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Tag: iMessage

  • Microsoft Is Bringing iMessage to Windows

    Microsoft Is Bringing iMessage to Windows

    Microsoft plans to bring iMessage support to Windows 11 via Phone Link for iOS, although it will have some limitations.

    Apple’s iMessage is a defining characteristic of the iPhone experience, one that has caused no small amount of frustration for users of other platforms. Given the number of features iMessage includes, Apple is aggressively protective of the messaging platform, viewing it as one of its most valuable elements that keep customers locked into its walled garden.

    Microsoft plans on bringing one of the best features of iMessage to Windows. Apple customers have long been able to send and receive iMessages from their Macs, and now Windows users will be able to as well.

    Microsoft is rolling out the feature to Windows Insiders, although it will have some major limitations in its current form.

    Once the guided installation completes and your iPhone is paired to your PC and the right permissions given, Phone Link will deliver basic iOS support for calls, messages, and contacts. This means you will be notified directly through your Windows notifications. Phone Link does not support replying to group messages or sending media in messages.

    Apple has been under increasing pressure to adopt RCS messaging for iPhone-to-Android communication, a measure that would have no impact on iPhone-to-iPhone communication, but would significantly improve cross-platform messaging.

    Unfortunately, Apple has no interest in pursuing such a course, but other companies are working to solve the issue without Apple’s help. Sunbird is working on a messaging app that will bring full iMessage support to Android, and now Microsoft is bringing at least some support to Windows.

    Hopefully, Microsoft and others will be able to address this issue sooner rather than later and eliminate a major pain point in the mobile world.

  • Sunbird Promises to Bring iMessage to Android

    Sunbird Promises to Bring iMessage to Android

    Sunbird is a promising Android messaging app that plans to bring iMessage to Android phones, ending the green vs blue bubble debate.

    Messaging is one of the biggest compatibility issue between Android and iOS. Apple’s devices use iMessage, which provides a wealth of features, such as group administration, read receipts, file sharing, encryption, and more. Unfortunately, when iOS users text Android users, Apple’s devices fall back to plain SMS text messages instead of the newer RCS messages that duplicate iMessage’s features.

    Sunbird aims to address the issue with a new app that will allow Android users to send and receive iMessages as if they were on an iPhone. The solution is much simpler than competing options that require a Mac server to act as an intermediary.

    In addition to bridging the green vs blue bubble divide, Sunbird plans to add full support for traditional SMS, as well as other popular messaging services and apps, such as Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. This will make Sunbird a one-stop-shop for all messaging on Android.

    Google has long been a proponent of Apple adopting RCS as its fallback protocol, making the argument that it would have no impact on communication between Apple devices. It would only be used when an Apple user texts an Android users, and would offer the same safety features iMessage provides.

    Despite the common sense sanity of Google’s argument, Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated the company has no intention of supporting RCS, telling people who ask to ‘get an iPhone.’ Hopefully, Sunbird can solve the issue once and for all.

    In the meantime, users who want to sign up can use this link:

    https://sunbirdapp.com/?r=jestl

    Disclaimer: This link will give the author referrals, bumping his position in the waitlist with a view to gain earlier access for review purposes.

  • Google Is Turning the Tables on Apple’s iMessage

    Google Is Turning the Tables on Apple’s iMessage

    Google is working to improve texting compatibility, even if Apple isn’t interested in doing its part.

    Google has been increasingly calling Apple out for its failure to adopt RCS messaging. RCS is the successor to basic SMS and includes the features iMessage has become known for. Google wants Apple to adopt RCS for cross-platform communication rather than falling back to the more primitive SMS, a move that would have no negative impact on communication between Apple devices. Absent Apple’s participation, Google is taking matters into its own hands.

    Google is improving Messages in 10 specific ways, including making it easier to respond to a specific message, adding Voice Message Transcription to voice messages, adding reminders directly in Messages, as well as making it possible to watch YouTube videos in Messages.

    The company is also adding some extremely useful features, such as Messages automatically suggesting that certain messages be starred, such as those that include addresses, phone numbers, door codes, and other information that a user may want to quickly find later.

    Interestingly, Google looks to be turning the tables on Apple with how it handles reactions. Inline reactions were first introduced in Messages in March 2022 and addressed one of the biggest pain points of cross-platform messaging. Prior to that update, when an iPhone user tapped the laughing reaction, the Android user would see “John Doe laughed at…” Following the March update, Message now translates iOS reactions to RCS emojis.

    Google is now going a step further, giving Android users the ability to add their own reactions to the SMS messages iOS sends to Android.

    Earlier this year, we started displaying emoji reactions from iPhone users on your Android phone. Now we’re taking a step further by letting you react to SMS texts from iPhone users with emoji as well. While RCS is the ultimate solution, we’re doing what we can to help Android users have a way to consistently react to messages.

    Google’s Jan Jedrzejowicz, Group Product Manager, makes it quite clear that the company is looking to ramp up pressure on Apple:

    As RCS adoption accelerates, we’re doing what’s possible to improve messaging between Android and iOS, like adding support for reactions. This builds on a suite of features that you already love, like an organized inbox that separates personal and business messages, the ability to share sharper videos and scheduled messages. And we’re doing even more.

    The move is actually quite brilliant. Android users sick of receiving the “John Doe laughed at…” messages forced Google to translate those reactions and display them natively. The company is clearly hoping that doing the same thing in reverse will put pressure on Apple to adopt RCS. Tim Cook has made it clear he doesn’t believe Apple users have any interest in RCS, but that may change when millions of iPhone users start complaining about what Android users have experienced for years.

  • Mark Zuckerberg Takes Aim at Apple’s iMessage

    Mark Zuckerberg Takes Aim at Apple’s iMessage

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has weighed in on the green vs blue bubble debate, touting WhatsApp as a superior option.

    Apple has been under increased pressure over its iMessage platform and its lack of interoperability with Android. In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg highlighted the benefits WhatsApp provides, including similar features as iMessage:

    WhatsApp is far more private and secure than iMessage, with end-to-end encryption that works across both iPhones and Android, including group chats. With WhatsApp you can also set all new chats to disappear with the tap of a button. And last year we introduced end-to-end encrypted backups too. All of which iMessage still doesn’t have.

    While iMessage provides a host of features, such as encryption, read receipts, file transfer, group management, and more when texting between Apple devices, it defaults to basic SMS when texting with Android. Google has repeatedly asked Apple to implement RCS for cross-platform texting since RCS is the successor to SMS and provides the same features as iMessage. Despite the pressure, Apple has resisted pressure to implement RCS, with CEO Tim Cook making it clear he’d rather people just buy iPhones than worry about iOS/Android compatibility.

    While Zuckerberg may want to position WhatsApp as an alternative to iMessage and a way to overcome compatibility issues, our recommendation is to use Signal instead. Signal offers many of the same features as both iMessage and WhatsApp and likewise provides a way to overcome iOS/Android compatibility issues. Unlike WhatsApp, however, Signal is run by a non-profit and is considered one of the most secure ways of communicating, and is used by the EU Commission, US Senate, and some US military units.

  • Tim Cook Isn’t Interested in Solving the ‘Green Bubble’ Problem

    Tim Cook Isn’t Interested in Solving the ‘Green Bubble’ Problem

    Apple seems largely unconcerned with the blue vs green bubble debate, with Cook saying the solution is to buy an iPhone.

    When texting a non-iPhone user, Apple’s iOS falls back to the older, more limited SMS texting protocol instead of using the newer RCS and indicates the switch by displaying the texts in green bubbles instead of the standard blue. RCS offers many of the same advantages as Apple’s iMessage, such as group administration, read receipts, file transfer, encryption, and more. Google and others have called on Apple to adopt RCS for iPhone to Android communication, but Apple CEO Tim Cook just threw cold water on that idea.

    According to The Verge, Cook was asked how Steve Jobs would have felt about RCS at Vox Media’s Code 2022 event.

    “I don’t hear our users asking that we put a lot of energy in on that at this point,” Cook responded.

    When the person who asked the question, Vox Media’s LiQuan Hunt, pointed out the problems sharing videos with his mom, who uses an Android phone, Cook had a curt response:

    “Buy your mom an iPhone,” he said.

    Hunt’s complaint highlights the heart of the issue: Apple is intentionally using an inferior protocol to communicate with Android devices, one that degrades video quality, limits file transfer, and provides no security or encryption.

    Google has called on Apple to fix texting by adopting RCS, pointing out that it will not impact communication between Apple devices. It will only improve communication between Apple and non-Apple devices. Many in the industry, including we at WPN, have made the case that Apple only refuses to support RCS as a way to discourage people from buying Android phones in favor of its iPhones.

    Perhaps Cook should look at Steve Jobs’ efforts to work with Microsoft as an indication of how he would think of RCS. Rather than focus on old turf wars between the two companies, Jobs was more concerned about what was in the best interest of his customers.

    In the meantime, thank you, Tim Cook, for saying out loud what everyone already suspected.

  • Google Wants Apple to Fix Texting

    Google Wants Apple to Fix Texting

    Google is stepping up the pressure on Apple to adopt RCS messaging, asking the Cupertino company to fix texting.

    Apple’s iMessage is a feature-rich protocol that allows end-to-end encryption, group management, file-sharing, status indicators, and more, all of which go far beyond the capabilities of standard SMS or MMS. Unfortunately, when an iPhone user texts an Android user, the messages switch to SMS or MMS, with all their limitations.

    The answer is the RCS protocol, a next-generation messaging protocol that brings iMessage-style features to Android texting. Google is once again asking Apple to adopt RCS for iPhone to Android messaging:

    It’s not about the color of the bubbles. It’s the blurry videos, broken group chats, missing read receipts and typing indicators, no texting over Wi-Fi, and more. These problems exist because Apple refuses to adopt modern texting standards when people with iPhones and Android phones text each other.

    Google even makes the case that Apple can implement this change without impacting iPhone to iPhone communication:

    Apple turns texts between iPhones and Android phones into SMS and MMS, out-of-date technologies from the 90s and 00s. But Apple can adopt RCS—the modern industry standard—for these threads instead. Solving the problem without changing your iPhone to iPhone conversations and making messaging better for everyone.

    It has been apparent for some time that Apple’s decision not to support RCS is a business decision, not a technical one. The company considered bringing iMessage to Android in 2013, with Eddie Cue pushing for the option, according to The Verge. Ultimately, Craig Federighi highlighted what the company had to lose:

    I am concerned [that] iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove an obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones.

    While not quite the same as bringing iMessage to Android, supporting RCS for iPhone to Android communication would eliminate all the same pain points and could open all the same issues for Apple.

    Nonetheless, for a company that prides itself on its pro-privacy stance, it’s getting harder and harder for Apple to seriously justify not supporting RCS. Doing so would help preserve the privacy of cross-platform communication rather than defaulting to decades-old technology that offers virtually no protection.

    Similarly, supporting RCS would go a long way toward stopping the pressure — pressure that can border on bullying — that teens feel to own an iPhone, so their texts to friends don’t show up as green bubbles.

    Then again, perhaps Apple is ok with less privacy and more bullying…as long as it drives customers to the company.

  • EU Prepares to Crack Down on Big Tech, Unveils Sweeping Measures

    EU Prepares to Crack Down on Big Tech, Unveils Sweeping Measures

    The European Union has unveiled sweeping measures to crack down on Big Tech and increase competition across the industry.

    The EU has unveiled the Digital Markets Act (DMA), aimed specifically at “gatekeeper” companies, according to The Verge. Gatekeepers are companies with a market cap of at least $82 billion, at least 45,000 active users, and that run a “platform.” Such criteria would cover Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, but could also cover smaller companies and services as well.

    Messaging, in particular, is a likely focus of the DMA, with the EU looking to force services like Facebook Messenger, iMessage, and WhatsApp to “open up and interoperate with smaller messaging platforms, if they so request.”

    The DMA would include a number of other provisions, including stopping gatekeepers from preferring their own apps and services, as well as giving users the ability to uninstall default apps that come on their devices, and even choose which apps they want to use during install and setup.

    Companies that sell or do business on a given platform would be entitled to access performance metrics from that platform. Similarly, companies that advertise on a platform would be given a way to independently confirm the performance of their advertising efforts.

    The penalties for failure to comply would be severe, including up to 10% of a company’s annual worldwide revenue and periodic penalties up to 5% of its daily earnings. Most notably, the EU would also have the authority to enforce “behavioral and structural remedies.” This could including mandating that a company change how it operates its platform or service, and could even include forcing a company to spin off portions of its business, if the anti-competitive concerns cannot otherwise be addressed.

    This is why, in the Digital Markets Act, there is a full toolbox where the sanctions become more and more severe,” the EU’s Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager told The Verge. “The fines will increase if you do not implement changes. Eventually, in the toolbox, there’s also the tool that you can actually break up a company if no change is happening, or if you are a repeat offender.”

    The DMA represents the single largest effort by the EU to reign in the power and influence of Big Tech, combining a number of different efforts into one comprehensive piece of legislation. The legislation has not passed yet but, given the momentum that’s been building in the EU, it’s almost certainly going to pass sooner rather than later.

  • Google SVP Wants to Help Apple Support RCS Messaging

    Google SVP Wants to Help Apple Support RCS Messaging

    Google SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer has extended an open invitation to help Apple embrace RCS messaging.

    RCS is the next-gen text messaging that brings Android on par with iOS. For years, Android’s messaging was little more than basic SMS. As a result, it had limited to no support for read receipts, group management, file sharing and encryption.

    Google has been pushing RCS for some time, and many of the major carriers have finally started adopting the newer protocol. Google’s RCS implementation brings those features that were sorely lacking, including end-to-end encryption.

    Unfortunately, there is no cross-platform compatibility between Apple’s iMessage and RCS. As far as iOS is concerned, texting an Android phone is no different from texting a phone with basic SMS — even if that phone is using RCS. That means no read receipts, no file sharing, no group management and no end-to-end encryption between the platforms.

    Google, at least, appears willing to change that. Hiroshi Lockheimer, SVP for Android, opened the door in a tweet.

    Hopefully Apple will take Google up on the offer, easing a major cross-platform pain point. Realistically…it’s probably never going to happen.

  • Android Messages Will Be Default Verizon Messaging App Next Year

    Android Messages Will Be Default Verizon Messaging App Next Year

    Verizon has announced it will begin preloading Android messages as the default messaging app on its Android phones starting next year.

    Google has been working to speed up adoption of the RCS messaging standard. Default text messaging on Android is basic SMS, with minimal security and none of the advanced features Apple iMessage users enjoy.

    RCS is Android’s answer, adding group chats, read receipts, file transfers, end-to-end encryption and more. After years of waiting for carriers to adopt the protocol, Google finally started implementing it in Android themselves, and the carriers soon got on board.

    Verizon is now the third major US carrier, behind T-Mobile and AT&T to announce adoption. Beginning next year, all Android phones will come preloaded with the new Android app, Messages by Google.

    “Our customers depend on us to provide a reliable, advanced and simple messaging platform to stay in touch with the people that matter the most in their lives,” said Ronan Dunne, executive vice president and CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “By working with Google, Verizon will offer our Android users a robust messaging experience that allows them to engage with loved ones, brands and businesses in new and innovative ways.”

    “Verizon and Google have been working together on Android since the early days of smartphones, and we’re excited to be working with Verizon today to bring a modern-messaging experience to our users,” said Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s senior vice president of Platforms & Ecosystems.

  • Google Rolling Out End-to-End Encryption in Messages

    Google Rolling Out End-to-End Encryption in Messages

    At long last, Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in its Android Messages app.

    Android messaging has lagged behind Apple iMessage for some time. In most ways, Android messaging has been little better than standard text messages. In contrast, Apple iMessage has offered read receipts, group administration, E2EE, sending files and more.

    Google has been working to move Android Messages to the RCS standard, which is far more comparable to iMessage. After waiting for carriers to adopt the updated standard, Google finally took matters into its own hands and started implementing it in Android. RCS was available globally in November 2020, but E2EE wasn’t included initially.

    The company is now rolling out E2EE, although with some caveats. Needless to say, both parties must have RCS enabled in order to benefit. In addition, E2EE only works for one-on-one conversations, not groups messages.

    While still not as comprehensive as iMessage, the improvements in Google’s Messages will be a welcome upgrade for users.

  • Signal Adding Privacy-Focused Cryptocurrency Payments

    Signal Adding Privacy-Focused Cryptocurrency Payments

    Signal messaging app is adding payments, using the MobileCoin cryptocurrency and wallet.

    Signal is widely considered to be the most private messaging platform available. It’s used by the US Senate, the EU Commission and various US military units. The platform provides end-to-end encryption, and has seen a major boost in popularity as a result of Facebook’s privacy blunder with WhatsApp.

    Signal is now looking to add payment processing, in a bid to better compete with WhatsApp, Apple iMessage and others. In keeping with its privacy roots, the company is integrating a privacy-focused cryptocurrency and wallet.

    Signal Payments makes it easy to link a MobileCoin wallet to Signal so you can start sending funds to friends and family, receive funds from them, keep track of your balance, and review your transaction history with a simple interface. As always, our goal is to keep your data in your hands rather than ours; MobileCoin’s design means Signal does not have access to your balance, full transaction history, or funds. You can also transfer your funds at any time if you want to switch to another app or service.

    The feature is currently in beta, and Signal actively wants feedbackfrom users.

  • T-Mobile First Carrier to Embrace Messages by Google

    T-Mobile First Carrier to Embrace Messages by Google

    T-Mobile expanded its partnership with Google, becoming the first US carrier to make Messages by Google the default SMS choice on its Android phones.

    Messages by Google is the company’s attempt to grow beyond basic text messaging. Messages implements the RCS protocol, bringing SMS more on par with Apple’s iMessage or Facebook’s WhatsApp. RCS allows for group chats, read receipts, file attachments, encryption and more.

    Unfortunately for Google, the company has had difficulty getting carriers to make the jump to the new protocol. T-Mobile has now become the first carrier to make Messages the default SMS app on Android and Pixel phones the carrier ships.

    “This is a win for Android users and an even greater win for the Android ecosystem,” said Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google. “T-Mobile and Google have been working together to champion Android since the very beginning with the launch of the T-Mobile G1 in 2008. We’re taking what has already been a long and very successful relationship, and building on it to bring Android customers even more features and services.”

    The news follows T-Mobile’s announcement it would be ending its in-house TVision streaming TV service, in favor of its customers receiving a $10 per month discount on YouTube TV.

    “We’re building on our decade-long relationship with Google to give customers an even better experience with the world’s very best products and services offered by Android, Pixel and YouTube,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “The world’s most popular smartphone platform with Android, a broad range of premium Pixel devices, an upgraded, modern messaging experience on Android and a robust entertainment offering with YouTube TV — it’s the best of Google, combined with the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network on T-Mobile.”

  • Slack Tweaks Connect DM to Prevent Harassment

    Slack Tweaks Connect DM to Prevent Harassment

    Just hours after rolling out its new Connect DM feature, Slack has made a significant change to it in order to prevent harassment.

    Connect DM is a new feature that allows Slack users to direct message any other user, regardless of what company or channel they belong to. The feature helps Slack better compete with Microsoft Teams, as well as other messaging services, such as WhatsApp, iMessage and regular text messages.

    Unfortunately, the way Slack rolled the feature out made it possible for users to abuse it, thanks to the ability to customize the invitation message sent as part of a DM invite. Since the message could be customized, a malicious individual could write anything they wanted, using it as a form of harassment. To make matters worse, unlike traditional email, there was no way to opt-out, block or filter the messages since they came from an official Slack address.

    Slack has now removed the ability to customize the messages, and acknowledged its misstep with the rollout.

    “After rolling out Slack Connect DMs this morning, we received valuable feedback from our users about how email invitations to use the feature could potentially be used to send abusive or harassing messages. We are taking immediate steps to prevent this kind of abuse, beginning today with the removal of the ability to customize a message when a user invites someone to Slack Connect DMs,” Jonathan Prince, the company’s vice president of communications and policy, told The Verge.

    “Slack Connect’s security features and robust administrative controls are a core part of its value both for individual users and their organizations. We made a mistake in this initial roll-out that is inconsistent with our goals for the product and the typical experience of Slack Connect usage. As always, we are grateful to everyone who spoke up, and we are committed to fixing this issue.”

  • iOS 14 iMessage Has a Major Security Upgrade

    iOS 14 iMessage Has a Major Security Upgrade

    iMessage in iOS 14 has a major upgrade over previous versions, taking security to an all-new level.

    With more than 1 billion iPhones, Apple’s iMessage is one of the most popular messaging platforms on the market. As a result, it’s a popular target for hackers and bad actors looking for an attack vector.

    It appears Apple has taken a significant step toward protecting iMessage users in iOS 14, adding a behind-the-scenes feature called BlastDoor, first noticed by Samuel Groß, a security researcher with Google’s Project Zero, and reported on by ZDNet.

    BlastDoor unpacks a received message and all its contents in a safe, secure silo. This allows the the message to be opened and viewed without it being able to access the underlying system, user data or anything that could allow it to post a threat.

    Groß seems confident the changes will be a net positive for iMessage security and should help reduce iMessage exploits.

    Overall, these changes are probably very close to the best that could’ve been done given the need for backwards compatibility, and they should have a significant impact on the security of iMessage and the platform as a whole. It’s great to see Apple putting aside the resources for these kinds of large refactorings to improve end users’ security. Furthermore, these changes also highlight the value of offensive security work: not just single bugs were fixed, but instead structural improvements were made based on insights gained from exploit development work.

  • Signal Adds Encrypted Group Calls

    Signal Adds Encrypted Group Calls

    Signal has added a major new feature, giving users the ability to engage in encrypted groups calls.

    Signal is the most secure messaging app on the planet, offering end-to-end encryption and a level of security other platforms can’t match. As a result, Signal is the preferred communication platform of choice for the EU Commission, the US Senate and some military units.

    In spite of its security features, Signal has lagged behind competitors in convenience options and raw features, something the company has been working to rapidly address.

    The latest feature is a big step in that direction, adding group calling abilities. While the feature is currently limited to 5 participants, once a group call is started, members of the group can come and go at will.

    “Now when you open a group chat in Signal, you’ll see a video call button at the top. When you start a call, the group will receive a notification letting them know a call has started,” the company wrote in a blog post.

    “When you start or join a group call, Signal will display the participants in a grid view. You can also swipe up to switch to a view that automatically focuses the screen on who is speaking, and it will update in real time as the active speaker changes.”

    The company emphasizes that “group calls are free, private, and end-to-end encrypted.”

    Group calls are an important feature that helps Signal on par with competing products, like Apple iMessage and WhatsApp. The fact that Signal has added this feature while providing the same high degree of security is a big win for consumers.

  • Google’s RCS Messaging Available Globally, End-to-End Encryption Soon

    Google’s RCS Messaging Available Globally, End-to-End Encryption Soon

    Google has announced the global availability of RCS messaging, with end-to-end encryption coming soon.

    Messaging is an area where Android has lagged behind Apple’s iOS ecosystem. Apple’s iMessage offers features that go far beyond basic text messaging, including the ability to send files, see read receipts, typing notifications and more. iMessage, like Signal and WhatsApp, also includes end-to-end encryption.

    Google tried waiting for carriers to implement RCS, the natural successor to SMS text messages. Unfortunately, wireless carriers drug their feet, forcing Google to roll RCS out via Android. The company started with a rollout in the US, but have now made it available worldwide.

    “Today, we’ve completed our global rollout of chat features to make this modern messaging experience universal and interconnected for everyone on Android,” writes Drew Rowny Product Lead, Messages. “Now anyone using Messages around the world has access to modern chat features either from their carrier or directly from Google.”

    Rowny says end-to-encryption is coming soon.

    “We recognize that your conversations are private and it’s our responsibility to keep your personal information safe. We’re continually improving security protections to safeguard your privacy and will be rolling out end-to-end encryption, starting with one-on-one RCS conversations between people using Messages. End-to-end encryption ensures that no one, including Google and third parties, can read the content of your messages as they travel between your phone and the phone of the person you’re messaging. This will roll out to beta testers beginning this month and continue into next year. Your eligible conversations will automatically upgrade to be end-to-end encrypted. End-to-end encryption is only available when both you and the person you’re messaging have Messages installed and chat features on.”

    The announcement is an important step forward for Android messaging and will help customers enjoy modern texting features without having to use a third-party service.

  • Humane Scores Another Apple Executive

    Humane Scores Another Apple Executive

    Humane has announced that Patrick Gates, former Apple Internet Services executive, has joined the startup as Chief Technology Officer.

    According to the announcement, “Patrick led the development of iconic Apple services like iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime. During his 13 years at Apple, he oversaw technical design, built critical infrastructure, and led the teams for numerous industry-defining features across all platforms.

    “A Silicon Valley veteran, Patrick did research at Sun Microsystems and built developer frameworks at NeXT before his time at Apple. He is passionate about building and scaling teams and technologies with an unrelenting focus on customer privacy and security.”

    Gates joins a startup founded by two other former Apple employees, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno. Chaudhri is a designer who “spent over 20 years at Apple imagining and creating some of the world’s most beloved consumer products, like the Macintosh, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch and iPhone.” Bongiorno was a Director of Software Engineering and “responsible for all software project management for iOS and macOS and also played a key leadership role in the execution of critical projects such as the launch of the original iPad.”

    While Humane is still in stealth mode, the addition of Gates as CTO is a big win for the startup. Together, the three former Apple employees give the young company a significant creative pedigree.

  • iMessage May Add Mentions and Retracting Messages

    iMessage May Add Mentions and Retracting Messages

    Apple may be adding a number of new features to iMessage, including tagging individuals in a group and the ability to retract a message.

    According to a report by MacRumors, Apple is experimenting with “a new Slack-like mention system that would allow users to tag other contacts with their name like @Joe or @Jane. When you type the @ sign, a list of suggested contacts would appear.” When used in conjunction with the “Hide Alerts” feature, this could provide a way to participate in a large group thread when specifically mentioned, and ignore it otherwise.

    The company is also working on the ability retract a sent message. When this happens, “fine print visible to both the sender and recipients would indicate that a message has been retracted. It is unclear if there will be a time limit on retracting messages.”

    There’s a slew of other features being worked on, including group chat typing indicators, the ability to mark the last message as “Unread” if Read Receipts are turned on, not to mention bringing the “/me” command for sharing status updates from macOS to iOS.

    If the report is true, these new features come at a time when Google is working hard to close the gap between Android messaging and iOS messaging. It appears, however, that Apple may be looking to move the goal line even further away.

  • RCS Messages Finally Available to All U.S. Android Users

    RCS Messages Finally Available to All U.S. Android Users

    Sanaz Ahari, Google Sr. Director of Product & Design, announced Thursday via Twitter that RCS is now available for all Android users in the U.S.

    “Hi everyone! RCS is now available to all users in US as of Monday. Make sure to update both Messages and Carrier Services,” Ahari said in her tweet.

    Rich Communications Service (RCS) has long been touted as the replacement for SMS. The messaging protocol adds group texts, group management (adding/removing participants), read receipts, typing indicators, chat over WiFi and more.

    Originally, Google was waiting for carriers to implement the protocol, but they made little real progress. Two months ago, the four major U.S. carriers announced the Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI), based on RCS. Since then, however, there has been no visible progress. As a result, several weeks ago Google announced it was taking matters into its own hands and beginning to active RCS.

    With Thursday’s announcement, the activation is now complete, giving all Android users Apple iMessage-style communication. The only major feature that is still lacking is end-to-end encryption. iMessage, as well as apps like Signal and WhatsApp all support end-to-end encryption, but it is not part of the RCS protocol. With privacy increasingly being front-and-center, it would be surprising if Google does not figure out a way to implement it.

    In the meantime, as Ahari highlights, users should update Messages and Carrier Services to take advantage of RCS.

  • Facebook Will Not Give Authorities a Backdoor to Access Encrypted Messages

    Facebook Will Not Give Authorities a Backdoor to Access Encrypted Messages

    Two months ago we reported on an open letter by Attorney General William Barr and his counterparts in Australia and the United Kingdom, calling on Facebook to create encryption backdoors in its messaging apps. This was followed by the FBI urging Interpol to condemn the use of strong encryption.

    Facebook has officially responded to the Attorney General’s request, via an open letter of their own. In the letter, Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, and Stan Chudnovsky, Head of Messenger, highlight the inherent risks of making encryption weaker, or creating backdoors for authorities to access.

    “We believe that people have a right to expect this level of security, wherever they live. As a company that supports 2.7 billion users around the world, it is our responsibility to use the very best technology available to protect their privacy. Encrypted messaging is the leading form of online communication and the vast majority of the billions of online messages that are sent daily, including on WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal, are already protected with end-to-end encryption.

    “Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly proven that when you weaken any part of an encrypted system, you weaken it for everyone, everywhere. The ‘backdoor’ access you are demanding for law enforcement would be a gift to criminals, hackers and repressive regimes, creating a way for them to enter our systems and leaving every person on our platforms more vulnerable to real-life harm. It is simply impossible to create such a backdoor for one purpose and not expect others to try and open it. People’s private

    “And we are not alone. In response to your open letter asking that Facebook break encryption, over 100 organizations, including the Center for Democracy and Technology and Privacy International, shared their strong views on why creating backdoors jeopardize people’s safety. Cryptography Professor Bruce Schneier said earlier this year: ‘You have to make a choice. Either everyone gets to spy, or no one gets to spy. You can’t have ‘We get to spy, you don’t.’ That’s not the way the tech works.’ And Amnesty International commented: ‘There is no middle ground: if law enforcement is allowed to circumvent encryption, then anybody can.’”

    The two executives argued that law enforcement already has viable ways of getting the information they need in cases that demand it.

    “That doesn’t mean that we cannot help law enforcement. We can and we do, as long as it is consistent with the law and does not undermine the safety of our users…. We deeply respect and support the work these officials do to keep us safe and we want to assure you that we will continue to respond to valid legal requests for the information we have available. We will also continue to prioritize emergencies, such as terrorism and child safety, and proactively refer to law enforcement matters involving credible threats.”

    Our initial report on the Attorney General’s open letter highlighted the dangers of weakening encryption or creating backdoors. As Amnesty International said, “there is no middle ground.” Encryption is about basic math. It’s no more possible to have strong encryption with backdoors than it is to break the laws of physics. Hopefully, Facebook’s questionable history with privacy and security will not cloud the very valid argument they are making about the importance of encryption.

  • Google Search is Now Available for iMessage on iOS, Launches Other Features

    Google Search is Now Available for iMessage on iOS, Launches Other Features

    Google has added some new teaks to its app for iOS users. On Monday, the company announced that it would be integrating its search engine into iMessage to give iPhone and iPad users a smoother search and sharing experience.

    To begin with, the Google app for iOS now has an extension for iMessage to assist iPhone and iPad users in looking up things on the web while messaging.

    Once the Google app is installed, users can easily pull up the extension from the iMessage apps drawer and tap on the distinct Google icon to launch the search box.

    Looking for a good place to eat or hang out? Just click on “Food” or “Nearby” to check out reviews, menus, or business hours. Browse through the search results, and if anything piques your curiosity, tap on it to read or share it as a card in your convo. Recipients can then tap on the card, redirecting them to the search result. Moreover, Google decided to add a GIF Search on the right side of the box to make conversations more fun.

    Aside from the iMessage extension, Google also introduced a related content feature that is compatible with the browser of any iOS-powered device. Previously limited to the Google app, the tech giant made it handy for users to discover related content without performing another search. Simply click on the Google icon from the share option to discover suggested articles.

    Lastly, Google has now simplified the drag-and-drop functionality on the iPad. Users can now move text, images, and links from the Google app to other iOS apps. Simply tap and hold to get the link, then drag to iMessage for sharing, or to Notes for future reading.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]