I've been using XMPP on my phone just fine. Why do I need WhatsApp which is not open? It offers me nothing new other than having to verify my phone number. But I can just use Google Voice if I wanted to message someone who knows my phone number. If I'm talking with someone in India there is no reason why I shouldn't just use XMPP.
WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
91–100 of 132 posts
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#92Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#93Earlier quoted context omitted.
author here. I don't think you understood what I am complaining about. I am complaining exactly about chrome only and usage of non-standard api. As for storage, the web client is requesting non-standard file system permission exactly to store things. I am saying they should use a standard API such as IndexedDB for that kind of thing. I do understand a thing or two about IM having worked on more than a client before.…
I do understand. One of your complaints is "Mistake three - It doesn't work if your phone is not connected to the internet." That is not a mistake. It is a direct result of the fundamental insight that enabled whatsapp to become what is is - being stateless. Your first two complaints are technical, but the third is a business decision that optimizes their product to fit the needs of the market. This is a by the by, b…
What does being stateless mean, in this context?
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#94It also works in Opera, fyi.
Operas browser user agent is basically the same as Chromes. Firefox also works if you spoof it, which makes the point of OPs article even more prominent.
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#95I've been using XMPP on my phone just fine. Why do I need WhatsApp which is not open? It offers me nothing new other than having to verify my phone number. But I can just use Google Voice if I wanted to message someone who knows my phone number. If I'm talking with someone in India there is no reason why I shouldn't just use XMPP.
>> "Why do I need WhatsApp which is not open? It offers me nothing new other than having to verify my phone number."
The common answer: because al my friends are using it. I don't understand why people don't use SMS when most smartphone contracts come with unlimited messages now. Why send your info through ANOTHER third party? But my friends are using it for the group feature so unless I don't want to be left out of the loop I have to as well.
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#96> Here in Brazil WhatsApp is basically ubiquitous since its cheaper to send IM messages than to send SMS. From this I conclude that OP has fallen for the bizarre nonsense argument I've heard in Brazil a lot of times when WhatsApp was gaining traction: "You must use it! It's free SMS!" What? No, it is not "free SMS", it is internet messaging. Internet messaging has existed since... since there was internet. Yeah, it i…
Actually there are carriers in Brazil that allow free connection to WhatsApp server even if you have a limited connection plan... People say that it is free SMS because of some reasons such as the fact that WhatsApp transfer your whole list of contacts to their server and thus populates the application contact list to the point that it is as convenient to use as SMS. Emails require email addresses. WhatsApp contacts…
> Its about perception
It's not just about perception. In their early days, they used to advertise themselves as a "Free SMS" service, at least in Portuguese.
> Actually there are carriers in Brazil that allow free connection to WhatsApp server even if you have a limited connection plan...
This is very recent, after they got massive.
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#97I've been using XMPP on my phone just fine. Why do I need WhatsApp which is not open? It offers me nothing new other than having to verify my phone number. But I can just use Google Voice if I wanted to message someone who knows my phone number. If I'm talking with someone in India there is no reason why I shouldn't just use XMPP.
>> "Why do I need WhatsApp which is not open? It offers me nothing new other than having to verify my phone number." The common answer: because al my friends are using it. I don't understand why people don't use SMS when most smartphone contracts come with unlimited messages now. Why send your info through ANOTHER third party? But my friends are using it for the group feature so unless I don't want to be left out of…
Whatsapp is hugely popular in India where phone contracts are not popular and most people use pay-as-you-go prepaid mobile services. Very few, if any, of them come with unlimited messages. Unlimited messages are a US-only thing I guess.
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#98Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
>> "Why do I need WhatsApp which is not open? It offers me nothing new other than having to verify my phone number." The common answer: because al my friends are using it. I don't understand why people don't use SMS when most smartphone contracts come with unlimited messages now. Why send your info through ANOTHER third party? But my friends are using it for the group feature so unless I don't want to be left out of…
Whatsapp is hugely popular in India where phone contracts are not popular and most people use pay-as-you-go prepaid mobile services. Very few, if any, of them come with unlimited messages. Unlimited messages are a US-only thing I guess.
I'm in the UK. That doesn't change my point though. Despite the unlimited text messages in UK/US people still use Whatsapp.
Re: WhatsApp doesn't understand the web
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
Telegram is a bad counter-example for various reasons. LINE has a desktop client that works well though
There's a Telegram desktop client... for mac at least.
There are desktop clients for Linux and Windows also: https://desktop.telegram.org/