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

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

#741

Post by fy20 » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:46 AM UTC

nolongerthere wrote: post #735

windexh8er wrote: post #725

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Find My / Airtags Another Apple ecosystem that can be used by non-Apple devices. OpenHaystack [0] has been working well for quite a while. [0] https://github.com/seemoo-lab/openhaystack

Does this still work? that repository appears to be abandoned.

Apple did actually open up the network, there are plenty of third party devices that are 'Find My' compatible. It's intended for integration into things like bikes or scooters.

You can buy tags from AliExpress for $5 that implement it. I've been using a few for a couple of months, and no issues so far.

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

#742

Post by Melatonic » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:47 AM UTC

Does anyone have a code for Beeper Mini and not just desktop Beeper ? On Android Beeper Mini always asks for a 1.99$ a month fee or a referral code and regular beeper codes do not seem to work.

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

#743

Post by modeless » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:48 AM UTC

glitchc wrote: post #711

I was excited until it asked me to login with my Google account. If it doesn't need an iCloud account why does it require my Google one?

For the $1.99/mo subscription fee via Play Store in-app payment.

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

#744

Post by IshKebab » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:51 AM UTC

BowBun wrote: post #322

chipgap98 wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw an article on the topic where the reporter spoke with Beeper's CEO, Eric Migicovsky. He seems to believe that blocking Beeper might cause problems for legitimate Apple user's. Obviously that outcome is something he wants, but I still think its interesting. [0]: https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/5/23987817/beeper-mini-imes...

It's not too hard to think through - They would need to accept and verify a flag from messages that the copycats can't reproduce. At the very least that would require a client update from anyone using official iMessage clients, which covers many millions of devices. Unless they're able to hook into already existing flags/keys on the devices since they already verify application signatures and a whole other host of th…

They could probably require a new check but whitelist already registered numbers.

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

#745

Post by modeless » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:53 AM UTC

xd1936 wrote: post #12

Really happy to see that original customers are getting this included as well. I was worried that this was a ploy to say "we know we said you all would be grandfathered in, but that was for _Beeper Cloud_, our old legacy one. This new one is a monthly charge". Thanks for being great, @erohead

Yes, they didn't have to do that, and I certainly appreciate it. I think this business model is going to work for them, and the timing couldn't be better with the recent kerfuffle about Nothing's terrible attempt at this. They knocked it out of the park here especially with the no-compromise completely functioning end-to-end encryption.

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

#746

Post by david_van_loon » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:54 AM UTC

Great work, this looks very cool and seems to work well. I hope one day to see a local backup option, as it's important to me that my chats are not lost.

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

#747

Post by modeless » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:54 AM UTC

classicmotto wrote: post #696

If this is a standalone app (not requiring ongoing server/relay maintenances), why charge a monthly fee and not a one-time fee?

They still run a server on your behalf to translate from Apple push notifications to Android ones. Somehow they were able to do it without compromising the end-to-end encryption too, which is awesome.

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

#748

Post by modeless » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:55 AM UTC

gadders wrote: post #573

mynameisvlad wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean… yes, that is generally how subscriptions work. Google and Apple make it relatively easy to cancel in-app subscriptions.

Yeah. It's pretty shitty. You should get cut off after a week with a positive opt-in to continue.

If you want that, just cancel the subscription immediately. You still get the free trial period and you can subscribe at the end if you want to. Works for any Google Play subscription free trial AFAIK.

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

#749

Post by mritzmann » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:56 AM UTC

nolongerthere wrote: post #735

windexh8er wrote: post #725

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Find My / Airtags Another Apple ecosystem that can be used by non-Apple devices. OpenHaystack [0] has been working well for quite a while. [0] https://github.com/seemoo-lab/openhaystack

Does this still work? that repository appears to be abandoned.

> that repository appears to be abandoned

The last commit and release is from october.

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

#750

Post by saagarjha » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 6:58 AM UTC

chatmasta wrote: post #553

saagarjha wrote: post #533

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope. It just happens to be on everyone’s device and usually enabled

Yes, and when it's enabled it has more privileges than most other apps, doesn't it? But yeah you can still remove the app. Btw, maybe related, on iOS I have "app privacy report" enabled, to show me a list of apps and the recent entitlements they used. Every Apple app, even those that don't need access to them, is shown as having recently accessed my Contacts. I find this weird. Anyone know why they do that? e.g. I've…

It’s basically the same as any other app, there are some special permissions it has to integrate with the OS a bit better but nothing too interesting. Not sure what’s going on with Contacts but it might be a bug?