Next Beeper Mini Fix Requires Users to Have a Mac

[tobybrut]

This is not quite right. Unlike AirMessage and BlueBubbles, Beeper is just using the local Mac to get the registration data, but otherwise everything is running through the Beeper servers. That's what makes Beeper so much more performant than AirMessage and BlueBubbles. Also, both of those alternatives have limited functionality relative to Beeper, unless you disable your MacOS System Integrity Protection with BlueBubbles, which is a huge PITA and an obvious security risk.

Also, at least so far, Beeper is not charging for their desktop app, which I've been using for a few months. I don't have need of Beeper Mini as I use an iPhone.

I’m aware of that and this is why I don’t use BlueBubbles. They are all the same concept in that they all require a Mac. The details are irrelevant since all three are different in some ways. I tried both and didn’t like having to use the command line to nuke my Mac’s security settings. I’m ok with AirMessage’s security and fewer features. My main goal was to allow family group chats without exposing it to SMS, not to get features like stickers or reactions. AirMessage doesn’t compromise iMessage security, so it does what I need it to do.

Beeper mini charges a monthly fee for the app ($2.99/month IIRC), so it doesn’t matter if they charge a fee on the server component. A charge is a charge, no matter if the charge is on client side or server side. If you want a free version, don’t use Beeper mini. If you don’t mind paying for it, go ahead and use it. I’m just mentioning there are alternatives, and Apple isn’t about to disable this method.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I really wish people would stop pushing this rhetoric. None of us know if apple will have e2ee or not. It’s apple so I lean towards likely.

Not unless the RCS Universal Profile, which Apple’s pledged to support, includes e2ee. And it doesn’t.

 

[mejsric]

if you have Mac and wants a blue iMessage, use your Mac.

 

[curtissh]

I’m just mentioning there are alternatives, and Apple isn’t about to disable this method.

Agreed. There's really no way to disable it.

 

[Octavius8]

This is anti-competitive behavior from Apple. Nowadays iMessage should be available to integrate, even Apple could charge Google if they wanted that integration, but not block the users!

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Next Beeper Mini fix requires user to have an iPhone 🤷‍♂️

I came here to add this comment but you beat me to it. I will add that this fix doesn't even require the user to install Beeper Mini.

 

[scorpio vega]

This is anti-competitive behavior from Apple. Nowadays iMessage should be available to integrate, even Apple could charge Google if they wanted that integration, but not block the users!

How is this anti competitive when it’s an apple featured made for iPhones lmao. Safari isn’t on any other platform lol. That doesn’t make that anti competitive

 

[Realityck]

Beeper’s effort to keep iMessage on Android keeps getting more complex

You’ll need access to a Mac to make it work.

www.theverge.com

These updates may sound promising, but they significantly limit the appeal of what made Beeper Mini such a big deal in the first place. The original version of Beeper Mini only needed an Android smartphone and a phone number to let you send iMessages, but Apple found a way to break that within days. Beeper’s next attempt to bring Beeper Mini back required logging in with an Apple ID, but recently, the app started to break down again for many users.

The cat and mouse game continues.

 

[NeoSe7en]

This is anti-competitive behavior from Apple. Nowadays iMessage should be available to integrate, even Apple could charge Google if they wanted that integration, but not block the users!

What? Beeper Mini worked by exploiting an Apple security flaw. In what universe is fixing the flaw anti-competitive behavior?

Secondly, iMessage is Apple’s intellectual property. They’re under no obligation to share it or allow others to use it.

 

[jimbobb24]

All you have to do is buy a Mac, and an iPhone. The next update will require you to have a Mac Pro with fully upgraded ram.

 

[Kevin2055]

This is anti-competitive behavior from Apple. Nowadays iMessage should be available to integrate, even Apple could charge Google if they wanted that integration, but not block the users!

The real anti-competitive thing is asking a successful company to share everything so the loser doesn’t have to compete!

 

[BuffaloTF]

So Beeper Mini has become... Beeper. Except it costs money to use it, like the Beeper of days past.

 

[mike2q]

Probably more like $4.99/mo or include it in some other paid Apple service. Could even work out a deal with carriers (at least in the US) that they could bundle the service.

Apple wouldn't do that for even $20/mo because Apple knows something that many here don't seem to know. They know that iMessage locks in current customer and applies social pressures to buy iPhone to non iPhone users. They know their position would be a lot less guaranteed without this pressure. Even Dan who runs Mac Rumors said he'd like to try other phones but can't because it would interrupt communication with his friends, family and coworkers. Anyone who discounts the lock in of iMessage is willfully blinding themselves to reality.

 

[scorpio vega]

Even Dan who runs Mac Rumors said he'd like to try other phones

Not Dan wanting to try lagdroid.

Anyone who discounts the lock in of iMessage is willfully blinding themselves to reality.

Anyone who thinks this is true for all
Apple
Users is silly. I’m not locked in. I simply
Don’t want to use lagdroid. I choose not to.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I own both.

Better idea. Apple releases an Android client for iMessage, or let me replace the default messaging/sms app on my iPhone.

Nintendo you better put Zelda on PS5

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Why on earth would anyone pay for this

 

[MuppetGate]

Then I can't receive sms.

I like iMessage, it just doesn't work for my situation.

Yeah, sounds to me like there is a solution, but you’re too busy constructing your own obstacles.

 

[svish]

Unnecessary complications just to get iMessage on Android. Apple will find a way to stop this.

 

[SanderEvers]

Nintendo you better put Zelda on PS5

Sony, you put Spider-Man (2) on Switch.

 

[NagasakiGG]

Why do people want to force having iMessage on Android? If you want to use iMessage, just get an iDevice...

 

[schuhlelewis]

I care. Tell me this "real story". I have two iPhones (personal and work), and an android phone.

I like iOS, I like macOS, I don't like Apple's decisions with iMessage.

..and I routinely send Apple feedback about it. Doubt they read it, but I keep sending it.

I only use Apple products and use beeper. Direct messaging should be universal. So nice having all my messages (LinkedIn, WhatsApp, insta, iMessage) appear in one app. Wish it did email too.

 

[laptech]

The Beeper update will instead generate unique registration data for each Mac, making it harder for Apple to tell which users are accessing iMessage through an Android device. The Beeper Mini team says that registration data is "only used to indicate that a Mac is available during registration" and that the Mac will not be given access to an account or messages.

If you do not have access to a Mac computer, but have a friend on Beeper with a Mac, you can ask them if you can use their registration data. In our testing, 10-20 iMessage users can safely use the same registration data.

This has got to be the dumbest idea yet and even more dumb if a mac owner allows multiple Beeper users to use the same mac registration data because Apple will see that multiple registration data are coming from the same source. I have no doubt the serial number of the mac machine forms part of the registration data and if that is so Apple will be able to use that serial number and see if it is logged/signed to any Apple ID account. If the mac machine serial number is logged/registered with an Apple ID Apple would be able to message the Apple ID user and tell them they are breaking Apple's terms and conditions, or words to that effect and therefore to cease what they are doing or have their their account banned.

 

[Rock_Artist]

I prefer not to have terrible Meta apps on my device or rely on their service. iMessage suits me perfectly fine, and if I text someone who doesn’t have iMessage, it automatically drops to SMS/MMS without me having to think about it. A much simpler solution.

There are alternative to Meta apps and services. As suggested there's Signal and other apps. fallback to SMS though, means you're downgrading your entire conversation to something almost as plaintext.

Imagine someone asking you for a door code or Wi-Fi password (while they're not on Apple's eco-system). You're now completely bypassing any minimal encryption. That's why tech companies really wanted on Apple to go RCS.
With RCS you'd at least have more modern tech for the fallback rather using a known security rabbit hall.

 

[5232152]

I have a better solution. Buy an iPhone.

Tell me you don't understand what this is about, without actually saying you don't know what this is about.

 

[MacCheetah3]

Apple can do what they want, but I don't have to like or support it, even if I use their devices.

But you do need to abide by it, and agreed to:

1. General
(a) The software (including Boot ROM code, embedded software and third party software), documentation, interfaces, content, fonts and any data that came with your Device (“Original Apple Software”), as may be updated or replaced by feature enhancements, software updates, security responses, system files, or system restore software provided by Apple for your Device or supported peripheral device (“Apple Software Changes”), whether in read only memory, on any other media or in any other form (the Original Apple Software and Apple Software Changes are collectively referred to as the “Apple Software”) are licensed, not sold, to you by Apple Inc. (“Apple”) for use only under the terms of this License. Apple and its licensors retain ownership of the Apple Software itself and reserve all rights not expressly granted to you. You agree that the terms of this License will apply to any Apple-branded app that may be built-in on your Device, unless such app is accompanied by a separate license, in which case you agree that the terms of that license will govern your use of that app.

Just a snippet of the iOS EULA.