z1 - basic usage questions - poor interface?

[nomaam]

I like the phone overall but there are some basic usage questions I had.

Text messages

I can't select part of a message to copy the text. I have to copy the whole message or nothing. How do I copy only part of a message? Seems like a basic feature.... The simple selection, copy and paste of text on this phone is very poor. It won't let me just select part of the message.

Google maps

There is no zoom in or out buttons. Double tap to zoom in but I can't zoom out with one hand. This sounds like an app problem but Google maps appears with different features depending on what phone I'm using. Is this a Sony only mod?

Thanks

[Uliwooly]

1. you will need a different messaging app to select part of the text/sms 

2.that's up to google not Sony

there are other ways to zoom in and out

1. pinch zoom in/out

2. double tap to zoom in 

3. hold and then scroll down to zoom in, or scroll up to zoom out 

[nomaam]

Thanks for the reply. Can you recommend a good alternative text messaging app? I thought you had to use the one that comes with the phone.

[Uliwooly]

You can use handcent, GO sms pro, ChompSMS, or you can use 

Google Voice or if you get the latest Hangouts update you can send and receive SMS/MMS