Retroshare 0.4.09

Overview

Retroshare is a way to communicate and share information with friends and family via an encrypted connection.

The software is in beta development presently and looks extremely promising. Open-source and free for anyone to give it a try.

The package has many features that provide an interesting way to communicate. Firstly, the friends can all be added in a list with their thumbnail and communication details. Secondly, users can share files between the group easily.

There is a lobby for friends to get together and chat. Separate private chat rooms can be used for more discreet conversations. Forums can be used to share information in a more structured format.

The friends list shows which friends are connected at the present time. Both text and large images can be sent as chat between users. Therefore, friends can share their latest travel photos privately without having to put them up on Instagram or Facebook to do so.

Installation

The software required 62.9 MB of available space to complete the setup package. The installation completed without any difficulties.

There was no adware, toolbars, malware or spyware included with the setup program.

Retroshare requires Windows OS.

Interface

The interface is easy to understand right away.

There is a friends list off to the right where online friends can be distinguished from those who are not online. Their thumbnail is shown to the right of their name. Clicking on a friend, it is possible to chat to them and send an image to them during the private chat. File attachments, smileys, and selecting the font are possible here.

Down the left side is a list of features: News feed, Network, People, File sharing, Chat lobbies, Messages, Channels, Forums, Posted, and Getting Started.

At the bottom of the interface the user can select their online status. The number of friends currently online is shown. NAT and DHT connection settings are shown as LED lights. On the right side is the current download and upload bandwidth being used, and mode selection.

Pros

• Connect privately online with friends and family
• Chat privately, send images and other files
• File share with one or more people
• Join channels or forums and join in a conversation
• Stay in the chat lobby and chat with new arrivals
• Share messages between people connected using the software

Cons

• New software that is still under development

Alternatives

Snapchat is a useful way to chat and send pictures between two users. Binfer is a more direct alternative to Retroshare.

Conclusion

Retroshare is a good private sharing and communication platform for friends and families who wish to share conversation, photos, files and enjoy group chats in privacy.