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Some of you may have heard of and even used Telegram Messenger on smartphones and tablets, instant messaging that works like WhatsApp, lets you easily perform file transfers and comes with some cool security features.
The difference between Telegram Messenger and WhatsApp or other instant messages is what it was designed for: Completely free and secure information sent over the web for the community that cannot be intercepted by employers, marketers, advertisers, or others. institutions. It cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Telegram office is a free, open-source, community-developed desktop client that can be used for desktop-to-desktop or desktop-to-mobile chatting (there is also a Web application). It is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The feature set of the client however is not quite the same as that of the mobile app, as we will find out in this review.
Clean installation and interface
The installation process is extremely quick, requires minimal user assistance, and does not come with any third-party components, so you don’t have to worry about inadvertently installing unwanted software such as barcode files. ‘browser tools.
The principle of simplicity also applies to the interface. Based on a large window with minimal appearance, the user interface is elegant and very easy to use. Telegram creates an icon in the system tray area and is sent there on shutdown (indicates this by displaying a notification). In this way, it becomes non-intrusive and allows you to continue your normal activity on the PC.
Desktop notifications
Desktop notifications are enabled by default. They can be disabled for the entire app or for individual contacts. Telegram displays system tray alerts when you receive new messages and stays on the screen until viewed, so you don’t have to worry about missing important events. On top of that, it adds a red dot to the Telegram icon which contains the number of unread messages, and it also creates a blinking icon in the taskbar.
Mobile number authentication at startup
In order to create a Telegram account or to log in with an existing account, it is necessary to specify your mobile phone number. The tool automatically sends a confirmation code that must be entered into the desktop client to continue, and this is requested each time you sign in to a desktop, web, or mobile app.
Your own contact details
Regarding your own identity, it is possible to associate your Telegram account with a name and a photo. However, if your phone number exists in the Friends Address Book, they will see the name already associated with your number instead, so the display name you specify is irrelevant in this case.
The software application incorporates a feature that allows you to assign a unique and public username to your Telegram account, so that other people will have an easier time locating you if they do not have your phone number. , by inserting the “@” symbol. and your username in the search bar (like on Twitter). Otherwise, you can give them a direct link to your account: telegram.me/YourUsername.
Desktop client features
The utility automatically identifies the address book associated with your phone number and loads contacts that have already configured Telegram (just like WhatsApp). During this time, foreign contacts can be traced transparently using the method described previously with the “@” symbol and a unique username.
You can send messages, insert emojis from a large list of options, as well as send attachments of any format by dropping a selected file into the main application window. Photos sent or received can be previewed in the chat window, copied to the clipboard or saved locally. Opening a file is easily done by simply clicking on its message bubble.
Preview sent and received photos with a built-in viewer
The selected messages can be copied to the clipboard, forwarded or deleted. Another important aspect to mention is that the tool has a built-in viewer for photos. Clicking on a sent or received image opens it in full screen mode in an interface that blends into the Metro look (even if Telegram Desktop is installed on Windows 7 or earlier).
Clicking on another contact’s name opens another section of Telegram which allows you to view and download their profile pictures, change their display name or remove them from the list, share the contact with a other friend from the list, turn off notifications only for the selected contact, get an overview of all shared media and a clear history. New contacts can be added to the list by entering a first and last name, as well as a phone number.
Data security and synchronization
Unfortunately, Telegram’s desktop edition hasn’t caught up with the mobile edition so far. It does not support secret chats and self-destruct messages, nor does it allow you to create new groups or mailing lists.
Telegram allows you to connect from multiple sources at the same time, be it two desktop clients, one desktop client and one mobile app, one mobile app and one app Web, etc. In this way, all data is synchronized (except for secret chats initiated on the mobile application).
On the other hand, the program notifies you when it detects account logins from new devices, revealing the date, time, device type, country and IP address, to ensure that no one else has accessed Telegram. Additionally, any sessions other than the one you are currently using can be interrupted.
Sent and received messages are automatically encrypted before being stored online. History and cache can be cleared.
General, interface, chat and advanced options
You can turn off desktop notifications, hide sender name and message preview, as well as turn off sound effects and automatic checks for software updates. Telegram Desktop can be configured to run automatically each time Windows starts up until further notice, and to launch minimized. In addition, a new entry can be integrated into the Windows Explorer “Send To” menu to easily transfer files to friends via Telegram.
The interface can be scaled (requires restarting the program), emojis can be replaced with well-known smileys and various symbols, while the utility can be prompted to send messages by pressing Ctrl + Enter instead of just Enter.
To speed up file transfer, you can establish a default backup directory and disable user prompts for each of these tasks. In addition, you can turn off the background image and opt for a solid color (deselect “allow cats and dogs”), clear the local storage cache, change the connection type or end all other Telegram sessions running on mobile devices or computer (applies to both desktop client and web application).
Good
The interface is simplistic and elegant.
Those who want to skip the installer and run Telegram Desktop directly from a USB stick can resort to its similarly-functional portable twin called Portable telegram office.
Telegram places a lot of emphasis on security and speed. Be sure to check out the “Security†section we wrote above for both the security pros and cons. Meanwhile, the high speed regarding delivered messages and transferred files is definitely noticeable.
Data is automatically synced across multiple devices (except secret chats which can only take place between two Telegram mobile apps).
The desktop notification system is efficient: system tray alerts remain on the screen until they are accessible, a flashing telegram icon appears in the taskbar, and the icons in the system tray. Status bar and taskbar receive a red dot that indicates the number of unread messages.
It is possible to transfer files up to 1.5 GB in size.
It’s open source and has no displayed ads, hidden feeds, callback screens, or third-party components that come with the installation pack, so it’s free in the truest sense of the word.
The bad
Likewise, the desktop client does not integrate the options to create new groups or mailing lists.
Not to sound like a nit-picker, but the options are not so intuitive for inexperienced users. For example, it took us a while to figure out that secret chats and new groups are not available in Telegram Desktop after left and right click on everything (this is actually how we found out about forwarding messages. ). Perhaps an optional tutorial at startup would have cleared it all up. Nevertheless, some questions find their answer in this Faq.
The truth
REMARK: You can also read our reviews on Telegram Messenger for iOS and Telegram Messenger for Windows Phone.
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