Beeper says “Beeper Mini is back” but now requires users to log in with their Apple ID, as phone number registration doesn't work; Beeper makes the service free
Bug fixes and other improvements — We've created an updated version … Anurag Singh / Dexerto : Android iMessage app releases new update to sidestep Apple block Alexander Maxham / Android Headlines : Beeper Mini is Back, until Apple Shuts it Down Again Ryan McNeal / Android Authority : Beeper Mini is back up, but not without some changes Sarah Perez / TechCrunch : Beeper Mini is back in operation after Apple's attempt to shut it down Tom Pritchard / Tom's Guide : Beeper Mini's iMessage for Android is back already — but for how long? Ali Hasnain / iThinkDifferent : Beeper Mini iMessage-on-Android app returns, Apple ID sign in now required Sam Lover : Beeper Mini Brought back its iMessage App for Android, but no idea for how long Rounak Jain / Benzinga : ‘iMessage For Android’ App Beeper Mini Is Working Again, But There's A Catch John Gruber / Daring Fireball : ★ Beeper Mini Is Back, But Without Phone Number Registration Livemint : Apple releases iOS 17.2 upgrade with Journal app, Spatial recording and more Haley Tenore / Business Insider : The Android app that lets you send blue-bubble texts to iPhone users is back after Apple shut it down — but there's a catch Chris Welch / The Verge : Beeper's iMessage app for Android is back — but it's a downgrade Max Miller / SlashGear : Beeper Mini Is Back After Dispute With Apple, But With A Few Big Changes Chance Miller / 9to5Mac : Apple faces antitrust criticism for blocking Beeper Mini: ‘Protecting profits by squashing competitors’ Michael Simon / Macworld : How the Beep(er) is Apple to blame for Android's latest iMessage woes? Mike Masnick / Techdirt : Apple's Nonsensical Attack On Beeper For Making Apple's Own Users Safer Threads: Christina Warren / @film_girl : The Beeper Mini back and forth is going to continue for a long time. Provided they can get clever with how they use serial numbers/issue burner Apple IDs they might be successful in the short term, but yeah. This is all going to continue and frankly, although I understand Apple's position, I also find it pretty dumb. Mastodon: Jared Newman / @Newmy@writing.exchange : Again the reactions to this are so bizarre to me. — “Just buy an iPhone.” Apple doesn't make a foldable phone, or a phone with a 10X zoom lens, or a phone that merges the best facial expressions into one photo. Having network effects control your hardware purchases is the worst. … Jer Warren / @nyquildotorg@fedia.social : “While Beeper Mini was a paid app with a 7-day free trial, Beeper Mini's developers plan to make it free because of the instability of the app. ” Things have been a bit chaotic and we're not comfortable subjecting paying users to this," reads the blog post. Beeper Mini will be a subscription app again “as soon as things stabilize. … Seth Michael Larson / @sethmlarson@fosstodon.org : As a former Android, now iPhone user, I am very much enjoying what Beeper is doing to iMessage. — https://blog.beeper.com/... Dare Obasanjo / @carnage4life@mas.to : #Apple vs Beeper Mini has taken an surprising turn as Elizabeth Warren has weighed in. After everything that Apple gets away with, its interesting that the blue versus green bubbles debate is what makes up Congress to its anticompetitive nature. It's ironic to me since in this case I think Apple is within their rights. They aren't obligated to build encrypted chat for Android users. People can download Signal or WhatsApp if they want that. X: @onbeeper : Beeper Mini is back. https://www.beeper.com/update Thank you to our incredible users and the broader community. Read more on our blog. https://blog.beeper.com/... Garry Tan / @garrytan : “Almost everything here is wrong. Literally, Beeper Mini's interoperable setup better protected the privacy of Apple's customers than Apple itself did. Beeper Mini's setup absolutely did not ‘pose significant risks to user security and privacy.’ It effectively piggybacked onto... [image] Eric Migicovsky / @ericmigi : Thank you Senator Klobuchar for inviting us to testify for the Senate Judiciary subcommittee, and for your support on this issue. Let's get the AICO brought to vote! Andrew Martonik / @andrewmartonik : Apple created a private communication system, and runs its own infrastructure for it. A 3rd-party app reverse-engineered the system and injected itself in while letting Apple carry the server burden. Oh, and attempted to charge $ for it. How is Apple in the wrong here, exactly? Amy Klobuchar / @amyklobuchar : Beeper testified at a hearing I held on the impact of monopoly power on innovation, and now we are seeing that impact in real time. Apple is blocking their app that increases choice and convenience. We must pass my bipartisan legislation to stop this anticompetitive abuse. Patrick Moorhead / @patrickmoorhead : Can we at least all agree that if @onbeeper were successful and not blocked, Apple would lose a lot of iPhone customers? It's sad that a company that talks about customer satisfaction so much like Apple would block it. $AAPL Eric Migicovsky / @ericmigi : Oh, sorta like how Apple reverse engineered Microsoft Office file formats to support them in iWork, without Microsoft permission? https://www.eff.org/... Rudy Huyn / @rudyhuyn : Having worked in this field for years, I'm certain @Apple will block it again. Battling a company that controls the devices and can instantly force updates them is futile. It's bound to happen, so it's smarter to encourage friends to switch to @WhatsApp, @telegram, or @signalapp... Eric Migicovsky / @ericmigi : This is not about forcing Apple to make an iMessage app for Android. This is about making the default chat experience between Android and iPhone customers more secure, with better features. Defaults are powerful. On iOS, Apple makes it impossible to change default chat app. Alex Kennberg / @akennberg : @ericmigi Not taking sides, so just food for thought. I get the strong arguments for why “now,” but the part that's missing is Apple's guarantee for security over long term. When Apple user messages another Apple user they know the other side (app and OS) has security updates guaranteed... Patrick Meenan / @patmeenan : I'm getting strong “Instant messaging wars” flashbacks from the AIM/MSN messenger/Yahoo messenger days with the Beeper/iMessage cat-and-mouse. It's a losing game. Without an actual agreement or edict Apple will always be able to counter. Eric Migicovsky / @ericmigi : Right now, Apple makes it really easy to send unsecure, unencrypted message from iPhones to Androids. Keep that in mind. For iPhone customers, Beeper Mini is a huge boost to security and privacy. iPhone customers have an incentive to encourage their Android friends to use Beeper. @onbeeper : @cs_deathmatch Until phone number registration is back, Beeper Mini connects to iMessage with your AppleID email. The only difference is the auth tokens secured in Beeper Cloud are secured locally on your Beeper Mini device. https://www.reddit.com/... [image] Eric Migicovsky / @ericmigi : I don't want iMessage. I want to be able to securely communicate with iPhone friends through their default chat app. Jon Prosser / @jon_prosser : Relentlessly hacking Apple while everyone cheers them on. Cringe. [image] Eric Migicovsky / @ericmigi : @onbeeper Oh and of course thanks to my incredible colleagues for working 24/7 on this. Drew Lipps / @drewlipps : Love that it's free, BUT I'm a bit skeptical about “All users must now sign in with an AppleID. Messages will be sent and received via your email address rather than phone number.” 👀😬 Similar to Beeper Cloud, is Beeper Mini back on the server farm @onbeeper / @ericmigi ? Holly / @anxiousholly : iMessage for Android is now back. 🤭 Beeper Mini has found a way to fix it. how long before Apple patches this one? 🤣 Mitch Rackovan / @mrackovan : @onbeeper This is a bit disingenuous. What made Beeper Mini different was using it with your phone number. I was excited with your original release but I wouldn't consider you as “back” until phone number linking works again. @snazzylabs : Pretty cool to see them trying still and nice that it has been made free while the ground is unstable. I'm certainly not saying anybody should continue to use this as a primary means of messaging, but it's fun to see the fight back. Matt Duff / @mattcantstop : I love Apple products, but am disappointed with how Apple handles issues like this. I think the government should step in and say Apple's behavior is anticompetitive and they are abusing their market position, despite not having a monopoly. https://blog.beeper.com/... Luther Lowe / @lutherlowe : Almost 2 years exactly, @ericmigi spoke before the Senate antitrust subcommittee on early friction Apple was causing for @onbeeper. Fast forward: Beeper has reverse engineered iMessage so Android users can interoperate securely, & Apple drops the hammer. Witness intimidation? [video] @basedbeffjezos : Beeper should be allowed to compete. Garry Tan / @garrytan : Apple is trying to stamp out Beeper Mini but DMCA Section 1201F states that reverse engineering for purpose of interoperability is protected under US law iMessage should be added to EU DMA laws to ensure interop is protected (Apple lobbyists cunningly got it removed last week!) Forums: Hacker News : Beeper Mini is back r/beeper : Beeper Mini is back