious communication in class or meetings or whathaveyou. That said, I’d be glad to never get a text message ever again.
It’s not the principle of sending short, textual messages I’m opposed to; I still love that. It’s the part where those messages show up on my phone and… no, just my phone. Admittedly this is getting into first world problem territory but bear with me:
Yesterday I got a text from a friend. My phone was on the couch, so I got up from my desk and checked it out to find it was a link to a YouTube video. Naturally I clicked it, and sat there staring at my phone screen for a few minutes.
OK, so what’s the problem? Well, when that text came in, I was sitting in front of my dual-screen computer setup, with a tablet within arm’s reach, and suddenly I’m across the room glued to a phone — the tiniest screen I own — all because my buddy sent me a text instead of a tweet, an email, or a gchat. That sucks.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not mad at him for sending me a text. I’m just frustrated to be in a situation where a text message is anything other than a last resort at getting in touch with me. Sure text messaging was the way to touch base when I met most of the people in my address book, but it’s not anymore. At least not for me. I’m not about to brandish my email address and twitter handle at every old pal who wants to send me a quip, but I sure am going to stew about having to look at my phone when they do.
Look, I get that texting is a pretty universal solution; by now pretty much everyone who has a phone can get texts and keeps that device on their person, or at least in earshot. I’m just yearning for a world where I don’t get any phone-only messages, and I just wish my old college pal who wants to catch a beer after work was on the same page with me; I hate having to curse his name every time he texts me.
Image credit: Shout from Shutterstock
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WOW this is a proper first world problem
He’s not just getting into first-world-problem territory, he’s across the border with a permanent visa sipping cocktails on the beach.
hahaha so true lol, more of a spoiled kids tantrum rather than a ‘Rant’
This person is the worst. I am actually shocked.
Maybe if you had given your “pal” your email address then he wouldn’t have sent you the link via text.
Easy.
Mightytext is my answer for this problem
Computer? > Kies Air?
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/usefulsoftware/KIESAIR/JSP
Tablet? > Tablet talk
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apdroid.tabtalk&hl=en
/your rant
I assume you have a mac, doesn’t iMessage consolidate all your messages into one app, is it not available for the mac? That was what my understanding of it was, I’m sure someone will correct me if not.
If you are on android there are plenty of ways to access your texts on a computer, airdroid being my favourite.
yep Airdroid is my favourite too
Depends if the sender was using iMessage for Mac OS or an iOS device. If not, then no. Would be nice if it did consolidate everything! That is a thought for the future.
Basically works like BBM, you can’t BBM someone with an iPhone for example.
Makes it worse for me, My mum has an Ipad and Iphone. I get messages mid conversation turning up randomly in email accounts, on my Ipad and back to normal (android) text messaging with no rhyme or reason to it.
Is there an alternative to Airdroid that will allow me to upload aac tracks as it only supports MP3, ogg and wav?
This is what iMessage does, and it’s glorious. I’d love for Apple to make a windows client too but I don’t see that happening anytime soon
(also syncs with an iPad or iPod Touch too)
Oh but not standard SMS, only iMessages.
In answer to your question, yes, you can share your iOS phone number with your Mac for iMessages.
But if someone on an android text him, it would come through as a general text. If it is that much of an issue for this guy then there is plenty of services that would forward his text to an email address.
I don’t see an issue here, except a slow news day.
Why would anyone send a Youtube link over text? Text is for short conversations, totally agree links should be reserved for social media
yep, i don’t see the point of that either, seems a bit odd
Yep. I think we can safely agree that the moral of this story is to get better friends.
Better friends as in friends who won’t send youtube links through text messaging, or friends who won’t mind you sending them links through text messaging? Because I know I would take the later any day.
I really wish Whatsapp had a desktop client
Should do. I thought it did?, if not they are missing out.
Not that I am aware of. Other than running Bluestacks or something like that
poor Eric had to walk across a room and watch a youtube link on his mobile
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not mad at him for sending me a text”
You should be, for sending youtube links in them. Don’t they have your facebook or email or practically any other contact details for a more acceptable medium?
You should probably tell him to save links to computer based mdeiums and leave text messages for short messages. If they won’t agree that, well, get better friends.
Autism.
this is simply the most ridiculous thing i’ve ever seen on gizmodo.
You need WUPHF! http://youtu.be/ytc9-wGCHW0