Great job, it starts with us. If you want it done then do it. π
this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2025
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Privacy
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I think that's great, well done.
One thing which I'm curious about is that now Signal is proposing itself as a zoom replacement with call links and the ability to share a username rather than a phone number. This makes it interesting in a work setting, given that there is a desktop app too.
However, I have a possibly unique gripe with it: how do I manage my personal vs professional profile picture? Currently I have a profile picture which I'm using mostly for friends and family. But that is not ideal for a professional setting. And them maybe I'd like to join some online communities more anonymously. I don't want to use the same profile picture for all 3 settings. I wish Signal would make it easier to manage the profile picture selectively and more granularly.
Anyone else within them same position?
I think you should have 3 profiles for 3 settings, imo a personal phone number should not be used in a professional setting.
Unfortunately Signal doesn't allow to create account without phone number, but there are other alternatives that should work in a professional setting.
Yeah! One of my issues with Signal is how clunky it is to have several profiles - something I cannot imagine living without. Not only would you need separate phone numbers, but you'd also need separate clients (or separate profiles with the same app on mobile, or different users on desktop).
Once it gets a little bit more development work, you might have a look at SimpleX because it is stupid easy to do profiles on there, but at current it is not good for group calls. It does do group messages just fine, but the column functionality is not fully there yet.
SimpleX absolutely destroys battery life on older devices. Had to disable it.
I'm in one group of like 1,500 members and I've noticed it takes about 7% battery which compared to signal is a lot for certain but it's not horrible. I use lineage OS with no Google Play Services, and I find that Google Play Services still ate more battery than SimpleX does.
What of the alternatives like Matrix or XMPP? I haven't explored these well yet, is it easy to have multiple profiles with those?
The clients I tried for Matrix had similar trouble with multiacc, yeah. However, my XMPP clients do have a tab with accounts you can toggle on and off.
And yet again i feel like XMPP is the way to go, but depends on setting up a server and managing it, i for one don't feel like managing servers in my free time, i do that at work all day π
If it's a personal server, XMPP actually pretty botherless) Matrix did randomly break for me, though.
The "distro" I've been eyeing is Snikket since it's all in one with batteries included, it's only notorious lack is bridges which is the reason i didn't jump into it right away when i saw it (LOTS of contacts on WhatsApp, some on other Zuckerberg properties, so will likely need to do it, let's see if the recent EU legislation leads to force them into interoperativity)
Haven't tried Snikket, but tried the software it is based on (Prosody). Works very well and is easy to set up, and heard good things about Snikket! If you go through - good luck with it)
I use a "work profile" on my android phone to install another instance of Signal. I registered it with an internet phone number. Not an ideal solution, but does what I need.
I really wish Signal would have a βProβ version. I would pay for that, but as it stands, there are many features missing which are needed in a business setting.
Itβs great tech, but focused on the consumer space.
Usually when I propose these things IRL I'm met with laughter and "who cares?". I don't even try anymore.
Hoping it goes well for ya. I've been in 1,000+ people Signal groups and it's so laggy.
Anyone have tips on how to find local mutual aid groups? The only one that I am currently a part of is a buy nothing group on... Facebook.
Mine originated from the coordinators of the local third place (I'm in a very rural setting), don't know if this kind of initiative exist in cities
Online search? That's how I first got plugged into some here. Many of them maintain presence on FB, IG etc as a pragmatic matter of outreach, but organize themselves over Signal and offline.
That's awesome! I'm in a bunch of local Signal groups for my community. I'm about to move away though, and already anticipating a struggle to build the same type of culture where I'm headed.