6 clever iMessage apps
Apps that make smart use of Apple’s newly extensible messaging app
Apps that work in harmony with iMessage in iOS 10.
WITH THE ARRIVAL of iOS 10 came big changes to Apple’s Messages app. Not only did it add cool animations, but also its very own App Store, full of interesting tools that run purely within your conversations with your friends. Some of these apps are just sticker packs, adding new images to send to people. What we’re looking at are the apps that add functionality. Developers are already doing some extremely cool things here: making it easy to look up and send travel information right from iMessages, translating text, hiding private messages, and more!
Some are standalone iMessage apps, and some are Universal (free with their corresponding iOS app) – though a bug means you may have to reinstall these apps to get them working.
Secretly Messaging Want to send an iMessage about a special present for an all-important person, or one that contains banking details, and be sure it’s visible only to the right recipient? Write your message and this 99¢ app hides it, with the other person able to reveal it by using Touch ID or a PIN (which they set up in the app on their end).
Polls With Friends What will you do today? Where will you eat? Who’s gonna drive? Use this 99¢ app to send a question to a group, and they can vote on it right in the conversation!
ETA How long will it be until you arrive? This $2.99 app knows (based on your location, transport method, and destination), and makes it easy to send.
iTranslate Need to speak to someone in another language (or just want to practice one)? iTranslate (free) can translate messages right as you send them!
Pennies Mini Set a budget in this 99¢ app and send it to others – you can all say how much of you’ve spent. Great for days out.
Words With Friends Yes, you can now play the hugely popular and free Scrabble-style word game right inside an iMessage chat. The games are slightly different – fewer tiles, for faster play.