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Due to the restrictive specifications of the operating systems, it is even more difficult to maintain a permanent connection in the background and to display notifications about new messages correctly and promptly with iOS than with Android, for example.
The operating system tries to reduce the power consumption of the device by putting supposedly unused apps into sleep mode/terminating them. When using end-to-end encryption across multiple operating systems, it is also possible that this must be initiated by a “non-Apple device”.
In addition, Apple has defined framework conditions/requirements for the development of an app:
Sources:
These difficulties in programming are reflected in the significantly smaller variety of apps (including chat apps) on Apple operating systems. Nevertheless, there are various chat programs - each with their own strengths and weaknesses:
“Monal” is very well suited for normal chats and telephony and also has a German user interface.
“Siskin “ does not yet have a German user interface. The developer company “Tigase” offers the servers “sure.im”, “tigase.im”, “jabber.today”, “tigase.net” and “tigase.org” for the registration of chat accounts (all server locations: USA). However, it is also possible to use a chat account from any server with Siskin.
Eversten.net (external) has carried out a detailed test of the notifications on various iOS clients using different server software: “I did a quick test of three popular iOS #XMPP chat app (regarding notification reliability)”. Here you can see in which constellations notifications work - or not.
However, too much attention is often paid to the tinkling of notifications, because the supposed obligation to reply immediately means you definitely lose self-determination.
A chat account can be used in several apps at the same time. It can therefore be helpful to set up a chat account with a server provider and then install both apps. This gives you an impression of the respective user interface and you can then decide which app you like better.
Support: |
The development of Apple clients is currently progressing rapidly. This is primarily being done by volunteers. However, it is also possible to award a development contract for certain functions, as was the case with the audio/video call function in Android clients. As a result, everyone benefits! |
Platform | iOS | MacOS | ||||||
Program/App | Chat-Secure | Monal | Siskin (tigase) | Adium | Beagle (tigase) |
Monal | PSI+ | |
Language | ||||||||
- German user interface | yes | yes | no | yes | no | no | yes | |
- English user interface | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | yes | |
General | ||||||||
- Manage multiple chat accounts | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no? | |
- Create chat accounts directly via the app | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | no | yes | |
- Text highlighting in the chat (bold, italics, comments) | no | no | no | ? | ? | no | ? | |
- Audio/video telephony | no | yes/no | yes | ? | yes | yes/no | ? | |
- Renaming contacts in the contact list | no | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | |
- Chat status notification (XEP-0085) | yes | yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
- Show when someone was last online (XEP-0319) | no | yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
- Blocking contacts (XEP-0191) | yes | yes | yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
- Correct last message (XEP-0308) | no | yes | yes | ? | yes | ? | ? | |
- Withdraw message (XEP-0424) | no | no | yes | ? | yes | ? | ? | |
Receiving and sending files / sharing | ||||||||
- App appears with "Share" function (sending) | ? | yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
- Receiving / sending pictures | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/yes | yes/no | yes/yes | yes/yes | ?/? | |
- Receiving / sending videos | no/no | yes/yes | yes/yes | ?/? | yes/yes | no/no | ?/? | |
- Receiving / sending voice messages | yes/yes | yes/yes | no/no | ?/? | no/no | no/no | ?/? | |
- Receiving / sending other files | no/no | yes/yes | yes/yes | ?/? | yes/yes | yes/yes | ?/? | |
- Receiving / sending position data | yes/no | yes/yes | no/no | ?/? | ?/? | yes/yes | ?/? | |
Message delivery | ||||||||
- Immediate delivery (no noticeable time delay) | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | ? | |
- Notification via push messages | yes | yes | yes | ? | no | yes | ? | |
- Push messages with display of content | no | yes | no | ? | no | yes | ? | |
- Message distribution to several devices (MAM / MUC-MAM) | ? | yes/yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
- Group chats via "MIX" | ? | no | yes | ? | yes | ? | ? | |
Encryption (OMEMO) | ||||||||
- Encryption in individual chats (one end device each) | yes | yes | yes | Plugin | yes | yes | Plugin | |
- Encryption in individual chats (also multiple devices) | ? | yes | yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
- Encryption in chat rooms/groups | yes | yes | yes | Plugin | no | no | Plugin | |
- Encrypted file transfer ("AESGCM") | ? | yes | yes | ? | yes | ? | ? | |
- Display of "AESGCM" encrypted images | yes | yes | no | ? | ? | yes | ? | |
- Display your own fingerprint as text | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | ? | |
- Display your own fingerprint as a QR code | no | yes | no | ? | no | no | ? | |
- Display own devices | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | ? | |
- Display all keys of the contact | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | ? | |
- Display fingerprint (contact’s key) as text | yes | yes | yes | ? | yes | yes | ? | |
- Display fingerprint (key from contact) as QR code | no | yes | no | ? | no | no | ? | |
- Trust other devices / withdraw trust | ? | yes | yes | ? | yes | ? | ? | |
Administration of chat rooms/groups | ||||||||
- Change topic | yes | no | ? | ? | ? | no | ? | |
- Manage user rights | no | no | ? | ? | ? | no | ? | |
- Manage settings | ? | no | ? | ? | ? | no | ? | |
- Delete chat rooms/groups | ? | no | ? | ? | ? | no | ? |
Tabelle: Stand Nov. 2023 (blau markierte Texte = Änderungen seit Feb. 2022)
Astra-Chat - program version 2017
+ Version for iOS and MacOS
- Anti-Feature: Closed Source / non-free
- No OMEMO but own encryption (from AstraChat to AstraChat)
- No notifications
- Image sending/file/voice sending only from AstraChat to AstraChat
Movim (MacOS) BETA version 0.13.90 (as of 08/2019)
PSI (MacOS) - no info yet
Spark (MacOS) - Version 2.8.3 from 17.01.2017