News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by danfang on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:44AM (#20716310)
I don't know if this is too self promoting, but I'm part of the YC SUS 2019 program and I'm building a product that addresses the issue of messaging lock in, as well as data privacy.

I'm building Thread - an ad-free, private social network for groups. It's an alternative to Facebook (Messenger and WhatsApp), iMessage and GroupMe. It's the best way to connect with, share content to, and interact with the people in your life.

It's a limited release right now (still in alpha), but please sign up and check it out at https://thread-app.com/register. EDIT: it only is available on desktop web at the moment to US based users. Anything else will most likely give you an error.

E2E encryption is something we are considering building. Right now, the promise is no-ads, no front-end tracking, and no selling data to third parties.

Happy to chat more about it and answer any questions (maybe this isn't an appropriate place for that discussion).

Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by redxdev on Friday August 16, 2019 @06:33PM (#20720347)
Seeing as apps like Signal and Telegram already exist and seem to do exactly what you say... What is different about Thread?
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by danpalmer on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:53AM (#20716413)
Sounds like a great idea. I'm a huge +1 to E2E encryption and mobile support – I'm looking for something good to replace WhatsApp.

Minor bit of very biased feedback – the name "Thread" is quite overloaded. Thread (my employer) is a clothing recommendation service, ThreadsStyling is a luxury fashion concierge, Thread Group are an IoT specification, Open Thread is an implementation of that spec I believe.

Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by danfang on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:55AM (#20716439)
Yeah, I figured it was. I'm quite open to a name change (http://www.paulgraham.com/name.html). I have some ideas in mind. Thread is temporary at the moment.
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by SwiftyBug on Friday August 16, 2019 @12:57PM (#20717072)
How about Message.in?
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by yMessageApp on Saturday August 17, 2019 @08:26PM (#20727362)
or yMessage?
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by thekyle on Friday August 16, 2019 @07:38PM (#20720729)
Can't seem to access the site. Could you elaborate on how Thread solves the problem of messenger lock in? Is it federated like Matrix?
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by feanaro on Saturday August 17, 2019 @11:45AM (#20724575)
What do you bring to the game now that Matrix exists? It's federated, E2E encrypted and clients are coming up nicely.
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by davidy123 on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:48AM (#20716351)
Site is currently broken.

Are you using ActivityPub &c?

Even if it is somewhat bulky, these linked data standards are the way to ensure you are creating the most open, reusable data possible on the largest stage.

Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by danpalmer on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:45AM (#20716325)
FYI, the website is broken in Safari. Syntax error in the JS, totally blank page.
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by jki275 on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:54AM (#20716428)
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by danfang on Friday August 16, 2019 @11:57AM (#20716460)
Love this XKCD. My response, as it might apply to what I'm working on, is that I don't just want to build a new messaging standard. It has to be radically better than alternatives to be sticky.
Re:US Gen Z and the iMessage Lock-In by jki275 on Friday August 16, 2019 @12:24PM (#20716771)
Yeah, I hear you -- but it was just so perfectly set up for it..