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Aside from network effects, UI/UX is really king when it comes to getting people to switch messengers. It's why Telegram has managed to stake as large of a foll

Aside from network effects, UI/UX is really king when it comes to getting people to switch messengers. It's why Telegram has managed to stake as large of a following as it has, despite its glaring flaws when compared to Signal, Matrix, etc. I understand wanting to focus on security and privacy at the cost of all else, but if the goal is to get as many people on a reasonably safe messenger app as possible, UI/UX is unavoidably going to be a focal point — it can't just be made an afterthought, or as is the case with many FOSS projects disregarded almost entirely.

oehtXRwMkIs 6y ago
I would argue that Element on android is really good in terms of UI/UX. But I think the desktop experience is definitely behind others, and I have no idea how the iOS client is like.
- kitsunesoba 6y ago
  I haven't used Element on iOS extensively, but in my limited experience it's "ok" but not stellar. It has a number of papercuts like the registration and login screens not hooking the password manager API and thus not offering password generation services, ability to save/restore from password manager, etc. On that front I think the iOS version of Signal is probably better.
- shafyy 6y ago
  It is good, but not good enough for the mainstream user. With Signal, you can just install it and all your contacts who also have signal are instantly there. The UX is similar to WhatsApp. With Element, you first need to create a username that in the format <username>:<server>. This is a new notion and non-tech users don't know what this is about. I usually need to explain "it's like email, but instead of the @ there's the :". Furthermore, there is this new concept of "Rooms" that people are not used to. Also, there are some UX flaws like that you need to include the @ when adding use (it won't find the user if I try to add "joe:matrix.org", I need to enter @joe:matrix.org). This even threw me off for a minute or so in the beginning. There are some clients that look and feel more like WhatsApp (like Nio), but they are still in early development. So, I'm hopeful. See the clients here: https://matrix.org/clients/ https://matrix.org/clients/

oehtXRwMkIs 6y ago

I would argue that Element on android is really good in terms of UI/UX. But I think the desktop experience is definitely behind others, and I have no idea how the iOS client is like.

kitsunesoba 6y ago
I haven't used Element on iOS extensively, but in my limited experience it's "ok" but not stellar. It has a number of papercuts like the registration and login screens not hooking the password manager API and thus not offering password generation services, ability to save/restore from password manager, etc. On that front I think the iOS version of Signal is probably better.
shafyy 6y ago
It is good, but not good enough for the mainstream user. With Signal, you can just install it and all your contacts who also have signal are instantly there. The UX is similar to WhatsApp. With Element, you first need to create a username that in the format <username>:<server>. This is a new notion and non-tech users don't know what this is about. I usually need to explain "it's like email, but instead of the @ there's the :". Furthermore, there is this new concept of "Rooms" that people are not used to. Also, there are some UX flaws like that you need to include the @ when adding use (it won't find the user if I try to add "joe:matrix.org", I need to enter @joe:matrix.org). This even threw me off for a minute or so in the beginning. There are some clients that look and feel more like WhatsApp (like Nio), but they are still in early development. So, I'm hopeful. See the clients here: https://matrix.org/clients/ https://matrix.org/clients/