XDA & Telegram

[simplepinoi177]

I'm creating this thread, but if any Senior Mods or Admins feel it would best be discussed in [All XDA Members] Feedback/Recommendations for XDA thread (I was unsure as that thread is more for suggestions & feedback, I don't know if criticism falls in the spirit of the thread) or some other more appropriate spot, please move these posts there.


Because there isn't any dedicated unlocked thread regarding the rules, policy, stance, and instances on this site (XDA) concerning (Telegram primarily; WhatsApp was mentioned once) external links that may or may not require registration to download files or public/private "channels" or how devs (there and here) deal with the policy, I am moving discussions made from THIS THREAD to a thread here devoted to the topic so it is on-topic here (rather than off-topic there) and anyone can feel free to discuss it further in a dedicated space for it.

Also, in the spirit/theme of the thread, I will also post some related materials to re-establish with an excerpt from Forum Rule 11 and the link to XDA's current rules, policy, & stance on Telegram directly below:

XDA Developers Forum Rules said​

11. ​

• Don’t use XDA to advertise your product or service. Proprietors of for-pay products or services, may use XDA to get feedback, provide beta access, or a free version of their product for XDA users and to offer support, but not to post with the intention of selling. This includes promoting sites similar / substantially similar to XDA-Developers.com.
• Encouraging members to participate in forum activities on other phone related sites is prohibited.
• Off-site downloads are permitted if the site is non-commercial and does not require registration.
• Off-site downloads from sites requiring registration are NOT encouraged but may be permitted if both of the following conditions are met:
  A) The site belongs to a member of XDA-Developers with at least 1500 posts and 2 years membership, who actively maintains an XDA-Developers support thread(s) / posts, related to the download.
  B) The site is a relatively small, personal website without commercial advertising / links (i.e. not a competitor forum-based site with purposes and aims similar to those of XDA-Developers.com.)

5. ​

• Self-promotion is forbidden, this includes blogs, social media and video channels etc. Random links will be removed.

Telegram Chat Channels - Way Forward

WhatsApp/Telegram Groups and Channels - Going Forward Hello XDA family! Just notifying all members that posting certain links to Telegram and other sites like WhatsApp is now allowed on XDA. What does that mean? We will allow links to messages...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[pndwal]

So you can download it, give root permissions to Alpha and direct install it.

Random Telegram channel? The dev is one of the contributors of official Magisk, LSPosed and Shamiko. I don't think it's a random telegram channel

Give it a try : mod edit;telegram link removed

Can't believe you not only got away with this but got thanked by an XDA mod for it!... Impressive!... Rules on TG links on XDA have changed, to allow information but maybe we can give TG as file source now @V0latyle?... I ask because of past warnings... PW

 

[shoey63]

Deleted

 

[Lughnasadh]

Can't believe you not only got away with this but got thanked by an XDA mod for it!... Impressive!... Rules on TG links on XDA have changed, to allow information but maybe we can give TG as file source now @V0latyle?... I ask because of past warnings... PW

According to these rules, download links from Telegram should be ok as long as...

What about download links?

Download links from hosts, platforms or other sources are allowed as long as they do not require registration. Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed. Please check them before posting.

 

[V0latyle]

Can't believe you not only got away with this but got thanked by an XDA mod for it!... Impressive!... Rules on TG links on XDA have changed, to allow information but maybe we can give TG as file source now @V0latyle?... I ask because of past warnings... PW

Check out the TG policy in my sig. We treat files hosted on TG like we do any other file host - they must be available to the public without registration, I.e., a TG account must not be necessary to download them.

I personally can't figure out how to download it but I'm also not TG literate, so...

Can you say app then?... Or did I miss it... PW

You mean the app name?

Main bank is Navy Federal but you can't test biometric sign in unless you have an account.

Other app is Mid America Bank, it complains about root unless DenyList is enabled on it, then it complains about USB Debugging.

According to these rules, download links from Telegram should be ok as long as...

What about download links?

Download links from hosts, platforms or other sources are allowed as long as they do not require registration. Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed. Please check them before posting.

This.

 

[pndwal]

Check out the TG policy in my sig. We treat files hosted on TG like we do any other file host - they must be available to the public without registration, I.e., a TG account must not be necessary to download them.

I personally can't figure out how to download it but I'm also not TG literate, so...

Well that's what's confusing about XDA... Rules were strictly no TG except one per development thread in OP originally, then was told still no links to TG threads needing registration but can link relevant information on public threads but CANNOT give TG links as file sources regardless... PW

 

[pndwal]

According to these rules, download links from Telegram should be ok as long as...

What about download links?

Download links from hosts, platforms or other sources are allowed as long as they do not require registration. Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed. Please check them before posting.

Ok, got it thanks... I missed the change nearly a year ago! ... Guess better late than never... PW

 

[V0latyle]

Well that's what's confusing about XDA... Rules were strictly no TG except one per development thread in OP originally, then was told still no links to TG threads needing registration but can link relevant information on public threads but CANNOT give TG links as file sources regardless... PW

Ok, got it thanks... I missed the change nearly a year ago! ... Guess better late than never... PW

Yeah. If you read the policy, we allow one TG link for developers in the OP, with the condition that support and updates must be provided in the XDA thread. There's been a few developers that try to keep everything on TG, and that's the point where we consider it to be self promotion under Rule 5:

• Links to an external source are only allowed if relevant to the topic in hand. A description must be included, no copy & pasting from the original source.
• Self-promotion is forbidden, this includes blogs, social media and video channels etc. Random links will be removed.

I'm not going to quote the TG policy here since you can just click on the far right link in my sig and read it, but you get the idea

Speaking of Telegram, can someone help me figure out how to download the file? I don't have Telegram on my phone and while I have an account (that I don't frequently use) I'd rather not join the channel

 

[V0latyle]

To download the file you must have Telegram installed in your phone and had an account

But I can share it

Thank you. If the previous link you shared does indeed require an account I recommend you remove it

 

[pndwal]

Check out the TG policy in my sig. We treat files hosted on TG like we do any other file host - they must be available to the public without registration, I.e., a TG account must not be necessary to download them.

I personally can't figure out how to download it but I'm also not TG literate, so...


You mean the app name?

Main bank is Navy Federal but you can't test biometric sign in unless you have an account.

Other app is Mid America Bank, it complains about root unless DenyList is enabled on it, then it complains about USB Debugging.


This.

Ok, so seems what I was told is actually still correct:

... Rules were strictly no TG except one per development thread in OP originally, then was told still no links to TG threads needing registration but can link relevant information on public threads but CANNOT give TG links as file sources regardless...

Members "can link relevant information" from TG as the links (to public channels) can be opened in browser as a 'preview' (eg with /s/ inserted before the channel name).

However they "CANNOT give TG links as file sources regardless" as files cannot be downloaded without registering an account.

The cited rule

What about download links?

Download links from hosts, platforms or other sources are allowed as long as they do not require registration. Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed. Please check them before posting.

may possibly apply to WhatsApp (can that be accessed without registering an account? ) per its banner heading, but for TG the statement "Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed" seems wishful, superfluous and misleading to me as all Telegram links require registration for downloads unless I'm mistaken. PW

 

[V0latyle]

Ok, so seems what I was told is actually still correct:

Members "can link relevant information" from TG as the links (to public channels) can be opened in browser as a 'preview' (eg with /s/ inserted before the channel name).

However they "CANNOT give TG links as file sources regardless" as files cannot be downloaded without registering an account.

The cited rule

may possibly apply to WhatsApp (can that be accessed without registering an account? ) per its banner heading, but for TG the statement "Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed" seems wishful, superfluous and misleading to me as all Telegram links require registration for downloads unless I'm mistaken. PW

Someone had demonstrated to me at some point that TG files can be made publicly available. But I don't remember who. The only thing I can suggest is getting one of the more Telegram knowledgeable mods in here like @karandpr or @Oswald Boelcke or @alecxs

 

[pndwal]

Someone had demonstrated to me at some point that TG files can be made publicly available. But I don't remember who. The only thing I can suggest is getting one of the more Telegram knowledgeable mods in here like @karandpr or @Oswald Boelcke or @alecxs

I think it was Oswald I discussed this with previously...

Seems you can download without Telegram "by joining a Telegram group called Files Web Downloader" or similar:
https://techlizar.com/how-to-download-telegram-files-without-telegram/
but "you’ll need to join the group and forward the downloadable link" before "they will convert the link as a fast downloadable link", but that's no good due to need to register...

Apparently a Telegram bot called GetPublicLinkBot might work per link above. "You can use it to download any large files without Telegram... This bot will generate a direct download link for any file you send it" but it didn't work in my test:

... Doubt such third party file-mirroring solutions would be acceptable to XDA anyway, at least unless 3rd party links are used... Original TG links still require registered account to work. PW

 

[karandpr]

Someone had demonstrated to me at some point that TG files can be made publicly available. But I don't remember who. The only thing I can suggest is getting one of the more Telegram knowledgeable mods in here like @karandpr or @Oswald Boelcke or @alecxs

Telegram posts with external links are available publicly.
Telegram download links required a Telegram account.

 

[pndwal]

Telegram posts with external links are available publicly.
Telegram download links required a Telegram account.

For context, this:

Ok, so seems what I was told is actually still correct:

... Rules were strictly no TG except one per development thread in OP originally, then was told still no links to TG threads needing registration but can link relevant information on public threads but CANNOT give TG links as file sources regardless...

The cited rule

What about download links?

Download links from hosts, platforms or other sources are allowed as long as they do not require registration. Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed. Please check them before posting.

may possibly apply to WhatsApp (can that be accessed without registering an account? ) per its banner heading, but for TG the statement "Some Telegram links require registration for downloads, so they will not be allowed" seems wishful, superfluous and misleading to me as all Telegram links require registration for downloads unless I'm mistaken. PW

So it seems that despite the rule update and the fact that many here use Telegram to communicate or to peruse forums, we still cannot link even main Magisk test forks from principal Magisk Devs like @vvb2060's Alpha (with no GitHub published releases) or other apps etc published (for root hiding etc) there...

-------
​

An aside: @ipdev recently made me aware of the "official XDA-Developers Telegram chat hub"... ("Here you will find links to all official XDA Telegram chat groups. The XDA-Developers Telegram chats are run by members of XDA Management with help from various trusted community members.")
https://t.me/xdadevelopershub

I couldn't find rules there against posting or linking files and many have been posted... So I wonder if an acceptable workaround for regular XDA members would be to post such files in the XDA TG General Discussion channel, then reply to that post with a reference to the app/mod like "The Alpha build is 13mb" and link that post (not a download source itself; only a source of 'pertinent information' ) from an XDA forum response to a member asking about such releases(?)...

As a for-instance, I ran early versions of Shamiko and posted on XDA about this new hiding module's development long before @nullptr gave it a public GitHub home, but I couldn't post a source for release files when members asked for it as it was only available on TG for some time...

Now (since the extinction of MagiskHide) Shamiko is a staple module for XDA Magisk users too, but it would still be taboo here if it hadn't been for @nullptr's (and @canyie's?) initiative, because of XDA policy... PW

 

[V0latyle]

The Telegram discussion doesn't really belong here, we (used to?) have a thread about Telegram and XDA, I'm currently trying to find it

 

[sawdoctor]

For context, this conversation:















So it seems that despite the rule update and the fact that many here use Telegram to communicate or to peruse forums, we still cannot link even main Magisk test forks from principal Magisk Devs like @vvb2060's Alpha (with no GitHub published releases) or other apps etc published (for root hiding etc) there...

Also, @ipdev recently made me aware of the "official XDA-Developers Telegram chat hub"... ("Here you will find links to all official XDA Telegram chat groups. The XDA-Developers Telegram chats are run by members of XDA Management with help from various trusted community members.")
https://t.me/xdadevelopershub

I couldn't find rules there against posting or linking files and many have been posted... So I wonder if an acceptable workaround for regular XDA members would be to post such files in the XDA TG General Discussion channel, then reply to that post with a reference to the app/mod like "The Alpha build is 13mb" and link that post (not a download source itself; only a source of 'pertinent information' ) from an XDA forum response to a member asking about such releases(?)...

As a for-instance, I ran early versions of Shamiko and posted on XDA about this new hiding module's development long before @nullptr gave it a public GitHub home, but I couldn't post a source for release files when members asked for it as it was only available on TG for some time...

Now (since the extinction of MagiskHide) Shamiko is a staple module for XDA Magisk users too, but it would still be taboo here if it hadn't been for @nullptr's (and @canyie's?) initiative, because of XDA policy... PW

The problem xda had was a few Devs were using XDA to promote their telegram groups and not contributing to xda at all. Several of these Devs were then selling their work on telegram. All though the xda rules are far from ideal, this is what they were trying to stop

 

[zgfg]

For context, this conversation:















So it seems that despite the rule update and the fact that many here use Telegram to communicate or to peruse forums, we still cannot link even main Magisk test forks from principal Magisk Devs like @vvb2060's Alpha (with no GitHub published releases) or other apps etc published (for root hiding etc) there...

Also, @ipdev recently made me aware of the "official XDA-Developers Telegram chat hub"... ("Here you will find links to all official XDA Telegram chat groups. The XDA-Developers Telegram chats are run by members of XDA Management with help from various trusted community members.")
https://t.me/xdadevelopershub

I couldn't find rules there against posting or linking files and many have been posted... So I wonder if an acceptable workaround for regular XDA members would be to post such files in the XDA TG General Discussion channel, then reply to that post with a reference to the app/mod like "The Alpha build is 13mb" and link that post (not a download source itself; only a source of 'pertinent information' ) from an XDA forum response to a member asking about such releases(?)...

As a for-instance, I ran early versions of Shamiko and posted on XDA about this new hiding module's development long before @nullptr gave it a public GitHub home, but I couldn't post a source for release files when members asked for it as it was only available on TG for some time...

Now (since the extinction of MagiskHide) Shamiko is a staple module for XDA Magisk users too, but it would still be taboo here if it hadn't been for @nullptr's (and @canyie's?) initiative, because of XDA policy... PW

OMG, I thought you have successfully finished the thesis on this topic, but apparently it's still on the table

 

[V0latyle]

The problem xda had was a few Devs were using XDA to promote their telegram groups and not contributing to xda at all. Several of these Devs were then selling their work on telegram. All though the xda rules are far from ideal, this is what they were trying to stop

Exactly. This is largely a non profit site, and the only revenue we get is from traffic on this site...so anything that directs users elsewhere is bad. That's also why we discourage self promotion, etc. The idea is that XDA and the content shared herein should be available to the general public for anyone to get useful information...not a platform to promote oneself, one's website, social media, etc.

@pndwal trying to compete with @Oswald Boelcke for the Wall of Text!

 

[V0latyle]

@karandpr is it still true that only channels allow free download of files, but groups require using a TG account? Or is it both?

 

[karandpr]

The problem xda had was a few Devs were using XDA to promote their telegram groups and not contributing to xda at all. Several of these Devs were then selling their work on telegram. All though the xda rules are far from ideal, this is what they were trying to stop

Correct.
There is also the security perspective.
We had previous instances when some malicious actor passed malware onto devices from a telegram group.
That resulted in device bricks. Furthermore, malicious actors also cheated members of their money via crypto.

It's a reasonable line we have drawn .

@karandpr is it still true that only channels allow free download of files, but groups require using a TG account? Or is it both?

You can view public channels, public groups, and posts in public groups.