MacVoices #23315: MacVoices Live! - Is Beeper Innovation or Hacking?

The MacVoices Live! panel discusses the controversy surrounding Beeper, questioning whether it's a case of innovation or something less above-board. The back-and-forth between Beeper and Apple results in concerns about the security implications of giving out Apple IDs. The discussion shifts to the broader topic of politicians, particularly Elizabeth Warren, making statements about technology without a deep understanding of the issues at hand, with Beeper front and center. Overall, Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Ben Roethig, Jeff Gamet, Jim Rea, Mark Fuccio, and Guy Serle explore the complexities of interoperability, user experience, and Apple's decision-making in the context of iMessage and Beeper.

This edition of MacVoices is supported by the MacVoices Holiday Gift Guides. Great gear picks by our panelists. Check them out: http://MacVoices.com/HolidayGiftGuides

Show Notes:

Chapters:

0:05:18 Beeper: Apple's Block and Unblocking Methods 0:06:17 Forging certificates and Apple's response 0:07:42 Beeper's sudden shift to being a free service 0:10:19 Elizabeth Warren's Anti-Tech Grandstanding 0:12:47 Politicians and Technology: Broad Strokes vs. Single Issues 0:14:39 Elizabeth Warren's Twitter Post Criticized 0:16:12 Apple's Reputation and Tech Company Misconceptions 0:19:53 Android vs. Apple: User Interface Differentiation 0:21:57 Apple's Motive for iMessage: Breaking Carrier Monopoly or Selling Phones? 0:23:47 Beeper App: Motivated by Acquisition Potential 0:25:20 Web's Positive Experience with CarPlay in Tesla

Links:

Apple Confirms It Shut Down iMessage for Android App Beeper Mini https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/10/apple-confirms-it-shut-down-beeper-mini/

iMessage for Android App 'Beeper Mini' is Back, Apple ID Sign In Now Required and Phone Numbers Don't Work https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/11/beeper-mini-android-imessage-app-back/

Beeper's iMessage app for Android is back — but it's a downgrade https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/11/23997097/beeper-mini-android-imessage-app-working-again

Senator Warren wades into Apple's Beeper fight with irrelevant antitrust rhetoric https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/12/11/senator-warren-wades-into-apples-beeper-fight-with-irrelevant-antitrust-rhetoric

Beeper Mini restores its iMessage app for Android and makes it free, but will it last? https://9to5google.com/2023/12/11/beeper-mini-restored-apple/

Guests:

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, and on his blog, Trending At Work.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon.

Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on Twitter and Mastodon.

Guy Serle, best known for being one of the co-hosts of the MyMac Podcast, sincerely apologizes for anything he has done or caused to have happened while in possession of dangerous podcasting equipment. He should know better but being a blonde from Florida means he's probably incapable of understanding the damage he has wrought. Guy is also the author of the novel, The Maltese Cube. You can follow his exploits on Twitter, catch him on Mac to the Future on Facebook, at @Macparrot@mastodon.social, and find everything at VertShark.com.

Support:

Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices

Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal

Connect:

Web: http://macvoices.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices

Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner

MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/

MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/

Subscribe:

Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes

Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:

Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

00:05:17 Beeper: Apple's Block and Unblocking Methods 00:06:16 Forging certificates and Apple's response 00:07:41 Beeper's sudden shift to being a free service 00:10:18 Elizabeth Warren's Anti-Tech Grandstanding 00:12:47 Politicians and Technology: Broad Strokes vs. Single Issues 00:14:38 Elizabeth Warren's Twitter Post Criticized 00:16:12 Apple's Reputation and Tech Company Misconceptions 00:19:52 Android vs. Apple: User Interface Differentiation 00:21:56 Apple's Motive for iMessage: Breaking Carrier Monopoly or Selling Phones? 00:23:46 Beeper App: Motivated by Acquisition Potential 00:25:19 Web's Positive Experience with CarPlay in Tesla