Delta Chat 1.2 comes with keyboard shortcuts, background images and more

The release of the new version of Delta Chat Desktop 1.2 has just been announced. This is a messenger that uses email as a transport rather than its own servers, that is, it is an email chat and a specialized email client that works as a messenger.

Delta Chat does not use its own servers and it can work through almost any mail server that supports SMTP and IMAP (The Push-IMAP technique is used to quickly determine the arrival of new messages).

Encryption with OpenPGP and the Autocrypt standard is supported for easy automatic configuration and key exchange without using key servers (the key is automatically transmitted on the first message sent).

The endpoint encryption implementation is based on the rPGP code, which passed an independent security audit this year. Traffic is encrypted using TLS in the implementation of the regular system libraries.

About Delta Chat

Delta Chat is fully user controlled and not tied to centralized services. For work, it is not necessary to register for new services; you can use an existing email as an identifier.

If the correspondent does not use Delta Chat, he can read the message like a normal letter. The fight against spam is carried out by filtering messages from unknown users (by default, only messages from address book users and those who previously sent messages are displayed, as well as responses to their own messages). It is possible to display attachments and attached images and videos.

Group chat creation is supported in which multiple participants Can communicate. At the same time, it is possible to link a verified list of participants to the group, which does not allow unauthorized persons to read messages (participants are verified using a cryptographic signature, and messages are encrypted using terminal encryption).

The current version of the base library is written in Rust (the previous version was written in C). There are folders for Python, Node.js, and Java. Informal links to Go in development. There is DeltaChat for libpurple, which can use both the new Rust kernel and the old C kernel.

Main new features of Delta Chat 1.2

Delta Chat 1.2 arrives with a database of providers and mail services with information on typical configurations, also add new keyboard shortcuts which are "Ctrl + K" to search the address book and "Alt + ← ↓ ↑ →" to move in the chat.

In addition, the inclusion of a new set of background images and the ability to link images to the profile.

On the other hand, the ability to write multi-line messages and configure "Show Classic Emails", allowing the user to use Delta Chat as a classic email client.

Another of the changes that stands out in this new version is the support to use multiple accounts at the same time and also the ability to view images in full screen.

Of the other changes that stand out from this new version:

• Separate chat for saved messages
• Support to change font size and zoom level (View -> Zoom factor)
• Using the name of the group in the field with the subject of the letter

How to install Delta Chat 1.2 on Linux?

For those interested in being able to install the new version of Delta Chat, You can get the installation packages from its official website. The link is this.

Here you can get the packages prepared for distribution with support for deb packages. The package can be obtained from a terminal by typing:

wget https://download.delta.chat/desktop/v1.2.0/deltachat-desktop_1.2.0_amd64.deb

And the installation with the following command:

sudo dpkg -i deltachat-desktop_1.2.0_amd64.deb

Also an AppImage package is offered, which can be obtained by typing:

wget https://download.delta.chat/desktop/v1.2.0/DeltaChat-1.2.0.AppImage

They give permissions to the application with:

sudo chmod +x DeltaChat-1.2.0.AppImage

And they run with:

./DeltaChat-1.2.0.AppImage

Within the page you can also find the links for installation on Android and iOS.