They don't support calling in any browsers. If I recall correctly they're using some kind of native library to encrypt and transcode the video, which the browser obviously can't use. You need to get the native app on Windows and macOS.
I'm guessing all the people suggesting to ditch WhatsApp have never been to Brazil. Everything there is done with it, you can buy groceries, medicine, do banking, get services, take out, etc... Getting the whole country to change will never happen. So, yes, while some of us do install Signal, none will ever uninstall WhatsApp...
We're seeing the fallout from a commercial service used for public interest communication falling in real time with Twitter, so many public service things that depended or still depend on Twitter have outright broke as it turns into raw sewage and people flee it. That should have NEVER been the main communications medium, and now the price is being paid. I understand as i too am in a place where WhatsApp is near-mandatory, but this is something that WILL have bad consequences sooner or later.
The UK isn't quite that far, but it's absolutely the dominant text messaging and calling app in the UK. Nobody uses the built in Android or Apple tools anymore, and I'm as likely to receive a WhatsApp voice call as an actual phone call these days.
I have Signal on my phone, but I've literally never had a cause to use it; I've simply got no contacts on there.
Yup, WhatsApp is basically the Brazilian WeChat. If I uninstall WhatsApp I basically lose contact with my mom and a bunch of other people since I live in Canada.
Using an Android emulator like Waydroid or compatibility layer like Anbox you might be able to use the Android version on Linux and pick up calls from there?
I have good experiences with Waydroid, but no experience with WhatsApp so I can't guarantee it will work, it's just a suggestion that I hope will help
The web application, which is often repacked into "native" applications, doesn't support calling. Waydroid doesn't support audio/video in/output for WhatsApp according to various Github threads.
Your best bet may be to set up Android-x86 in a virtual machine and using USB forwarding to get video working. I'm not sure what you'd need to get sound working, though.
It's also possible that Google's development emulator can run this stuff, I recall it having a webcam forwarding feature at least, but I don't know about audio or if WhatsApp will work on there.
My supervisor was an FOSS guy. He used Linux, Libreoffice everything but he still insisted on whatsapp for informal communication. I guess network effects is hard to avoid.
Why should everyone be forced to use their preferred messenger rather than the other way around? Especially when yours/mine has all of the same functionality and none of the ads or spying?
And how many peoples' friends and family are on Signal vs WhatsApp? The whole point of these apps is socializing with people you know, so can you not see how useless of a suggestion it is to recommend Signal? And please don't get into the "just convince everyone to use Signal' argument because it's completely unrealistic.
Signal did itself no favors when it made the bone-headed move of removing SMS support in a delusional attempt at pushing users away from SMS and towards Signal's encrypted chat. All it did was result in a bunch of people uninstalling the app because it became annoying to use it just for Signal instead of Signal and SMS, which at least gave rise to a SMS user's eventual shift away from SMS. But we don't talk about that because open source is always good 😇
It's like saying modern clubs suck, so I'm going to invest my own club that the vast majority of people won't attend and those that do are almost all white dudes with the same generic "I'm not like other users" personality.
And you never will if you don't tell them that's the only way they can reach you.
As long as you continue allowing them to message you on WA, that's what you'll get. And everyone else will have to deal with the consequences of your actions.
Ah yes, the obligatory "lol just don't use $thing" response. Helps nobody, but I guess it lets you feel superior.
I hate Facebook as much as anyone, but in the real world people don't always have the luxury of getting to use whatever you consider morally correct. Especially with a messenger – depending on where you are, Whatsapp might just be what most people are using, and the people are the reason you would use a messenger in the first place.
Ah yes, the obligatory "superiority" response. Because it's nothing to do with trying to improve your situation or preserving your rights or the rights of others, it's only about "superiority" LOL
I hate Facebook as much as anyone
I don't think you do.
in the real world people don't always have the luxury of getting to use whatever you consider morally correct.
Yes. They do. And the world is a shit place because they choose not to.
People who say this in response to a request for help should just be perma-banned. Just get rid of them flat out. It’s the sure sign that someone is a total buffoon and will only ever make the place worse.
I think there's value in pushback against popular but problematic software. Some people just don't realize that, for example, WhatsApp is owned entirely by Meta and is known to collaborate with law enforcement, which are two facts that entirely undermine its main selling point.