Press Release

Version 1.1 released with dark theme, new emoji and more

September 12 2018

The Briar Project releases version 1.1 of their Android app. After its first public release in May, this is the first release adding new features to the app.

With support from the Open Technology Fund and Ura Design, a dark theme was added. Users can activate it in the settings or turn on automatic mode that activates it only in the night. As part of this work, the conversation screen was also redesigned.

This release also adds lots of new emoji and the ability to modify emoji skin tones. This is important for everybody to feel represented by the app.

Briar encrypts all its data with a dedicated password. In order to receive messages, the user needs to enter this password. To not miss anything important, Briar now reminds the user after device restarts or when it was upgraded that signing in is required. This notification can be disabled in the settings.

In addition to signing in, Briar now supports app locking. The app can be locked manually or automatically after a certain time of not using it. To use the app again, the user needs to enter the device password or use the fingerprint reader on recent versions of Android.

To connect users directly with each other, Briar uses the Tor network. In some countries Tor is blocked and Briar will now try to detect this and enable bridges into the Tor network when needed.

Work on the next big release is already under-way. Among other things, the Briar Project plans to introduce the possibility to add contacts without meeting face-to-face and to allow users to send large messages with image attachments.

Media

About Briar

Briar is a messaging app designed for activists, journalists, and anyone else who needs a safe, easy and robust way to communicate. Unlike traditional messaging tools such as email, Twitter or Telegram, Briar doesn't rely on a central server - messages are synchronized directly between the users' devices. If the internet's down, Briar can sync via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, keeping the information flowing in a crisis. If the internet's up, Briar can sync via the Tor network, protecting users and their relationships from surveillance.

Briar has received funding from Small Media, the Open Internet Tools Project, Access, the Open Technology Fund, and the Prototype Fund.

Contact

Torsten Grote <torsten@briarproject.org> [PGP key]

Michael Rogers <contact@briarproject.org> [PGP key]

Twitter: @BriarApp