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Comment by SoftTalker | original | Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
[−]SoftTalker · 2026-08-29 Sat 16:43 UTC · link
Wasn't there another iMessage clone for Linux/Android a few years back and they got a C&D from Apple? Or maybe Apple just blocked their service?
[−]aaronax · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:02 UTC · link
Beeper?
[−]SoftTalker · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:06 UTC · link
Yes that sounds right.
[−]ghostly_s · 2026-08-29 Sat 21:38 UTC · link
Yes, I don't see why the author expects anything different to happen this time. I guess there's a new king on the throne.
[−]jnovek · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:22 UTC · link
There’s bluebubbles which runs a server on a Mac and syncs your messages that way.
[−]cromka · 2026-08-29 Sat 19:12 UTC · link
Its derivative OpenBubbles doesn't, though
[−]trollbridge · 2026-08-29 Sat 18:34 UTC · link
As a general rule, Apple will shut down an operator of such service once it gets used to pump out spam.

Of course, every spammer dreams of their spam texts coming through as a blue bubble.

[−]inigyou · 2026-08-29 Sat 21:06 UTC · link
What if there is no operator?
[−]trollbridge · 2026-08-30 Sun 12:55 UTC · link
Someone’s account is sending the messages and will use a particular way to sign in / send the messages. Apple will simply start to ban accounts that match that pattern.

The nice thing about Tether is that it’s read only so won’t be attractive to spammers.

[−]teach · 2026-08-29 Sat 21:58 UTC · link
This is very different from Beeper or BlueBubbles.

Tether is "merely" talking to your iPhone over bluetooth and the local network. It does nothing if you don't already have an iPhone. Apple should have no more reason to come after this than it does a Garmin watch that can show your iMessages via bluetooth.

[−]alt227 · 2026-08-30 Sun 15:08 UTC · link
As soon as someone starts using this to spam marketing messages over Blue Bubbles Apple will be all over it like a rash.