SimpleX Chat - First impressions. Is it ready for prime time?
5419 sats \ 16 comments \ @rod 15 Aug 2023 tech

What is Simple X Chat?

A new private messenger privacy oriented app that claims to be the first messenger without User ID, which is a novelty
You can check the web site for more details, just before you do and install it for testing, read on...

First Impressions:

Being testing SimpleX chat and, IMO is not ready for prime time, needs work to compete with the best out there in privacy, like Session app, Threema and Briar. I do not include Signal since it requires your mobile number and therefore, not ideal for privacy purpose but better than the most known alternatives...

Is SimpleX Chat ready for adoption among the non tech savvy community?

In short, not in my opinion,
  1. Not native TOR built in, you need to configure it and keep TOR proxy open in the background...
  2. Battery consumption is too high, its a battery killer
  3. The UI needs work to be simple and easy to use and understand for not tech savvy users, currently is too complex for non geeks
Tested the app extensively, good sound quality and reliable, but the cons are a wall for adoption

What about the non tech savvy, Will they get it as it is?

Tested on non tech savvy friends for installation and performing a chat and a call. It didn't pass, all of them required assistance to configure and send a link for connection

Summary

IMO, SimpleX Chat, it is definitely a step in the right direction and I hope it becomes one the most used messenger chat application worldwide, however, I do not believe that its current state of development is ready for adoption. The battery issue is a big no-no and equally importantly, It needs work to simplify the GUI and configuration steps so the non tech savvy can get it up and working easily.
I will suggest you test it extensible and challenge your family members and close friends to get it up and running with TOR enabled without assistance, maybe, some of them are more resourceful than you think!
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31 sats \ 1 reply \ @virtualshock 15 Aug 2023
Simplex is great. I have had great success with files, voice and messages. Of course, there are lots of improvements that will be made in the future. It does need people using it now so those bugs and usability issues are revealed. I am running my own server and have family members setup to use it. Next, I just need to setup TURN/STUN on my server so I have complete control of everything at that point.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 16 Aug 2023
+1
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32 sats \ 1 reply \ @shyfire 15 Aug 2023
Great app, I love it. Regarding native Tor, they did add Tor-only mode which is encouraging, but yeah embedded Tor would be great. Except on devices where you already have Tor running anyway... ? Dunno, Amethyst takes the same approach and I don't see this as a dealbreaker. They are working on sender relays too which will fix transport issues.
The other points are totally valid, especially the UI I think. But the team know this and are working on making things better.
p.s. I would not include Session in a list of best in class private messengers. It's backed by a premined proof of stake shitcoin which is totally unnecessary and opens new threat models - a well funded attacker could acquire a significant proportion of oxen service nodes and start running correlation attacks. In addition they castrated the Signal protocol in a few ways such as removing cryptographic deniability. I could go on.
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21 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 16 Aug 2023
What an insightful reply, thanks!
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10 sats \ 3 replies \ @03365d6a53 15 Aug 2023
the battery issue just depends on your notification settings
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @rod OP 15 Aug 2023
Interesting, can you elaborate? Thanks!
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224 sats \ 1 reply \ @03365d6a53 15 Aug 2023
they don't use GSF so instead give you different polling options for notifications
more polling=more battery usage
personally I set mine to only fetch messages when the app is open, and don't see anything untoward with regards to battery
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102 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 15 Aug 2023
Thanks for sharing, that is helpful!
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Sasquatch 16 Aug 2023
I'm testing it with a friend who is not super techy, and the onboard was pretty simple. We've run into glitches which seem to be improving, but it's pretty positive thus far. Voice quality has been very good, while notifications are hit and miss (iphone).
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 16 Aug 2023
+1
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @janowitz 16 Aug 2023
There has been a remote presentation of SimpleX Chat, its design and future development on Monerokon in June this year if you want some more details: https://mastodon.social/@simplex/110623729272875598
I'm personally using it since March / April this year and its development seems to be very focussed and it's becoming more and more stable. Also a desktop application which I have been missing very much since I'm not so keen to type longer conversations on a few inch touchscreen has been released for testing at least for Linux and Mac OS.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 16 Aug 2023
+1
Thanks for sharing!
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @brianh 15 Aug 2023
i might have to a wait a bit before i start trying to share this with others. it's already hard enough to get folks i know on signal or even telegram.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 16 Aug 2023
Same here with the migration of family and friends into a more secure app, not an easy task!
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford 15 Aug 2023
Thanks for this. Haven't had the time to test it out. I'm still going to test it for myself but this is good info for others including the devs behind it. Making apps isn't easy, making them easy to use while privacy first is even harder.
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @rod OP 16 Aug 2023
+1
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