Apple appears to be working on full Project Catalyst versions of Messages and Shortcuts for Mac, according to hints of the new apps found by developer Steve Troughton-Smith.
Troughton-Smith found that the Project Catalyst software on macOS Catalina includes Shortcuts frameworks suggesting a future Shortcuts for Mac app, and now it appears Apple is also working on a Catalyst version of the Messages app.
https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1141424107768209410
https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1141450446743228416
https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1141458050135539712
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, please, for both, but certainly for Messages which could sure use some love on the Mac!
What the heck is a CATALYST version?
Be nice to see messages in iCloud so you can use it from PCs, etc.
That fails the end-to-end, or device-to-device(s), encryption scheme of iMessage.
If the browser is able to show encrypted iMessages, that means the “device” that renders to the browser, and therefore its encryption/decryption keys, is running on Apple servers themselves, and authorities can get at those keys via subpoena.
Yes, you can now store and sync iMessages in iCloud. But they are theoretically still decrypted at the device-level, meaning the keys are on the end user’s device. At least, this is how Apple’s been distinguishing iMessage ever since Blackberry had to hand over master keys for their centralized Messenger platform, to continue operating in some countries. I myself started having doubts immediately after iCloud sync was introduced.