I've heard, obliquely, of Matrix, but just assumed it's yet another messaging protocol. Would appear that's not the case though? Where would one get started? Why would I even want to use this vs the multitude of others? Is there an NZ Matrix server? Does it even matter? Why did the last season of GoT go so badly off the rails (oh wait, we know the answer to that one)...

TIA!

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[–] Dave 4 points 5 months ago (6 children)

Their selling point is many chat networks in one.

I use Beeper because it's the only app I know of that let's me chat to everyone on Facebook without needing to have a Facebook app installed on my phone.

Facebook doesn't even let you use the website to chat from mobile, the bastards.

(Worth mentioning Beeper can't do Facebook calls, but will give you a message when someone tries to call)

[–] Xcf456 1 points 5 months ago (5 children)

Oh damn that's a shame, I use Facebook calls quite a lot. Sounds like for me it could be one app to rule them all just resulting in yet another app on top the others lol.

[–] Dave 1 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Yeah, I am not aware of another way to take Facebook calls without having Facebook messenger installed.

The other thing with Beeper is you are generally required to have the other app installed as well. Not for Facebook, but often you are required to have the other app on your phone to make it work. They are putting all the chats in one place, not removing the need for the other apps.

The old Beeper Android app supports SMS, so I can see the texts come through on my laptop. But the new one only supports RCS, and requires you to install Google Messages to get this set up, so I'm still using the old app that is no longer updated. The new app is recent, but I just can't bring myself to install Google Messages on my almost-Google-free phone.

[–] Xcf456 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Right I see, could be useful if you're constantly switching between conversations on multiple platforms I guess. Which come to think of it I am. I only have the Instagram app because typing goes nuts when I try to message on their web interface.

Way back when I was running Ubuntu (like over a decade ago) there were a chat application that would combine Facebook chat, MSN (lol) and a bunch of others and it was very handy to have it right there on the desktop.

[–] Dave 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Oh, was that Pidgin? I had forgotten about that! Having just looked it up, it seems it's desktop only but it does support Facebook via plugin.

It sounds like it would be great to have on Android but I can't find an Android app for it.

[–] Xcf456 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yes I think so, that rings a bell. Something like that would be cool, I downloaded beeper earlier to give it a go and it immediately wants an email and privacy policy and I assume collects data on what clients you use and so on.

Something like pigdin that's just a front end that doesn't phone home anywhere or collect your data and you just log in through it would be awesome.

[–] Dave 1 points 5 months ago

Beeper does allow self-hosting, though I think you have to use a matrix client, last I checked you can't use their apps to connect to your own server but you can access your Facebook chat or whatever through a matrix client by running the bridges they provide.

Pidgin for Android would be amazing. I found references to an app from 2010 but the links all go nowhere so I guess that didn't survive the test of time.

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