I tried SimpleX but the VPN kill switch on my phone prevents syncing with my computer.

I use telegram primarily as a note taking app with sync features.

Occasionally I send files to friends, so having easy set up for tech illiterate would be great.

    • Clot@lemm.eeEnglish
      31·
      2 months ago

      Signal can’t do shit Canit sync messages b/w devices seamlessly? Doe it have unlimited storage? Channels? Isn’t upload size limit 100mb? Telegram has 4gb. Advance Bots? Good Ui/Ux? High quality stickers? Big public groups? Mini apps? Lol, signal is NOT an alternative to telegram as a whole, it can only partly replace its messaging functionality

      • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
        31·
        2 months ago

        Signal is private. This is c/privacy.

        Telegram is not private at all, but has channels and big groups and even, yes, mini-apps.

        So Telegram is not an alternative to Signal either, it doesn’t even start solving problems that are solved genially in Signal.

  • Jeena@piefed.jeena.netEnglish
    336·
    2 months ago

    I think Matrix is the way to go because you can host your own server and be completely self hosting without a 3rd party involved.

    • kali@fedia.io
      16·
      2 months ago

      To add to this, XMPP is much cheaper to host and offers basically the same features when it comes to what OP needs. I host Prosody and it uses so little resources you could probably get it running on the cheapest server you could find.

      • Jeena@piefed.jeena.net
        61·
        2 months ago

        It’s probably 15 years ago I used XMPP the last time. Back then there were many compatibility problems between the apps and especially on the mobile phone with push notifications, etc. There were problems sending media and VOIP calls were non existent outside of the Google clients.

        My guess is that some of those things improved but I have not heard anyone in my circles using it, especially since Matrix became a bit more popular, most of the Open Source projects on IRC also moved to Matrix.

        • kali@fedia.io
          11·
          2 months ago

          Yeah, XMPP has changed a loooott since then.

          XMPP’s main problems at the moment are clients, in my opinion. There’s 3 main clients for PC; one is 100% python (including frontend) and breaks semi-regularly, one does not officially support Windows and thus cuts out a large portion of the community + doesn’t have as many features as others, and one lacks features and looks extremely outdated. The state on iOS is even worse as well, and Android is fine but could be better.

          If you’re considering XMPP again, I’d recommend waiting a few months for Prose https://prose.org/ to fully release, it looks like it’ll improve the experience a lot.

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      From a security standpoint it leaves something to be desired but for just notes it is fine. It also is good for public rooms

  • terminal@lemmy.ml
    171·
    2 months ago

    Just a heads up about people’s suggestions on signal. If you don’t open your desktop client often and it needs to be logged back in it will not sync your latest notes to self messages (perhaps other messages too).

  • unknowing8343@discuss.tchncs.de
    16·
    2 months ago

    I was a Signal defender (although I still use it because it’s better than Telegram or WhatsApp) but now I’m more pushing for DeltaChat, Matrix and XMPP.

    • heftig@beehaw.org
      71·
      2 months ago

      Signal is not available for Android tablets, which was a deal breaker when I tried to move my family off Telegram.

            • heftig@beehaw.org
              1·
              2 months ago

              It does. The Signal app for Android does not support being a secondary device. It must be the primary device with a phone number.

              In addition, whatever Play Store settings they use excluded all of our tablets, even the one that had a SIM. Manually installing the APK worked for this case, but that didn’t really solve our problem.

              • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.orgEnglish
                1·
                2 months ago

                It does. The Signal app for Android does not support being a secondary device. It must be the primary device with a phone number.

                do you mean that it does not have a prompt for the SMS code anymore, and it reads the code only from the received SMS?

                In addition, whatever Play Store settings they use excluded all of our tablets, even the one that had a SIM

                that’s a weird choice, I thought a main goal of them was user freedom

          • dwindling7373@feddit.itEnglish
            1·
            2 months ago

            “Don’t you guys have phones?”

            Also, I htought 99% of tablets connect to the mobile network using a SIMcard, but even if you rely only on wifi, see my previous quote.

  • AnotherWorld@lemmy.world
    134·
    2 months ago

    Unfortunately the Signal recommended by many people may not work for you, it cannot work on multiple mobile devices at the same time, for example on a smartphone and tablet.

    I don’t understand why no one recommends Jami? It’s the only messenger that works without a server at all. And yes, it has the ability to forward messages to itself (to use as a note) and works on any devices at the same time.

    • nutbutter@discuss.tchncs.de
      114·
      2 months ago

      I am using Signal on two android phones, one android tablet and a linux PC. What do you mean it cannot work on multiple devices?

        • Human Crayon@sh.itjust.works
          51·
          2 months ago

          It works on up to 5 devices at the same time. I’ve used signal on my phone, with it also open on my computer with zero problems. Syncing is instantaneous.

          • AnotherWorld@lemmy.world
            42·
            2 months ago

            Open Signal rewiews on GooglePlay, there’s every third review about this situation. I forgot to mention, i’m talking about the Android version. The ios version works on ipad at the same time

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      I would describe Jami as “not good”

      For starters they lack a security audit and review. It is a huge code base and no one seems to have looked to close.

      Next it doesn’t work reliably. Messages frequently get lost in the network and will never arrive.

      The nail in the coffin is the broken UI and app instability.

  • tranarchist@lemmy.mlEnglish
    124·
    2 months ago

    signal is the simplest alternative, it’s actually better than telegram since it doesn’t save data

  • southsamurai@sh.itjust.works
    4·
    2 months ago

    Honestly? For that limited use, there’s really no need to switch.

    However, if you’re willing to do a little extra effort, Join, by joao apps can do what you’re wanting. The notes is easy as pie. Sending files to your own devices is easy. Then you just need a different file sharing method for others.

    It’s not a 1:1 replacement, obviously, but sending files via email, or other methods, when it’s only occasional isn’t something that needs to be part of a messenger service that you aren’t primarily using for messages in the first place. Keeping all your eggs in one basket isn’t always as good.

  • Debacle@framapiaf.org
    31·
    2 months ago

    @TheDorkfromYork

    YMMV, but my minimum requirements were:

    1. Federated just like lemmy or mastodon or email, so I can choose a server or even selfhost.

    2. First class clients for Linux available, not only Android/iOS, no Electron bloatware.

    3. No phone number involved.

    That rules out Signal, Whatsapp and some more. Matrix fits. However I prefer #Jabber a.k.a. #XMPP. Matter of taste, I guess 🤷

    PS: “Note to yourself”, incl. file upload, is supported by all servers and most clients, AFAIK.