[dingo454]

For the average user the element UI is just confusing. This is the #1 complaint I got from all non-techies. They expect to just see a contact list, with each contact being a simple chat without the typing bar. Most of the other interactions are also too complex (like sending an image).

You'd think this is a small complaint, but I've listed this as first as it's the biggest barrier to conversion. Ask the _same_ user to try FluffyChat, and no objections will be raised besides the expected "why another chat app".

I'm not a fan of the Element UI myself, although I "get it" as it's targeting to something more group-oriented like slack. The problem is that Element is currently neither oriented to plain users, nor it's great to technical ones.

If everything else had to stay the same, they should optimize for plain users on mobile and offer a better, more advanced desktop client instead.

[bennyp101]

I guess it depends on what Element is trying to replace.

If it's whatsapp etc then yeah, I agree, it is not going to work. But if it's Teams or Slack or something, then I don't see much difference. I don't think it is meant to be a whatsapp replacement, I think it is a generic chat tool that lets me integrate all my services in one place - kinda like Pidgen.

As you say, maybe this cash injection cam let them get a mobile client that can work as a whatsapp replacement (as I guess that is what most people are moving from)

[dingo454]

My suggestion, again: buy FluffyChat. Add important missing features, such as cross-signing. Make it the default client.

You can keep element for advanced users.

I'd argue it's still not a great client for tech users either, but I see an evolution in that direction more likely than the opposite.

[deepbluev7]

What important features? FluffyChat had cross-signing for more than a year now. A lot of other features are unlikely to be added, since FluffyChat aims to be easy to use. FluffChat even supports E2EE fallback keys!