Hey. Signal is the way. I think you can't find everything, exactly the way you want it. Signal doesn't support multidevices on Android but you can use Molly which is a signal fork. It's basically the same but you can connect it to many android devices.
this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2024
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Signal is modern as in modern, good cryptography. Most of development time went into that.
With security, you always need to trade-off convenience and bling features. "Lazy as hell" don't go well with that. I can understand lacking group video calls and ability to run on multiple devices, but not "sticker repository" and "animated emojis". I wish they didn't spend time on the Stories feature either, it's supposed to be a messenger, not a social media platform.
I think the problem is, is that there's a bunch of people who don't get that modern day communication has changed. Things like Stories and Stickers are a big part of modern day communicating. The cost shouldn't be not being able to do pretty standard things.
The problem with Signal is getting other people to use it.
Part of that issue is "the dropping of support for SMS, and the awful UI/UX.
Sticker repository? lol, Telegram has that market cornered and you know it :)
https://matrix.org/ is probably the only reasonable solution to your problem but reading between the lines you're inferring that Telegram is dead in the water.
I'm a popcorn fanantic and await to see the, corns?
We would not recommend Matrix for security considering the recently admitted their old encryption code was bad and a lot of clients are still using their old encryption code:
https://soatok.blog/2024/08/14/security-issues-in-matrixs-olm-library/
The only thing that fits most of your needs is Signal, we have looked into this heavily and nothing has as many features, is as easy to use as and has a strong of focus on privacy and security as Signal, so it's either that or Whatsapp.
You can techically use signal on multiple devices, by linking them instead of setting them up as each their own 'host', if you want it on multiple phones or multiple android devices you'll likely have to use Molly, I believe this would work, but am unsure.
Matrix should not be considered because of this:
https://soatok.blog/2024/08/14/security-issues-in-matrixs-olm-library/
and Threema is pretty bad historically ( https://soatok.blog/2021/11/05/threema-three-strikes-youre-out/ ), even though they have improved in the last year or two, but their desktop offering is pretty awful, as unless you want to use the beta and use iOS then you have to keep your device attached to the network, on and open on Threema only.
Signal really is the only option here.
I definitely don't consider WhatsApp to be private, Signal doesn't support multiple Android devices and Threema sounds pretty useless. So it would seem there's no real options? Which is a shame.
Yup, all the 'more private' ones like SimpleX or Session don't have as many features and are have pretty suspicious funding sources (or involved in crypto).
WhatsApp might be private but there's no way to be 100% sure, since it's closed source and can leak some messages in reports which is intentional.
Yes and no about Signal supporting multiple Android devices, the Molly fork might be able to if you set it up as a linked device, and we know that apple tablets can be linked in the actual Signal app.
Given that SimpleX can be self-hosted, I'm definitely looking at that hopefully. Hopefully someone else develops an app, because cross platform apps are bullshit.
Sadly it won't meet and/all of your requirements, it is pretty barebones on features and doesn't really offer message syncing, you have to create a new account for every device, last we checked.
What do you mean cross platform apps are bullshit?
We don't think more and more messaging apps solves anything really, it just fractures userbases more and more. The best thing folks can do is use the apps that are the most likely for folks to use and work on improving them either by coding for them, or keeping on suggesting and voting for ideas until they get implimented.
Moving again and again to newest app of the week 562 won't make the situation any better, not to mention most of them probably haven't had security audits at all or very sparsely if they have, so their privacy and security can't really be verified.
Why not signal? It fits your criteria... If not, try GNU Jami, it's well designed but not material you, and has most of your features.
Edit: Session is another messenger which has some of your features you might want
Why not signal? It fits your criteria...
Okay, I'll bite. Tell me how it fits my criteria, using the bullet point list provided.
X The ability to run on multiple devices. Me, my family and friends all have multiple Android devices. ✔️ The ability to run on desktop. Linux and Windows. X Built in sticker repository. What can I say, I like to lazy flirt. X Animated Emoji. I like my messenger experience vibrant. ✔️(partial Material You. Again with the vibrancy, but also, it's a sign of modernity. ✔️ Phone number linking. My family and friends are lazy as hell. ✔️ Synchronized chats. I don't mind self hosting a bridge, but the ability to see messages on multiple devices is a must. ✔️ Voice Messages ✔️ Video Calls ✔️ Group Video Calls ✔️? Stories integrated into as first class citizens
Not sure what you meant by stories integrated as first class citizens. Signal does have stories, though.
In summary, signal fits your criteria quite well, only missing out on full material you support, stickers, and animated emojis. I may be missing an app, but I believe that this is the best you will get without going for telegram.
Edited for accuracy
The ability to run on multiple devices. Me, my family and friends all have multiple Android devices.
https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320551-Linked-Devices
Scroll down to other devices and tell me what it says please
As for the rest, you're being dishonest with those ticks. I don't understand what the benefit is.
Not sure what you meant by stories integrated as first class citizens. Signal does have stories, though.
Not tabs.
In summary, signal fits your criteria quite well, only missing out on full material you support, stickers, and animated emojis. I may be missing an app, but I believe that this is the best you will get without going for telegram.
Literally fails at the first hurdle and then the third and fourth, but somehow fits my criteria?