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Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

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Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#161

Post by geniium »

erohead wrote: post #127
InTheArena wrote: post #113

Its awesome to reverse engineer this... but.. At the end of the day, this product is taking money for using Apple Services with no recompense to Apple. It won't last. Apple should have added an iMessage client to Android (and charged for it) long, long, long ago, but it doesn't change the ethics problem here. (This is the downside to the "just pay for it with hardware" model people always love rather than paying subs…

Apple announced that they will support RCS. Presumably they will not charge Android users for sending RCS messages to iPhone users right?

Thank you I just came by to say that

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#162

Post by SllX »

erohead wrote: post #127
InTheArena wrote: post #113

Its awesome to reverse engineer this... but.. At the end of the day, this product is taking money for using Apple Services with no recompense to Apple. It won't last. Apple should have added an iMessage client to Android (and charged for it) long, long, long ago, but it doesn't change the ethics problem here. (This is the downside to the "just pay for it with hardware" model people always love rather than paying subs…

Apple announced that they will support RCS. Presumably they will not charge Android users for sending RCS messages to iPhone users right?

RCS is in theory and intended to be a carrier service. From what Apple announced, all we know of what they are doing is is 1) adding RCS protocol support to Messages and 2) working with the GSM Association to beef up security, somehow.

In reality, RCS is practically a Google service at this point, and we don’t know a damn thing about how that is going to affect interoperability since the carriers have more or less outsourced the service to Google.

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#163

Post by notdang »

erohead wrote: post #135
notdang wrote: post #125

Trying to use this an I am stuck at the AppleID login screen (I don't have an AppleID). However from your message it seems that it should not be required: >No Apple ID is required

Sounds like phone-only registration didn't work. This may happen if you don't have a SIM card that can text outbound. If you are outside of US, Apple's SMS registration number is in the UK (+42)

Yes, I am outside of US and it could not send the verification message to the short number.

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#164

Post by olliej »

erohead wrote: post #127
InTheArena wrote: post #113

Its awesome to reverse engineer this... but.. At the end of the day, this product is taking money for using Apple Services with no recompense to Apple. It won't last. Apple should have added an iMessage client to Android (and charged for it) long, long, long ago, but it doesn't change the ethics problem here. (This is the downside to the "just pay for it with hardware" model people always love rather than paying subs…

Apple announced that they will support RCS. Presumably they will not charge Android users for sending RCS messages to iPhone users right?

RCS isn't encrypted, doesn't work without phones, doesn't have a single identity across multiple devices, etc so it's not going to replace iMessage.

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#165

Post by Bagged2347 »

modeless wrote: post #103
saagarjha wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is absolutely not true. iMessage is a full E2E implementation; it’s nothing like SMS.

"E2E" is a joke when Apple holds the encryption keys to the vast majority of all messages, and uses them to respond to law enforcement requests. (It's how iCloud backup works by default and we know people don't change defaults. This is documented by Apple, not a conspiracy theory.)

> It's how iCloud backup works by default and we know people don't change defaults

Are you referred to Advanced Data Protection being opt-in?

If I'm using ADP then these concerns are moot, right?

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#166

Post by ryanlitalien »

Mg6yDfjp5U wrote: post #40

I just downloaded it, and can't get past the landing/sign-in page: "Google sign in error.null" Unfortunately, signing in with Google is the only option.

Same as above. Pixel 5, running Android 14. (Edit: the help link provided did not help, as the toggle was already on)

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#167

Post by wicktron »

gorkish wrote: post #140
InTheArena wrote: post #113

Its awesome to reverse engineer this... but.. At the end of the day, this product is taking money for using Apple Services with no recompense to Apple. It won't last. Apple should have added an iMessage client to Android (and charged for it) long, long, long ago, but it doesn't change the ethics problem here. (This is the downside to the "just pay for it with hardware" model people always love rather than paying subs…

OTOH this software existing does change the conversation, especially if the solution gains significant media attention or becomes popular. Hopefully this solution passes muster and does effect some kind of change. Remember when Apple promised that Facetime would be based on SIP and would be interoperable? Neither does anyone. I hope that someone opens this Pandora's box also and gives it to every grandma on the plane…

The VirtnetX patent case is what crushed interopable FaceTime.

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#168

Post by modeless »

Bagged2347 wrote: post #165
modeless wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"E2E" is a joke when Apple holds the encryption keys to the vast majority of all messages, and uses them to respond to law enforcement requests. (It's how iCloud backup works by default and we know people don't change defaults. This is documented by Apple, not a conspiracy theory.)

> It's how iCloud backup works by default and we know people don't change defaults Are you referred to Advanced Data Protection being opt-in? If I'm using ADP then these concerns are moot, right?

Not unless everyone you talk to also has ADP enabled.

Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

#169

Post by pelletier »

erohead wrote: post #42
pelletier wrote: post #34

How does the generation of validation data for registration work? As far as I understand, this requires details from an actual Apple device (serial number, model, etc.)

jjtech covered this in pypush: h https://github.com/JJTech0130/pypush#dataplist-and-mac-seria...

They mention the generation needs a plist from an actual Apple device, and provide one of their own in the repository. I wonder what Beeper does. Maybe they have just one serial number? Maybe they have multiple and rotate?
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