iRealQuickSMS isn’t an easy name to say or remember, but you’ll want to learn it because it’s probably the best jailbreak SMS app on the market to date. iRQSMS looks like a default SMS pop-up, but allows you the additional option of replying to or calling the person who texted you. However, the real killer feature here is the ability to tie iRQSMS to a hardware button and use it as a quick call and quick send application – from any screen, including the lock screen. This app won’t replace your default SMS app (just the pop-ups), but If you’ve been looking for minimalist texting and calling application for your jailbroken iPhone, look no further. iRealQuickSMS is it.
Ooo, it’s so much fun making big bold statements before a jump, but I do think the app’s features justify all the big talk.
Quick Reply
Instead of leaving your current game or app to reply to a text, you can simply tap in the text area of the SMS pop-up and begin typing your response. The app supports landscape mode and rotates very smoothly, so typing out longer texts is never a problem.
Texts can be marked as read as soon as you close them or reply to them (depending on your options), but you can also leave them unread by dismissing them with the home button.
Quick Send
You can tie iRQSMS to the volume up button or to a double tap of the home button, but it’s the extra options that make this a real killer solution. I listen to music pretty often on my iPhone and so having iRQSMS pop up every single time I adjust my volume would be horrible.
Thankfully, there’s also a “volume up + tap” option, which works out perfectly for me. Upon pressing a volume button I am presented with an on-screen volume indicator with text saying “tap for Quicksend”. If I just press the button and never tap on the volume pop-up then iRQSMS will never appear. However, if I do tap on-screen, then the volume change (from having just pressed the hardware button) is reversed and iRQSMS pops up on-screen. I think this is absolute genius, and even after a month of using this feature I still get a kick out of how ridiculously cool it is.
With iRQSMS brought to the front of the screen I am presented with a list of favourite contacts (the ones assigned from within the default Phone app), but I can also type the name of any contact in my address book and am presented with auto-complete suggestions as I go. Once I’ve selected a contact it’s just a matter of typing out a message and sending it off, or tapping the Call button to give them a call.
Save as Note
Here’s another interesting feature of iRQSMS: any time you start to type a text into the SMS pop-up you’ll have an option to save it. At first I thought this would be some sort of drafts feature, but it’s actually a lot cooler than that. Saving your text in iRQSMS creates a note in the default Notes app so that you can create quick notes from any screen or any application. In my experience you can type as much text as you’d like, although this is really just ideal for very quick note taking (say, a quick phone number or shopping list).
While I do love this feature, I still don’t think it’s fully fleshed out just yet. Each time I save in iRQSMS a new note called “iRealSMS Note” is created in the Notes app, and after I’ve made two or three it’s impossible to tell which one is which without opening them first. I’d love it if the note was simply named after the first word in the text, or if å timestamp were attached. Otherwise, this is a very simple, very powerful, and definitely unexpected little gem in an already great SMS reply app.
Stability
I haven’t experienced any crashes that I can trace back to iRQSMS on iPhone 3.1.2, and I’m pretty confident in its stability. I haven’t noticed any major slowdowns on my iPhone either, so I think potential buyers of the app should be able to try it out pretty much risk-free.
The only bug I’ve noticed has to do with switching orientations. Sometimes I’ll accidentally switch orientations while typing out a text message and the box will re-orient to landscape…but get stuck halfway outside of the screen. Rotating it back doesn’t help either, but dismissing the text box by pressing the home button does.
Conclusion
If you’ve been looking for an SMS app on jailbreak, I think you should really consider iRealQuickSMS. The power to quick send, quick call, and quick reply to messages from any screen is incredible and really makes the iPhone feel like a smarter phone. iRealQuickSMS and I think you’ll want to, too.
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iRealQuickSMS is available on Cydia and RockYourPhone for $6.99.
iRQSMS was <provided by company RockYourPhone for review on Just Another iPhone Blog. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the “About” page.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Better take BiteSMS instead, you don't need to mess RockYourPhone.
I've heard that sentiment a fair number of times on the forums, but I still don't have any complaints of my own about Rock Your Phone. I don't just use it for paid apps, I also tend to download most of my themes so that I don't have to touch Cydia unless I have to.
However, BiteSMS does look pretty cool. I like how iRQSMS sticks with the default SMS app, though. I don't have any quarrel with it and I didn't like replacing it before.
Yeah, biteSMS has been doing everything (apart from the note taking) for quite some time. Plus character count in SMS, replacing of the default messages app, auto-switch (i.e. when you’ve sent your free carrier sms that you get per month, it automatically sends via biteSMS for 6ct), etc, etc..
Apart from SBSettings, biteSMS is my main reason for jailbreaking.
It's that killer an app, eh? I'll prob give it a look when I can then. For now I'm happy with this.
Btw — one thing to note is that this iRQSMS doesn't replce the default app, only the default pop-ups. I'll probably go back and amend the review to make that clearer.
iRealSMS app is more expensive and does replace the default SMS app, but I don't really need that on my iPhone and I think it's a little too $$$.
I've been using this app for a few months now. I can't go back to the regular way. I'm too used to having the reply box right there when it pops up. It easily doubles your texting speed.
Bitesms is better imo and The pop up windows support landscape
This one is fully landscape capable as well, but your vote is noted. Lot of BiteSMS fans!
BiteSMS appears to have the same feature set, I got it for a dollar less. Also, with the new update, you can quick reply and compose in landscape mode.
Between SBSetting and iRealQuickSMS I couldn’t go back to a nonjailbroken phone. I’ve never been a fan of bitesms myself. I like having the native SMS app and the quicksend feature of iRealQuick does exactly what I need it to do, and well. I also have the orientation switcing/half outside the screen bug. The only other thing I’ve noticed is that the contacts search sometimes misses contacts. Not sure why…
There’s a lot of ignorance in these comments. That’s not an insult, but there’s a great deal of information missing. I urge people to look into the following before making judgement calls. A note in the article wouldn’t hurt, either.
iRealSMS does NOT require RockYourPhone. I can’t stand RYP either. You can still buy iReal through Cydia and never touch RYP.
iRealSMS 3.0 (which is now in beta) is AMAZING. It does everything the latest BiteSMS does, plus a lot more. Please check these forums for more information: http://forum.irealsms.com/viewforum.php?f=15
Can you say MMS from ANYWHERE? Contact pictures in quickreply/quicksend? mmmmmm…
For some screenshot goodness check out: http://forum.irealsms.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&...
Kickass comment, Brian. Actually the article always said that it was available from both stores, but I have updated it to say that it to clarify that it doesn't replace the default SMS app (as is mentioned in other comments here)
I use this for its quick send feature. I turn the quick reply setting off. I use “Quickreply for SMS” for my replies. So together I think they are perfect
Good tip, Erik! I just looked at the trial for Quickreply and I like how it shows multiple messages like the real SMS app.
I don’t understand the differences between BiteSMS, iRealQuickSMS, and iRealSMS
iRealQuickSMS is really just a good way to quick send and quick reply.
BiteSMS and iRealSMS contain the features of an app like iRealQuickSMS (the app I reviewed), but are also meant to be complete SMS app replacements. You'll use their software instead of Apple's SMS app.
If you want more info than that, however, you'll have to look elsewhere because I haven't tried those apps yet
Thanks. That’s kinda what I assumed. I own BiteSMS and the quick reply and send is the main and really the only reason I use it. I wish I could try iRealQuickSMS for a few days, But their demo only allows you to send and receive ‘this is a demo’ message.
Just tried IRQSMS and found an annoying feature (bug?) in that it showed new messages as unread at all times unless I viewed it in the inbox. I could read it in messaging view and reply to it, etc. But still was unread. Also the pop up screen often rendered with the text slightly outside the box edge. I am now on BiteSMS and find it to be much more “iPhone” like. Nice touches include the ability to mark messages read/unread from within the pop-up window. Also the use of contact photos in the message list. I’m much happier with BiteSMS, especially from an aesthetic point of view.
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