Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android • Hacker News Board

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

#131

Post by modeless » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:44 PM UTC

saagarjha wrote: post #124

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.)

Ok, but you can change yours, yes? Just like Signal isn’t installed by default on your phone and if you want what it offers you can use it.

But unless everyone you talk to also changes it then Apple still holds the keys to your conversations. If you care, it is best to avoid software with bad security defaults altogether.

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

#132

Post by rootusrootus » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:44 PM UTC

At this point, why not just wait for Apple to release their RCS implementation?

The nicest thing about iMessage (for me, at least) has always been that it was a significant improvement to SMS that just worked, with graceful fallback to SMS for anyone who didn't use it. No installing third party apps, wondering if someone new I wanted to contact would be on that messaging app, etc. A nice bonus, but not something that would ever get in my way. Wanting to install a third-party app on an Android phone just to get blue bubbles is weird.

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

#133

Post by rootusrootus » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:45 PM UTC

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?

Does RCS rely on Apple servers? If it just goes through the same carrier network the way SMS does, why would Apple need to be compensated for the use of their cloud infrastructure?

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

#134

Post by JZL003 » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:46 PM UTC

xd1936 wrote: post #91

sauwan wrote: post #82

Can I make this work with my Google Voice number?

Same question. No RCS, no iMessage... Us few Google Voice users have been forgotten by Google. I live in constant fear that the service will be "spring cleaned".

Yeah I'm too far commmitted. I hope they'll let us buy the number off them

But my theory is that too many google execs use it so it'll hurt them too if it gets canned. They did update the app semi recently

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

#135

Post by erohead » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:46 PM UTC

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)

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

#136

Post by ryaneager » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:46 PM UTC

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…

As if Apple doesn’t have hundreds of Billions in the bank... I think they can afford to foot the bill.

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

#137

Post by aqfamnzc » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:46 PM UTC

cbsks wrote: post #114

asadm wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

seems likely? or atleast a hash of it.

A hash of a phone number would be trivial to brute force.

Hmm, could it be salted somehow?

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

#138

Post by divbzero » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:47 PM UTC

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?

Yes, I think RCS will be supported free of charge similar to SMS and MMS today. I also suspect that Apple will reserve blue bubbles for native iMessage and use green bubbles for RCS.

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

#139

Post by nomel » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:47 PM UTC

fuddle wrote: post #123

I'm really surprised people will go to so much effort for a blue bubble.

For me, it's not a blue bubble as much as the higher quality images/videos, compared to SMS/MMS. Trying to figure out which proper app a certain person has/uses, and remembering which to open for a certain person, is a huge pain. The full Beeper app is like old school Trillian: a bunch of clients in one. I just see messages from people. It's great!

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

#140

Post by gorkish » Tue, Dec 05, 2023, 5:48 PM UTC

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 planet before Apple has a chance to ban it.