I mean, it was kinda expected and inevitable that one big service was going to reign supreme. Lots of things make push notification a real hassle, like you describe. Speaking for Android as I don’t know much about iOS, Firebase works incredibly well, it’s a super elegant solution, and if Google wasn’t such a shitshow, I’d love it.
But it is a shitshow, in so many ways. So some services encrypt the contents, some don’t send them over those servers in the first place, but the remaining metadata is still shockingly useful for surveillance purposes.
I don’t really know where I’m going with this comment, but as an EU resident, I’d just like to see alternative systems getting more attention.
Idk, it’s just that so many people hear news like this and go: „It is what it is, can’t change it“
I don’t think I can really fault any Android developer for wanting to use Firebase and be done with it, because it’s just so simple to implement, and generally easy to work with.
But some things should be more important than comfort, shouldn’t they.
Signal does in fact distribute an APK that isn’t dependant on Play Services/FCM on their website. Uses a websocket, so not the most elegant way I guess, but oh well.
It’s rather hidden, which I think is disappointing. But it exists. Updates itself, too.
True, I’ve just checked up on that. The devices themselves don’t do anything creepy, but the app contains a few trackers according to Exodus Privacy, which is not ideal if you want to use everything to its full extent