Facebook – Techin' Geek

Elon Musk utilized Friday to share critiques of rivals after the debut of the XChat app, a standalone messaging service for X users. “Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage all have significant security issues,” stated a message Musk shared, asserting that “XChat is the sole secure, encrypted messaging application.” Encryption specialists I consulted voiced measured skepticism regarding XChat’s implementation and supported other platforms like Signal.

A primary worry concerning XChat is that users are required to link an existing X account for login. “I’m somewhat wary of that since more data points equate to more tracking,” remarks Maria Villegas Bravo from the Electronic Privacy Information Center. She perceives Musk’s earlier criticisms of other apps as self-serving.

When Musk initially presented XChat as an upgraded, encrypted version of X direct messages, security professionals raised concerns about the storage of users’ cryptographic keys on X’s servers. “Considering XChat’s track record of security flaws, I would hesitate to use it until it undergoes a comprehensive audit,” states Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Musk aims for the discussion to zero in on which encrypted messaging app reigns supreme. However, after trying XChat, it feels more akin to Facebook’s Messenger. Rather than launching an elegant, new application, Musk revealed a straightforward extension of his social media platform that features encrypted messaging.

When the XChat team disclosed the app’s launch, the initial release date on Apple’s App Store was set for April 17 but was postponed several times before its surprise launch on April 24. The appropriate app did not consistently appear in searches, with a Russian-language app called “XChat App” briefly ascending Apple’s download rankings. “Scam app,” cautioned one user review.

Upon XChat’s eventual launch, access was initially restricted to the U.S., leaving U.K. users feeling disappointed. “UK should be live soon; had one issue,” wrote X’s head of product, Nikita Bier. Bier attributed the confusion early downloaders faced during the onboarding process to Apple.

After downloading XChat, I found it challenging to locate contacts to message. None of my top iMessage contacts possess X accounts, emphasizing XChat’s niche attraction. After revisiting my old DMs, I revived a few conversations. Following my messages, a pop-up confirmed, “This conversation is now end-to-end encrypted.” Despite this, no responses were received, just some emoji reactions.

Meta has revealed the closure of its virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds. An email sent to users indicated that the social VR universe will cease operations on Quest VR headsets, with Horizon Worlds being taken off the Quest store on March 31. By June 15, the VR environments will be fully discontinued, shifting the service to a mobile-only platform. This move comes after substantial reductions to Meta’s Reality Labs division earlier this year, which experienced a 10% decrease in VR department personnel.

Horizon Worlds was Meta’s bold initiative to create the metaverse, inspired by Neal Stephenson’s “Snow Crash.” The project was pivotal to Meta’s rebranding from Facebook to concentrate on virtual reality pursuits. However, Horizon Worlds encountered backlash and tepid popularity, evident in the reactions to its termination on the r/oculus subreddit. It was frequently ridiculed for its initial flaws, such as avatars without legs and their “blank-eyed” look, spawning viral memes featuring CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s avatar.

At first, Horizon Worlds mainly attracted younger users, resulting in an inconsistent user base, despite Meta’s significant financial backing and initiatives, including virtual concerts with famous artists like Imagine Dragons and Coldplay. Still, Meta’s platform was less favored than alternatives like VRChat, which cultivated communities through virtual parties and events.

As Meta redirects its attention to AI and products like Ray-Ban smart glasses, it has notably curtailed investments in its metaverse initiatives, including offerings like Supernatural Fitness. Mike Proulx from Forrester noted that this shift was anticipated and emphasized the challenges of constructing a mass social platform dependent on specific hardware that lacks broad user adoption.