submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So there is this app claiming on-device iMessage functionality on Android. Seems cool but only has subscription based pricing. Does anyone know of a way to circumvent this?

Edit: I found this but it seems a bit dodgy

top 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 38 points 7 months ago

Iirc the entire app is open-source, you can prob strip out the subscription parts and build it yourself

The original work/PoC they based it off of is PyPush and that definitely has a GitHub here: https://github.com/JJTech0130/pypush

If you can't/don't do the work, you'll have to wait, something will come along eventually but that app just came out the other day

[-] daisyKutter@lemmy.ml 21 points 7 months ago

That's just the proof of concept, there is a lot of work and infrastructure besides that code. You can read a more in depth explanation of how it works on their blog

https://blog.beeper.com/p/how-beeper-mini-works

[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Yea I know it's a PoC, It's work, but not that much work...if you have the skill set lol

I was actually digging into JJTechs project a bit, I'm planning on building something of my own, but my version is going to try to tap into Androids messaging service instead so that I can use any SMS app I wish.

The idea being my service will be a translation layer of sorts instead of an independent app that I have to switch too.

[-] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 9 points 7 months ago

It's SSPL, so source available, not open source.

[-] HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip 2 points 7 months ago

This is great news, thanks!

load more comments (6 replies)

[-] jeena@jemmy.jeena.net 18 points 7 months ago

The only person I know who has an iPhone is my fiance and we use Matrix to communicate or Signal as a fallback if I fuck up the Matrix server. So this app is not really for me.

I really wonder how long it will take Apple to just be able to detect and block it.

[-] Estebiu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 7 months ago

They can't block it, as it's using the standard imessage way. They could change the way iMessage works, but that would break iMessage support on older iOS devices that no longer are supported.

[-] jeena@jemmy.jeena.net 6 points 6 months ago

https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/08/apple-cuts-off-beeper-minis-access-after-launch-of-service-that-brought-imessage-to-android/ that didn't take as long as I thought.

[-] jeena@jemmy.jeena.net 2 points 7 months ago

One more reason for people to get a new iPhone 🥳

[-] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 7 months ago

They'll probably find a way of authenticating that a phone number is using an iPhone, or start requiring an extra step when a number tries registering for use on its servers.

[-] Pyroglyph@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

that would break iMessage support on older iOS devices that no longer are supported

Yes, that's what "no longer supported" means.

[-] XyliaSky@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

In this context “no longer supported” just means “no longer receiving active development support”. Not “doesn’t work with the service”.

So actually no, that’s not what “no longer supported” means here, at all.

[-] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 0 points 7 months ago

They haven't blocked any other third party apps using iMessage.

I don't really think they want to. It's kind of like pirating - more people are using the service.

load more comments (6 replies)

[-] onlinepersona@programming.dev 15 points 7 months ago

Way to give Apple money in a round-about way. Truly genius.

[-] Sivilian@lemmy.zip 12 points 7 months ago

If you have an apple computer you can set something like this up for free.

[-] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 7 points 7 months ago

And I believe the folks at Beeper published their self-host on Github.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

Even a trial of this REQUIRES them to have billing info on file. Likely Apple is going to shut this down within a few months. If they don't, I imagine some better options may emerge.