Earlier quoted context omitted.
Since they've been on waitlist-mode for several years, it's not currently easy to try out in any case.
Invite: https://refer.beeper.com/7Wh0gt
Says invalid - maybe used already ?
Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
681–690 of 902 posts
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#682Sounds like Texts the app Automattic acquired https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/24/23928685/automattic-text...
These all-in-one messaging apps should be interesting
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#683Earlier quoted context omitted.
Reverse-engineering and documenting protocol is OK. Implementing protocol according to the documentation is OK. Copying and modifying binary with proprietary license is not OK.
How do you run the binary if that's not OK? In order to install it, The binary gets copied from the installer (dmg/zip/app store/CD install media), and then to run it, it gets copied from your hard drive to RAM, so that's clearly okay in some circumstances. Furthermore, once it's on my hard drive, I can copy it over and over again in random places on my hard drive for funsies and the operating system will gladly coop…
In my very limited understanding, distribution is the key.
It’s legal for Apple to distribute Apple binaries. It is not legal for someone else to distribute Apple binaries.
Copying a binary from installer to app folder: not distribution
Putting the binary on a USB and giving it to your buddy: gray area, not worth prosecuting, but maybe technically distribution
Uploading the binary to a GitHub repo titled “Apple binaries here”: obviously distribution
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#684OK, 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'…
Happy Beeper customer and original poster here to tell you: Beeper Cloud is already out there and works really well! It's also free, though you'll have to get through the waitlist somehow. It doesn't perfectly replace every app just yet but it covers the most important functionality extremely well. And it's available on mobile as well as desktop devices.
Do you mind giving me a referral for Beeper?
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#685The real question is - even if they cannot find a way to lock out Beeper - will they find a way to identify beeper devices and make the bubbles green ?
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#686Earlier quoted context omitted.
> apple's unique level of control allows it to produce a superior product with more consistency Another way to read this: Apple has a superior product because they perform anti-competitive practices and don't allow other companies to out-product them. And when they do, they buy them/shut them down before anyone is the wiser.
editorialization. you know as well as anyone that restricting your feature development to your own platform rather than doing a retarded design by committee helps one innovate faster.
We don't need to speculate; internal emails from the Epic trial discuss the motivations.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/27/22406303/imessage-android...
In short, Eddy Cue proposed in 2013 that Apple owning the best-in-class messaging app would be a win, and even mentioned the cost being low. Phil Schiller shut him down, arguing it would remove a barrier preventing iPhone parents from buying their kids Android phones.
That reads like anti-competitive motivation to me. In particular, it looks like tying, where two unrelated products are connected artificially. The wikipedia article on anticompetitive behaviors has a section on tying, and mentions another case involving Apple that bears some resemblance involving iPods being artificially restricted to only playing tracks either from iTunes or direct CD rips.
So I think the anti-competitive angle has some real merit.
The innovation claim, though, I have a harder time with. I don't see how releasing Messages for Android implies design-by-committee. They could just release it, like Beeper Mini just did, but without the reverse engineering part.
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#687This 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).
The timing is potentially clever. Apple has committed to supporting RCS next year, and will face regulatory pressure in places like Europe.
Even if short lived they could onboard a lot of Android users and then use RCS once it’s supported.
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#688Earlier quoted context omitted.
I recently paid >$1000 for the privilege of access to iMessage when switching from Android to iPhone. I'd have been _much_ happier staying on my preferred operating system and paying $24/yr. (iMessage has, for me, actually been worth it - but still, I frequently find myself wishing that something like Beeper Mini existed so I could go back to android).
What do you prefer about Android?
Affordability.
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#689https://blog.beeper.com/p/how-beeper-mini-works > SMS access is used to send an SMS text message from your number to Apple’s “Gateway” service. The gateway sends a response via SMS, and the contents from that SMS response are sent to Apple to register your phone number as a blue bubble. Your SMS chat history is also used to determine if any of your recent SMS chats were with people who have iPhones. If so, these chat…
Beeper Mini checks only the last 50 contacts and determines if any are on iMessage.
Thanks for answering. Any plans to make the check optional? Some people may not want to send that info to Apple.
Re: Show HN: Beeper Mini – iMessage client for Android
#690Beeper is a really cool idea by some cool people (people behind the Pebble smartwatch) but I've resisted using it for fear of bans. I don't want my Slack/Discord/Instagram/AppleId/etc to get banned for using something not allowed under the terms of service. How are people who use Beeper dealing with this? Are you just using dummy/test accounts that you don't care about or are you just rolling the dice. I would like t…
I've used Beeper for about a year with Facebook, Signal, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and iMessage. Instagram signs me out once a month or so for security suspicions, but I just reconfirm my account with 2FA. Other than that, no issues.