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China Media Software

Bullet, China's Latest Messaging App, Pops Shots at Top Local Rival WeChat (fortune.com) 48

Posted by msmash from the what's-new dept.
This week, China's most downloaded app wasn't a game or a short-video app like normal but a new messaging service called Bullet. The app's startling assent to the top marks a rare challenge to Tencent's WeChat -- China's go-to choice for messaging. From a report: Bullet, so called for the swiftness of its service, specializes in instant voice messaging, whereby users communicate through a rally of short audio clips. That method hasn't caught on in the West, but in China, it's the norm. WeChat popularized that style of communication during its early days, in 2012, but its system has always been comparably limited. For one, WeChat only allows voice messages to be played in full, so if a listener misses a vital word towards the end of a clip, they have to start over from the beginning. Also, sending audio files makes it harder to scan through previous messages and check what's already been said, in case you've forgotten an important detail.

Bullet has smartly solved both of these problems. Firstly, it allows users to scrub through audio files and start playback at any point -- a simple enough fix that it's surprising WeChat hasn't introduced this function itself. (Scrubbing through voice messages is even a feature on Facebook-owned WhatsApp, which introduced voice messages after WeChat did.) Bullet's second solution is more impressive, but also not inimitable. The app instantly transcribes audio into a text message and sends the text along with the voice clip, leaving a visible record of the conversation.
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Bullet, China's Latest Messaging App, Pops Shots at Top Local Rival WeChat More

Bullet, China's Latest Messaging App, Pops Shots at Top Local Rival WeChat

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  • "The app instantly transcribes audio into a text message and sends the text along with the voice clip, leaving a visible record of your entire life to be mapped out in text and scrubbable audio formats for authorities."

  • I'm slightly confused as to the popularity of this sort of voice chat. For phonetic alphabets it's far faster to read messages than hear them spoken, even if you talk like you're written by Aaron Sorkin. Writing can also be nigh as fast as talking for anyone quick enough.

    Is simplified chinese still such a burden that talking is easier and more convenient, or is it some other thing that makes this popular?

    • Re:Is it because of Chinese lettering? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 ) <slashdot@worf.ERDOSnet minus math_god> on Monday September 03, 2018 @05:09AM (#57245322)

      I'm slightly confused as to the popularity of this sort of voice chat. For phonetic alphabets it's far faster to read messages than hear them spoken, even if you talk like you're written by Aaron Sorkin. Writing can also be nigh as fast as talking for anyone quick enough.

      Is simplified chinese still such a burden that talking is easier and more convenient, or is it some other thing that makes this popular?

      Well, I think it's a combination of things. First off, remember screen size is a status symbol. If you're holding your phone using two hands (and I've seen it happen), it's pretty damn hard to type. Plus, you compose characters - either by drawing strokes or picking strokes to generate the character. Again, this requires a fair bit of dexterity when one's hands are otherwise doing something else (e.g., holding the phone).

      Second, voice mail chat seems extremely common - I've seen people basically MMS each other audio - they say a few lines, hit send, wait for a response, listen to it, reply, etc. I don't know if voice minutes cost serious money or something, but they seem to enjoy leaving people 5 second voice messages rather than speaking directly with them. I'm guessing it's harder for people to find a conversation that happened a week ago but still able to bring up topics that happened a day ago.

      • Plus, you compose characters - either by drawing strokes or picking strokes to generate the character.

        You can do that, but 99% of the time Chinese people will use pinyin entry instead. That is much quicker than going by strokes.

        Anyway you do it, text entry in Chinese is slower than English (but it is faster to read), hence the demand for voice entry.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

          You can do that, but 99% of the time Chinese people will use pinyin entry instead. That is much quicker than going by strokes.

          Anyway you do it, text entry in Chinese is slower than English (but it is faster to read), hence the demand for voice entry.

          And still slower when both hands are busy holding the phone. It's an interesting juggle as they try to move their hands to reach areas of the keyboard.

      • Another factor is they can't use swipe or similar keyboards to type (pinyin keyboards you have to construct and often choose a character from a few possibilities), so not looking at the screen isn't an option. As a result while walking, driving, or otherwise multitasking audio is a must. My limited trips there I was astonished at the walk and drive usage of phones.

    • When I first went to Asia, I was amazed at the amount of Video and Audio Chat being used. Then I realized that it was mostly young people in the cities talking to their aged parents in the village, who often couldn't read, or who couldn't cope with email (eg poor eyesight).

      I think that this initial application soon spread to the whole population.

  • WeShoot (Score:4, Funny)

    by mentil ( 1748130 ) on Monday September 03, 2018 @03:38AM (#57245120)

    The problem with Bullet is that periodically, the CCP uses it to send you a picture of an executed family member, and charges you $1 for the 'privilege'. I filed a bug report a few minutes ago, and I think I hear knocking on the door now. That's customer service! Be right back...

  • There are many things that I'm surprised they're not a feature.

    The one that bugs me right now: Voicemail scrubbing - why isn't that a thing?. Why do I have to ring a number and go through an IVR and listen in one sitting to a hastily spoken message in an accent I may not always understand on first try?

    What I'm saying is: how hard is it to build HulloMail into the existing networks and provide it as a default feature?

  • The word is "ascent".

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by OzPeter ( 195038 )

      The word is "ascent".

      To be fair, in this case "assent" is a direct copy from the Fortune article (which was published 3 days ago .. lol)

  • Does the transcript also go to any *cough* other parties as well?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Calydor ( 739835 )

      Yes, all of Google's ad partners in order to monetize you better.

      Oh, sorry, this was in China. Then it's to Government Filing Cabinet #15.

      Is there ultimately any difference to the average guy just living his life?

  • I mean comon wechat coders, ever see a DJ with a record, he
    can rewind,forward, just do a virtual record UI.

    Dumb shits, your managers, yeah the coders are ok, but no balls to tell management, you manager, you suck.

    Any way, keep re-inventing the 90s, nothing new

  • It should have been : "Bullet Busts a Cap in WeChat's Dome"

  • Besides that, who cares about the improvement on how the Chinese government spies on their citizens?
  • bullet, as in a reminder of what you get if you say the wrong thing

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