3 ms·

For most IMs I agree, Briar is/was slightly different though, being P2P and E2E encrypted. There isn't many IMs out there supporting Bluetooth connections betwe

For most IMs I agree, Briar is/was slightly different though, being P2P and E2E encrypted. There isn't many IMs out there supporting Bluetooth connections between users for example.

raybb 3mo ago
Anyone have an idea how good https://qaul.net/ https://qaul.net/ is? I saw it shared at dweb camp and it seemed like a pretty long term serious project for P2P.
copperx 3mo ago
Bitchat is great, but I don't understand why it's Bluetooth only. I would think Wifi reaches further.
- dewey 3mo ago
  Because Bluetooth has a low energy mode which it uses.
- 15155 3mo ago
  BLE Coded PHY will work for kilometers, where standard WiFi devices will not (HaLow is the exception.)
rglullis 3mo ago
Being p2p, network effects are even larger: you have to convince not only your own friends to install and use, but also rely on enough density in your area?
- ijustlovemath 3mo ago
  Helene survivor here. I will be spreading the word about this project and keeping some APKs for if the shit hits the fan again. FDroid being able to sync between local devices means all you need is to get fdroid onto someones phone. Wish they had an iphone app though!
  - Vinnl 3mo ago
    Doesn't Briar itself provide functionality to share the apk via Bluetooth? So you don't even need F-Droid (though it's still good to have regardless, of course).
    - lukeschlather 3mo ago
      That doesn't help you if you're the only person with the apk on their phone.
      - em-bee 3mo ago
        why not? isn't all you need just bluetooth file upload to any other phone where you want to install it?
  - bpicolo 3mo ago
    What's the range on bluetooth? If I can reach someone via bluetooth, can't I also just talk to them? Or is it longer than I realize?
    - dijit 3mo ago
      It's really not very far, maybe 15 meters. I'm actually super annoyed that popular devices no longer show bluetooth signal strength at all... it's completely absent from the UI. Impossible to know how well connected my headphones are when I keep hearing popping or distortion... you need special apps to realise how weak the connection actually is (and how absurdly busy the environment is: there are so many bluetooth devices around us.. it's crazy!)
    - fhn 3mo ago
      I have smartphone in pants pocket and bluetooth headphones cut off all the time if that's any indication of how good it is.
      - tehlike 3mo ago
- fwip 3mo ago
  You only need to rely on density in your area if you have no other network - it will happily use mobile data or Wifi connections if you have them.

For most IMs I agree, Briar is/was slightly different though, being P2P and E2E encrypted. There isn't many IMs out there supporting Bluetooth connections between users for example.

raybb 3mo ago

Anyone have an idea how good https://qaul.net/ https://qaul.net/ is? I saw it shared at dweb camp and it seemed like a pretty long term serious project for P2P.

copperx 3mo ago

Bitchat is great, but I don't understand why it's Bluetooth only. I would think Wifi reaches further.

dewey 3mo ago
Because Bluetooth has a low energy mode which it uses.
15155 3mo ago
BLE Coded PHY will work for kilometers, where standard WiFi devices will not (HaLow is the exception.)

rglullis 3mo ago

Being p2p, network effects are even larger: you have to convince not only your own friends to install and use, but also rely on enough density in your area?

ijustlovemath 3mo ago
Helene survivor here. I will be spreading the word about this project and keeping some APKs for if the shit hits the fan again. FDroid being able to sync between local devices means all you need is to get fdroid onto someones phone. Wish they had an iphone app though!
- Vinnl 3mo ago
  Doesn't Briar itself provide functionality to share the apk via Bluetooth? So you don't even need F-Droid (though it's still good to have regardless, of course).
  - lukeschlather 3mo ago
    That doesn't help you if you're the only person with the apk on their phone.
    - em-bee 3mo ago
      why not? isn't all you need just bluetooth file upload to any other phone where you want to install it?
- bpicolo 3mo ago
  What's the range on bluetooth? If I can reach someone via bluetooth, can't I also just talk to them? Or is it longer than I realize?
  - dijit 3mo ago
    It's really not very far, maybe 15 meters. I'm actually super annoyed that popular devices no longer show bluetooth signal strength at all... it's completely absent from the UI. Impossible to know how well connected my headphones are when I keep hearing popping or distortion... you need special apps to realise how weak the connection actually is (and how absurdly busy the environment is: there are so many bluetooth devices around us.. it's crazy!)
  - fhn 3mo ago
    I have smartphone in pants pocket and bluetooth headphones cut off all the time if that's any indication of how good it is.
    - tehlike 3mo ago
fwip 3mo ago
You only need to rely on density in your area if you have no other network - it will happily use mobile data or Wifi connections if you have them.