Element is launching the world’s first communications platform based on the upcoming Matrix 2.0 release. The result is blazing performance which outperforms the mainstream alternatives - across a decentralised system that enables self-hosting and end-to-end encryption - as well as open standard interoperability to revolutionise real time communication between large organisations.

Built on Matrix 2.0, Element X now rivals the performance of centralised consumer messaging apps, empowering organisations to address the shadow IT issues caused by consumer-grade messaging apps in the workplace.

The new Element communications solution consists:

  • Element X, our next-gen app with an array of new features
  • Element Call fully integrated into Element X, for native Matrix-encrypted voice and video
  • Element Server Suite, our backend hosting solution for powerful admin control and Matrix 2.0 performance
  • azron@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    “invisible cryptography” I sure hope this isn’t an empty promise. The number one gripe I have with matrix/element is the absolutely horrendous crypto dance they make you do.

    • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
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      2 months ago

      It’s probably the number one reason I can’t convince friends to move over, I know they would bawk at how it makes them do that on every device

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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        2 months ago

        while I agree that there are too many problems right now, 2 things really can’t be avoided:

        • setting up key backup after registration asap
        • verifying your new logged in devices, possibly with the key backup password

        well, unless they are fine with using it like signal, which is basically one device only

            • keepthepace@slrpnk.net
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              1 month ago

              Not really, have used it for years like that. But you need to set it up initially on your phone. The newish feature (less than a year) is that I think they do not require a phone number to set up a new account.

              • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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                1 month ago

                The newish feature (less than a year) is that I think they do not require a phone number to set up a new account.

                How do you do that? A few days ago I have registered again, and I didn’t see the option. Didn’t you perhaps mean that the app can hide phone numbers?

          • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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            1 month ago

            (part 2) technically, though, the other part of it is still the case: if you haven’t set yo key backup and you lost your phone, don’t be surprised if you can’t recover all your messages

      • delirious_owl@discuss.online
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        2 months ago

        I studied cryptography and I can’t figure out how to do the dance right. I thought I did, but one of my contacts says they can’t read any message I send them. And I can’t message them to figure out why.

        We haven’t spoken since. Thanks Matrix.

    • Rexios@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      What are you talking about? Even before this new “invisible cryptography” you set it up once per device and never have to think about it again.

  • ᗪᗩᗰᑎ@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    I had just uninstalled Element X like two weeks ago because I found it to under perform compared to the normal Element client on Android, in addition to lacking some features. I guess I’ll give it another shot.

    Update: WOW this thing feels lightning fast compared to just a few weeks ago. This is great. Not sure about feature completeness, but based on speed I think I’ll migrate Element > Element X again. Great job to the team!

    • GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      It hans’t changed speedwise for me. It has been lightning fast since it’s first release

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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        2 months ago

        I guess it depends on the phone, but even if you didn’t notice it, it should be more efficient now with less resource usage (battery, ram)

      • ᗪᗩᗰᑎ@lemmy.ml
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        1 month ago

        that’s interesting. I had found it fast initially when it was first released. I didn’t use it often but when I finally stared using Matrix more often I was bouncing between both and Element X was significantly slower than normal Element so I decided to uninstall just a few weeks ago. I had even tried un/reinstalling to see if it would fix it, but it didn’t. Much happier with it now.

  • krolden@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    The last time I used element x was probably a couple months ago and I wouldn’t really call it ‘production ready’. But I guess I’ll have to try it again.

    • tmpod@lemmy.pt
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      2 months ago

      I still don’t think it’s there, but development hss been fast, so a lot has changed and improved in the last couple of months.

    • apprehensively_human@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      Element x still doesn’t have support for spaces. Trying to navigate between rooms just by scrolling through one huge list is a nightmare.

  • Scio@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Still no Spaces support. Even the short list of rooms I’ve joined are unmanageable when listed flat with no way to identify which Space a #general belongs to

    • deadcade@lemmy.deadca.de
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      2 months ago

      Element is able to use features called “Integration Manager” and “Identity Server”. When using an Identity Server, you can choose to link name, email, and phone number to your Matrix account. When using an Integration Manager, there’s a feature to share your location with others in chat.

      As such, Vector discloses that they “collect this information”, although (except some diagnostics), this is completely optional.

      (I am not associated with Vector, just interested in Matrix)

      • grimer@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Ah interesting ok. So basically even though it CAN link all of that info to you and such doesn’t mean that it WILL if you opt out of things. Is that correct?

          • brrt@sh.itjust.works
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            2 months ago

            Strange. I could only find vector settings in the regular Element app. And even stranger, it prompts me with “Accept Identity Server Terms” but if I tap on the identity server option it says “You are currently using vector…”. I also cannot disconnect unless I accept the terms. I really wish all of this was more clear.

        • D_Air1@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          The way permissions are listed on mobile operating these days is honestly pretty misleading.

          For example, I know some apps that need to request network permission even though they don’t need to connect to the internet. Not because they want to do anything shady, but because they legitably have to in order to get certain info.

          Not to mention the problem of listing everything an app can do as if it is doing all of those things.

        • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          1 month ago

          Correct any personal info is opt-in, ie; you can put your phone number and email in if you want to make it easier for friends to find you.

          • sweng@programming.dev
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            2 months ago

            That’s the problem with how the app store presents privacy info: without context it’s nearly meaningless. “may be collected”. It’s optional, but that’s not show here. The Play store does show that these are all optional.

            “Collected” is also a scary word here. Having my location “collected” sounds scary, but what it actually may mean is that I can optionally and explicitly share my location with a contact.

          • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            1 month ago

            Notice it says “MAY be collected”, because if you want to you can share your phone number, email, etc with the app to allow people to find you easier.

            Same with location and stuff like that, if you use an option to share your location or connect to bluetooth devices it will obviously need your location permission.

          • Swedneck
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            1 month ago

            do you know what the average mobile app looks like? lmao

    • Chewy
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      2 months ago

      Discord uses their own screen sharing implementation because it performs better than what’s available in Electron by default. I don’t expect Element to achieve that, considering their focus isn’t gaming.

        • delirious_owl@discuss.online
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          1 month ago

          Yes, you can. The server code is on github. But I don’t know why you would, since all messages are encrypted client-side.

          Its more secure because you know that all your users can’t send a message unencrypted, either accidentally or intentionally.

          • Communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz
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            1 month ago

            there’s a graphical indicator if they send something unencrypted, and there’s no way to turn an encrypted chat into an unencrypted chat on matrix. Plus they start encrypted by default, I honestly don’t even know how to make an unencrypted chat, I don’t think there’s any good way to other than using a client that doesn’t have encryption.

            this is not a real problem.

            • delirious_owl@discuss.online
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              1 month ago

              It is a problem. Many orgs have strict rules not to use messaging solutions that support unencrypted messages

              This doesn’t tick the box, so it blocks adoption

  • Preflight_Tomato@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    I’m still sad they stopped work on dendrite. P2P level decentralization, with E2EE, would be amazing.

    These are still great improvements though. I’m hyped that loading seems to be so much faster.

  • irotsoma@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Native OIDC support…something I wish more self hosted apps would prioritize. I shouldn’t need to maintain a bunch of user account systems on my own servers.

  • qaz@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    What’s the difference between the normal app and element X? Why create a new app?

    EDIT: I installed it, but can’t verify for some reason.

    EDIT: It works now, and it’s very fast compared to the other client. It’s a shame spaces aren’t supported.

    • Eyck_of_denesle@lemmy.zip
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      2 months ago

      Normy here, I think it’s a whole different framework which is faster and more reliable I think. Also the normal app technology outdated so maybe it’s difficult to add new features to it.

  • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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    2 months ago

    The result is blazing performance which outperforms the mainstream alternatives

    I highly doubt that. At last the last version of it (released earlier this year) that supported my previous phone I’m pretty sure was more sluggish than telegram.
    And even though it’s not really a visible problem on my new one, and even though that I can’t check it’s resource usage anymore (thanks again google for fucking uo /proc! it was a huge idea!), it still means that it uses more battery power

    • Untold1707@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Native Sliding Sync (AKA Simplified Sliding Sync) was just released to Synapse and Element X over the past couple of weeks. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it is FAST now. My fairly large account usually syncs instantly now. If not instant, the longest I’ve seen was 1 second. Give Element X a try again (assuming your home server supports SSS).

      • seang96@spgrn.com
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        2 months ago

        Unfortunately the rust SDK / android version still doesn’t support native / simplified sliding sync. I updated synapse to v1.115.0 and cannot login. Apparently you have to use the proxy server sliding sync to login then toggle a developer setting, logout and log back in to use native one on android.

        • Untold1707@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          Android and iOS EX actually both use the rust SDK under the hood, but iOS is usually used as the test bed so it gets features a little faster than Android. EX iOS just got a stable version of it a couple days ago, so a more native feeling login process for SSS on Android should be coming very soon!

          • seang96@spgrn.com
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            2 months ago

            Yeah was kinda sad since android got like 3 releases in the last 3 days but SDK is not updated yet I guess. I’m hoping unified push will work with it better since it stopped working this month.

            Edit also unread count / marking as read, that seems super broken in the older app.

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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        2 months ago

        my previous phone is not supported by current versions of element x. on the new one, I would probably not notice anything, because it’s not slow there and OS battery usage accounting is garbage.

        currently I’m waiting for an F-droid release, as they are 3 months behind

    • vga@sopuli.xyz
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      2 months ago

      Element X is a completely different beast though. Not only is it a successful Rust rewrite, but they also fixed the system architecture of Matrix to improve speeds. They haven’t matched Telegram’s usability though, but they’re close to Signal’s.

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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        2 months ago

        Not only is it a successful Rust rewrite

        only the crypto SDK is Rust, the frontend and other app code is kotlin

        but they also fixed the system architecture of Matrix to improve speeds

        they did that by storing a lot less of the state on your phone in my understanding, and that means it won’t work as whell when offline or on a slow connection, and will use more mobile data from the cap. that is, if I’m correct.

    • lemmus@szmer.info
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      1 month ago

      Telegram isn’t really an alternative, they don’t even use encryption by default, so it should be faster. Better to compare real alternatives: Signal, Whatsapp, Simplex etc.

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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        1 month ago

        Telegram isn’t really an alternative, they don’t even use encryption by default, so it should be faster

        even the user interface? the animations all over the app, scrolling between 2 consecutive messages of a room or anywhere in the settings? It’s not like element would encrypt the data at rest anyway. any and all menus of telegram are noticeably smoother, when not even looking for it

        • lemmus@szmer.info
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          1 month ago

          When telegram team is mainly focusing on UX instead of privacy and security, it is not wierd for me. They don’t have to bother about encryption, about matrix protocol which federates all the self-hosted servers, about self-hosting in itself etc. I’m pretty sure element’s UX is a side-quest compared to all those other things under the curtain. Summing it up, Element X is in fact a huge upgrade, making it closer in UX to other mainstream apps like those i mentioned above, not Telegram, because it is not even a messenger, its just a social media app that immitates “private and secure” messenger, but in reality it is just twitter DM.

      • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 month ago

        No but people use it because it’s pleasant and easy to use with a nice UI, lots of features for stickers and sharing content, etc…

        Having encryption and being ‘secure’ is not what will get most people to switch from Discord and Telegram, having the same features and doing it even better will.

    • Vik@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I’ve been using the nightly releases for element X android for some time.

      Sliding sync means messages are fetched quite a bit quicker, though it’s not yet feature complete relative to regular element android.

      I’ve not yet tested element call on EXA, however, but it’s worked very nicely for me via web.

    • JustMarkov@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      We should probably stop arguing about Matrix vs XMPP and finally decide what to use or else we’ll never move forward.

      • toastal@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        Which is largely whether or not the eventual consistency model or not is the route to take. Is the resilience for chat worth the explosion of storage & preformance cost of sync/search & maintaining all that data amongst all servers? Or is limited/functional sync without always duplicating the entire history with the occasional out-of-order message & missing old attachments good enough? Is ephemeral chat okay to save resources which in turn makes it more feasible to self-host on lower-end hardware or is it better to trust a couple big servers with massive storage who probably have admins?

      • Swedneck
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        1 month ago

        and judging by user numbers the answer is matrix lmao