Element is launching the world’s first communications platform based on the upcoming Matrix 2.0 release. The result is blazing performance which outperforms the mainstream alternatives - across a decentralised system that enables self-hosting and end-to-end encryption - as well as open standard interoperability to revolutionise real time communication between large organisations.
Built on Matrix 2.0, Element X now rivals the performance of centralised consumer messaging apps, empowering organisations to address the shadow IT issues caused by consumer-grade messaging apps in the workplace.
The new Element communications solution consists:
- Element X, our next-gen app with an array of new features
- Element Call fully integrated into Element X, for native Matrix-encrypted voice and video
- Element Server Suite, our backend hosting solution for powerful admin control and Matrix 2.0 performance
I currently use Synapse with bridges to Signal and Discord, and Matrix API. Is Element X a better way to go server-side now?
Not available on f droid yet it seems
Indeed, probably in the coming days
Space support and multi account support and I’ll install it. Fluffychat has many features but still laggy.
I’m still sad they stopped work on dendrite. P2P level decentralization, with E2EE, would be amazing.
These are still great improvements though. I’m hyped that loading seems to be so much faster.
They didn’t though? Source?
What’s the difference between the normal app and element X? Why create a new app?
EDIT: I installed it, but can’t verify for some reason.
EDIT: It works now, and it’s very fast compared to the other client. It’s a shame spaces aren’t supported.
Good ol’ Rust Rewrite fixing everything.
Normy here, I think it’s a whole different framework which is faster and more reliable I think. Also the normal app technology outdated so maybe it’s difficult to add new features to it.
Still no Spaces support. Even the short list of rooms I’ve joined are unmanageable when listed flat with no way to identify which Space a
#generalbelongs toWhat do you mean by “spaces”?
A way to group organize discover and control access to multiple Rooms.
Here’s an extra ironic Elements post describing them: https://element.io/blog/spaces-the-next-frontier/
It’s the equivalent of discord servers
I had just uninstalled Element X like two weeks ago because I found it to under perform compared to the normal Element client on Android, in addition to lacking some features. I guess I’ll give it another shot.
Update: WOW this thing feels lightning fast compared to just a few weeks ago. This is great. Not sure about feature completeness, but based on speed I think I’ll migrate Element > Element X again. Great job to the team!
It hans’t changed speedwise for me. It has been lightning fast since it’s first release
You still can’t sign in to Element One on it.
Screensharing would let so many people move from discord
Wire supports it. Also more secure than Matrix
“invisible cryptography” I sure hope this isn’t an empty promise. The number one gripe I have with matrix/element is the absolutely horrendous crypto dance they make you do.
It’s probably the number one reason I can’t convince friends to move over, I know they would bawk at how it makes them do that on every device
I studied cryptography and I can’t figure out how to do the dance right. I thought I did, but one of my contacts says they can’t read any message I send them. And I can’t message them to figure out why.
We haven’t spoken since. Thanks Matrix.
while I agree that there are too many problems right now, 2 things really can’t be avoided:
- setting up key backup after registration asap
- verifying your new logged in devices, possibly with the key backup password
well, unless they are fine with using it like signal, which is basically one device only
Has anyone tried the new app?
I’ve been using the nightly releases for element X android for some time.
Sliding sync means messages are fetched quite a bit quicker, though it’s not yet feature complete relative to regular element android.
I’ve not yet tested element call on EXA, however, but it’s worked very nicely for me via web.
I’m trying it now, seems okay so far. I tried it a few months ago and it was unusable, so it’s improved.
Thanks!
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The last time I used element x was probably a couple months ago and I wouldn’t really call it ‘production ready’. But I guess I’ll have to try it again.
I still don’t think it’s there, but development hss been fast, so a lot has changed and improved in the last couple of months.
I don’t like what I see in the iOS app stores privacy section for the app.
Element is able to use features called “Integration Manager” and “Identity Server”. When using an Identity Server, you can choose to link name, email, and phone number to your Matrix account. When using an Integration Manager, there’s a feature to share your location with others in chat.
As such, Vector discloses that they “collect this information”, although (except some diagnostics), this is completely optional.
(I am not associated with Vector, just interested in Matrix)
Ah interesting ok. So basically even though it CAN link all of that info to you and such doesn’t mean that it WILL if you opt out of things. Is that correct?
Even better.
It’s opt-in instead of opt -out
The way permissions are listed on mobile operating these days is honestly pretty misleading.
For example, I know some apps that need to request network permission even though they don’t need to connect to the internet. Not because they want to do anything shady, but because they legitably have to in order to get certain info.
Not to mention the problem of listing everything an app can do as if it is doing all of those things.
Correct, Vector does not receive this information unless you willingly share it with them.
Ok thank you
Strange. I could only find vector settings in the regular Element app. And even stranger, it prompts me with “Accept Identity Server Terms” but if I tap on the identity server option it says “You are currently using vector…”. I also cannot disconnect unless I accept the terms. I really wish all of this was more clear.
Seriously, WTF?!
What do you find WTF about it?
That’s a lot of data collection.
That’s the problem with how the app store presents privacy info: without context it’s nearly meaningless. “may be collected”. It’s optional, but that’s not show here. The Play store does show that these are all optional.
“Collected” is also a scary word here. Having my location “collected” sounds scary, but what it actually may mean is that I can optionally and explicitly share my location with a contact.
Is everything encrypted yet? Or do they still allow users to send unencrypted messages?
They still allow it
What’s matrix 2.0? Are they finally gonna use the go backend as opposed to the python one?
Not exactly. Matrix 2.0 relates to the protocol (Matrix) version, which has its major number incremented due to a bunch of, well, major changes/updates to make it much better. OIDC, sliding sync and native calls are some of the new things that comprise the 2.0 update.
The server implementations are somewhat orthogonal to this. Synapse (the original Python server) is still the main implementation, and is Matrix 2.0 ready.
Yeah its not clear to me what matrix 2.0 is either, seems like spec changes? Nothing here about synapse (the python matrix server), or the go one.
Yeah its not clear to me what matrix 2.0 is either, seems like spec changes?
Yes, Matrix is the protocol. Element is one of many clients supporting said protocol, and synapse is one of many servers supporting said protocol.
