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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.

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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?

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!

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?

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!)

I have smartphone in pants pocket and bluetooth headphones cut off all the time if that's any indication of how good it is.

Never had my headphones drop off

If I put my phone in my right pocket the bluetooth module on the left side of my helmet will disconnect when I turn my motorcycle to the left

I wonder if one side I very low power emitter designed to connect to the other head-side unit, presumably designed to connect to your device. Some bt headphones are designed with a weak unit and strong unit.

There is no left or right side to the helmet unit; the entire unit is on the left side of the helmet (right hand operates the bike's throttle, so the left hand is the free hand to operate the unit).

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Because Bluetooth has a low energy mode which it uses.

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