Voice Messages - Hold and send mode

We consider here the first steps to support the voice messages in element-android.

MSC2516 is under review to add a new message type for voice messages. We will have to use org.matrix.msc2516.voice as the msgtype for now, but once it’s in the spec properly then we can switch to m.voice. What will probably end up happening is in code there will be a if (msgtype === "org.matrix.msc2516.voice" || msgtype === "m.voice") statement for several releases, once m.voice is allowed.

The first supported mode will be the “hold and send” mode defined by the following points:

• Voice messages Hold and send
  • Add a voice message button to the composer
  • OnLongPress on the MIC, it gets activated and the recording start. If the user releases the finger, the message gets sent
  • Voice messages last up to 2min. On the last 10s a toast notification is displayed warning users of time left. In this mode, if the user goes over the limit, the message gets sent.
• Cancel Swipe Left interaction
  • The user has just activated the Voice recording mode. This opens the locking system.
  • If the MIC button is moved towards the left, the Cancelling mode is activated.
  • The chevron, Slide to cancel string and Mic button are attached which means that they all move together
  • Once the chevron and the begining of the string reaches the recording area, the recording is cancelled. A vibration is triggered as soon as it is cancelled.
  • Once cancelled, it returns to the default mode
• Sending a voice message
  • While sending the voice message, the message is showing the audio bar and a progress
  • Once sent, the sent tick is shown
• Playing back a sent voice message
  • sent voice messages will be displayed with an audio visualiser bar and a play button
  • Part of the audio file that has been played is darker
• As soon as the user is typing, the Mic is replaced with the Send button

[efelon]

Speaking from experience with my wife and her circle of voice messengers 😉 , 2 Minutes only covers about 60-80% of their regular messages. Having all those kind of users on board without a negative first expression of that feature would boost popularity a lot in my opinion. Please consider those options in that order:

1. No time/size limit
2. If a fixed limit is necessary, go higher (5 min. - 10 min)
3. Have a setting for the time limit

For my case having voice messages is the last big resort which prevents me from switching and maybe even “forcing” everyone around me to matrix.

[giomfo]

Is there a technical reason for this hard limit?

No, this is a design reason