iOS 804: iMessage Apps - Navigating the Junk Drawer of iOS Features
iOS Today (Audio)
Leo Laporte
4.1 • 616 Ratings
🗓️ 28 May 2026
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Why do iMessage apps feel like a forgotten experiment, and what buried gems are still hiding behind that plus button? Dan Moren joins the show to unpack which built-in features now outshine their third-party predecessors and what that says about Apple's approach to messaging.
- iMessage apps' evolution, developer challenges, and user engagement declines
- Default iMessage features vs. true apps
- Sticker packs, sharing GIFs, and gameplay in Messages lose relevance
- Apple's default iMessage tools—photos, polls, cash, check in, send later
- Nuances of audio messages, dictation, and in-app differences
- Tips for faster photo sharing and rearranging iMessage features
- Real-world uses and practical limitations of iMessage's check-in feature
- Notable third-party iMessage app recommendations and personal favorites
- New: Apple's 2026 accessibility updates, including voice control, real-time captions, and AI-powered magnifier
- Picks of the Week: Indigo cross-network social app and Wipr 2 content filter
Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren
Contact iOS Today at iOSToday@twit.tv.
Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today
Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Coming up on iOS Today, Rosemary Orchard is out, but don't worry, Dan. |
| 0:04.0 | Moran joins us to talk about iMessage apps and other features. |
| 0:09.4 | Stay tuned for iOS today. |
| 0:13.6 | Podcasts you love. |
| 0:15.4 | From people you trust. |
| 0:17.9 | This is Twitter. |
| 0:21.6 | This is iOS Today, episode 804 with Dan Morin and me, Micah Sargent. |
| 0:28.1 | Recorded Tuesday, May 26th, 20206 for Thursday, May 28th, 26. |
| 0:34.7 | IMessage apps. |
| 0:37.1 | Hello and welcome to iOS today. This is the show where we talk all things online. 26, iMessage apps. |
| 0:40.4 | Hello and welcome to iOS today. This is the show where we talk all things iOS, iPod, OS, |
| 0:42.5 | iPod, OS, watch OS, home pod OS, and of course, all the other OS's Apple has to offer us. |
| 0:48.1 | And well, today I am once again, Micah Sargent, if you can believe it, but joined not by Rosemary Orchard |
| 0:57.9 | this week, instead joined by Six Colors own Dan Moran. |
| 1:02.5 | Welcome back to the show, Dan. |
| 1:04.1 | Good as always to be here, Micah. |
| 1:06.2 | My favorite OS is Cheerios. |
| 1:10.1 | No, that's... |
| 1:11.6 | Got lots of fiber. |
| 1:12.6 | Your heart is doing well. |
| 1:14.6 | You know, I like myself, I like to have some oats. |
| 1:17.6 | Yeah. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 20 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Leo Laporte, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Leo Laporte and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.