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jonathan18

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#303146 19-Jan-2023 15:41
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My wider family have been using Telegram to keep in contact, but some of us are keen on moving to an alternative messaging app; we're a mix of Android and Apple users, with some options being off the table due to personal dislikes (this rules out at least Google apps, WhatsApp, and Messenger). The problem is I'm finding it difficult to find one that meets all the basic criteria (below), so hoped someone here may have some ideas.

 

* multi-platform (must have Android and iOS apps; ideally a web interface, browser extension and/or Windows app as well)

 

* allow the same account to be logged in across multiple devices [edit] including more than one mobile device (rules out Signal) and access all messages on all devices (rules out Viber)

 

* relatively straight forward to set up as many in my family aren't IT savvy

 

The last of these could potentially rule out Element, which on first use seemed to meet all our requirements - I'm struggling to easily create a family group in it, and I can see some family members being put off. Given its target audience, I'm not too surprised, but we want to ensure it's something that is easy to set up, doesn't require hosting one's own server etc.

 

Are there any products that people could recommend that may meet our needs?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 


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xpd

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  #3024059 19-Jan-2023 16:18
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SMS ?

 

Email ?

 

 





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mjb

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  #3024061 19-Jan-2023 16:22
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I can make assumptions, but can you elaborate on why you're wanting to move away from Telegram ?





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alasta
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  #3024079 19-Jan-2023 16:31
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xpd:

 

SMS ?

 

Email ?

 

 

I have never understood why email is not the preferred option in cases such as this. I must be missing something, because to me instant messaging seems like it's just email with all the workflow features removed. 

 

I have friends pressuring me to install instant messaging apps and, as a non technical person, I just push back. 




mdf

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  #3024081 19-Jan-2023 16:34
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I am logged in to Signal on a couple of PCs and my phone right now. But I might be missing something as to this requirement on your list?


davidcole
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  #3024083 19-Jan-2023 16:36
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alasta:

 

xpd:

 

SMS ?

 

Email ?

 

 

I have never understood why email is not the preferred option in cases such as this. I must be missing something, because to me instant messaging seems like it's just email with all the workflow features removed. 

 

I have friends pressuring me to install instant messaging apps and, as a non technical person, I just push back. 

 

 

 

 

hard to chat over email....tend to be longer form messages.





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freitasm
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  #3024084 19-Jan-2023 16:38
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mdf:

I am logged in to Signal on a couple of PCs and my phone right now. But I might be missing something as to this requirement on your list?



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dt

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  #3024085 19-Jan-2023 16:42
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Signal exclusively here too 


 
 
 

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jonathan18

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  #3024088 19-Jan-2023 16:46
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"Signal can only be used on one mobile device and up to five linked Signal Desktops.​"

 

https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320451-Troubleshooting-multiple-devices

 

My reading of that is Signal won't support accessing the same account on, for example, my two iPads and mobile phone, which is something I would like to continue. Or have I read this wrongly? 


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  #3024089 19-Jan-2023 16:47
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What are the other use cases? Are you the only one with multiple devices?




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jonathan18

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  #3024090 19-Jan-2023 16:49
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freitasm: What are the other use cases? Are you the only one with multiple devices?

 

Nope, there are others that also use a tablet and phone.


jonathan18

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  #3024094 19-Jan-2023 16:51
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In the interim I've also read and searched further, and am currently trying out Wire (https://wire.com/en/); seems to offer what we're looking for; less 'techy' than the Matrix-based/enterprise-focused apps and relatively easy to set up.

 

Has anyone on here used Wire and can comment on it?


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  #3024102 19-Jan-2023 16:56
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Signal is fine logged in on a pc and iPhone and iPad. I do this. Messages are interchangeable on all 3.

It’s interface and feature set is similar to WhatsApp - without being owned by Facebook





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jonathan18

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  #3024167 19-Jan-2023 17:59
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davidcole: Signal is fine logged in on a pc and iPhone and iPad. I do this. Messages are interchangeable on all 3.

It’s interface and feature set is similar to WhatsApp - without being owned by Facebook

 

Well, whadayaknow?! 

 

I had previously read of the mobile device limitation, had confirmed it recently by reading the Signal help info (linked to earlier), and so had assumed it was accurate.

 

But, yep, davidcole's quite correct, so thanks for posting this - Signal will let one log into multiple mobile devices and view all messages. Thanks heaps for this - with this problem no longer being a problem, I'd say Signal will do the job, with Wire as a possible substitute if it doesn't work out for some reason.


ripdog
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  #3025640 23-Jan-2023 05:51
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Warning: Signal accounts can only be *actually* signed in on one device, the phone. Other devices can only send/receive via the phone, by turning the phone into a kind of server. This mostly works, but you can look forward to it failing at random. Phones are designed to be power efficient, which is a design goal entirely at odds with acting as an effective server.

 

 

 

I honestly recommend Matrix (element). There's no need to self-host a server, there are plenty of public ones, such as the O.G. matrix.org. I'm not sure why you had trouble creating a family group. Click the + on the left-most panel to create a 'space' for your family, which you can then invite them to. In the space, you can see everyone who is participating and just click them to message them, and create rooms in which any number of people can chat.


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