I like the idea of Singlebox and Webcatalog. It is similar approach as GNOME Web (Epiphany) installable apps. However GNOME Web does not currently work with WhatsApp web on Librem 5 Librem 5: web.whatsapp.com not working in GNOME Web (Epiphany)
big sigh. why is it again so complicated. Just create simple plug and play solutions. Which is quite possible with linux
so again I pass
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Possible doesn’t always mean feasible.
It is about being customer oriented. or not…
In this case there is no such question. Purism has to make more important stuff for customers and gives us the possibility to solve such individual things by our own (community). WhatsApp is something not every customer needs or even wants, but other things like stable OS and other OS improvements like stable suspend are.
In fact, I would even tell to all people who want to force me into WhatsApp “this app does not work with (mobile) Linux, but you could use Matrix, that works on every system” etc.
To be more clear: Purism only supports open source and privacy-by-design software and WhatsApp is nothing they even mind to support in any way. I think you misunderstood something about their mission if you think they should provide such support. A lot of people are here because they want to escape from things like WhatsApp and other proprietary spyware and Purism thinks similar.
But Matrix supports bridging to WhatsApp if you can’t live without (also not easy to setup, but there should be tutorials to do so).
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This is outdated. Currently, Waydroid works sufficiently well.
Until we can get camera access in Waydroid, I don’t think that’s really a complete option. Unless I missed something while looking at these commands…
from Purism statements: " … with quality services and products that people will find convenient to use and beautiful to look upon."
So it is about customers oriented [convenient] being blind for what happens in the digital world, will make Purism obsolete.
And what i suggested is open source software with privacy by design. It combines 2 worlds.
and if things are not easy to setup, they are not compliant with Purism own statement. And that is the continuous problem with open source. Either live up to today’s world or be another failed story
Since we are talking about Whats-app here…
Purism states:
“The Purism Librem 5 is designed with security in mind and has privacy protection by default.”
Can’t say that the mentioned app falls into that category.
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It is what shopping4purism said. The focus is on privacy and security and that is something unique on the market (in this quality). So a lot of customers bought the L5 to avoid bloody software, too.
Purism was speaking about an OS that can be used by everyone without knowing command lines for terminal (for example updating apps) and is easy to use. They also planned to make it possible to install default desktop apps and give app-devs the tools to adjust them easily to little screens. This way they provide that nearly everything important can be done on L5.
You just over-interpreted what they tried to say. However, you don’t even need Purism to get access to WhatsApp. The community is working on Waydroid, Anbox and Matrix bridges as far as I know. Sooner or later you will find a solution for you without Purism working on that stuff.
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What’s the status with Whatsapp via anbox, does video work?
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In Waydroid at least, there is no current camera access
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Do not use it.
In near future there will be bridges or api’s to use Whatsapp through other Messenger Apps. Cause since this month in Europe Meta and other big Gatekeepers have to be open. Just Signal do not like it.
Because personal i think that Meta use the decrypted Client Data to train an neural Network for a better personalization about indirect questions for avatar optimizations. Like a digital twin of yours, in a Computer reacting to 99% like you to asked questions, or predicted behavior like you do in real.
Good Luck
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Well, in the meanwhile we’ll have WhatsApp on L5, I asked to ChatGPT the best way to have it! Here his answer:
“To use proprietary messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger on a device like the Librem 5, which runs PureOS (based on Linux), there are several practical solutions. Here are the main options and their implications:
1. Native Apps through Reverse Engineering
Pros:
- A smoother and more integrated user experience.
- Potential for greater control over privacy and security.
Cons:
- Extremely complex and potentially illegal. Reverse engineering proprietary apps can violate their terms of service.
- Requires significant resources for development and maintenance.
- May not always be up to date with official apps, causing compatibility and functionality issues.
2. Using Web Apps via WebView or Containerization
Pros:
- Less complex than reverse engineering.
- Does not require intense maintenance.
- Uses official versions of the apps, ensuring compatibility and regular updates.
Cons:
- Less smooth user experience compared to native apps.
- Possible limitations in functionality compared to native apps.
3. Using Third-Party Compatible Apps (e.g., alternative clients for Telegram)
Pros:
- Might offer a more integrated experience compared to Web apps.
- Possibility of greater control over privacy and security.
Cons:
- Needs to maintain compatibility with official APIs.
- Potential risk of violating the official apps’ terms of service.
4. Remote Server Solution
Pros:
- Official apps run on a remote server, ensuring compatibility and regular updates.
- Can be a practical solution if well implemented.
Cons:
- Higher latency and dependency on internet connection.
- Potential risk to privacy and security of data transmitted to the remote server.
- Requires initial setup and continuous maintenance of the remote server.
Conclusion
The best compromise in terms of practicality and legality would be to use Web apps via WebView or containerization. This solution allows you to use the official versions of the apps with a more mobile-friendly interface. There are already projects like WebApps (for creating WebView wrappers for apps) that could facilitate this approach on the Librem 5.
Steps to implement this solution:
- Install a compatible web browser on the Librem 5 (like Firefox or Chromium).
- Create a WebApp for each service (WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger):
- Use tools like WebApp Manager to create WebView wrappers.
- Configure the WebApps to provide notifications and access to device-specific features, such as the camera for WhatsApp Web.
- Optimize the interface for a better user experience:
- Adjust the CSS to adapt the WebApp interfaces to the Librem 5’s screen.
This solution ensures the use of official apps without violating terms of service, maintaining a reasonably good and secure user experience.”
What do you think?
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Curious and I just have to ask why would anyone want a highly rated privacy phone and join Whatsapp? Isn’t that like shooting a hole in your rights to privacy?
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Potentially, but it really depends on what your goals are. I definitely like the anti-Whatsapp feelings but sometimes things are worth compromising on. For me I think it’s going to be Uber - of course obviously they already know location and identity for obvious reasons…
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It is your Librem 5, so feel free to do what you want.
Compatibility with a user’s social network. Some people only use SMS, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and/or so on.
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There’s a flatpak in the Software app. I don’t know if it works or not.
Unfortunately, WhatsApp has become the default mode of communication in many parts of the world, even to the exclusion of mobile network calls, SMS, and MMS. From what I understand, lots of people, whole communities, and even businesses buy data-only mobile plans and then use WhatsApp for all calling and messaging, in order to save on costs. That has been going on since WhatsApp first appeared on the scene.
When the app was eventually bought by Facebook, it should have been a huge red flag to all users, but apparently didn’t cause a massive shift to alternative apps, because WhatsApp had become so entrenched.
Then again, billions of people still use Facebook, too, despite the privacy abuse.
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Yes. One should also note that while there are tons of privacy issues with meta-data (where, when, from, to, …), the messages themselves (audio, texts, pictures) are end-to-end encrypted. And apparently that encryption is pretty solid.
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