• AcidOctopus@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    138
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    I only use it because there’s no way I could convince my friends and family to move to anything else.

    There’s no point in switching to another app if I then literally couldn’t communicate with the people I need to through it.

    • Dave@lemmy.nz
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      38
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I’ve been using Beeper a month or two. They had a long waiting list, and initially it was subscription only, but they are working on smashing through the waiting list and have changed to a freemium model where you get it for free and (eventually) they will have extra features for subscribers.

      Basically, it’s one chat app that connects to lots of different chat services.

      If you’re technical, the app is a fork of Element, and the service uses matrix bridges to connect to different chat services, but it’s all presented in a (somewhat) polished way. The wait list is because they are still struggling with scaling and quirks but if you’re on Lemmy you’re probably already well familiar with putting up with this.

      It covers heaps of chat networks. Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Signal, Telegram, and more. It also will let you SMS (unlike Signal 😬).

      You can also connect to Matrix rooms but you don’t seem to be able to connect to an existing Matrix account (it uses a Beeper matrix account to connect).

      It doesn’t do video/audio calls so they recommend you leave the original app installed and disable message notifications (but leave on call notifications) if you use this.

        • Dave@lemmy.nz
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          16
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Yep. But if you’re keen on this stuff, you can self host matrix and the bridges and do it yourself. Their bridges are open source, just not their apps whose features are their business model.

      • DAVENP0RT@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Well, that’s super neat and very useful for my circumstances. I’m moving outside of the US soon to a place where WhatsApp is dominant, but I still want to use SMS/MMS with family and friends in the US since I doubt they’ll make the switch. I’ve been using WhatsApp for about a year now while coordinating stuff for my soon-to-be home and I’ve come to the conclusion that WhatsApp is complete garbage.

      • chepox@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Nice. Looking into this one. Although in reality I use about 95% whatsapp just because everyone else does. Wish we could all just switch to Signal or even Telegram but nah… Whatsapp is so engrained everywhere that it is not going to go away anytime soon.

      • Tetsuo@jlai.lu
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        That’s interesting!

        I’m just not sure the “security” of WhatsApp is preserved in that case but it’s certainly better than not being able to talk to certain people at all.

        Also I think these kind of meta chat apps have been tried before and it usually doesn’t end very well so I’m not sure I would be super optimistic.

        Any of the chat provider can break their link to beeper and since they probably don’t really care about it it shouldn’t very reliable.

        But a cool find nonetheless!

      • LinkOpensChest.wav@lemmy.one
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        15
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Signal kinda put themselves out of the messaging app battle when they dropped SMS support

        I totally get why they did it, but I think a lot of people stopped using it for this reason, unfortunately

        • Tetsuo@jlai.lu
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          1 year ago

          I don’t really want to start a debate on the Signal SMS dropout but …

          They could have put a big red warning and a disclaimer you have to read once for the unsecured SMS. It would have been fine.

          Yes, you would have to maintain that but I think it would definitely have been worth it considering how much reach they lost dropping this feature.

          I stopped using Signal when they did, and that’s one less tech user advertising their secure app.

          It’s a shame because I think this will slowly kill the project.

          • LinkOpensChest.wav@lemmy.one
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Yeah, I guess I’m not sure about the actual statistics. I do know it was the point when I realized I wouldn’t personally use Signal because everyone I know uses SMS, SMS federates with email, and if I tried switching to a non-SMS app, I’d be screaming into a void.

            The only other message apps people around here use are Snapchat, FB Messenger, and WhatsApp, and I’d rather cut people off than use any of those.

    • Norgur@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      same here. Heck, even Nextcloud Talk is more sophisticated than frickin’ WhatsApp these days…

    • N-E-N@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I literally installed Telegram/Signal on my families devices, synced their contacts with the app, and said “if you want timely responses, message me here”

    • El_Rocha@lm.put.tf
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      30
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      The thing it’s missing the most is better multi device support and an updated desktop client.

      For me, I think Matrix is more complete (specially since it backs-up your chats and media encrypted). The only thing it’s lacking (at least Element specific) is encrypted chat search support on mobile.

      • ReadyUser30@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        17
        ·
        1 year ago

        What matrix is missing is anyone that I know. Ultimately that is way more important than features in a messaging client.

        • El_Rocha@lm.put.tf
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          1 year ago

          In my personal experience, everyone who has an account with Signal also has with Matrix. The main issue for me is who has an account at all.

          • N-E-N@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            5
            ·
            1 year ago

            I’ve used signal for ages but didn’t know what Matrix was until Lemmy tbh

          • QuazarOmega@lemy.lol
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            In turn you can bet that who has one on Matrix will have one on Session, SimpleX and at least other 10 apps you’ve never heard about

        • GVasco@discuss.tchncs.de
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          It has bridges for most messaging services so you could use a matrix frontend for most of your messaging needs without having people on matrix so long as the server admin has set up those extensions

      • 7777AKA@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        1 year ago

        Signal client looks optimized on MacOS and Linux i don’t use Windows so not sure what’s going on there

          • 7777AKA@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            I register my Signal on off-shore phone number and i use it over MullvadVPN with multi-hop so i think is pretty private this way

        • MoonshineBrew@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          1 year ago

          I use it on windows. The client is totally fine for the most part.

          Though for some reason it regularly screws up the device-connection, forcing me to reconnect the device, loosing access to every old message. Seems to be a rare bug though, as my family also uses the windows client and theirs never has this problem (out of 8 device 1 has this problem)

        • El_Rocha@lm.put.tf
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          I use it for linux. Recently there was a bug where if you had a chat opened, it would pin one core to 100% usage. It also lacks feature parity with the mobile client (ex: gif search and send).

      • CoderKat@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Yeah, it sucks that if I were using Signal only on my phone and eventually decide to start using it on desktop, it doesn’t sync any conversation history, resulting in the desktop client showing nothing from before you set it up. It should have older devices send history to new ones. If you’re permanently switching devices, are you losing that history for good?

      • Sackbut@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        There’s no way that we can have a mainstream alternative to imessage if we keep declaring a new app or protocol the new best one every two years.

        • Dandroid@dandroid.app
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          All Google needs to do is make a public RCS API. Then we will have all the important features iMessage has on Android via regular texting. I have no fucking clue why they are making RCS exclusive to their messaging app.

        • El_Rocha@lm.put.tf
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          I think have settled into what they know.

          I think that iMessage is only prevelant in North America. Here in Europe (Portugal, at least), everyone uses Whatsapp.

    • N-E-N@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      Still waiting for the ability to log in one two phones, and ideally also uncompressed photo/file sending

      But yea Signal is great

  • I Cast Fist@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    65
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    Eh, whatsapp isn’t ideal and its owner is one of the big devils of today, but it’s the only way to send and receive instant messages among billions of people. I despise it, but it’s the only way I can contact people. Needless to say, they don’t give a single flying fuck about privacy.

    Whatsapp outages make people migrate to Telegram for 1-2 days at most, nobody ends up staying there. Signal? I’ve only ever met three other people in RL who have even heard of it, and I work in IT.

    A more apt comparison would be to languages. Whatsapp is english: clunky, weird, full of nonsense, but it’s what “everyone talks”. Signal would probably be lojban or esperanto.

    • shitescalates@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      This is SMS in the US. No one uses WhatsApp, telegram or matrix. Every iphone user uses imessage and so we are stuck with SMS.

      • TehPers@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Aside from needing a phone, I really don’t see the issue with SMS. For sending quick messages to people directly, is there really a better tool? You (most likely) already have a phone plan, you already have a phone, and your phone is always on you. Everyone you’re trying to contact is in the same boat, even people who are technically illiterate. All phones with phone plans support SMS, unless there’s weird plans I don’t know about.

        When it comes to more complex needs (group management, e2e encryption, etc) other services are better of course. I don’t use SMS to text my group of friends, it’s really not well suited for the job.

        • jorge@sopuli.xyz
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          1 year ago

          Aside from needing a phone

          That is a huge one for me. Yes, I have a phone. But I spend most of my waking time in front of a desktop or laptop. With Whatsapp, Telegram or Signal I can read and write messages from the computer, copy/paste text to the documents I am writing, and send and download files. SMS are more limited.

        • UnfortunateDoorHinge@aussie.zone
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          I use SMS for work. It’s the one we all know what message we send through will present the same on the other side regardless of phone. A big downside is that it’s limited to the phone. Messenger and WhatsApp can be read on laptops.

        • smileyhead@discuss.tchncs.de
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          SMS is hard to have on multiple devices and it is hell of a work to become SMS provider. Internet based messaging is better in a every single way.

          Even the network range is now not an advantage, as 3G is shutting down in many regions.

          • TehPers@beehaw.org
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            I don’t disagree, but that wasn’t my point. Everyone has access to SMS messaging. Not everyone has an internet-based messaging app, and those who do are split among several different services.

    • debil@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      As a Signal user and an Esperantist I agree. They both require a somewhat curious mind for you to bump into them in the first place. Unless you have that friend/relative who always recommends weird stuff for you (to ignore).

      • Korne127@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yeah, but I disagree. Signal doesn’t require that by design, it’s just as easy to use as WhatsApp (unlike something like Matrix or Lemmy). It’s just as easy to switch and has a better privacy. And while I even don’t use it much, I actually know quite some people on it (majority of which is non-techy).

        • debil@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Most (non-techy) people haven’t heard from it and don’t bother searching for alternatives since WA is ubiquitous.

      • ximtor@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Why would it even be weird or anything? I only use Signal and its pretty much the same as whatsapp on the outside…just in blue. The only reason people dont use it is because “eVerYonE hAs WhAtsApP” and they dont bother. 20 useless crap apps but 2 messengers is too much

    • Asymptote@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      I’m not sure I have all of them, but I regularly use (privately)

      • encrypted email
      • unencrypted email
      • text
      • Meta Facebook Messanger
      • Meta Instagram messages
      • Meta WhatsApp
      • Signal
      • Telegram
      • Microsoft Teams (yes, even privately)

      I’m tired boss.

      • canuckkat@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Look into Beeper! It just got RCS support in its last update. Not sure if they plan on supporting Teams though.

        If you’re tech savvy though, look into setting up your own Matrix server for a Teams bridge.

      • nighty@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        From now on, I’ll adhere to the “Calvin: Change my mind” meme format. Thank you for your input. 🫡

        • Dandroid@dandroid.app
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          I feel like I would never get along with anyone who has an attitude of “I believe X. Change my mind.” I can’t imagine anyone starting a conversation that way is not an asshole.

          • sock@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            i used to think it was a cool argument style like 6 years ago (i was probably 14) til i learned he was a nut and the change my mind is because of the republican (and religous) fear of being wrong not because he ever wanted his mind changed

            i almost took the pill tho i luckily saved myself using critical thinking and not really caring about politics. i just wanted to hear a “smart” guy talk.

        • spckls@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 year ago

          Oh i get it now. The person in the photo is an asshole in real life. It only took me a day of wondering why would someone be an asshole for not liking a meme template 😅

      • playxdestroy@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        He’s a right wing piece of shit who constantly says and does the most unhinged shit. Don’t really follow him, but from the top of my head, he mocked George Floyd’s death, he mocks trans people on a regular basis…

  • archchan@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    50
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    SMS is IE, Whatsapp is Chrome, and Signal is Firefox. Use Signal/Firefox.

    • scoobford@lemmy.one
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      1 year ago

      I disagree. IE was incredibly proprietary, and SMS is at least an open standard.

      IE is…idk Facebook messenger or Imessage or something.

    • stebo02@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      So how do I get my friends to use Signal instead of fucking Facebook messenger?

      • archchan@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        You can educate them if they ask but otherwise you can’t force them because most people are very resistant to this type of thing.

        Your best option is to stop using FB messenger yourself and tell them they can reach you on Signal. If they’re really your friends, I’d like to imagine they’d follow you over. If your friend group switches, more people are sure to follow which will help speed along mass adoption and normalization via word of mouth to other friends and family.

  • Stephbro@feddit.nl
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Look, I hate Facebook just as much as the next guy. But I live in The Netherlands and it’s the primary way I can contact literally everyone I know. So changing to another messaging app is hard here.

  • progettarsi@feddit.it
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    34
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    signal and telegram are so much better, don’t know why we can’t get over that shit app

  • Gunpachi@lemmings.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    33
    ·
    1 year ago

    In some countries like India, people just assume that everyone uses whatsapp. It’s gotten to the point where whatsapp has become the definition of messaging (for most people).

    I don’t see how Whatsapp is outdated to the point where one would compare it to IE, but I’ll say whatsapp is more like Google Chrome than IE.

    • baconflavoureddope@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      That’s the reality in most of the world nowadays. Latin America is exactly the same (including Brazil) and while traveling through Europe every single Airbnb communication with the hosts was made through WhatsApp… 8 years ago, I imagine it’s even more massive now.

      My last trip to the US a co-worker was really surprised I kept sending voice notes and I realized I haven’t called my wife in at least my last 3 trips… But we communicate a lot. Async is way better than sync.

  • SeaJ@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    37
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Steven Crowder is the wife abuser of the meme world.

  • Amilo159@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    34
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    Except it does nearly everything any other messaging app does, so there really is no need to force a switch. Unlike Internet Explorer, that used outdated rendering engine making it both slow and buggy, it was unsafe as it used ActiveX, didn’t support ad-blockers it actually broke or didn’t open most new website.