why?

Matrix is the federated messaging network. It’s also end to end encrypted, although people have pointed out issues with server security and with metadata—which is why they’re working on peer to peer tech.

RCS is not similar to any federated technology at all. It’s operated exclusively by Google in the US and most other countries. The technology was created, from the ground up, for carriers. But even carriers couldn’t actually make it work in practice, so they asked Google to take over. It’s a fucking albatross. We, as a society, need to drop it.

Google is the exclusive RCS provider for all carriers in the US and many other countries. The desire for an AOSP android API is for developers to be able to write clients the way they do SMS clients, not to replace Google’s servers—that’s a pipe dream. IIRC, Google actually helped Samsung develop RCS support in their app. I’m not sure why it’s so difficult to implement.

There is an RCS test app, we could theoretically modify that, but I guess nobody has for some reason. I don’t particularly want people to use it, Matrix makes so much more sense.

It’s kind of open. It’s pretty much open for carriers to implement on the server side, and for OEMs to develop on the client side. There is an open source client in AOSP’s RCS Test App, but for one reason or another, as far as I know nobody’s attempted to implement it in an actual usable client app. I don’t believe there’s a server reference implementation. And, in the US, all the carriers’ RCS services are run exclusively by Google, so there’s no real point in attempting to set up your own server. Apple might be able to navigate the politics with carriers and with Google to make something work, if it wants to, but it’s really not a standard for us to play with.

Use Matrix Instead.

I pre-ordered the game.

Then, very quickly, the full game + all DLC was available for $20. And I was annoyed, because the DLC itself barely went on sale at all. I sure as shit am not about to pay more for it, after overpaying in the first place. So what do I get? Zero DLC. Nice.

I learned my lesson. I’m waiting for the sale on part 2. And on this new prince of persia game.

I found, ages ago, that I never used the google app for something I couldn’t do in my browser. Like, this was back in the days just after Google Now died—all the features that almost worked just got scrapped because they really didn’t work. It allowed me to keep up with one college sports team, but other than that, opening the app was just a slower version of opening up my firefox and searching there.

So that’s what I do now. I disabled the Google app, and I don’t miss it at all.

I disabled the google app years ago. I use my browser for search, and then when I get the results, the results actually show in my browser, and I don’t have to switch apps or anything to get to my browser.

Plus, I don’t have to look at the vestiges of all the features the app used to have, which now just feel like they’ve left the UI cluttered and pointless.

Plus, every time I open the app, I feel like I’m being spied on, because I am.

Plus, Google Assistant sucks ass. The voice commands are super unreliable, and as for search, I don’t want AI to guess what I’m trying to search for, deterministic imperative searches are actually better.

Didn’t they state that their next game would not be a totk sequel?

So… Updates to Google messages, updates to WearOS, an update to AndroidTV, a few updates to Google proprietary apps, and one or two updates to the actual Android operating system.

there’s an “RCS Test App” in AOSP that nobody has managed to transform into a practical piece of software…

You’re trying to “correct” the correct usage of vernacular English because you feel like reinventing the language to suit your personal idea of what it should be. English is bigger than you. The phrase “private messaging” has meaning, and it’s not up to you to decide what that meaning is.

nobody thinks discord is e2ee. “private messages” usually means the same thing as “direct messages” – messages between a defined set of people as opposed to an open group. You know and understand this term, you’re just being a dick because you think that’s an effective way to convince people to stop using proprietary software without basic features like e2ee. You’re wrong.

but they weren’t offering money for platform exclusivity, they were offering money for store exclusivity on the platform

Except Google is framing the Apple App store as an alternative to the Google Play store, which… doesn’t really make sense… Especially in this context, they weren’t offering money to release fortnite on the Play store over the App store, they were offering money to release on the play store instead of as a standalone or in a competing store.

(sorry, I don’t know why I never posted this, I have way too many tabs open)

You know this is propaganda right? That number never came from Hamas go find them quoting it as fact, I’ll wait.

Well, let’s see, where did the Telegraph get its 8,000 number from?

On Sunday the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry claimed the death toll among Palestinians passed 8,000, with most of them women and children.

… gee, I didn’t even have to dig one layer deep, the Telegraph itself tells you it’s from Hamas. =/

Let’s focus on the 500, though, who cites the number as a Hamas claim verified by literally nobody else?

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/world/middleeast/gaza-hospital-blast-deaths.html

And who else commented on the number?

the Al-shifa hospital director, who estimated it was half of that.

But Hamas just knew in less than 20 minutes, somehow, that it was 500.

The number came from an interview with a doctor right after the attack and it was mistranslated on Aljazeera.

Does the doctor work for Hamas?

Gee, I wonder how a Hamas employed doctor managed to count 500 dead bodies within 20 minutes. Israel is still trying to tally its dead, but Hamas managed to pronounce 500 people dead just in time to falsely accuse Israel of attacking the hospital on Al Jazeera?

You say Hamas wants all Palestinians to be martyrs.

I pointed out how much Hamas loves it when Palestinians die.

what is the disconnect?

why do you people think Israel wants to kill civilians? Do you really think the IDF is just hundreds of thousands of monsters who love killing? What is wrong with you people?

Their intent is that by their “martyring” Palestinian civilians, they’ll be able to use their deaths as PR against Israel.

Yes, that is a cynical take. That’s how Hamas operates.

This feels so 1700s. Like the revolutionary war where the volunteers just kind of showed up with whatever they had.

well… uh, they weren’t all volunteers.