

whatsapp’s killer feature was “no killer features, just a messaging app with number-bound IDs and good UI that even my grandma can use with minimal setup”. for anything like that again I’d change, but the minute they think they need to add something like numberless IDs, or stickers, or a social media feature, or a payment system, they can fuck right off.
thanks! this post made me try out thunder, and I have to say it’s my favorite so far! sync is way too flashy, the standard font is way too small, the condensed feed view options (smaller cards, list, compact) are virtually all the same shitty list view, and it’s too floaty and zoomy.
thunder on the other hand gets all the little, but super-important things just right; how one-finger zooming of pictures is so smooth, how the download button is in a logical spot and is responsive to show the succeeded download; how the preview in the feed is just the right size; how collapsing comment chains is smooth and not disorienting. great app, thanks for the recommendation!
oh and I couldn’t care less if an app is open source, closed source, pay-to-use or not, as long as the UI is good. I’d just block ads anyway, or try to find a ripped version (revanced etc) – but having an app that’s not reporting home is of course even better!