[review] Handcent SMS

[konzern]

Hello ACers im back once again bringing you an app review this time around. Normally i only do widget reviews but this app is so amazing i had to make a review.

The name of the app is "Handcent SMS"

Price = FREE

Yes this app has been in the market for a very long time but it had not caught my eye until recently. I had tried this app a long time ago but it wasnt up to par, thats not the case anymore.

MOVE OVER CHOMP SMS



The first screen you see is the conversations screen. The first difference you should see is that you can see the contacts picture of each conversation.



By pressing menu you get the conversations menu where you can do alot of the normal stuff along with "batch mode" which allows you to delete only the conversations you check off.

This app has so many settings that i could not fit it into one screen shot









Application Settings
*Language settings

*Applications theme
--black
--light

*Conversation Style
--Classic
--Handcent
--Iphone (this is personally my favorite)
--Android

*Display datetime format

*Display font size

*Display contact picture

*Auto rotate

*Bubble Settings (this is where this app prevails)
--smart hyperlink
--Bubble color options
--Bubble font color options

Background settings

YOU CAN USE YOUR OWN PICTURE AS A BACKGROUND
This is just a preview of what you could do with just trial and error




you also have basic settings like those found on the native SMS app, like notifications and retrieve settings.

another great feature of this app is the POPUP included in the app itself, no more need for "SMS Popup" because this popup is even better.



It has all the features you love about SMS Popup so i wont bother listing them, but it includes a quick reply option that does not require you to go into the app at all to reply to a message.







Back to the many settings

*Signature settings

*Text to speech settings
--Language
--Speech Rate
--Media Volume

*Black list

Now onto the actual conversations



As you can see from the picture, you have an option at the top right corner to call the person and on the right side it has individual conversation settings.



IMO This option is amazin because you can customize every conversation you have by changing signature and layout but the best thing is INDIVIDUAL RINGTONES! you can set a ringtone for every conversation so you know who it is without even looking at your phone

PROS
*extremely customizable
*free
*too many to list

CONS
*the datetime sometimes changes on its own


UPDATE 8/7

With the most recent update of this app they have added an option to choose your own font from font packages found thru the market.

You have to search the market for the font packs, just search "handcent" and they should show up. There is currently 2 font packs with about 5 font styles in each app.

Once you download the font pack its as easy as going to the hancent menu and choosing the "additional font package" tab.



the only thing that frustrated me was the fact that you have to go back and forth from the menu to the texts to see the new font you pick. You dont get a preview of the font type. It only affects the actual text messages (which i like)

here is the font i chose but there is a a couple you can choose from




overall this app is quickly becoming one of my favorite apps, i think its unique in how much you can actually customize and make it your own.

[konzern]

hmmm thats weird its not showing the lists like i did them but when i try to edit it, it shows the list correctly

[Constrabus]

This looks sweet.

Nooooiice job on the review and screenies.

Anyone know if it possible to transfer/copy old messages from Android's messaging app to this?

[notxel21]

Great Review Kon as usual!!!!!!!!!!

Keeping up the great reviews after becoming staff!! Jk!!!

[konzern]

thanks.

what do you mean transfer? do you mean backed up messages?

[konzern]

Great Review Kon as usual!!!!!!!!!!

Keeping up the great reviews after becoming staff!! Jk!!!

haha no its just that this app got such a bad rep when it came out that ppl forgot about it and now its the most amazing SMS app IMO

[Constrabus]

By transfer I mean to have the messages that came from Androids messaging app, currently in the app or backed up. Either way.

[konzern]

the on-going conversations transfer to the app automatically

[Constrabus]

the on-going conversations transfer to the app automatically

Veryyy nice.
One more question then.. How do we back up messages from this app?
or after installing, do messages go to both apps (stock and this one) and notifications are not shown from the Android app.

[Aikoa]

wow Kon...I love you this is an awesome app now...BE GONE SMS POPUP!