SimpleX Chat 5.5 introduces private notes, group history, and enhanced user interface

SimpleX Chat, a privacy-centric messaging platform that operates without user IDs, has rolled out its version 5.5. The latest update introduces private notes, group history, and a more straightforward user interface for connecting.

The private notes feature, which is also found in apps like Signal, appears as a regular conversation. Users can add text messages, links with previews, and any media or files. However, these are not transmitted anywhere, instead, they are stored locally on the user's device with encrypted files.

The update also provides group administrators the ability to send recent group history to new members. This feature is automatically enabled for new groups and can be activated for existing ones in the preferences. When a new member is added, the admin sends these messages directly, ensuring that they are not stored on any servers. This maintains the fully decentralized and private nature of the groups, with no network identity and only known to their members.

Version 5.5 simplifies the connection process by allowing users to connect via a received link by pasting the address into the search bar, a feature common in many wallet apps and some other decentralized messengers. The process for creating invitation links has also been enhanced.

The update also addresses numerous issues related to message delivery stability and includes diagnostics to identify any instances where message delivery may halt. These improvements are expected to reduce battery usage, especially on slow internet connections.