I am highly optimistic about the future of cryptocurrencies but even I can acknowledge this was a strange/risky move by Signal.
Et Tu, Signal?
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Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#12I was recently pulled onto Signal by a non-techie who values his privacy. I talked to him about Matrix/Element and he had no idea what that was, but was very happy with Siganl. I must admit, the app is very nice. All I had to do was give it access to my contacts and bam, I am now able to chat with all my contacts. By comparison, Element is much more like a chat program than a phone messenger. It's good for "I want to…
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Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#13[flagged]
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#14Shit. Just as I convinced all my family and friends to move out from whatsapp and I uninstalled the stupid green app. What do we get to do now?
If you are looking for e2e encryption, it all depends on which features you need (like voice messages) and how good usability and UX needs to be for your family and friends to adopt the new tool.
Some candidates are
* GNU Jami: https://jami.net/
* Matrix with Element: https://element.io/
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#15This seems to ignore the fact that absolutely nothing about using Signal requires that one use this additional feature. It's not required if you don't like it. Yet it insists on it being a pump and dump scam, without evidence. :(
But it requires extra code and that code can have additional bugs.
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#16Oh well. No such thing as free lunch after all. Yet again, a user-funded nonprofit would be the way to go, but users want free stuff. Minority would donate, but good luck having a steady cash flow and being able to pay for the infrastructure and your wages.
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#17[deleted]
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#18Shit. Just as I convinced all my family and friends to move out from whatsapp and I uninstalled the stupid green app. What do we get to do now?
Can't the user just ignore this cryptocurrency BS if they (like myself) have no intention of using it?
You can, it's just that having the cryptocurrency in the first place leaves a bad taste in some people's mouths.
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#19Shit. Just as I convinced all my family and friends to move out from whatsapp and I uninstalled the stupid green app. What do we get to do now?
Check the other apps in the HN poll: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25669864. I recommend Matrix.
Re: Et Tu, Signal?
#20I definitely agree with the article that it felt a bit like a betrayal. I've pushed some friends and family to use it over Telegram despite significant usability issue, and now I see that instead of implementing some IMO basic features like proper message sync and easy backup when you get a new phone, they prefer to implement a... micropayment system? Based on some niche altcoin which doesn't even exist on mainstream exchanges?
It goes beyond the usual issue with cryptocurrencies. Let's assume that they integrated with Bitcoin or Litecoin or some "mainstream" CC, would it still be a good idea? You can already send wallet addresses over signal if you care to do it.
I'm willing to give the Signal devs the benefit of the doubt and assume that they meant well and aren't actively trying to benefit from the move (even though I'm not completely dismissing this possibility) but at the very least it's just showcases a very strange way to lead the project and prioritize issues. I can think of a dozen things out of the top that would do more to drive Signal adoption than integrating with some "literally what?" cryptocoin.
This is going to drive the adoption of this niche cryptocoin, it's not going to do anything at all for Signal.