Signal Encrypted Messenger 2.19 Update Finally Available Following App Store Hiccup

Encrypted messaging app Signal pushed out its v2.19 update late on Friday after a post-release 48-hour delay, owing to an App Store issue that Apple has now resolved. The update includes a number of new features and improvements, including full UI display support for iPhone X.

After the update is applied, users will no longer see the "Load Earlier Messages" link within chat threads, because additional messages now appear automatically upon scrolling to the top of a conversation.

In other improvements, a new simplified interface has been introduced to the Signal mobile app that aims to make sending photos, files, and GIFs easier and quicker. For example, attachment previews are now displayed directly in the message bar instead of on a separate confirmation screen.

Adopting a design concept popularized by Facebook Messenger known as "Jumbomoji", emoji characters are now also visibly larger in Signal chat bubbles that don't contain any other text. Elsewhere, messages that fail to send have been made easier to spot and re-send, while a new "Tap for More" option should make navigating extremely long messages a more pleasant experience.

The list of supported languages has also been expanded to include Burmese, Hebrew, and Persian, while users with an external keyboard linked to their device can now make use of new key combination shortcuts for sending messages (Shift + Enter, and Command + Enter).

Apart from the above changes, Open Whisper Systems has revamped the layout code to improve performance and flexibility, so everything should feel smoother and more refined, according to the developers. Lastly, a number of bugs have been fixed, including one where recently sent messages sometimes reappeared after being deleted.

Signal Private Messenger is a free download [Direct Link] for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store.

Tags: security, Encryption, Signal

Top Rated Comments

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B60boy

18 months ago

Please give me a few non-nefarious examples of why an encrypted messaging app would be necessary? (Seems great for law-breakers, criminals and tinfoil hat wearers.)

For a completely private conversation. Just like if I "whispered" something to you and said that it's between you and me. Maybe my SSN, or medical information. Also, does the Government and NSA and the Telco's need to track and catalog EVERYTHING that is said to bundle and sold to marketing companies? Encryption is everywhere and it's a necessity to function in the internet world.

Rating: 17 Votes

imas145

18 months ago

LOL. The imessage encryption inst strong enough for your home wifi? The NSA is wanting to get free wifi off of you?
Also, Doctors are already allowed to send information through non-encrypted e-mail. The only time a lawyer would use this would be if his client was some drug dealer and he was texting the location of the multiple bodies he has buried. Otherwise they would use plain old email.

The only time this is really needed is if you are planning a terrorist attack or if you are sending those dick pics to your bae.

Hate to break it to you, but repressive governments exist. While I'd put the US in the middle, there are still a lot worse out there and if you wish to talk about social issues without being repressed you need encryption. This is a reality for many people and they rely on these apps to communicate.

Rating: 14 Votes

cteel2004

18 months ago

Two reasons
- you’re a doctor, attorney, or some other professional that needs to communicate confidential information to your client that’s not in the room.
- you’re the one person in your family that can fix the home network and need to send them the WiFi password that they haven’t written down or have lost, and you’re out of town.

Rating: 11 Votes

B60boy

18 months ago

You need to get educated on this. Example, FB Messenger by itself is NOT encrypted and FB reads everything with algorithms that get cataloged and tied to your FB profile and phone number. Helps with targeted ads among other things. Now, there is a feature in FB Messenger called Secret Conversations. That makes the entire conversation end to end encrypted with timers. Guess what is used for that? Whisper Systems encryption, the same company that makes the Signal Messenger product. Whisper Systems encryption is used in FB Messenger (1.3B users), WhatsApp (1.3B users) and Google's Allo.

If it is NOT encrypted, someone is applying an algorithm that is analyzing that data for ads, marketing or for whatever. Everything from the NSA, Governments around the world, marketing and advertising companies like Google and Facebook. Sometimes, when warranted, we don't want anyone knowing our personal stuff. Yes, bad guys use it too but through out history, there has always been private conversations between human beings. BTW, your email is not encrypted either unless you use a product called ProtonMail. Gmail, Outlook.com and Apple Mail scan your emails for spam and gmail harvests that information for building that advertising profile. Recently they said that they are going to stop doing that practice.

Your not completely correct that "if you are planning a terrorist attack or if you are sending those dick pics to your bae." Sometimes its a private conversation with your spouse. Or I'm giving credit card information to my kids that they need in a emergency at college. Encryption is used everywhere, banking, finance etc. BTW, the White House and Congress uses Signal.

Rating: 9 Votes

B60boy

18 months ago

Yeah cause everyone is out to get you, and the regular iOS message app isn’t secure enough. :D

iOS Messaging app DOES have end-to-end encryption and are safe. But guess what, not everyone uses an iPhone. I still need to send private stuff to someone who has Android. That is why these apps like Signal and WhatsApp are needed.

Rating: 7 Votes

DailySlow

18 months ago

Please give me a few non-nefarious examples of why an encrypted messaging app would be necessary? (Seems great for criminals and the tinfoil hat crowd.)

Legitimate business, whistleblowing, legal stuff, flirting, family stuff, employment prospects...

Rating: 7 Votes

mittencuh

18 months ago

You can't think of any reason why people might want strong encryption besides dick pics or attacks? You're very trusting of governments.

Rating: 6 Votes

MacknTosh

18 months ago

Please give me a few non-nefarious examples of why an encrypted messaging app would be necessary? (Seems great for criminals and the tinfoil hat crowd.)

I have the right to speak privately with my friends. I don’t have to justify why.

Rating: 6 Votes

imas145

18 months ago

Yeah cause everyone is out to get you, and the regular iOS message app isn’t secure enough. :D

Just because you don’t need it doesn’t mean there isn’t anyone who needs it. If you want to know why, read my earlier post in this thread.

Rating: 5 Votes

sploogens

18 months ago

People please! Don’t waste your time trying to explain why encryption is necessary, let the gmail users be ok with google going through their emails.

I, for one, live in a world full of governments that track everything you do and say and claim greater good. Keep your MXit, people, I’ll stick to Signal. You don’t need to know my reasons and I won’t ask for yours.

Rating: 4 Votes

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