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Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

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Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#11

Post by DmitryDolgopolo »

dingnuts wrote: post #9
ajsnigrutin wrote: post #5

Three random services only, and "AI" for some reasons... Pidgin at least supports service plugins and many more protocols, and doesn't have AI, which is a big plus when we're talking about private messaging.

AI feeding into a "private" database, so after the keylogger sends everything to OpenAI you can have a garbage summary! Or if it uses a local model, enjoy the warmth and sound of your GPU while it consumes all of your system resources for instant messaging on, well, as you put it, three random services but you know he tried Beeper!!!

Our users (including top founders and VCs) usually trust us with the AI features because it saves time and thinking.

However, you can turn off the AI features if you're into full privacy. :)

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#12

Post by devilkin »

Before I would even consider something like this:

* Where's your privacy policy?

* What/how are you handling the different customer protection laws? What juristictions are you working in? Where's the data hosted?

* Where's the design description?

* What encryption are you actually using? If you rolled your own, then well.. good luck.

* How could you ensure end-to-end encryption over multiple protocols, without either completely reverse engineering said protocols? If your answer here would be that you're using a central server where messages get passed between services (and thus decrypted), it isn't end-to-end.

The site is also very flaky. Sometimes it loads, sometimes it doesn't. There are so many questions, and zero answers.

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#13

Post by richwater »

> All messages are end-to-end encrypted and go straight from your device to the network of choice – never touching our servers.

Just because the messages themselves aren't proxied doesn't mean a service can't steal the content on the end device. I'm obviously not saying you _are_ doing that, but the trust issue is my biggest issue here.

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#14

Post by 0x264 »

DmitryDolgopolo wrote: post #4
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #3

You need screenshots on the front page. Put one front and center next to your hero text so it's right there above the fold.

Great thought! We're fixing this right now.

Yes, pictures of the user interface will help a lot. Thanks!

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#15

Post by giancarlostoro »

devilkin wrote: post #12

Before I would even consider something like this: * Where's your privacy policy? * What/how are you handling the different customer protection laws? What juristictions are you working in? Where's the data hosted? * Where's the design description? * What encryption are you actually using? If you rolled your own, then well.. good luck. * How could you ensure end-to-end encryption over multiple protocols, without either…

> The site is also very flaky. Sometimes it loads, sometimes it doesn't.

That's probably the HN front page effect to be fair.

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#16

Post by DmitryDolgopolo »

devilkin wrote: post #12

Before I would even consider something like this: * Where's your privacy policy? * What/how are you handling the different customer protection laws? What juristictions are you working in? Where's the data hosted? * Where's the design description? * What encryption are you actually using? If you rolled your own, then well.. good luck. * How could you ensure end-to-end encryption over multiple protocols, without either…

- Yep. You can read our privacy policy here: https://dimadolgopolovn.notion.site/Amber-Privacy-Policy-256... - Check out the demo in the original post. - We use native API or reverse-engineer a solution depending on the platform. This approach maintains the security standard as high as the original app. Everything is done locally on your computer.

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#17

Post by giancarlostoro »

DmitryDolgopolo wrote: post #11
dingnuts wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AI feeding into a "private" database, so after the keylogger sends everything to OpenAI you can have a garbage summary! Or if it uses a local model, enjoy the warmth and sound of your GPU while it consumes all of your system resources for instant messaging on, well, as you put it, three random services but you know he tried Beeper!!!

Our users (including top founders and VCs) usually trust us with the AI features because it saves time and thinking. However, you can turn off the AI features if you're into full privacy. :)

> However, you can turn off the AI features if you're into full privacy. :)

I think marketing for AI should always start off with "Includes opt-in AI features should you want them" instead of just "HEY WE HAVE AI" I feel like it would make a lot of people close the browser tab much later than expected.

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#18

Post by devilkin »

DmitryDolgopolo wrote: post #16
devilkin wrote: post #12

Before I would even consider something like this: * Where's your privacy policy? * What/how are you handling the different customer protection laws? What juristictions are you working in? Where's the data hosted? * Where's the design description? * What encryption are you actually using? If you rolled your own, then well.. good luck. * How could you ensure end-to-end encryption over multiple protocols, without either…

- Yep. You can read our privacy policy here: https://dimadolgopolovn.notion.site/Amber-Privacy-Policy-256... - Check out the demo in the original post. - We use native API or reverse-engineer a solution depending on the platform. This approach maintains the security standard as high as the original app. Everything is done locally on your computer.

At that point calling it end-to-end encrypted is not true.

Re: Show HN: Amber – better Beeper, a modern all-in-one messenger

#19

Post by giancarlostoro »

DmitryDolgopolo wrote: post #4
andrewmcwatters wrote: post #3

You need screenshots on the front page. Put one front and center next to your hero text so it's right there above the fold.

Great thought! We're fixing this right now.

Screenshots and gifs or something like your Loom, you need a little trailer thing that showcases the app, and its top use cases with minimal noise (minimal chat windows for demo purposes). Heck, start with a few messages, then flood in, and showcase how it helps to keep you organized, that sort of thing.
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