WhatsApp for Linux

[Catchpole]

Can I safely use "WhatsApp" in Mint.

I went here and got instructions but I don't trust it enough to apply it.
http://tricksnow.com/use-whatsapp-ubunt ... inux-mint/

Any comments and / advice would be appreciated.

MODERATORS NOTE:
this program was designed to be run on an Smart Phone,
and thus it's difficult to get it to run on an Desktop Environment.

[jazz.h]

Can I safely use "WhatsApp" in Mint.

Why should you emulate android in Mint? When you can use desktop version of WA through your browser? I use it in PaleMonn browser every day and no problems at all. Besides that, I also use Telegram as web app and Viber as instalable ".deb" app.

The only thing which I miss atm is Signal because it has only web app through Chrome...

[Catchpole]

Hi jazz.h,

Forgive my ignorance.

I don't use a smart phone.
I was under the impression that I could use WhatsApp just on my desktop.

I guess I'll give it a miss until I finally get pushed into a smartphone.
At this moment in time I have no use for one so I can't justify the cost.

[Bolle1961]

The only thing which I miss atm is Signal because it has only web app through Chrome...

It also works in Chromium

[michael louwe]

@ Catchpole

The WhatsApp desktop or browser app requires a Mobile-phone number to work because it just simulates and synchronizes the WhatsApp app that is on the smartphone = can send Whatsapp messages from a computer or smartphone.
....... IOW, you need an activated Whatsapp(with the phone number) on your smartphone before you can install the desktop Whatsapp app/program.

With WhatsApp on my smartphone, I can make free calls and send free messages/SMS to other WhatsApp users, eg family and friends, while connected to my Home-Wifi. Each nominal topup(eg of about US$2) for my cheap Pre-paid telco plan allows me to make free WhatsApp call and send free messages/SMS with my smartphone for 90 days.
....... Can you make free calls via Wifi with the WhatsApp desktop/bowser app.?

[dynamikspeed]

Yes you need a phone number registered with WhatsApp to use it.
You can use the official web version in most browsers: https://web.whatsapp.com/

I use this App in Chromium browser which works great.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... bkjfiagaan

[Bolle1961]

it's now integrated in the Latest Opera (and facebook messenger and Telegram)
But they will only work of you give them access to your microphone and camera

[phd21]

Hi "Catchpole",

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well. Obviously, you can use their web page browser application.

The unofficial Linux client "Whatsie" may still work well, but the project seems to be recently abandoned?

Linux ".deb" files for Whatsie Linux client for WhatsApp
https://github.com/gsantner/Whatsie/releases

Backup - Final version of the abandoned project "Whatsie" by Aluxian - Unofficial Desktop Client for WhatsApp Web, no affliation with WhatsApp Inc.- Won't get updated
https://github.com/gsantner/whatsie

Good articles, but all the links in these are not working now???

Install WhatsApp Desktop Client In Linux, December 16, 2016
https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/

Install WhatsApp Linux Client on Debian 8, Ubuntu 16.04, Linux Mint 18, August 18, 2016
https://www.linuxbabe.com/instant-messe ... untu-16-04

Install WhatsApp Desktop App ‘Whatsie’ in Ubuntu 16.04, June 1, 2016
http://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/201 ... ntu-16-04/

Hope this helps ...

[phd21]

Hi "Catchpole", and anyone else,

FYI: I just noticed that the new version of the superb Opera Browser includes WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger and Telegram in its sidebar.
http://www.opera.com/computer/features/messenger

Opera’s new browser gives you direct access to WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, May 10, 2017, 5:10am EDT
https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/10/1560 ... r-telegram

Opera’s desktop browser now features quick access to Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram, May 10, 2017
https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/10/opera ... -telegram/


Hope this helps ...

[Bolle1961]

But you need to give them permission to acces your camera and microphone
https://www.messenger.com, whatsucks web and Telegram desktop don't need those permissions. To me it looks like spyware

[phd21]

Hi "Bolle1961", and Anyone Else,

I did have to give permission in Opera to access Facebook Messenger after logging in and requesting a video call to someone. It is not uncommon for browsers or applications to ask for permission to use Microphones and or web cameras the first time you use them. I do not have a WhatsApp account.

Opera has default "Settings" for Microphone and or Camera (webcam), see screenshot below.

Hope this helps ...

Opera_Camera_Mic1sm.jpg

Opera_Camera_Mic2.jpg

Opera_Camera_Mic3.jpg

[Bolle1961]

I have those settings, but I get this message :

Allow Facebook Messenger access to camera and microphone.

www.messenger.com needs to access your camera and microphone. To revoke this permission, remove the Facebook Messenger from the sidebar.

Besides that, it's pretty useless, www.messenger.com works with every browser, whatsucks has a web interface, also works with every browser and Telegram has a real desktop client

[phd21]

Hi "Bolle1961", and Anyone Else,

Just letting everyone know about new options.

There is a really nice Linux desktop application for Facebook (cross platform) requiring no browser, call "Messenger for Desktop". You can also use Pidgin messenger with "purple-facebook" plugin.

[Rinchales]

Hi everyone,

I have tried to find a way to save and visualize my Whatsapp messages (including videos and photos) offline but apparently there is no way to do that. I would need something like that for a research project because the data that I am storing on my phone is starting to be massive Any help?

Thanks for your help. New in Linux Mint and really happy!

[Bolle1961]

You can make a backup including images and video's to Google Drive, then you can use it every where

[Rinchales]

Hi again,

the thing is that the backup can only be visualize via "whatsapp web" or other similar apps while having your phone with signal. And it is quite annoying if you need to search for some messages or videos in a really long historial. I know how to export the messages (.txt file) but what I would like to do is being able to export everything and keeping the order (text, photos, videos) and work offline with some kind of visualizer.

Thanks for your help.

[Bolle1961]

If you backup to Google Drive you got an unencrypted text file for the messages and pictures / movies added to it.

[Hoser Rob]

But you need to give them permission to acces your camera and microphone
https://www.messenger.com, whatsucks web and Telegram desktop don't need those permissions. To me it looks like spyware

Of course they do.

I read an interview with one of the devs at the disastrous Ubuntu Phone project. The thing that killed it more than anything else was cloud based apps like WhatsApp, which reportedly wanted a 7 figure sum just to get access to read their API. Not for a client app or anything like that.

A whatsapp plugin is just a GUI front end. The back end that's actually doing the work is on a server farm costing at least a billion $$$.

[nananbajun]

Can I safely use "WhatsApp" in Mint.

Why should you emulate android in Mint? When you can use desktop version of WA through your browser? I use it in PaleMonn browser every day and no problems at all. Besides that, I also use Telegram as web app and Viber as instalable ".deb" app.

The only thing which I miss atm is Signal because it has only web app through Chrome...

Hey, I broke my phone's camera, so the QR code isn't working anymore. Could you help me out with some solutions please?

[Bolle1961]

The only thing which I miss atm is Signal because it has only web app through Chrome...

It also works in Chromium

And there is a desktop client
https://signal.org/download/