Brain Sparks

Handcent: The replacement message app you have been looking for May 2, 2010

Handcent: The replacement message app you have been looking for.

Handcent is a powerful SMS and MMS app that replaces the lack luster stock messaging client. It offers an impressive array of customization options not found anywhere else. With feature ranging from the choice of over 20 notification icons and the option to set custom ringtones for each contact, to some of the best privacy options I have seen. You can also blacklist people so that any message they send you is not sent to notifications or even make it so it is not even seen in your message list.

By default Handcent comes with three font choices; Big, Normal (default) and small. However if you want more choice they do offer four addition font packages you can download for free in the market place, each adding a number of different font styles to choose from.

One feature that I found extremely useful was popup notification with quick reply. This feature makes it possible to read and reply to a text message you receive without opening up Handcent. As with the rest of the app this option is fully customizable and can be turn off completely if you want. Sadly you cannot turn this feature on or off based on each contact without turn notifications for that contact off all together.

Handcent is free but does have ads in the various setting menus.

Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Widget to show message count included
• Free

Needs improvements

• Popup can be slow (although there is an option that can speed it up)
• I would like to see a paid version that removed the ads from the menus
• For all the customization it is missing a few like only having some contacts cause pop ups.

Final Verdict: Handcent is what the stock message app should have been, highly customizable and nice to look at. With the price point of free and small ads limited to only the menu, you owe it to yourself to give Handcent a try.