[markkat]

I am planning on a proper ‘Show HN’, but I’ve been working on something for quite a time that has prepper use-cases.

Most people have phones. Technically, they don’t need a third party to talk to each other. It seemed like there should be a communication option that took advantage of that.

Thus, Tin-Can: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tin-can/id1435356247

In short, TC is a one-to-many messaging app that has no central service. Proximate phones use BLE to sync.

My mom is headed to high ground in FL atm due to Eta.. I think it’d be useful if phones could all do this natively.

FWIW, I just got it on iOS, and updates like replies are forthcoming. But feedback is appreciated if you try it out. I’ll do a show HN once a few features are completed and bugs squashed.

[smt88]

> I think it’d be useful if phones could all do this natively.

Most phones (meaning those running Android and iOS) can do this already. On iOS, it's called AirDrop[1] and on Android it's called Nearby Share[2].

Both work without an internet connection or centralized server.

1. https://www.lifewire.com/airdrop-with-without-wifi-connectio...

2. https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/4/21353020/android-nearby-sh...

[markkat]

They enable a messaging network?

[smt88]

It's not really a substitute for SMS, but you can send messages in the form of notes, photos, and audio recordings.

There are other apps, like FireChat and Bridgefy, available in the app stores that handle actual P2P messaging.

[AnimalMuppet]

I don't do apps on my phone. I just don't.

That app I actually want. Let us know when you get it going. (I need it on Android, not Apple.)

[blacksmith_tb]

Sounds like Briar[1] might be what you want?

1: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.briarproje...

[markkat]

Thanks. :) It works. Just limited to a single stream of posts atm. But will do.