How can it be "Privacy First" when one has to globally enable "Location Services" on one's phone before Bitchat can be used?
bitchat 1.2.0 (purple) shipping to testflight tonight.
this enables mutual favorites to automatically switch to a nostr-based transport when one of them leaves the mesh. only for private messages for now using NIP-17.
basically people can bitchat in person, favorite each other at that time, and then can continue the conversation if internet is available through nostr, from any distance. no need to input a npub or know anything about nostr. it just works.
https://github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat/pull/358
Discussion
read again?
I am aware of the Android requirement but know that in the early versions of Bitchat it was enough to just give app location permission, Location Services of phone could be off.
I have a different unrelated app that uses Bluetooth and this works for that app too. (grant the app location permission, leave Location Services off)
Its an android thing. Android takes location VERY seriously. If your location is turned off its not just GPS. Its any identifiable thing near you which includes bluetooth and wifi data.
Yes it us an Android thing thing but there are ways around it, just ask AI and you will see.
Real world example:
VictronConnect is a fully developed app for Victron solar devices that monitors, controls and even updates firmware of these devices, all over Bluetooth. Older versions of this app needed location permission only (NOT PHONE LOCATION SERVICES ENABLED) for it to work. Back then they showed a popup saying app location permission was required by Android and they don't want or collect user location data.
I just installed VictronConnect on a new Pixel with latest Android and now latest version of this app does not even need location permission. I connected all my Victron devices and updated FW on them yesterday, all over Bluetooth with phone LOCATION SERVICES OFF and NO location permission given for the app.
nostr:nprofile1qqs9pk20ctv9srrg9vr354p03v0rrgsqkpggh2u45va77zz4mu5p6ccpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7qgkwaehxw309a5xjum59ehx7um5wghxcctwvshsfmrzrk admitted to nostr:nprofile1qqsqfjg4mth7uwp307nng3z2em3ep2pxnljczzezg8j7dhf58ha7ejgprpmhxue69uhhqun9d45h2mfwwpexjmtpdshxuet5qyt8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnswf5k6ctv9ehx2aqnz0fd0 on nostr:nprofile1qqs874el2hv8tn5wm3fgahuz99yl624el8r9my22gq39vcas56tmupcprpmhxue69uhhqun9d45h2mfwwpexjmtpdshxuet5qydhwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnzd96xxmmfdecxzunt9e3k7mgxtaskz he is not an Android developer.
The app I used as example is from a large reputable company, their app was certainly not just vibe-coded in a few weeks by people inexperienced in Android development.
What does it say when a large corporation like Victron Energy cares more about user privacy than nostr:nprofile1qqsgydql3q4ka27d9wnlrmus4tvkrnc8ftc4h8h5fgyln54gl0a7dgspp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqpxdmhxue69uhkuamr9ec8y6tdv9kzumn9wshkz7tkdfkx26tvd4urqctvxa4ryur3wsergut9vsch5dmp8pese6nj96 and nostr:nprofile1qqs9pk20ctv9srrg9vr354p03v0rrgsqkpggh2u45va77zz4mu5p6ccpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7qgkwaehxw309a5xjum59ehx7um5wghxcctwvshsfmrzrk.
These people purport to be privacy oriented individuals but seem to be quick to drop their drawers for this new shiny thing.
Please tell me why anyone with an inclination toward privacy would want to run around with a Location Services enabled phone.
Android Location Services turns on:
GPS Hardware
Wi-Fi Positioning
Cell Tower Triangulation
Bluetooth Location Services Location APIs
Background Location Updates Location Caching
Geofencing
Sensor fusion