Briar is a messaging app designed to be used by groups of people to allow for secure and censorship resistant communications.
This technically isn’t self hosted in the strictest sense but I think it is still relevant.
Briar is a messaging app designed to be used by groups of people to allow for secure and censorship resistant communications.
This technically isn’t self hosted in the strictest sense but I think it is still relevant.
To be fair, that’s true for most messengers, even ones that do have servers.
Messages are only sent when both online though, thet’s the bigger difference (unless using Briar Mailbox). Also it can send over wifi and bluetooth without internet connection i.e. no other devices involved.
That’s an entirely different thing, yes. 😄
I’ve always wondered what the utility is in sending messages over Bluetooth. Exchanging data secretly and securely in person, I guess?
No one else then the parties messaging can see that the communication even occurs.
Right, but you have to be so close to each other for Bluetooth to work.
It transfers across other peers; you don’t have to have a direct connection to the recipient, just an eventual connection to them.
But you have to directly connect to other people’s devices via Bluetooth along the way, right? Like a relay race of handing over the message until you either reach a network, or the recipient?
Anytime you have bad/no cellular reception. Think being at a large event where the cell network is saturated, or in a rural area with no cell service.
Right, but you have to be so close to each other for Bluetooth to work, so it seems very limited in utility. But of course, data exchange in person would be one thing.
Bluetooth has a pretty significant range, especially outdoors. So you might be watching something on the stage while a friend or family member is 300 feet away at a concession stand.
That’s pretty far, that makes it better I guess. Like you could send messages across buildings if you have line of sight e.g. That’s neat.
I’ve used it to message someone while on a flight.
That’s brilliant use, I like it.
So how does it work? Do you just need to “have Bluetooth turned on” and it reaches the recipient, or do you need to connect to each other somehow? Can this work for a group chat with a family, or colleagues on a conference trip perhaps?