Apple’s Messages app (née iMessage) has by no means been for fundamental textual content messages; it’s all the time completed extra, particularly in case your recipient additionally has an iPhone. Nowadays, sending a textual content is just the tip of the iceberg for Messages. It’s an extremely sturdy platform for sending all kinds of issues – from cash to areas to animated drawings.
I’ve been utilizing the iPhone for the reason that very starting, and since most of my household opted for the iPhone, I exploit Apple Messages extensively, and I’ve explored its finest options.
To entry these instruments, open Apple Messages and select a dialog. At the underside of the display, subsequent to the open textual content field, you’ll see a plus (‘+’) signal. Tap that + and an extended checklist of additional options will seem. That checklist will develop as you add apps that may use Apple Messages for options, just like the Starbucks app.
Here are seven fun and useful tools that Messages offers to take your communication beyond basic text messaging.
Send a sticker that you made from a favorite photo
To make a sticker, open Apple Photos and find a photo with the subject you want in a pose that makes a great sticker when you cut out the background. Then, hold your finger down on the subject. You’ll see a wavy effect that traces the outline of your sticker. Lift your finger and a pop-up menu will appear – choose the ‘Add Sticker’ option.
If you try to make a sticker with a Live Photo, it won’t work. Holding your finger on a Live Photo makes the photo playback. You’ll need to turn that Live Photo off first, then you can create a sticker.
Once you’ve created a sticker in Photos, you can add it to your conversation by tapping the ‘+’ sign in Messages and choosing ‘Stickers.’ You can also add cool effects, making your sticker look puffy or sparkly in a way that reacts when you tilt your iPhone.
Send Cash money
Why bother with Venmo or Zelle when you can send money through Apple Messages? If you have Apple Cash set up with a payment method, you can send money to another iPhone user through Messages, without opening a separate app or service.
Open Messages and tap the ‘+’, then choose Apple Cash. You can send or receive money from this window. If you don’t have Apple Cash set up yet, open the Apple Wallet app. Cash should appear as one of your Wallet cards.
Poll a group for their opinions
Where should we eat dinner? What time should we meet on Sunday? Did you watch the Super Bowl halftime show or the Puppy Bowl? Instead of pinging your group chat with questions, send a poll instead.
Open Messages, then tap the ‘+’ and choose ‘Polls.’ You don’t have much control over the poll – being able to set a time limit would be nice. However, you can add countless options, so you aren’t limited to A, B, C, or None of the Above.
Unlike Stickers and Apple Cash requests, Polls can only be sent to iPhone recipients. If you have a group chat with one Android user, you won’t be able to send a Poll questionnaire.
A text message… but not right now
I use this feature all the time. Schedule a text message for later. Maybe you want to hit somebody at the right moment – at the end of the school day instead of during class. Perhaps you want to remind someone about an appointment. Maybe you just don’t want to seem weird if you have an idea at 2 AM and want to send a message. Instead, write your message now and schedule it for later.
Open Messages and tap the ‘+’ then choose Send Later. A bubble appears above your text box, showing the time your message will be delivered. Tap that bubble to change the time. You can even set your message to be sent up to 364 days in the future. Set your birthday messages now and take credit next month!
A check-in when I get there
Does someone frequently ask you to ‘text me to let me know you got there safe?’ Your iPhone will remember to check in, even if you forget. Open Messages and tap the ‘+’ then choose Check In, and you’ll find one of the iPhone’s coolest features.
You can set a check in to occur when you arrive at a specific location, or send a check in after a set period of time. You can even inexplicably send a check in after you finish a workout if you coordinate with your Apple Watch.
A verify in can ship an attention-grabbing package deal of particulars: your location, your cellphone’s battery stage, and sign energy. You may also select to ship much more particulars, just like the route you took to get to your vacation spot and the final location earlier than your iPhone shut down or your Apple Watch was eliminated.
These options put Check In properly into the realm of security and safety instruments, past easy messaging.
Coffee from Starbucks, or strikes on a sport board
Send any individual a espresso. Not the precise espresso, however a Starbucks present card, by Apple Messages. If you’ve gotten the Starbucks app in your iPhone, you’ll see an possibility below the Messages ‘+’ menu for Starbucks. You can select from a number of card designs and set the worth earlier than you ship it. Sure, you might simply ship Apple Cash, however this is a little more private.
As you add apps to your iPhone, verify below that ‘+’ menu to see when you’ve got any new options for Messages. For occasion, TikTookay integrates instantly with Apple Messages, and there are additionally a variety of video games that you may play utilizing Messages to ship strikes to the opposite participant’s display, like Game Pigeon.
An animated doodle
The Digital Touch characteristic was born on Apple Watch, however now you may ship doodles and drawings to anyone with Apple Messages. The doodles aren’t simply static drawings, both; your recipient can see the traces as if traced by your finger, making doodles animated and surprisingly private.
You may also report a video of your self and draw on the display whereas it is recording! There’s a whole lot of potential enjoyable available with Digital Touch, particularly since it really works throughout units. Using my Apple Watch to ship doodles provides a extra private contact than simply telling Siri what to say.