Latest news with #chat
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beeper Relaunch Lets You Link Your Chat Apps Without the Cloud, but Still No iMessage
Beeper, which was once known for attempting to provide access to the iMessage network on non-Apple devices, is relaunching itself Wednesday with a continued focus on being a texting hub for bringing together conversations from many other services. This app first launched last year after the company was acquired by Automattic and was merged with the similar service. The biggest difference with the new launch is that Beeper is adding the ability to link your chat apps together using just your phone. Previously, Beeper relied on a cloud service for accessing each chat app and backing up your texts. While that cloud service provided the ability to sync your texts in the event you lost your device, it also led to concerns over the loss of end-to-end encryption since copies of your texts are still being saved by a third party. Beeper's new ability to cut out the cloud will mean that messages will be sent directly to your device over whichever chat network your texts are being sent, but Beeper itself will still need to be authorized to log in to networks like WhatsApp, Signal, Slack and others to connect to those networks. Beeper CEO Kishan Bagaria said in an interview with CNET that this more direct connection should make these conversations as secure as using the chat apps directly, but notes that Beeper isn't meant to fully supplant those apps. "For something like Instagram, for example, technically we will not support the feeds, so if you want the feeds data or you want the profile data, you go back to the official app," Bagaria said. Bagaria said the relaunched app's focus is on people who are "super online" but too busy to manage chat apps. Beeper is also launching two premium tiers, which add additional features or offer features more tailored to social media managers who may be managing multiple texting services. Beeper Plus at $10 a month or $100 a year adds features like the ability to send later, set reminders to return to conversations, use an Incognito Mode for previewing messages without them getting marked as read, and AI voice note transcriptions. Some of these features are natively available in some of the chat apps that Beeper connects to, but could provide organizational help when wanting to collate together presences across multiple networks. Beeper is also offering a $49-per-month "Plus Plus" tier, which Bagaria said provides unlimited access for professional use. Beeper's current rendition is reminiscent of the service Trillian, which at one point interconnected instant messenger services like AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Chat and others. However, as those services either shut down or disabled integration, Trillian has instead become its own instant messenger service with free and premium tiers.
CNET
16-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Beeper Relaunch Lets You Link Your Chat Apps Without the Cloud, but Still No iMessage
Beeper, which was once known for attempting to provide access to the iMessage network on non-Apple devices, is relaunching itself Wednesday with a continued focus on being a texting hub for bringing together conversations from many other services. This app first launched last year after the company was acquired by Automattic and was merged with the similar service. The biggest difference with the new launch is that Beeper is adding the ability to link your chat apps together using just your phone. Previously, Beeper relied on a cloud service for accessing each chat app and backing up your texts. While that cloud service provided the ability to sync your texts in the event you lost your device, it also led to concerns over the loss of end-to-end encryption since copies of your texts are still being saved by a third party. Enlarge Image Beeper is adding the ability to login to chat apps without using its cloud service as a middleman. Beeper Beeper's new ability to cut out the cloud will mean that messages will be sent directly to your device over whichever chat network your texts are being sent, but Beeper itself will still need to be authorized to log in to networks like WhatsApp, Signal, Slack and others to connect to those networks. Beeper CEO Kishan Bagaria said in an interview with CNET that this more direct connection should make these conversations as secure as using the chat apps directly, but notes that Beeper isn't meant to fully supplant those apps. "For something like Instagram, for example, technically we will not support the feeds, so if you want the feeds data or you want the profile data, you go back to the official app," Bagaria said. Bagaria said the relaunched app's focus is on people who are "super online" but too busy to manage chat apps. Beeper is also launching two premium tiers, which add additional features or offer features more tailored to social media managers who may be managing multiple texting services. Beeper Plus at $10 a month or $100 a year adds features like the ability to send later, set reminders to return to conversations, use an Incognito Mode for previewing messages without them getting marked as read, and AI voice note transcriptions. Some of these features are natively available in some of the chat apps that Beeper connects to, but could provide organizational help when wanting to collate together presences across multiple networks. Beeper is also offering a $49-per-month "Plus Plus" tier, which Bagaria said provides unlimited access for professional use. Beeper's current rendition is reminiscent of the service Trillian, which at one point interconnected instant messenger services like AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Chat and others. However, as those services either shut down or disabled integration, Trillian has instead become its own instant messenger service with free and premium tiers.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Kids Are Calling Each Other 'Chat'
Slang has always evolved with the times. In the past, it grew out of vibrant communities, memorable pop culture moments, and a genuine need to fill gaps in language. But today's slang is increasingly shaped by the internet—not just spread through it. From livestreams to YouTube comments to Discord servers, much of the lingo kids use now is curated by the online spaces they spend time in. Such is the case with the latest word: "chat." "Chat" is a term of address that refers to an audience or group of people, similar to the Gen Z favorite "bruh" or the Millennial term of choice "dude." It's often used in the beginning of a sentence as a way to address the listener. Teens will say "Chat, what's up?" or "Chat, is this real?" The term originated from live streaming platforms such as Twitch, where "chat" refers to the running commentary or live responses from viewers where users have ongoing conversations with each other and with the creator of the livestream. Over time, streamers began speaking to the chat as if it were a person. Phrases like "Chat, did you see that?" or "Chat, chill!" became common among influencers and gamers with large followings. And the young viewers watching these interactions began picking up the same habits in real life. Now, instead of calling someone by their name, tweens and teens will jokingly say, "chat." The term has moved from being a literal reference to a livestream audience to a kind of ironic nickname for your friends—or anyone watching you in the moment. At face value, using "chat" in this way is mostly harmless. It's a funny way for kids to imitate their favorite streamers or poke fun at influencer speak. In many cases, it signals digital fluency more than anything dangerous. But the term's (and others like it) growing use among kids reflects how deeply content culture has seeped into kids' thinking. Does the adoption of online terms like "chat" point to a desire to be part of that world, to be like the influencer themselves? Some kids don't end with watching influencers, they act as if their lives are also being watched and narrated. It all ties into a bigger trend. Slang like "main character syndrome" and "aura farming" (which have also been popularized over the past year) reflect a culture of self-presentation, where tweens and teens shape their identities based on how they want to be seen, whether it's online or at school. Whether the use of "chat" signifies a more complicated relationship with social media depends on the child. Some kids genuinely use "chat" to parody streamer culture and joke about how ridiculous it sounds. Others may be mimicking it out of admiration. Either way, the growing use of phrases like "chat" points to how blurred the lines between reality and online performance have become. It's not a stretch to say that some tweens see themselves as mini influencers—with one survey discovering that 86% of young Americans aspire to become an influencer and another stating that "social media star" has climbed to the fourth most popular career choice among kids. Some kids have already begun creating their online persona, recording "get ready with me videos," narrating their days on Snapchat, or jokingly addressing "chat" as they walk through school. Whether they're doing it to be funny or to seek validation, the common thread is that they are constantly aware of being watched—or at least acting like they are. Read the original article on Parents
Washington Post
12-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Minister must learn to juggle conversations
Dear Miss Manners: I am a ministry leader at my church and am well-known within the congregation. After the church service, many people like to stay in the lobby for a few minutes to chat. I find myself often in an embarrassing situation that I don't know how to handle: Suppose I've been chatting with someone, let's call them Person A, for just a minute. Then I feel someone, Person B, touch my shoulder or arm to get my attention. I turn to see that it's another friendly person who wishes to chat.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Need advice? Join columnist Carolyn Hax's weekly chat (May 16
More from Carolyn Hax From the archive: Sister wants a baby with the married man she's seeing Your kids and your lawyer boyfriend argue. Dismiss with prejudice? Family can't travel with dog to see parents, so they get a guilt trip instead His soon-to-be-ex objects to him hitting on her new friend He was her first love, she was his second-guess More: Sign up for Carolyn's email newsletter to get her column delivered to your inbox each morning. Carolyn has a Q&A with readers on Fridays. Read the most recent live chat here. The next chat is May 9 at 12 p.m. Resources for getting help. Frequently asked questions about the column. Chat glossary
