The new app launched in June, Android Messages for web, now allows you to send text messages from your computer. While they were at it, Google developers hid some pretty fun Easter eggs in the app. Let’s take a look.
Send Text Messages from a Computer
Though it took time for this long-awaited feature to become available to the public, it is now possible to send text messages from your computer. Here’s what you need to do:
- install the latest updates on your Android smartphone
- go to this address: https://messages.android.com/
Next, once you have opened the Messages app on your Android phone, go to the More Options menu and select “Messages for web.” Finally, use your smartphone to scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen. That’s it, your web browser is now paired with your smartphone’s Android Messages app.
Hidden emojis
Now that you can easily send texts from your computer, how about tossing around some extra-special emojis, to your correspondents’ astonishment? When you type certain character combinations into the text box, those commands are transformed into emojis.
For example, when you type in the expression /happy, the recipient of your text will get this: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ , which, you must admit, is the perfect representation of your infectious joy!
These are kaomojis, a Japanese expression that literally means “face characters,” and they are a kind of typographic smiley, whose main (if not only) purpose is to convey your emotion or state of mind.
Of course, that isn’t Android Messages’ most appealing feature, but still, it can help you set yourself apart, and on the whole, it’s just really fun. This isn’t entirely new, either; if you use Google Hangouts, you’ve probably been aware of this delightful feature since 2016. The feature is improving over time, and more and more sophisticated kaomojis can be designed. In all likelihood, there are still more possibilities hidden by Google yet to be discovered in this Easter egg!
As a technical matter, these rules need to be followed:
- the command only works ifit is placed at the beginning of the message
• a forward slashmust be used as the first character
Now, let’s take a look at some of the highly touted commands that can be used to insert a kaomoji.
/shrug or /shruggie produces: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
/sunglasses or /dealwithit: ( •_•) ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■)
/tableflip: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
/tableback: ┬─┬ ノ( ゜-゜ノ
/that: (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞
/this: ☜(ﾟヮﾟ☜)
/wizard: (∩ ` -´)⊃━━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ
/yuno: ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)
/success: (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑
/happy: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
/facepalm: (－‸ლ)
/disapprove: ಠ_ಠ
/algebraic: | ( •◡•)| (❍ᴥ❍ʋ)
/praisethesun: \`[-|-]/
Granted, some of the meanings don’t exactly jump out at you, and the usefulness of some of these kaomojis escapes me ( !!! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ !!!?????????), but even so, this is just delightful design, don’t you think? Lovely expressions to share, through just a handful of characters.
So, ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ !
Leave your comments here :)