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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

#441

Post by philsnow »

WD40ForRust2 wrote: post #370
stefan_ wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That seems like a problem. Emulating the protocol is okayish-to-gray but having the binary there will just be a straight DMCA. Wonder what the actual app is doing since this is just the PoC.

I hope we get to a place where people like this simply generate an OpenPGP key/OpenSSL certificate for a pseudonym and just throw this stuff up on .onion and .i2p domains. A place where DMCA and copyright literally cannot be enforced because it's impossible to.

This reminds me of the near-ish-future "Rainbow's End" by Vernor Vinge, wherein instead of giving out phone numbers or email addresses or screen names (identifiers), people give out opaque GUIDs [0] that act as communication handles with capabilities baked in. So, you could give out one to friends that allows people to open a synchronous voice channel to you, but give out one on your business card that just allows people to send text messages to you.

The book doesn't talk about it too much, but presumably these handles could be limited-use (time-based or only granting a capability to send a certain number of messages) and could be revoked.

I know it would probably be off-putting to give each person I meet a different GUID for contacting me (kind of like telling them your email address is @), but it might reduce the spam I receive.

[0] if you're searching the ebook, they're called "golden enums" in the text

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

#443

Post by andygeorge »

solardev wrote: post #423
ttul wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Apple does start enforcing signed attestations, they will say that it's to reduce abuse. I have no doubt (being in the anti-abuse world) that spammers and phishing gangs will immediately begin using Beeper to spam iMessage users because this allows them to avoid buying an iOS device. With end-to-end encryption, Apple may also decide to roll out privacy-protecting client-side spam and phishing detection, which woul…

Maybe Apple needs an even blue-r bubble to set apart the super attested users from the mere blue bubble peasants

they could call it "apple blue" and charge a few bucks a month for it. People love that stuff

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

#444

Post by andygeorge »

threeseed wrote: post #432
afavour wrote: post #425

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m talking about the iPhone.

Messages is the same on OSX and iOS. It's not deeply integrated into the iOS by any normal definition. It's just shipped together.

fwiw it hasn't been called "OSX" for awhile now

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

#445

Post by kyawzazaw »

szszrk wrote: post #38

OK, took a while to figure out what it is, as I barely know anyone using iphone. Though it's not for me, BUT if they deliver this: > Over time, we will be adding all networks that Beeper supports into Beeper Mini, including SMS/RCS, WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, Telegram, Instagram, Twitter, Slack, Discord, Google Chat and Linkedin. We'll also bring Beeper Mini to desktop and iOS. I'm interested, even if it's paid. I'…

> as I barely know anyone using iphone.

where are you located?

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

#446

Post by wslh »

bogwog wrote: post #296

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).

One of my companies lives from this kind of things so it would last if someone could fund it. More food for thought: "Reflecting on 16 Years of Work on Adversarial Interoperability" (now, more than 20...) [1]

[1] https://blog.nektra.com/2020/01/12/reflecting-on-16-years-of...

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

#447

Post by sudosysgen »

solardev wrote: post #439
xsrMcVdvV3 wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b), a person may develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological measure, or to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure, in order to enable the identification and analysis under paragraph (1), or for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, if such means ar…

Has this ever succeeded in court? Has it ever even gotten to court or do people just give up at the first lawyer's letter?

Yes, it has been tested many times, famously for unlicensed video games on consoles.

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

#448

Post by djvdq »

bogwog wrote: post #296

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).

> 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?

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

#450

Post by szszrk »

kyawzazaw wrote: post #445
szszrk wrote: post #38

OK, took a while to figure out what it is, as I barely know anyone using iphone. Though it's not for me, BUT if they deliver this: > Over time, we will be adding all networks that Beeper supports into Beeper Mini, including SMS/RCS, WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, Telegram, Instagram, Twitter, Slack, Discord, Google Chat and Linkedin. We'll also bring Beeper Mini to desktop and iOS. I'm interested, even if it's paid. I'…

> as I barely know anyone using iphone. where are you located?

Poland. I know a few apple fanboys but those aren't people I communicate with outside of work. Just not my bubble.

It's actually weird and silly when they send me text messages and somehow I end up in the same conversation multiple times - like once 1:1, once in a group chat with myself included twice or more (as a number, as an email, as a second number). It's a bizarre experience and usually iPhone user can't see anything wrong :D

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