Hello Wilfred!
** On Thursday 31.12.20 - 18:07, Wilfred van Velzen wrote to August Abolins:
AA>> WhatsApp is owned by FB now, isn't it? If so, I'd drop it.
WvV> Afaik it is. And would be something I would avoid as much
WvV> as possible. Except I have no real choic in the matter,
WvV> because I'm required to have it on my (company) phone...
Ah.. then that's a different story. But why can't your company
[1] influence a move to the less evasive Telegram or Signal for
example? They could broadcast an annoucement that a phase-over to
one of the other apps is encouraged and a full migration is
expected to take by a specif date.. OR.. [2] introduce new policy
to use Telegram/Signal for its new customers/clients?
But the whole thing is probably one of those situations were the
1st-use scenario wins. Therefore, why bother with the tedious
hassle of installing something else and have to reestablish the
contacts from another app - especially for exisiting customers.
WvV> I think privacy awareness is getting better. But people
WvV> still choose the easy way. Instead of trying to convince
WvV> others to use the better option, they just use what's
WvV> already available/installed/used by most people.
That reminds me when the various chat programs like ICQ, Jabber,
iChat, Pidgin, AIM, etc.. were all present and different people
chose to use a specific chat program for specific reasons they
had. I encountered the same split of different chat programs with
select contacts. But I think it was Pidgin that helped to
consolidate the other chat accounts into one program. That was
sweet.
AA>> I have roped in one family friend onto Telegram. We both feel it
AA>> is a better platform than FB's messenger..
WvV> Me and my 2 brothers use it to communicate amongst
WvV> eachother. There are some coworkers that have it available,
WvV> but most of the time still use whatsapp to start a
WvV> conversation. I try to stear that to Telegram sometimes,
WvV> but not with great success... :-/
That means, they probably have other contacts that only have
whatsapp and don't wish to switch between running apps too often.
It's an app clutter nightmare.
AA>> Does Signal have a desktop app similar to what Telegram
AA>> offers?
WvV> I had to look it up myself. There are clients for several
WvV> platforms: windows, mac, linux (only debian based). For my
WvV> distribution the client is in the application repositories,
WvV> but not for the older version I'm currently using. So not
WvV> as good as Telegram, but almost as good...
Thank you. I eventually visited the Signal pages too. Unlike
Telegram, it forces the user to install the app on a phone first
before you can use the service.
I thought Telegram's approach was better: install any app (even
desktop version, which I did) that you want, and the registration
takes place with an SMS to a cellphone number that you have
handy. Later, I used the webby version from my Blackberry, and
then later after that, I installed the app for the phone.
The latter step made me wonder "How did I do that?" ..I mean, I
can't use GooglePlay to get the app - so how did I manage to
install that thing? (GooglePlay used to work BTW but some
upgrade to the core shopping app broke something). Then I
remembered.. I simply fetched the .APK version from another pc,
sent the file to the Blackberry, and "launched" the installation
that way.
It's same install issue with Signal. Since I have to install it
on the phone to even qualify to try it, I need to have the .APK
version. I think I found the legit file as version 5.0.8 here:
https://signal.org/android/apk/
..but the SHA256 that I get doesn't match what they report on
the site:
"You can verify the signing certificate on the APK matches this
SHA256 fingerprint:
29:F3:4E:5F:27:F2:11:B4:24:BC:5B:F9:D6:71:62:C0
EA:FB:A2:DA:35:AF:35:C1:64:16:FC:44:62:76:BA:26
But I guess the SHA256 above is for the "certificate", not the
file itself?
Why can't everyone just stick with MD5 or SHA256 for the "files"
and avoid having us to find other apps to read certificates!
Meanwhie, it would seem that I have to install the whole Android
APK Developer kit *just* to be able to check the certificate of
an app.
AA>> (I wouldn't ask that if I had internet access at this time.
AA>> But I have to wait until Jan 4 to get my mobile data back..
WvV> So you sent this message from the shop?
It turns out that there was a problem with the mobile servers.
Before that, I checked my data usage (from a DSL connected pc)
and I still had about 200MB data left. That would be plenty for
nntp/FTN messaging. Usually, the mobile service sends me a
reminder via SMS that I am out of data - but I wasn't getting
that message!
But, later that night, I *did* get "out of data" reminder and the
usual option to top up - which I did. So.. for $5, I have the
privilege of having 200MB until I need more.
But another problem persists. The $5 top up + 200MB is supposed
to allow me to cruise at 3G speeds. But the best that I am
getting now is 36Kbps!
This shit is way overpriced.
AA>> I like Telegram's offerings across ALL devices, especially
AA>> the desktop. The desktop version permits much better
AA>> editing performance.
WvV> I like it too!
It's especially nice to be able to adjust the colours and the
backgrounds. Does Signal have that?
WvV> I only have a fake FB account to be able to view links to
WvV> FB you sometimes get. I have never used it to communicate
WvV> with anyone I know.
That is smart. I actually have another FB presence too. But that
only happened in the early days when I didn't know what I was
going to do with FB. Later, flipping between the accounts had
some advantages. ;)
AA>> Never heard of Wire. I'm a bit curious. I will have to
AA>> try and remember to research that - after Jan 4 ofcourse.
AA>> :(
WvV> On their frontpage they claim: "The most secure
WvV> collaboration platform"... And clicking further you can
WvV> read:
[snip]
WvV> But they also seem to be a commercial platform now. Didn't
WvV> know that, maybe that has changed...?
Thanks for that. I took a visit to wire.com The pricing menu
doesn't describe a free option. .: it seems to be purely
commercial. Seems to be intended for privacy between business
clients or teams. Too much $ for the average independent.
The wiki write-up was interesting.. "previous Skype employees,
..developed from Signal protocols"
Enough for now and upload this fine message at 36Kbps speeds! LOL
--
../|ug
--- OpenXP 5.0.48
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