Wire app, an alternative to WhatsApp and Skype
I was looking for an alternative to WhatsApp and Skype.
Actually, I didn't mind WhatsApp too much but it has its limitations, especially if you travel or change phones and want to sign into the same account.
I asked the Linux community for recommendations, and decided to try Wire.
Other alternatives that got a lot of recommendations, in case you don't like Wire:
Discord, Mumble, Tox, Telegram, Google Voice, webRTC sites (just a webpage that you can use to connect P2P)
More information about Wire: https://www.technotification.com/2014/12/wire-a-new-app-by-skypes-co-founder.html
UPDATE: Suggested improvements to Wire:
1) Loud, more distinct notification sound on phone. When you install the app, two things are difficult. One is the notification sound is too quiet. You don't notice it if you're not close to your phone. Probably this was done in the interest of being subtle and non-imposing, but in practice we are used to Whatsapp notifications, Facebook, Insta, which are loud, and we don't hear Wire notifications so don't respond. This will lead to people not getting their messages and more often not getting responses because people didn't know you messaged them, and people will not like the app compared with WhatsApp and others. You have sound options, but Wire should set its initial install sound to a loud, distinct one like the other apps.
2) Pictures beside contacts. I'm growing my list of contacts, but I can't find them when I look at the list because I don't have pictures, and all the names look the same in a list -- just words. Other apps have icon pictures, so we're used to that, and this app seems not as good because its more difficult. Also, the contacts screen should not have our profile image behind it because it makes it harder to read names, and this will cause people to find the app more difficult and not use it rather than other, more user-friendly ones.
Actually, I didn't mind WhatsApp too much but it has its limitations, especially if you travel or change phones and want to sign into the same account.
I asked the Linux community for recommendations, and decided to try Wire.
Discord, Mumble, Tox, Telegram, Google Voice, webRTC sites (just a webpage that you can use to connect P2P)
More information about Wire: https://www.technotification.com/2014/12/wire-a-new-app-by-skypes-co-founder.html
UPDATE: Suggested improvements to Wire:
1) Loud, more distinct notification sound on phone. When you install the app, two things are difficult. One is the notification sound is too quiet. You don't notice it if you're not close to your phone. Probably this was done in the interest of being subtle and non-imposing, but in practice we are used to Whatsapp notifications, Facebook, Insta, which are loud, and we don't hear Wire notifications so don't respond. This will lead to people not getting their messages and more often not getting responses because people didn't know you messaged them, and people will not like the app compared with WhatsApp and others. You have sound options, but Wire should set its initial install sound to a loud, distinct one like the other apps.
2) Pictures beside contacts. I'm growing my list of contacts, but I can't find them when I look at the list because I don't have pictures, and all the names look the same in a list -- just words. Other apps have icon pictures, so we're used to that, and this app seems not as good because its more difficult. Also, the contacts screen should not have our profile image behind it because it makes it harder to read names, and this will cause people to find the app more difficult and not use it rather than other, more user-friendly ones.
Comments
Post a Comment