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Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#531

Post by usremane »

jbotz wrote: post #283
apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Well, I don't know where parent is located, but here in Brazil they are pretty much right. Everybody has WhatsApp... it's assumed that if you have a phone you have WhatsApp. A lot of financial transactions are conducted by doing a bank transfer and then sending the receipt via WhatsApp. The schools send essential messages to parents via WhatsApp. During lockdowns, stores were taking delivery orders via WhatsApp. What…

“I already recently lost them once when I switched from Android to iOS”

I have used drfone software on computer (mac) to transfer whatsapp data from android to iphone. It is a solid software with clear instructions.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#532

Post by salyvan »

Although I use WhatsApp as my main messaging app, as it is the common practice in my country, I always thought Telegram was way better - it was honestly always 20 steps ahead of WhatsApp in regard to features, and it still is. I hope everyone will switch to it, although unfortunately I believe people will just stay with WhatsApp...

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#533

Post by CubsFan1060 »

input_sh wrote: post #110
CubsFan1060 wrote: post #99

One of the killer features to me is being able to use a client on many varied systems (phone, tablet, computer), which my chat history shared between them. This allows me to very easily get messages anywhere, and pick up the conversation anywhere. Which of these support that?

Signal will sync your message history from the point you link multiple devices (not those sent/received prior to that), but no tablet support (unless you're talking about iPad).

Curious, how does it do that? Are the messages stored on a server? Just delivered to all devices? Delivered to one then dispersed from there?

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#534

Post by TheRealSteel »

apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Yeah, if this is a poll for which is the best service to switch to for the rare instance when you have a choice, then okay.

If this is a poll about what I intend to do? Nothing, facebook has me by the balls and will for years to come.

Maybe certain small groups or individuals will be willing to switch with me, but it's not like I'm uninstalling WhatsApp any time soon.

I'll just link my comment from the other article about the Whatsapp changes:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25672109

Plus I'm sure they've linked all the data they can in their backend already. It's hard to believe the notice we all got this morning was really going to realistically change very much of anything.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#535

Post by TheRealSteel »

deeblering4 wrote: post #516
apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Why is this the top voted comment? Leaving WhatsApp is nothing at all like cutting off your internet connection. It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps, and it is owned by one of the least ethical companies that exists today.

"It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps"

It baffles me people are still saying this.

You can only message people that are using the SAME messaging app as you. I can't just up and switch apps and expect my 30+ friends and relatives and housemates and coworkers to switch with me!

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#536

Post by notsureaboutpg »

deeblering4 wrote: post #516
apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Why is this the top voted comment? Leaving WhatsApp is nothing at all like cutting off your internet connection. It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps, and it is owned by one of the least ethical companies that exists today.

In many countries (think India, Middle East, etc) WhatsApp is basically assumed to be your phone/sms solution. Many shops advertise their numbers to call on whatsapp (they may not even be able to accept phone calls/sms over other than WiFi/data).

If you order a delivery or taxi or other service, the person will inevitably try to whatsapp you if they need to get a hold of you.

Some countries have mandated their own version of WhatsApp so they can do the spying instead of WhatsApp (UAE has BOTIM for example), but the same critical nature of this application is there. Merchants, workers, and other important non-colleagues / non-friends / non-family only accept or expect communication through WhatsApp

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#537

Post by rhacker »

fahadkhan wrote: post #345
hoorayimhelping wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody cares that you and your crew are using a WhatsApp alternative, which is why there's no option for you to signal that you're using an alternative. This is for people who want to switch and are looking for suggestions, not for people who are trying to show off that they don't need to switch.

I find it interesting to that people don't use WhatsApp at all. Many posts here are claiming not using WhatsApp is impossible. Grandparent's experience demonstrate that it is.

I'm 41 and I have heard of whatsapp but I have never used it. Never heard of anyone else (that I know) using it. just anecdata for you.

Edit: US - sorry I was just catching up on the rest of this giant thread and it looks like SE Asia S America are the main usage places.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#538

Post by pbhjpbhj »

deeblering4 wrote: post #516
apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Why is this the top voted comment? Leaving WhatsApp is nothing at all like cutting off your internet connection. It is just one out of literally dozens of available text messaging apps, and it is owned by one of the least ethical companies that exists today.

It's not the app or company, it's the network [of people].

You can't switch unless you can convince literally everyone you know (I'm in UK) to switch.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#539

Post by nicolas_t »

px43 wrote: post #352
yedpodtrzitko wrote: post #238

Line ( https://line.me ) is pretty popular in several Asian countries, so I started to use it during my time there. Its desktop app is really good, so now I'm sticking with it whenever possible.

Is it encrypted? It's really annoying that modern chat apps without end to end encryption are even a thing. This is a solved problem now, several open source, drop in replacements exist to secure messaging. It'll be really sad if a bunch of people leave WhatsApp, which actually had good encryption, for services that don't even try to protect users.

It's fully encrypted and they have a good whitepaper explaining exactly how their encryption works https://linecorp.com/en/security/encryption/2019h1

I really like line because their desktop app is extremely good, very fast and doesn't consume a lot of resources (it's not an electron app :))

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#540

Post by pmlnr »

voidmain0001 wrote: post #285
boraoztunc wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is happening. First they get surprised that communication is possible beyond WA, even exactly the same. My mother's reaction was hilarious after sending me photos from Signal, free of charge. She was thinking only WA is free, every other app will charge her. I had to explain that calling, voice or video is also possible, without any payment.

How is free sustainable for Signal? I understand why WA is free based on data collection, but Signal just seems too benevolent toward its users. I read up on Signal Foundation (Acton and Marlinspike) as a non-profit which is being buoyed along by $100M from Acton. Mozilla is a non profit too, but it gets money from Google for placing Google search in Firefox. Where is the long term cash flow for Signal?

I was looking for this information as well. They have a donation page - https://www.signal.org/donate/ - unlike the Mozilla Foundation/Firefox, so if enough people decide to use it, and to make regular(ish) donations, it could work. See Wikipedia.
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