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g-rocklobster t1_jd903am wrote

I'm curious how they're going to tie into iMessage. That's been the Achille's Heel for cross-platform for a while now.

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SirMaster t1_jd9bh6d wrote

Tieng to iMessage is not necessarily new.

You have been able to do this with Intel Unison app.

https://allthings.how/how-to-use-imessage-on-windows-11-with-intel-unison/

I'd guess that this will use the same mechanism which is Bluetooth.

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SophieTheCat t1_jdafscs wrote

The iMessage integration for Intel Unison is not great. For one it's not 100% reliable. Secondly, it doesn't work with group chats. Whenever, you get a message in the group chat, it just shows up as if it's a 1 on 1 conversation.

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SirMaster t1_jdakfjx wrote

And this is any different?

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SophieTheCat t1_jdaweb3 wrote

No. Same probably unless Apple gave them special treatment.

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pattykakes887 t1_jddj1q9 wrote

> unless Apple gave them special treatment

So don’t hold our breath, got it.

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ctaetcsh t1_jdbbs85 wrote

No, it’s using bluetooth the same. I had access to it for a few days before it broke. It’s pretty mediocre imo.

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olanmills t1_jda0xnu wrote

I really wish the industry would get together to come up with a new cross-platform messaging standard so we could get rid of iMessage

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lazergator t1_jda7ks7 wrote

We don’t need to get rid of iMessage just make it accessible on other platforms.

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olanmills t1_jda7tqi wrote

It would be better to have a standard controlled by an independent industry body, not Apple

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KnockKnockPizzasHere t1_jdae2gn wrote

We do have one, it’s called SMS!

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olanmills t1_jdagu39 wrote

Yes, but SMS is antiquated. iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other similar services offer some important features that are very beneficial. The first among them is that that are end-to-end encrypted. This means that no one can see the contents of the messages except the senders and recipients. For example, if Facebook wanted to see the messages, even if someone was compelling them to, like the government, or the mob kidnaps an employee or whatever, it's simply not possible.

Also, a proper digital messaging service can handle messages as robust packages of information, with a format that is extensible, not just a raw message. It would be able to better handle group messaging scenarios and threads. You can get feedback if messages have been delivered. It would be able to better handle network interruptions. It allows for fun stuff like reactions and stuff. They could build better ways to block and report spam and harmful content.

SMS wasn't designed to handle these sorts of things

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Dadguy8 t1_jdaiu9v wrote

Rcs. But apple is fighting it.

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olanmills t1_jdalxwx wrote

The big problem with RCS is that encryption is not part of the standard

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Dadguy8 t1_jdamqo5 wrote

But just as google does, apple could ensure it’s included.

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medlina26 t1_jdaolor wrote

Do you know how they included encryption in RCS? By making it go through Google servers. Whether you believe apple or not on their stance on security/privacy they have a better track record than Google does in that department. Is it a marketing tool for Apple? Absolutely. Is it still better than trusting Google to do the right thing? In my opinion, yes.

Not even the majority of carriers want to dick with RCS which is where support really should start.

Apple has shown they are willing to work towards a common standard (matter/thread being recent examples) so them not passing messages through Google servers in this case seems to be more an alignment with their public statements about privacy, even if you ignore the obvious marketing around it.

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Dadguy8 t1_jdaq1yp wrote

I 100% believe apple is purposefully avoiding working with google on fixing the issue. They don’t want it better for android people. They just want them to switch to apple. Which I get. But still doesn’t change that apple is not willing to fix this.

Matter is a standard that benefits apple cause barely anything suppers HomeKit.

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medlina26 t1_jdax2ez wrote

You believing it doesn't make it true. Even if there's some truth to it (there is) it is possible for both things to be true. That being apple wants to convert android users, which honestly if this feature alone converts you then you deserve to have your money taken, as well as them not wanting to pass messages through Google owned servers for privacy reasons.

The fact you think no devices support homekit is complete nonsense. There are a shit ton of options that support it. The biggest gap in coverage are cameras and even there are a handful of options. Matter/thread benefits everyone. Apple included.

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Dadguy8 t1_jday4al wrote

It’s not even about believing, its the truth. Google started a whole campaign calling out apple for not helping to create a standard or utilize rcs.

It’s nowhere near google and Amazon. So yeah, in comparison, it pales.

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medlina26 t1_jdb0m4f wrote

Yes. Global company creates marketing campaign to call out other global company in which they clearly present ALL of the facts and don't gloss over any of the problems or faults of their own. Good job Google. Mission accomplished.

Quantity isn't more important that quality and homekit covers largely everything people actually want. That's like saying the Nintendo e-shop is the best because it has so many games while ignoring that most of them are complete dogshit.

Google will probably abandon home like they have with so many other products and Amazon already wishes they didn't have Alexa because it hasn't netted them anywhere close to the return they hoped for as it relates to purchases from their website.

It's pretty obvious that nuance and context aren't very important to you so there's not much point in continuing beyond this point.

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Dadguy8 t1_jdb15sn wrote

Whatever you say lol not surprised I find this kind of apple obsession in an iPhone subreddit.

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Dick_Lazer t1_jdbd7wm wrote

> It’s not even about believing, its the truth. Google started a whole campaign calling out apple for not helping to create a standard or utilize rcs.

Well yeah, Google likes to spread propaganda that trashes their competitors, and you fell for their marketing campaign. The basic fact is Apple passing messages through Google's servers would make Apple user data far less secure. And Apple makes most of its money selling high priced products, where Google makes most of their money selling your data. It makes no sense for Apple to betray their user base like that, when privacy is one of their main selling points.

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Dadguy8 t1_jdcca2a wrote

They can still use rcs. They use sms now. No reason to not implement rcs. Encryption or not. SMS doesn’t have it anyway.

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olanmills t1_jdar7zd wrote

Google has RCS encryption, but it only works for the Google Messages app. That's not their fault; it has to be that way since it's not part of the RCS standard

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Dadguy8 t1_jdasnq4 wrote

While yeah, I want encryption. There’s still no reason apple can’t include rcs. SMS already doesn’t have encryption. So what does it matter. Jsut apple being apple.

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HugoMongo t1_jdam847 wrote

RCS in its most widespread form is handled through Google’s servers. RCS as we need it isn’t happening because carriers are ass. If they replaced SMS with RCS, Apple would have no choice but to use it for fallback.

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Dadguy8 t1_jdamnx0 wrote

Google has made it clear they want to work with apple on it. They have a whole campaign on it. Whether how true it is behind the scenes, I have no idea. But they seem to be willing whereas apple, not so much.

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HugoMongo t1_jdcetfh wrote

Then you're trading one proprietary system for another. Fallback systems need to be open standards and not managed by one corporation. Right now that is the technical equivalent of saying Apple should have integrated Google Hangouts into iMessage. There needs to be a push from the FCC to sunset SMS.

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Dadguy8 t1_jdcgmgx wrote

Just like sms, rcs is the next evolution of that standard. Apple could move to it.

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bristow84 t1_jdcgnfr wrote

Think about it from Apple's side, the RCS implementation that is most widely used is controlled by Google and run through Google's servers.

Do you really think they'd want to hand that kind of control over users and their messages over to Google, regardless of whether it's encrypted? Apple has made a big push over the last little while of trying to appear security focused, a decision like that wouldn't help.

Also soon as Google opens up the API to allow third party texting apps like Textra to use RCS, then I might be more willing to believe Google wants to work with anyone on it rather than control it themselves.

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Dadguy8 t1_jdci03o wrote

But who handles sms? I thought l rcs was just the next iteration of sms. Then google adds the encryption part of it. Can’t apple do it for their devices? I mean I guess you could say why when they have iMessage but if they’re so concerned about privacy, it would make iOS users completely secure then. Because technically apple users are vulnerable when texting via sms.

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dogethanos t1_jdbfa2f wrote

It's available through Sunbird. Check it out. It's pretty cool

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Boring-Option-5696 t1_jdakep5 wrote

And this is why we need Apple to adopt RCS. It’s basically the new standard, after SMS.

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olanmills t1_jdalyha wrote

The big problem with RCS is that encryption is not part of the standard

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AWF_Noone t1_jdamtp9 wrote

Forgive my ignorance, I have no idea how this all works, but could Apple implement encryption locally? Encrypt the message before it’s sent on device, send the encrypted message, and the recipient would receive an un-encription key?

Would that work?

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olanmills t1_jdaqlnf wrote

That would work, but for it to work across different devices/and or carriers, they would all need to work together to implement it in a mutually intelligible way. If it wasn't part of the RCS standard, then it would basically be different device makers and/or carriers having side agreements with each other. So they use their own encryption scheme on either end with RCS in the middle. With situations like that it becomes too easy for the side agreements to not be the same everywhere amongst all parties, which ends up being confusing for consumers and possibly broken. It would lead to things like, oh these features work between these carriers, but not these, or if you message your cousin in Germany, you have to remember to use a different setting than when you message your friend in California, etc. It would be better if end-to-end encryption was part of the RCS standard, which I guess means we already need an RCS 2.0

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duaempat05 t1_jdbcyga wrote

whatsapp dan Telegram are cross-platform messaging apps

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Darkmage4 OP t1_jd986ry wrote

It will be interesting. Since iMessage is probably tight nit closed programming. Maybe as sms? But that would be interesting to see what they do!

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PerpetualCycle t1_jda6dqa wrote

I have tried it today. It syncs your contacts. You can then send an imessage to a contact through your iphone. Sent message appears on my iphone under the contact. Worked OK.

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Darkmage4 OP t1_jdb1k32 wrote

Ok cool! Ok. I’ll have to check that out when I’m home this weekend. On vacation and saw this email! And got really excited. lol.

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IBM296 t1_jdccdgb wrote

Does it work for group chats too? That would be great!

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Lead_Bacon t1_jdaqjb9 wrote

I just used it today, and it seems that it just copies what you type on the computer, and commands it on the iPhone. It sends as iMessage to compatible people, and you receive them on the computer. You can also call from it which I haven’t done yet, and you can clear notification, which I have done

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shanwei10 t1_jd97wy1 wrote

Maybe there’s not even an iMessage at all. Just conventional text messages.

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Xaxxus t1_jdb9al6 wrote

Apple provides APIs that let you send/receive messages.

The only limitation afaik is that you can’t send attachments.

Intel unison currently does this (although it’s pretty shit and never syncs properly)

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machineglow t1_jdap1ww wrote

I just got bluebubbles server running on a bigsur VM and it’s been running without issues for the last week. Seems to me way more useful than phone link.

I highly recommend it.

https://bluebubbles.app

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tw33k_ t1_jdbab32 wrote

Second this. Been using it for months, great workaround! I’m lucky enough to have a spare pc running as a server that hosts the VM as well, so it’s not using up main/gaming pc resources.

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_N0S t1_jdcsche wrote

How did you get the Bigsur VM to run?

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machineglow t1_jdebvl6 wrote

I run an unraid server and there's a docker app built by someone in the community that makes it easy to spin up a macos VM (called macinabox). So that's what I used. It's basically a pre-canned way to booting opencore, downloading macOS iso, and mounting everything so that it installed on the VM disk.

It's kinda flakey and i had to update opencore before it became stable. so far so good. crossing fingers.

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Gcdm t1_jdcvigs wrote

How’s this compared to AirMessage?

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machineglow t1_jdebgvd wrote

never heard of airmessage. but i think functionally it's similar, Except bluebubbles has a windows client which I end up using.

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Gcdm t1_jdf8yo8 wrote

I might switch to that, I’ve been using Windows Subsystem for Android to use iMessage on my windows machine.

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BeachHead05 t1_jdam090 wrote

Man when I first read your title and I saw Windows phone I got all excited. Only to get bummed out when it hit me windows phone is still dead lol.

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Darkmage4 OP t1_jd8yvng wrote

I run both windows and MacOS, and I’m not always on my Laptop. So being able to get Texts and calls on my desktop is going to be really great! Used to use this all the time back when I was using the S21 Ultra. So this definitely will be a nice feature to have!

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nathsabari97 t1_jdd4w2k wrote

I use scrcpy wireless on my windows pc. It now have audio support too.

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linus121 t1_jd91fm9 wrote

Really happy to see this as the latest Intel Unison update removed message threads for unknown reasons. Thread

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EvanFreezy t1_jdaqhzx wrote

Yeah I was actually excited about that app and they went and chopped off its legs

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Sylvurphlame t1_jda8210 wrote

Lol. All I got from the headline for a second was “Windows Phone” and I’m like, they’re trying it again?

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chupmacabre t1_jdaonr1 wrote

I had the exact same reaction until I read it twice 🤣 it’s definitely not worded the best

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Siincerely t1_jd9i6ha wrote

I’ve been waiting for this for iPhone for ages. Now I can play shit and just put this on another screen or whatever without having to always have my phone in hand. GF won’t be mad anymore

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Energy4Days t1_jd9ufz4 wrote

Time to wear the pants in the relationship...

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SnowyCaptain t1_jdb7dfn wrote

I’ve been using KDE Connect for similar functionality on my windows machine. It’s nice cause it’ll also work for sharing between all my devices (Mac, Windows, and Linux)

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Prince515 t1_jdcbtjn wrote

As someone who uses iPhones and iPads but prefers windows pcs this is pretty exciting.

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ronnocoep t1_jd9cbvk wrote

Supposedly there are some caveats with this, such as not being able to send images. Has anyone tested this yet?

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afonsoleo21 t1_jd9qbwq wrote

Intel unison already allows you to connect with the iPhone. But I’ll welcome this too

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okron1k t1_jdao6o2 wrote

do you still require a new intel processor to use unison?

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0x706c617921 t1_jdb1bah wrote

Keep in mind that requirement is just written on paper. People have used it on older Intel and even AMD CPUs just fine.

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okron1k t1_jdb4mc6 wrote

i tried to get it going and it kept failing... figured it was a compatibility issue

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0x706c617921 t1_jddlw07 wrote

Hmm maybe I'm wrong.

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okron1k t1_jdf0i98 wrote

I only tried for about 5-10 minutes before giving up. I also have an older phone which might play a role in it not working

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StDream t1_jdb119o wrote

Hopefully better than Intel Unison.

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Appropriate-Eyes t1_jdc1p61 wrote

Since apple doesn’t make gaming PCs, this will be a huge boon for me.

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TheLukester31 t1_jdaaqxh wrote

If I understand correctly, it is very unsophisticated. Basically just scrapes your notifications and pushes them to Windows. Not sure it is really anything to get excited about.

Edit: used draconian when I meant unsophisticated. Back to high school vocabulary for me.

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Stephen_NM2022 t1_jdahlnt wrote

>draconian

Someone needs to look up the definition of draconian. You might also want to read the posts from Microsoft before saying stupid things.

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TheLukester31 t1_jdaixrh wrote

Apologies for using the wrong word there, thank you for pointing that out.

I should have said unsophisticated. As in it uses the same technology that basic phone connected car head units have used for the last decade to give you basic notifications and call capabilities. I’m not excited because when I’ve used this in the past it has not been a great experience.

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misteryub t1_jdbiaph wrote

Better than the nothing we have now.

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TheLukester31 t1_jdd2c0q wrote

Maybe. I used Dell’s implementation of this a while back and it was horribly unreliable and the need for the Bluetooth connection was annoying. If it is better than that, it could be nice, but I’m pretty skeptical.

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Emperor_Nick t1_jdbr10z wrote

Man sad that I’m still using windows 10.

Oh well. Only thing I would use it for is sending links and screenshots to people I text on iMessage. Which is like 5 people. Everyone else I can message on windows already

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Darkmage4 OP t1_jde6zep wrote

It’s a free upgrade. If your system allows of course.

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Emperor_Nick t1_jdfebkm wrote

Idk if it does, and regardless I’m not impressed with the update. I like the ui changes because I’m a huge Mac lover, if people developed games for the newer macs, I’d so switch. That and solidworks. But just haven’t seen any good reason to update. Granted I don’t pay any attention to anything windows news wise so maybe I’m missing something but eh

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Darkmage4 OP t1_jdfkiyb wrote

It’s a lot faster, utilizes ram a bit better making it really nice to use. My NVMe 2TB Samsung SSD is utilized even more. I boot up in 6 seconds with a few boot programs. Although, Nvidia is dropping the ball on their drivers lately for windows 11. But, other than that. It’s got tabbed windows now! So you can have as much window files open in 1 pane as you want.

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MikeyPx96 t1_jddbeji wrote

Awesome! Now I can get left on read on Windows too!

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Kiesey t1_jddj3uw wrote

It’s about time, Windows has supported Android connectivity for a long time now. I am looking forward to trying this out.

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AndreLinoge55 t1_jdbi6i0 wrote

This is the first new Windows feature I’ve cared about in a decade. Good stuff.

0

ieatpotatochips t1_jdbc8zy wrote

> you'll never have to worry about missing that important call or text while you are concentrating on your Windows 11

So much for concentrating.

−1

trust-me-br0 t1_jdbo4hl wrote

Intel Unison already fixed this problem.

−1

Martyyyyyt t1_jdctxzd wrote

I tried unison but it doesn't work properly 😅

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spasticpat t1_jddoqy3 wrote

Isn't this one the same though? Doesn't support group texts for instance.

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tekonus t1_jdcrgg2 wrote

Great. Something else my windows pc will nag me to activate that I have no interest in.

−1

SirMaster t1_jd988js wrote

Soon? This has been out already now.

Even worked from my Windows 10 PC when I modified the widows app store bundle to allow install on lower versions of Windows.

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Darkmage4 OP t1_jd9apec wrote

I’ve been an insider since before windows 11 was officially released, and I only ever saw it for Android.

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RedditMarcus_ t1_jd9keix wrote

it only rolled out to a few windows insiders before, now it’s rolling out to everyone

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