Published May 12, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT I cover Android with a focus on productivity, automation, and Google’s ecosystem, including Gemini and everyday apps. With a background in engineering and software development, I tend to go beyond surface-level tips and focus on how features fit into real workflows. Before joining AP, I wrote for tech publications such as Gizbot  in 2023 and iJunkie (formerly known as iPhoneHacks) from 2021 to 2022. I rely on Google Messages more than almost any other app on my phone. It’s my default for SMS, it handles RCS chats well enough, and it’s the one app I open without thinking when I need to text someone. Features such as RCS support, spam protection, and cross-device syncing have improved the app over the past few years. However, as I continue to use Google Messages , I notice that some missing features are becoming more apparent. Some of these are basic quality-of-life improvements that other messaging apps have already addressed.…