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Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

(github.com)
778 points ananddtyagi | 3 comments | 07 Jul 25 00:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.738s | source
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lxgr ◴[07 Jul 25 00:34 UTC] No.44485515[source]▶
Very nice! Could this be published in the App Store, or does it use any APIs Apple considers off-limits?

I'm regularly frustrated by modern phone's complete inabilities to allow any communication when outside of mobile network or Wi-Fi coverage, not even within the two large walled gardens.

It would be so easy for Apple to extend iMessage to work peer-to-peer, at least between people that have already messaged each other before and while both screens are on. That's literally how AirDrop works, and having to send a "Notes" text back and forth is just silly.

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dzhiurgis ◴[07 Jul 25 01:26 UTC] No.44485812[source]▶
I'd much rather Apple allow running something like this (open source) myself rather than use their "just trust me bro" store.
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OsrsNeedsf2P ◴[07 Jul 25 01:44 UTC] No.44485918[source]▶
I've never understood this argument. Apple spends billions of dollars vetting their store for high quality apps. You can't even verify the build you get off Github was compiled from the same posted source.

As much as people want to be "leet" and run 3rd party software, it's inherently insecure and that's why Apple shuts it down.

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noman-land ◴[07 Jul 25 02:03 UTC] No.44486044[source]▶
This might sound crazy but some people want the freedom to use their belongings however they want instead of having artificial child locks placed on them by trillion dollar corporate daddies.
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woleium ◴[07 Jul 25 02:36 UTC] No.44486230[source]▶
But, sadly, as evidenced by apple’s share price, not enough people.
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1. pjerem ◴[07 Jul 25 05:21 UTC] No.44487009[source]▶
That’s only because there is only one alternative that is more or less equally shitty (Android) and no room for any competition whatsoever.

It’s not like people really have options to choose when it comes to choosing a smartphone.

It’s easy to have a growing share price when you are a duopoly. You don’t have to serve your users.

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2. immibis ◴[07 Jul 25 20:10 UTC] No.44494182[source]▶
Android may be shitty but it allows you to install an APK you downloaded from god knows where, and that's enough of a deal-making feature for me.

I also own a Linux phone, but I don't use it. Maybe one day someone will create one that's actually usable...

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3. pjerem ◴[09 Jul 25 07:47 UTC] No.44507297[source]▶
That was not the point of the discussion.

I could answer "iOS may be shitty but it doesn't phone home every touch and your health data stays local". I really don't want to argue abour iOs vs Android. I used both. They are both shit made to lock their users in an ecosystem that solely benefits Google or Apple. I really couldnt care more about arguing which is worse, I would just want the market to allow something better than both for me, the user.