this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2023
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Privacy

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It seems like yet another good messenger app has become shit. I am of course talking about wire. I REALLY like where it didn't need my phone number to sign up, unlike signal does. Also they heavily market it towards corporates and governments.

Back when I first started to use it, they had the old UI. It was good looking, it had a lot of normie fun stuff like scribble and GIF (I can live without it but always a +) and it worked fine at start. It didn't need my phone number, so it was a BIG +. So I started to use it with my friends and family.

After finally convincing them to join here, issues started popping up. Messages aren't being notified to the users. I mean fun stuff is good but THE ONE THING eveey messenger MUST have is to NOTIFY THE PEOPLE. I tried turning on websocket connection, helping my peers troubleshoot and all but NO. NO NOTIFICATION WHATSOVER TO THEM, or rarely they get a delayed one.

Left it temporarily in hunt for other apps. Session was too buggy in connecting to nodes, simpleX is a bit too hard to connect with links and stuff, briar is also like simplex, so after long time I came back to wire in desperation hoping they have fixed this, as again IT IS THE ONE THING A MESSAGING APP MUST HAVE.

But nope. NO NOTIFICATIONS. It came to the point I can't communicate with them unless I SMS them (I don't use whatsapp). And finally, I took the decision. I apologized to them and deleted my wire account. Thinking for now let's f***ing use signal (the other option is whatsapp so yeah).

WHY WE CAN'T HAVE A SINGLE GOOD APP THAT BALANCES BETWEEN CONVENIENCE, USABILITY AND PRIVACY? Is there any app, even paid ones that fits as a perfect alternative? (By payment I mean crypto based, otherwise it's basically as bad as giving the phone number)

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

SimpleX you just send a link or scan a code. I have never had an issue with that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Wire was better, you just need to tell them a readable username, or just type my full name and it shows me!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

This matches my feelings exactly)!

I haven't had your issues with Session; while the initial connection was slow, it's been pretty reliable for us. None of the single-device messengers (SimpleX, Tox, etc) are options - who TF only uses one device, anymore? - and the rest have all failed due to complexity or reliability.

As I posted elsewhere, XMPP may finally have matured enough to address the various design issues (through a truckload of XEPs). After using it for a decade and having been let down by it multiple times, I've just been too weary to try again. Have you tried it?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can use threema without a phone number or Google services and you can (as of recently) pay with cash.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

No I use it on Android for a few years already.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Nope, Android is actually the best option as it's the one that lets you completely avoid Apple and Google's services.

(Granted I got mine through the play store, not quite that concerned)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Private chats on Telegram seems to the middle ground

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nothing wrong with Signal. Your phone number is already public whether you want to admit it or not.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

And that is why I don't want it to be linked with a chat account...

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

No company is going to cater to individual needs, especially when they have a business to run. why is that hard to comprehend?

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE AN APP THAT BALANCES BETWEEN CONVENIENCE, USABILITY AND PRIVACY?

WE ALL WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

And I expect it to handle payments in soda cans, It isn't tied to the blockchain or my bank account. I hope you can implement it. k, thanks!

afaik, Wire doesn't use OS operator notifications provider for PRIVACY. If you can't live with that and make it work, it's not their fault.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Lol wire does use Google play for notifications if you don't turn on websocket which is off by default.

And notifications doesn't work anyway so there's privacy there lolol

No company is going to cater to individual needs

Huh? When did notifications become an individual need? Even corporate environment require ability to notify peers

If you want to have super duper privacy then there are apps for that already why be mad at me because I complain about lack of an app that is in the midpoint?

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE AN APP THAT BALANCES BETWEEN CONVENIENCE, USABILITY AND PRIVACY?

So basically I am not allowed to complain unless I do it myself? This is a free speech platform and I'm gonna speak whether you scream or not lol