Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux

(zackbartel.com)

55 points | by zackb 5 days ago

5 comments

  • pzmarzly 48 minutes ago
    > Personally, I think putting an interoperability protocol implementation behind a copyleft license is a little unfortunate!

    Huh, haven't thought of it. Just relicensed ancs4linux to MIT.

    • voakbasda 38 minutes ago
      I love HN. Read an article that raises a reasonable point about a project’s license, and that project’s author shows up to announce they were convinced and changed the license accordingly. Repo was updated 5 minutes ago.

      It’s things like this that give me hope for the world.

    • kees99 44 minutes ago
      Isn't this[0] the use-case that is supposedly covered by LGPL?

      [0] copyleft-licensed library that could be legally linked into non-copyleft code base.

      • LinuxIsntVeryGo 24 minutes ago
        Copyleft licenses are freedom-negative, so MIT covers it pretty well: do what you want.
  • voakbasda 43 minutes ago
    Mega-kudos to the author for chipping away at the wall around Apple’s garden.

    I have had a iPhone for 15 years, and I have only ever been able to back it up with iTunes on windows (as I will never buy a Mac).

    Apple’s refusal to provide interoperability borders on criminal. I wish there was a better option.

    • abcd_f 26 minutes ago
      Have a look at https://github.com/libimobiledevice/libimobiledevice and iOS backup projects that are based on it.
      • voakbasda 12 minutes ago
        Over the years, I have tried to make that solution work, but it never ever went smoothly.

        Maybe it’s time to try it again, but it’s an arms race from what I remember. Apple just keeps changing things; if you’re on the latest iOS version, it was unlikely to work. Has that changed?

    • LinuxIsntVeryGo 26 minutes ago
      Why do you think Apple should be compelled to provide software for operating systems without a sizable audience? Why do you feel entitled to support for Linux?
      • voakbasda 15 minutes ago
        Because they provide a platform. Platforms are not normal products. Once a product becomes a platform, the rules should change to force interoperability. This should be true no matter the product or technology.
      • cassianoleal 24 minutes ago
        They don't have to add support. All they need is APIs and documentation.
  • SoftTalker 28 minutes ago
    Wasn't there another iMessage clone for Linux/Android a few years back and they got a C&D from Apple? Or maybe Apple just blocked their service?
  • 2Gkashmiri 47 minutes ago
    I don't know.

    What's a feature not in KDE connect that the writer wanted and it didn't have?

    They could always submit a pr.

    Beeper exists you know....

    I have a question. It's fine to build for your own self but is it okay to release something in public when the environment is a moving target and you are just a one-man team keeping it afloat?

    Wouldn't it be better to go behind established FOSS products and not reinvent the wheel when you don't have to?

    I understand no one can tell you how to or why to do certain things but there comes a time, when youw want to help, not build the next temple os and instead help manjaro or whatever is cool these days?

    • cassianoleal 39 minutes ago
      I find KDE Connect severely lacking. It's great that it exists, and maybe it's really excellent with Android, but for iOS it's really not there yet.

      Even features that do exist don't always work reliably. I can't send files between devices, most of the time clipboard sharing doesn't work either, and there's loads not implemented.

      > What's a feature not in KDE connect that the writer wanted and it didn't have?

      From TFA:

      "And Tether now supports: iMessage, SMS, Notifications, Contact sync on Linux. In addition to its previous: File Transfer, Clipboard Sync, OTP handling."

      > Wouldn't it be better to go behind established FOSS products and not reinvent the wheel when you don't have to?

      From TFA:

      "Before you ask, I know KDE Connect exists. It's great! If you're on Android you should definitely use it. The problem is that it didn't do what I wanted and it's roadmap indicated it never would."

      Maybe next time read the article before commenting?

    • utopiah 46 minutes ago
      Glad you brought that up, I was actually going to suggest not to replace KDE Connect but rather to become interoperable with it because AFAIR (but didn't touch an iPhone for few years now) there is no iOS client for it.
    • tamimio 28 minutes ago
      Personally, few years ago I wanted to use kde connect with my iPhone, and I don’t remember the distro now but it’s when I had to install kde connect later it wasn’t part of it, and after almost a whole day of googling around and trying to compile and solve whatever missing libraries or drivers, it never connected.. so yeah I welcome the fact that there are alternatives, always!
  • select1 28 minutes ago
    [dead]