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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

#291

Post by entropicdrifter »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #256
bitwize wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're talking about a company that changes CPU architectures for their ecosystem every few years, completely seamlessly. If redesigning their entire authentication and delivery strategy is what it will take to mitigate this problem, Apple will do it.

What problem? Increased compatibility?

Apple has control issues. If they don't control it or at least sign off on it, they want it to be incompatible with their hardware.

Hell, they don't even allow alternative browsers on their iOS devices. All the non-Safari browsers are just Safari in a (Chrome, Firefox, etc) skin

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

#293

Post by freedomben »

jenny91 wrote: post #130
kevincox wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's legal. But it doesn't mean that Apple has to quietly allow it. What is maybe more relevant is the EU talking about forcing federation. If Apple lets this live it may give them more bargaining power in those discussions. If they shut it down thatay throw jet fuel on the fire.

Or it may lose them bargaining power. This is a very real technical proof of concept, and deprives Apple of one fewer claim that opening up is a technical challenge.

Apple can easily argue that this implementation violates their security controls and doesn't count as a PoC. As soon as the last iphone without a secure enclave loses support, they can flip the switch and kill Beeper('s iMessage service) instantly

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

#294

Post by fragmede »

stanleydrew wrote: post #272
impish9208 wrote: post #257

Whenever this issue of iMessage crops up on HN, I’ve come to expect the usual points from both sides. However, the one thing that’s never addressed is the “why” of it all. For a group that ostensibly values openness and interoperability, why spend so much effort and energy to climb into a walled garden?

Blue-bubble envy is real. I myself am a green-bubbler but every once in awhile I feel this tinge of "otherness" when I see "Loved an image" in the group chat.

it's location tracking and sending money that you don't feel.

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

#295

Post by ixwt »

runako wrote: post #85
modeless wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Apple bans this they will have to answer to EU courts. I very much doubt they will in this political climate.

They wouldn't have to ban it, they could just alter the protocol to make it impossible. iMessage is designed to only work on devices manufactured by a single company. All of those devices have secure cryptographic elements built into them. It's not a stretch to think Apple could lock down iMessage under the guise of security.

The only way I could see this happening is if they have all of the public keys of the secure cryptographic elements in a database of all Apple devices ever created. Because otherwise, it would just be trivial to emulate a "secure cryptographic element" if it's just a public/private key.

They aren't running a client by Apple. A glance at other posts seems they are using Apple code, but that would just be a matter of reverse engineering if the code required the secure enclave.

I can't think of a way that a server would be able to prove a device is Apple or not if you were to replicate the protocol completely. Only if there was some established public/private key would this be possible. And then the private key on the device would be in a secure enclave that you could feed it data to sign to prove the device is an authorized device.

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

#296

Post by bogwog »

This seems like it won't last, but it's AWESOME and I really hope you survive Apple's inevitable attempts to kill this. A universal chat application would be amazing, and will maybe help bring attention to the value of standards and interoperability (hopefully by governments/regulators).

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

#297

Post by malermeister »

blopker wrote: post #234
jdiez17 wrote: post #126

It seems that at least the push notification registration part uses a "leaked/extracted" FairPlay private key [1]. As far as I understand, FairPlay certificates/keys should be unique to each iDevice. Couldn't Apple trivially ban all subscriptions originating from this fake device? The comment says you know how to generate more; does Beeper Mini generate one for each install? Why would Apple believe those certificates…

Does this look like the same file from the deleted repo? https://github.com/rdxunlock/albertsimlockapple/blob/main/AL... I'd love to see an open source version of Beeper with no analytics. I'd be happy to host my own notification server.

The python library they provide should be a good start at least: https://github.com/JJTech0130/pypush

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

#298

Post by standardUser »

nozzlegear wrote: post #251
standardUser wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only "ethics" problem I see is a company using it's considerable weight to deliberately segregate users of different platforms, resulting in discrimination and bullying. I understand a lot of people here may not understand this, on account of not being a teenager or young adult, but it is a very real phenomenon.

I think the ethics problem probably lies on the shoulders of the bullies, not on Apple.

If I were a profitable company and I knew I could end bullying resulting from my product without significantly harming my business, and I chose not too, would I be acting ethically?

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

#299

Post by Aaargh20318 »

devmor wrote: post #277
Zak wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From Apple's perspective, yes. Social pressure to buy Apple devices to use Apple's messaging app is part of Apple's marketing strategy. Apple also claims that blocking devices by serial number or similar unique hardware identifiers is a key part of its anti-spam strategy. If true, an end-run around that will likely create problems for users as well.

Isn't apple implementing full RCS support next year?

There is no encryption in the RCS standard, so of course no encryption.

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

#300

Post by DonHopkins »

kylebenzle wrote: post #213
tantalor wrote: post #206

As Android user, this seems useless to me. What do I get by switching over to this "blue bubble" platform? RCS messaging is pretty good and has most of these advertised features already.

[flagged]

[flagged]
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