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A new messaging app is in development, and the project is described as "an open source WhatsApp for the Fediverse."

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[-] Pechente@feddit.de 15 points 2 years ago

With the open nature of the fediverse I actually see some potential here. Right now there isn’t a single messenger that I truly like. They’re all just different shades of okay or worse.

[-] XpeeN@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 years ago
[-] Pechente@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

Doesn‘t quite have the userbase at least for me. I‘m only using it for one work contact and that’s it. I also heard from others who use Element a bit more that it’s quite buggy, although I haven’t experienced that myself yet.

[-] XpeeN@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 years ago

I just don't think that new msging app will have a larger userbase than matrix. I hope I'm wrong tho

[-] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Especially considering that they made gitter into a matrix client, and several IRC servers are easily available.

[-] HidingCat@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago
[-] Lucia@eviltoast.org 22 points 2 years ago

Mobile-first, requires phone number, proprietary server-side, google play market.

[-] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Desktop app works fine tbh.

Phone numbers required for now. Usernames potentially on the horizon per sms removal update.

Server side code is open source and available at Signal Server Github.

Also available on iOS. Android has an apk download so you dont need Google Play.

[-] Lucia@eviltoast.org 7 points 2 years ago

Seems you edited your comment to add new points. Lemmy doesn't notify users about changes to comments/posts they replied to, unfortunately.

Phone numbers required for now. Usernames potentially on the horizon per sms removal update.

Good to know. I prefer to never use my phone number for sign ups.

Server side code is open source and available at Signal Server Github.

They seem to put a lot of effort to centralize their app though - you can't setup your own server and talk to other signal users.

Android has an apk download so you dont need Google Play.

Yes, but you need to figure out how to verify signature keys on android + manual updates, it's just inconvinent if you compare it to F-Droid Signal devs so dislike for no good reason.

[-] Lucia@eviltoast.org 4 points 2 years ago

You still need to install a mobile app first. On XMPP I can create an account even if I don't own a smartphone.

[-] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Does XMPP allow e2ee group video calls?

[-] poVoq@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 years ago

Yes, but its early days and only few clients support it. You can try it with Dino.

[-] Lucia@eviltoast.org 2 points 2 years ago

I dunno, never used video calls outside of college (and hell I hate that). I heard Jitsi can do it though, again never tried myself.

[-] HidingCat@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

I don't see the problem with that, it's a phone messenger first.

[-] Lucia@eviltoast.org 8 points 2 years ago

Well, I'm desktop-first kind of person, so it's a downside for me.

[-] HidingCat@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

Sure, definitely use what works for you. I do like it as a phone messenger that happens to have a functional desktop client (Telegram and surprisingly, Whatsapp do have better desktop clients).

[-] deadsuperhero@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 years ago

Signal is great, but the core developer is inherently against federation with his own product. It's just one giant centralized service.

[-] blanketswithsmallpox@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

It feels like I'm doing shady backdoor deals. It's only for the people I conspire with and really close friends...

In which we just end up using regular old sms anyway lol.

[-] poop@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Signal is too darn secure. Much better to have one dude who probably knows how to use a crypto library build the whole thing over again with a coat of ActivityPub on top

this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
214 points (95.7% liked)

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