Advice Need to find a new messaging app now that Skype has gone tits up.

[Ctuchik]

So me and my mom have used Skype text messages to talk to each other when it hasn't been important enough for a call for many years. And it's been working great as she could use it on her computer and i could use it on my phone.

So anyway, does anyone know of a good replacement now? It really only need to be text messaging but both she and i don't want to resort to using any of the social media messaging apps like facebook, whatsapp and what have you. Generally because they also comes with so much other useless baggage we just aren't interested in but can't opt out of.

The only thing needs to be that it has to be available on both android and windows. She's got parkinsonism so texting on a phone means it takes fucking forever and really really aggravates her so she wants to use her computer. And i want to use it on my phone. She's tried speech to text but she's not happy with it.

We were quite interested in Signal but since the Swedish government demands a backdoor on that app (to the point where they try to make it a law for all apps like that) they threaten to leave the country so that's no longer an option...

So, safe easy to use multiplatform and not too many unnecessary features that her 74 year old brain can get stuck on. Easy yeah?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BloodOmen]

Dunno, I would have just said speech to text, most modern phones have learning AI that will eventually adapt to the users tones etc I think? prob the best bet, even though you say she isn't happy with it.
Failing that, maybe just a private discord server? keep her permanently connected to it and use it as the same sort of functionality as skype etc? once its setup, it should be easy enough to maintain/use for her, if its only you/her on it and its secure.

 

[Scouse]

whatsapp .... Generally because they also comes with so much other useless baggage we just aren't interested in but can't opt out of.

I don't get people's problems with WhatsApp. Never see any shit. Works on my desktop (link phone - but works without phone).

It's just like a posh text messaging app with pics and video calls built in.

Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[Ctuchik]

I don't get people's problems with WhatsApp. Never see any shit. Works on my desktop (link phone - but works without phone).

It's just like a posh text messaging app with pics and video calls built in.

Maybe I'm missing something.

Admittedly i've never tried it and know no one that use it so i'm kinda basing my mild dislike on hearsay.

I know i said we but mostly i mean my mom. She's 74 and while decently tech savvy for her age she is getting on in years and it kinda shows. she's not as keen on learning new things as she was and she also forgets some of it. So really the fewer bells and whistles she has to figure out if she needs or not the easier it'll be to convince her to try it.

Dunno, I would have just said speech to text, most modern phones have learning AI that will eventually adapt to the users tones etc I think? prob the best bet, even though you say she isn't happy with it.
Failing that, maybe just a private discord server? keep her permanently connected to it and use it as the same sort of functionality as skype etc? once its setup, it should be easy enough to maintain/use for her, if its only you/her on it and its secure.

I'll talk to her about Discord, see what she says.

About speech to text, she's just generally difficult when it comes to voice assistants like ok google/gemini and things like that because they're "always listening", even if it's just for specific phrases she doesn't really trust them.
Though i suppose she's kinda running out of options now so we're gonna have to have a good sit down and talk about that.

 

[Scouse]

I'd try whatsapp in that case @Ctuchik

If she can use a text messaging app, shecan use whatsapp. And if she wants to video call you she just needs to pick up her phone.

Discord is *way* more complex.

Whatsapp looks and feels like a text app. No bells, no whistles and works on phone and pc.

Edit: I'd have put my mum on it before she died, but she couldn't mentally deal with a switch from a button phone to android

 

[DaGaffer]

I'd try whatsapp in that case @Ctuchik

If she can use a text messaging app, shecan use whatsapp. And if she wants to video call you she just needs to pick up her phone.

Discord is *way* more complex.

Whatsapp looks and feels like a text app. No bells, no whistles and works on phone and pc.

Edit: I'd have put my mum on it before she died, but she couldn't mentally deal with a switch from a button phone to android

This. Much as I detest Meta on general principles, Whatsapp is by far your simplest option.

 

[Ctuchik]

Thanks guys, she out of the blue decided that she wanted to try talk to text again.

I'll bring up Whatsapp when/if she gives up on it again.