[pogue]

Sounds like it's basically dead. The issue with messenger apps is that they're a dime a dozen, there are so many of them and they offer so much variability in security, privacy, but most importantly usability and uptime. If your friends won't switch to them, there's almost no point in having them or using them.

[embedding-shape]

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.

[rglullis]

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]

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!

[bpicolo]

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]

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]

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]

Never had my headphones drop off

[Vinnl]

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]

That doesn't help you if you're the only person with the apk on their phone.

[em-bee]

why not? isn't all you need just bluetooth file upload to any other phone where you want to install it?

[fwip]

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.

[raybb]

Anyone have an idea how good https://qaul.net/ is?

I saw it shared at dweb camp and it seemed like a pretty long term serious project for P2P.

[copperx]

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

[15155]

BLE Coded PHY will work for kilometers, where standard WiFi devices will not (HaLow is the exception.)

[dewey]

Because Bluetooth has a low energy mode which it uses.

[unethical_ban]

Briar was unique in its ability to discover peers over local networks and Bluetooth - Very few if any other messaging apps do that.

Unfortunately the security/usability tradeoffs mean it never was going to hit Whatsapp levels of use, but it certainly fills an important niche.

[mhitza]

Still receives, and for the foreseeable future will receive, security updates which is good enough for me to keep it installed on my phone.