messaging application Archives

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Elon Musk’s X Blocks Links To Signal App As Federal Workers Turn To Encrypted Messaging Amid DOGE Fallout: Report

Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, has started blocking links to Signal.me, a URL shortener for the privacy-focused messaging app Signal. Users are experiencing difficulties sharing Signal.me links through public posts, direct messages, or profile pages. Musk had previously supported Signal, which led to a rise in its downloads. X has not commented on the situation, leading to speculation about its motivations. Critics point out that this move contrasts with Musk's portrayal as a proponent of free speech, as his management of X has included restrictions on content that opposes his views. Additionally, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a program Musk supports, aims to cut federal costs, affecting nearly 10,000 employees and possibly eliminating agencies like USAID. Many former employees are turning to Signal for secure communication, highlighting the importance of privacy in digital communication.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Elon Musk’s X blocking links to Signal messaging app

Social media platform X has implemented restrictions on links to the Signal messaging application, resulting in error messages when users attempt to share signal.me links through public posts, direct messages, or profile pages. This blockage also affects existing signal.me links. Signal, known for its end-to-end encryption, is commonly used by journalists and whistleblowers. X has previously restricted links to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and Substack, despite Signal not being a direct competitor. Users can still share Signal handles on X, and a workaround exists by copy-pasting the link into Signal to bypass the restrictions.

AppWizard

February 8, 2025

Discord Messenger is a super lightweight app that requires only 64MB of memory and can connect to older versions of Windows

A new messaging application named Discord Messenger has been released to support users on older operating systems, including Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. It requires a minimum CPU of Pentium 4 and 64MB of memory. The application is compatible with Discord but only allows text messaging; features like voice and video chat are not included. Future enhancements planned for the app include a friend list, dark mode, voice input, nickname changing, and additional settings options. However, certain features such as friend requests and QR code logins will not be available. Discord has cautioned users that using third-party applications or modifying the official client violates their terms of service and could lead to account suspension.

AppWizard

February 6, 2025

Top 35 Social Media Platforms (September 2024)

YouTube is the most popular social media platform with 3.9 billion monthly active users, followed by Facebook with 2.1 billion users. Telegram has experienced a 367% search growth with 30.4 million monthly Google searches. TikTok has seen a 733% search growth and has 83.1 million monthly Google searches. Xiaohongshu (RedNote) has a search growth of 99x+, with 450,000 monthly Google searches and reported a profit of million in 2023. Discord has a 188% search growth with 30.4 million monthly Google searches. WhatsApp has a 112% search growth and 151 million monthly Google searches. Reddit has a 140% search growth with 30.4 million monthly Google searches. Douyin, a Chinese video-sharing app, has a 733% search growth and 1 million monthly Google searches.

AppWizard

February 4, 2025

Samsung just quietly retired its Google Messages rival, and not everyone will be happy about it

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S25 series, making Google Messages the default messaging application and retiring the Samsung Messages app. Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra users will only have access to Google Messages, unlike previous models that allowed the option to use Samsung Messages. Existing Samsung Messages users can still use the app if it was installed prior to its removal from stores, but it is no longer available for download, raising concerns about future support and security. A Samsung spokesperson confirmed the decision to transition to Google Messages, citing improved Rich Communication Services (RCS) functionality. The response from users has been mixed, with some expressing dissatisfaction about the enforced switch. This change marks a trend towards standardization in the Android messaging ecosystem.

AppWizard

December 21, 2024

Samsung Dual Messenger v3.5 available for One UI 7 Beta devices

Samsung has released an updated version of its Dual Messenger app, v3.5, for Galaxy devices running on Android 15-based One UI 7. This version is currently available to users testing the One UI 7 Beta on the Galaxy S24 series in select regions. The update enhances compatibility with Android 15, allowing users to maintain two separate accounts for the same messaging application, each with its own contact list. Activation requires navigating through Settings to the Dual Messenger option and selecting a supported app. Additionally, Samsung may integrate Dual Messenger support into the One Hand Operation+ module of Good Lock for easier one-handed use.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

AT&T shuts down its messaging apps prematurely and deletes cloud backups

AT&T has retired its pre-installed messaging applications for phones and tablets as of December 4, following an announcement in May about the closure of the AT&T Messages Backup & Sync app and the AT&T Messages for Tablet app. Users are encouraged to migrate to Google Messages, which AT&T prefers due to its Rich Communication Services (RCS) capabilities. Messages stored in the cloud will be deleted, but conversations saved locally on devices will remain accessible. AT&T had made Google Messages the default Android messaging app in 2021 and transitioned to Google's Jibe platform in 2023 to improve RCS features. Unlike Verizon's experience with customer backlash, AT&T's user base has shown more acceptance of this change.

AppWizard

December 14, 2024

Russia blocks Viber messenger

Russia's media regulatory authority, Roskomnadzor, has blocked the Viber messaging application due to violations of national law. The decision is based on Viber's alleged non-compliance with legal mandates regarding information dissemination, with concerns about its potential misuse for terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking. As of October, approximately 26% of the Russian population aged 12 and older used Viber, with 14% using it daily. Viber has faced previous legal challenges, including a fine of one million rubles imposed on June 20, 2023, for not removing false information related to the military operation, and an additional fine of 800,000 rubles on March 13, 2024, for publishing prohibited content.

AppWizard

November 9, 2024

WhatsApp Update Is Introducing Instagram-Like Function In The Popular Messenger App: Report

WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will allow users to create interactive updates, similar to Instagram's functionality. This update will include a new sticker enabling interactive components like questions and polls, encouraging user engagement. The interactions will remain confidential due to WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, ensuring that the identity of users responding to updates is not revealed. No official statements have been made regarding the rollout of this feature.

Winsage

November 9, 2024

Telegram is the latest of my daily Windows apps to enjoy native ARM support on Snapdragon X and even my ancient Surface

Telegram is a leading messaging application available on Windows, Android, and Apple devices. The latest version 5.7.2 includes integrated native ARM64 support. Users can download Telegram for Windows on ARM from GitHub, where it is offered as a full installation or a portable application. Previously, Telegram operated under Microsoft's Prism emulation layer on ARM devices, but now it runs natively on ARM64, providing a faster and more efficient experience. Users can download the app via an executable installer or as a portable option from the 'telegramdesktop' GitHub page.