I don't trust anything released by BitTorrent. Sync was a huge let down and frankly I'm not going to waste my time on any more of their software after the ad/toolbar/bitcoin-mining infested installers they put out for uTorrent...
I am particularly annoyed by the name "Whisper" for the "25 seconds only" messages: It got me to read on because I thought they interfacing with WhisperSystem's protocol for TextSecure. Because, open protocols, federation and all that. Would have been nice, right?
Well, thumbs down for that.<p>Also, if you don't trust the other to not <i>want</i> to log your conversation, don't send sensitive stuff. But then again people do seem to like snapchat and thelike, so I shouldn't judge too much there maybe.
That screenshot protection thing is kind of dumb. As they show in their website, you take 2 screenshots and there you go, name and message.<p>You can say you make it harder to take screenshots but you cant promise a secure way to prevent people from saving the data you send them. That's unfeasible, its promotion of false security.
Apparently "all platforms" means Mac, Win, IOS and Android. Not to be snarky, but that's not even close to "all", even if we exclude esoteric ones with extremely few users.
Warning: This is going to sound mean. Feel free to skip it if mean words upset you.<p>They claim to support "all major platforms" then completely skimp out on Linux and BSD.<p>Bleep isn't open source.<p>They claim to provide privacy, and their testimonials read:<p><pre><code> Software Engineering at it's finest. If you haven't read
the blog post on this app then you need too. Once you see
how it works your gonna want it. Most secure messaging
I've seen yet.
</code></pre>
That's great, now show me the source code so I can decide whether or not it's the most secure messaging _I've_ seen yet.<p>Publish the git repository. Make it run on GNU/Linux and *BSD.<p>Or get the fuck out and stop making claims you cannot back up.<p><pre><code> DDDD i t h TTTTT h i sss
D D ttttt ccc h T h s
D D i t c hhh T hhh i sss
D D i t c h h T h h i s
DDDD i tt ccc h h T h h i sss
BBBB U U L L SSSS H H I TTTTT !
B B U U L L S H H I T !
BBBB U U L L SSSS HHHH I T !
B B U U L L S H H I T
BBBB UUU LLLL LLLL SSSS H H I T !</code></pre>
I'm very intrigued by Bleep, I think that attempting to leverage the bitorrent protocol in a chat platform is a unique take, that I would like to see continue to evolve.<p>However, I think it's important that they open the source up for this project and even potentially offer the ability for me to install and run my own server. I think until they take those steps, it will be difficult for them to gain any kind of large following.
There is no way to make a service that guarantees that messages are erased with current mobile technology that doesn't allow you to make another client that saves the message. Snapchat and the FTC had a conversation about this.<p><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/05/snapchat-settles-ftc-charges-promises-disappearing-messages-were" rel="nofollow">https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/05/snapc...</a>
Some things are highly valuable but just don't make sense to monetize. Bit Torrent is a great example of that.<p>BitTorrent Inc is evidently scrambling to find a way to monetize the core technology having raised money and promised investors it would do that.<p>They just laid off a %age of their staff, which indicates to me the end of the road might be nearing and Bleep maybe one of the last attempts they have to pull something off.<p>I love Bram, but IMHO Bit Torrent should return to being a true open source technology developed by the community.
One thing that is missing from the marketing copy: even if you accept a closed-source messenger and forget the whole uTorrent saga, what's the monetization model here? What costs can we expect in the future and where?<p>(The cynic in me thinks: Bleep 2 offers many new features, buy Bleep 2 Pro if you communicate with more than 10 contacts.)
What are the limits on implementing the bittorrent protocol? A open source sync alternative seems doable (even if I had to resort to port knocking or something), maybe build it on top of owncloud and get the best of both worlds?
So far I know these decentralized (supposedly) secure messaging software/protocols:<p><pre><code> 1. Bleep
2- Tox
3. Ring (formerly SFLphone, DHT based authentication)</code></pre>
What's with the super weird installation process on Windows?<p>Also very little information about how everything works on its website (the technical stuff, especially for security).