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Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

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Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#51

Post by CuriousCosmic »

_l4jh wrote: post #19

I have been using Signal for two years now and I love it. However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. Just build an encrypted blob and zip it up and pop it on my iCloud or Google Drive or leave it local and let me deal with it but I need something .…

I also use Signal but the thing that kills me about it is the lack of RCS support. I love everything on the Signal side but there just is not a realistic way to get people to migrate to it unless they can seamlessly transfer over from Google Messages or the other OEM message apps.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#52

Post by codetrotter »

bertmuthalaly wrote: post #27
FreakyT wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly! The lack of this feature is completely baffling.

On iOS now, if you’re setting up a new device, Signal will prompt you to transfer your messages from your old device. Not exactly a backup feature but it covers one use case (I don’t want to lose my chat history when I switch devices).

I dont use Signal myself so I’m not inclined to put in the work for that but just wanted to point out that given what you said and the fact that Signal is open source [0] it should then be possible to figure out how they do transfers and adapt that code in order to sync data from Signal on iOS onto your computer. Unless it ties into some feature of iOS itself that provides data transfer between phones in which case it will be more difficult to work out.

[0]: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-iOS

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#53

Post by [deleted] »

costsNall wrote: post #29
karakanb wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me, they literally mean "history". Some conversation with a friend who passed away, chats with an ex-lover, remembering school years, tons of memories. I believe at this point those messages are an important part of my past. In other words, if I had a chance to record, search and navigate through real life conversations, I would have done that too; it is way better to have records than to try to remember things.

As someone who has saved no chat logs, and just deleted pics, letters, and such from a long gone marriage; IMO, they’re not that important. In fact, shedding that memory shed cognitive distraction I did not know I had. If I want to connect to people I do it here and now. Talking to the past in my head is unhealthy.

[deleted]

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#54

Post by officeplant »

eat_veggies wrote: post #35
sjaak wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is keeping a chat history important? I don't take notes of IRL conversation I have, they're ephemeral. Not trolling, honestly curious :-)

They're different mediums with different expectations of ephemerality. Chat history sits somewhere between speaking IRL and sending letters (but to be clear, is not a simple combination; it's its own thing) and nobody burns their letters when they move to a new house. People do burn their letters for valid reasons (or use more naturally ephemeral media like phone calls, talking IRL, or Signal's disappearing messages)…

>nobody burns their letters when they move to a new house

Actually that's usually when I finally make the effort to burn old mail that I can't just throw away. (insurance payment paperwork, credit card bills, etc)

Maybe I should invest in a shredder.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#55

Post by saurik »

eat_veggies wrote: post #35
sjaak wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is keeping a chat history important? I don't take notes of IRL conversation I have, they're ephemeral. Not trolling, honestly curious :-)

They're different mediums with different expectations of ephemerality. Chat history sits somewhere between speaking IRL and sending letters (but to be clear, is not a simple combination; it's its own thing) and nobody burns their letters when they move to a new house. People do burn their letters for valid reasons (or use more naturally ephemeral media like phone calls, talking IRL, or Signal's disappearing messages)…

... particularly given that Signal does have this feature--maybe not as smooth or easy as it should be, but still totally functional--on Android; so it isn't even a consistent argument that "we've decided they actually do not want to do that"!

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#56

Post by ngrilly »

colordrops wrote: post #32
_l4jh wrote: post #19

I have been using Signal for two years now and I love it. However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. Just build an encrypted blob and zip it up and pop it on my iCloud or Google Drive or leave it local and let me deal with it but I need something .…

This already exists in Android.

Yes, but it's only local, not cloud, as far as I understand.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#57

Post by plibither8 »

Aachen wrote: post #37
looperhacks wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chat history isn't stored server side, so gdpr doesn't apply here.

I always wondered about that. If a closed source app keeps my data in their silo, but I own the hardware their software runs on, I can't do anything with GDPR? Aren't they the controller if they run the software?

Exactly. We're not owners of that data, they are. Should be an extension of the regulations IMHO.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#58

Post by leokennis »

officeplant wrote: post #44
davemtl wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Signal has a method to backup chats, at least on Android. It's under Settings > Chats and media > Chat backup. Baffling if this feature isn't available on iPhone.

Main problem being you don't have access to the file structure on an iphone. So you can't simply drop a backed up folder in there like you can on Android. You are stuck needing the previous device.

Since iOS 12 or so, iPhone has a built in files app. Every app can integrate with that. So when I create a file (let’s say chat backup) in app A, I can put it in the files app. Then in app B (or app A on a new phone) I can easily open that file from the same files app.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#59

Post by madeofpalk »

izacus wrote: post #46
_l4jh wrote: post #19

I have been using Signal for two years now and I love it. However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. Just build an encrypted blob and zip it up and pop it on my iCloud or Google Drive or leave it local and let me deal with it but I need something .…

> However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. I've tried to report bugs and talk to developers about this but there's one fundamental problem here - the Signal team fundamentally does not value chat history the same way a lot of people do. They thin…

I doubt they think you are wrong - they just don't value it themselves personally, and lack empathy for their users who have different values.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#60

Post by Aachen »

plibither8 wrote: post #57
Aachen wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always wondered about that. If a closed source app keeps my data in their silo, but I own the hardware their software runs on, I can't do anything with GDPR? Aren't they the controller if they run the software?

Exactly. We're not owners of that data, they are. Should be an extension of the regulations IMHO.

That's also my "HO" but I was more wondering how to interpret this from a legal perspective. I've read large parts of the GDPR law but don't (at least off the top of my head) remember anything that would say either way.
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