Good day,
I am trying to find a windows-based good video quality, privacy, security-oriented video chat app to use with the family and my framework laptop (https://frame.work/). Jami appeared a good fit!
Problem is, whenever I select the webcam & a resolution for the laptop, only two framerates are available for each resolution.
- 1080p with 59fps or 5fps
- 720p with 60fps or 8fps
Worse, when selecting the 59 or 60 fps, the webcam just doesn’t work in the App.
So what I am wondering;
- Has anyone managed to make Jami work on a framework laptop?
- Does anyone has better, working, alternatives to Jami? Can be paid, doesn’t have to be free. (Signal requires a cell#, Wire has bad video quality, Whatsapp is terrible for privacy…)
Thank you!
I don’t own a framework laptop (although I think my next machine will be a framework laptop…)
BUT:
You can try to use a virtual cam - for example OBS-Studio: “OBS-VirtualCam”.
Jami: Select the video input source “OBS-VirtualCam” and set the fps of the VirtualCam.
Jami will use the fps AND resolution of the "OBS-VirtualCam " and you can set the fps using OBS-Studio. At least I was able to share my screen using a custom framerate.
Maybe you can get logs (Link: https://git.jami.net/savoirfairelinux/jami-project/-/wikis/tutorials/Bug-report-guide ) and report this issue using Gitlab: https://git.jami.net/groups/savoirfairelinux/-/issues
Regarding alternatives:
If you need no group video calls I would suggest Threema (paid; one-time fee).: https://threema.ch/en
Unfortunately there is no real desktop client (although it is planned: search “Threema Desktop 2.0”) but you can use Bluestacks 5 to make audio and video calls (using an external webcam - I don’t know if Bluestacks can use the webcam of the framework laptop).
It’s just not really possible to share your screen (since Bluestacks does not support any virtual cam; tests using a capture card were not that great)
The next alternative messenger I may recommend is called Teleguard. It’s free until now but this might change in the future. Link: https://teleguard.com/en
No desktop client yet (“expected to be available in the first half of 2022” see FAQ).
Mobile version did not work using Bluestacks (Windows 10).
And finally Session is also great but there are no video and audio calls at the moment. This will change - but will also take time. Link: https://getsession.org/
Thanks for the suggestions ECaptainRaj
Unfortunately, anything that requires complicated setups or no-desktop client is a deal breaker when dealing with family 
I ended up using Element for the whole family (https://element.io/). Once the initial account is setup, it’s easy to use and works great.
Cheers
1 Like
Just wanted to add this list: https://securechatguide.org/favorites.html
Element is not the best solution when it comes to privacy, you can use Google Translate to translate the following website: Element: Messaging über die Matrix – Messenger Teil7 ⋆ Kuketz IT-Security Blog
Read the link you sent.
Overall it’s pretty positive, not sure why you would conclude it’s bad. Obviously it’s not the best in privacy due to metadata being generated but everything else is very good from the website.
And its usability, simplicity and the “it just works” factor are miles ahead of other solutions.
In short, it seems like a solid solution for 1-1 family chats and video calls away from prying eyes.
That’s exactly the main problem of (nearly) all messengers. Sometimes it is even better to read (stored and unencrypted) metadata instead of unencrypted content. Especially if many people communicate with each other.
Link: What is metadata - and what can your metadata reveal about you? - Unencrypted
For example although WhatsApp claims to provide end-to-end encryption for all messages it might be possible for other people to read (some) text messages. Link: https://i0.wp.com/securityaffairs.co/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/encrypted-messaging-apps-2.jpg?ssl=1
Most messengers that are free to use and work excellent mostly sell at least metadata to other (third) companies.
Now regarding Element:
I think if you want to use Element regarding privacy you should use Element as a self-hosted solution. (You should keep in mind you have to protect your own server from hackers, etc.)
Element does NOT protect or delete your metadata.
Link: GitHub - matrix-org/synapse: Synapse: Matrix homeserver written in Python/Twisted.
In Matrix, every user runs one or more Matrix clients, which connect through to a Matrix homeserver. The homeserver stores all their personal chat history and user account information - much as a mail client connects through to an IMAP/SMTP server.
Personally, I use Element just for testing technical setups.
