I was looking at matrix today and like what I read. I also saw there is a bridge for other platforms like e.g. whatsapp. But I failed to understand how that works. Can I send and receive messages to whatsapp users with element or is this not possible (yet)?
I was investigating the same for sms. The bridges cab be found here https://matrix.org/ecosystem/bridges/
Looks like you need admin perms for some of them
Another thing I learned is that there are numerous matrix clients, but all will use your same matrix login. So if you switch chat apps, you just log out of that one and log into another.
Some examples are
And the main one, Element
I think most bridges are designed for Element, but I’m not 100%
@depressed_submissive @PuaNani it’s possible. The homeserver translates whatsapp to matrix and vice versa
I don’t think it’s the best approach to promote Element specifically, but rather Matrix.org, which does have good mobile clients, like Fluffychat on iOS, and good desktop clients, like Mirage.
Way too much choice. Do you think uninformed users make the right choices? Do you think all people you interact with are capable of gathering information or even willing to think about what app to install, what server to choose etc.?
If you try Signal.org or WhatsApp.com or Telegram.org, you see that the streamlined walled garden is way easier for people to sign up to. Just count the clicks from Matrix.org until you can chat with someone compared to one of the aforementioned apps.
“A faster response”? Is this a satire? Matrix is the slowest chat network ever. 500ms is considered a good latency on the Matrix network! The Element client is the worst and unusable (because of latency) over Tor. I love what matrix is doing with P2P (among other) but “faster” is definitely not their selling point ;) ;)
I’ve never had that issue…
First need to improve bandwidth usage for people in countries to which even low-data mobile internet connection is expensive, being Cuba an example.
They’re working on that right now IIRC. Idk when it’ll be ready though, it’ll probably take a while
Well that is where IRC can shine :) Just use other services for file share/video/audio chat… As one should.
This is a moot idea, when Element is not usable for people who can barely type a message and need an app for everything.
The registration process with more than “enter the code you got via SMS” is way too hard. People not literate with computers, of which there are about 95% compared to “us” literates¹, may understand the notion of “apps” and “services”.
The concepts of “accounts” and “registration” got watered down by popular apps that the law of familiarity of UX hinders adoption of nerd messengers like Matrix/Element or even the much simpler Matrix/Fluffychat. No matter how much we try to explain stuff to people, nerd tech is always way too hard to use.
The amount of time you spend into trying to convince people to use tech which is way too hard to use for them could be used to make the transition to that tech easier instead.
There are several other concerns than ease of use. For example:
- Not enough people on there
- Also, not enough interesting content in case of social network
- Low disk space
- Too many accounts already
- Don’t know which instance or client to choose (though this can be argued as a subreason of ease of use)
- Not enough people on there
Using SSO you don’t need deep registration process.
The same that SMS but with an EMail link could work.
The Mozilla instance works with that but also allow login with other existing accounts.
Using SSO you don’t need deep registration process.
The same that SMS but with an EMail link could work.
Yeah, but as far as I know, not a single Matrix.org identity provider allows registration with only a phone number.
