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Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android

beeper.com

721–730 of 902 posts

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

#721

I've had a lot of trouble getting dates, women see the Android-colored bubbles when I message them, then they typically blow me off. I'm sure it's the Android-colored bubbles.

Come to Germany, everybody uses Whatsapp, nobody cares about the color of your bubbles or what phone you have.

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

#722

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw an article on the topic where the reporter spoke with Beeper's CEO, Eric Migicovsky. He seems to believe that blocking Beeper might cause problems for legitimate Apple user's. Obviously that outcome is something he wants, but I still think its interesting. [0]: https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/5/23987817/beeper-mini-imes...

That would make sense: because Apple have deeply coupled iMessage to the OS they can’t simply roll out a new version of the app with protocol changes that would block Beeper, they’d have to release entire OS updates. No matter the method it would be a scorched earth approach. I suspect the number of people actually using Beeper will be far below a rounding error for Apple.

will iMessage Contact Key Verification coming in iOS 17.2 break Beeper — or just make it super annoying like the “not a genuine Apple part” warning when replacing a screen or battery

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

#723
post #708
post #662

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Emulation software isn’t wholly original as it needs firmware and software from the device so emulated. An iPhone emulator with no bootrom and no iOS isn’t very useful. An open source client for an API need not include any non-original works.

Depends on whether you consider a private key an "original work": https://github.com/JJTech0130/pypush/blob/main/albert.py#L16 The situation seems very similar to the AACS key leak back in the day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACS_encryption_key_controvers...

Note that a key cannot be copyrighted, but it can be considered a circumvention tool for access controls that protect other copyrighted works.

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

#724
post #448

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A universal chat application would be amazing You mean like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and dozens of different chat apps available for both Android and iOS?

Beeper is an app that unifies all the messaging protocols you mentioned (and others) into a single app. They are not introducing another protocol. Universal in this context is referring to the ability to use a single app across protocols rather than the ability to use a single app across platforms.

I miss the days of jabber being able to senselessly talk to aim, msn, yahoo, icq, etc. All chat contacts in one account.

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

#725

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is currently not interoperable between the majors mobile OS makers?

Well messaging for one thing... Some others: - Find my device features including Bluetooth ping networking (airtags, Tile, Android's upcoming network) - Airdrop/Nearby Share - Bluetooth LE proximity pairing (at least I doubt this works when pairing cross ecosystem) - Carplay/Android Auto - Airplay/Google Cast

> Find My / Airtags

Another Apple ecosystem that can be used by non-Apple devices. OpenHaystack [0] has been working well for quite a while.

[0] https://github.com/seemoo-lab/openhaystack

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

#726
post #519

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The phone number registration https://blog.beeper.com/i/139416474/sending-and-receiving-me... will make it possible to enforce legal action against malicious and spammy messages. Note that iPhones already receive SMS spam and fraud just like every other phone. However, you are correct that the blue bubble is no longer a guarantee that the bad actor is using an iPhone.

They do receive spam and fraud, but the numbers are orders of magnitude less than every one’s else BECAUSE it’s tied to hardware. I don’t know the details of how’s these guys got around it, but this is bad for the rest of us when phishing skyrockets.

I don't understand what you're talking about. I get far more SMS spam on iOS than I did on Android.

Whether the number uses iMessage or not is totally irrelevant.

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

#727
post #706
post #643

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would they demand they cease doing? Publishing software? If the use of this software is against their rights in some way, the end users running it would be the ones in violation. Publishing original software is protected expression.

One prominent counterexample to this thesis is DRM circumvention software, which regularly gets taken down via DMCA notices. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple even invokes that particular law.

"Section 1201 provides for felony liability for anyone commercially engaged in bypassing a DRM system: 5 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for a first offense."

So it's even worse than the risk of being taken down. Way worse.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/drms-dead-canary-how-w...

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

#728
post #448

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A universal chat application would be amazing You mean like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and dozens of different chat apps available for both Android and iOS?

Beeper is an app that unifies all the messaging protocols you mentioned (and others) into a single app. They are not introducing another protocol. Universal in this context is referring to the ability to use a single app across protocols rather than the ability to use a single app across platforms.

Ok, I get it.

It's what EU mandated and from March '24 all major chat apps have to be able to communicate with each other.

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

#729

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this specifically unauthorized, though? The user is permitted to use Apple's services, and Apple has, as far as I know, not announced that third party apps may not use their services.

Even Signal pitches a fit if you use a third-party app with their servers. It's a common (and unfortunate) practice.

> It's a common (and unfortunate) practice.

It would be nice if third party clients were allowed to connect, but it's totally understandable if they don't want to allow it. Servers cost money, and misbehaving client apps that you have no control over sound like a pain in the ass.

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

#730

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this specifically unauthorized, though? The user is permitted to use Apple's services, and Apple has, as far as I know, not announced that third party apps may not use their services.

Even Signal pitches a fit if you use a third-party app with their servers. It's a common (and unfortunate) practice.

what does this mean? plenty of 3rd party signal clients exist (flare being a well-known one); signal explicitly factored out a libsignal presumably to _encourage_ this.

i’ve run multiple 3rd-party signal clients, even alongside the official apps, and never seen any problems or warnings.

[flare]: https://gitlab.com/schmiddi-on-mobile/flare

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