3 ms·

The problem is that there's not a good free and open source alternative to Whatsapp. Signal requires google services and phone number, Telegram doesn't encrypt

by sandov 8y ago

The problem is that there's not a good free and open source alternative to Whatsapp. Signal requires google services and phone number, Telegram doesn't encrypt by default, riot's interface is still not good enough. I can't redirect my non-techie friends to any alternative because none of them is good enough yet.

acct1771 8y ago
www.riot.im
- acct1771 8y ago
  Ah, didn't see you mentioned it because lowercase.
veidr 8y ago
I had the same problem recently. After failing to get my friends and wife to use Keybase (they tried it, but it just doesn't work on mobile beyond basic text chats with no image pasting). Requirements were: secure, iOS/Android/Mac/Linux/Windows, multi-person chats, and multiple simultaneous/alternating device support (that means chat history needs to propagate to my phones and computers). iMessage was not considered (because it supports only iOS & macOS) and WhatsApp was not considered (because Facebook). After looking at Signal, Telegram, Keybase, and Wire, we ended up using Wire. It's not perfect by a long shot, but it is better than the others we tested and AFAICT better than any solution currently available. But I had never heard of it until I really started looking around. https://wire.com https://wire.com
- Siimteller 8y ago
  Hi, curious about the "not perfect" part (I work at Wire) - what stuff would be prio for you to improve?
  - veidr 8y ago
    Hi! Okay sure, I will tell you! I am rooting for you guys. 1. Presence/active device detection. Often I am sitting right at my computer actively chatting with somebody, and yet my phone sitting on the desk right next to it is blowing up with notifications of the same messages I am replying to. 2. Too many features. I am constantly accidentally activating features like snapchat-style disappearing messages and weird alien voice effects. Cool if you have them enabled by default but I would like settings to turn OFF the many features that I literally never use (particularly on mobile where there are both small screens and more features, hence more icons). 3. 10-device limit. I know it sounds crazy but I have 2 phones and a few tablets and computers at work and home and I often have to delete a device to use the one I am at now. (20 devices would work for me; even 15 probably would.) 4. Initial log in / start up performance. I know it's hard with the huge photos and encryption. But sometimes i get a notification on my watch that my wife just said XXXXX and I want to respond RIGHT NOW on my computer. But it takes like 8 seconds on an iMac Pro to get to the active/ready state after booting the app. (I tend to just leave it open for this reason, but sometimes have to reboot or whatever and it is not). I would prefer it started up and let me send IMMEDIATELY even if I had to wait for it to load/decrypt the chat histories. Those are the main ones off the top of my head. It is a great product, though, and I appreciate your efforts!
aries1980 8y ago
How about Ring? https://ring.cx/ https://ring.cx/ It is p2p, no need to trust in any company.

by sandov 8y ago

acct1771 8y ago

www.riot.im

acct1771 8y ago
Ah, didn't see you mentioned it because lowercase.

veidr 8y ago

I had the same problem recently. After failing to get my friends and wife to use Keybase (they tried it, but it just doesn't work on mobile beyond basic text chats with no image pasting). Requirements were: secure, iOS/Android/Mac/Linux/Windows, multi-person chats, and multiple simultaneous/alternating device support (that means chat history needs to propagate to my phones and computers). iMessage was not considered (because it supports only iOS & macOS) and WhatsApp was not considered (because Facebook). After looking at Signal, Telegram, Keybase, and Wire, we ended up using Wire. It's not perfect by a long shot, but it is better than the others we tested and AFAICT better than any solution currently available. But I had never heard of it until I really started looking around. https://wire.com https://wire.com

Siimteller 8y ago
Hi, curious about the "not perfect" part (I work at Wire) - what stuff would be prio for you to improve?
- veidr 8y ago
  Hi! Okay sure, I will tell you! I am rooting for you guys. 1. Presence/active device detection. Often I am sitting right at my computer actively chatting with somebody, and yet my phone sitting on the desk right next to it is blowing up with notifications of the same messages I am replying to. 2. Too many features. I am constantly accidentally activating features like snapchat-style disappearing messages and weird alien voice effects. Cool if you have them enabled by default but I would like settings to turn OFF the many features that I literally never use (particularly on mobile where there are both small screens and more features, hence more icons). 3. 10-device limit. I know it sounds crazy but I have 2 phones and a few tablets and computers at work and home and I often have to delete a device to use the one I am at now. (20 devices would work for me; even 15 probably would.) 4. Initial log in / start up performance. I know it's hard with the huge photos and encryption. But sometimes i get a notification on my watch that my wife just said XXXXX and I want to respond RIGHT NOW on my computer. But it takes like 8 seconds on an iMac Pro to get to the active/ready state after booting the app. (I tend to just leave it open for this reason, but sometimes have to reboot or whatever and it is not). I would prefer it started up and let me send IMMEDIATELY even if I had to wait for it to load/decrypt the chat histories. Those are the main ones off the top of my head. It is a great product, though, and I appreciate your efforts!

aries1980 8y ago

How about Ring? https://ring.cx/ https://ring.cx/ It is p2p, no need to trust in any company.