Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Briar VS SmartWindows.app

Compare Briar VS SmartWindows.app and see what are their differences

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Briar logo Briar

Secure messaging, anywhere

SmartWindows.app logo SmartWindows.app

Auto arrange all your app windows, whether on one screen or many with a single click!
  • Briar Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-04
  • SmartWindows.app Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-23

SmartWindows eliminates the overhead of manual set up and arrangement of desktop apps through smart restoration capabilities. It is a feature-rich productivity tool for Windows 10 & 11. It makes your Windows smarter by giving you enhanced capabilities and more hands at work. SmartWindows is an excellent productivity app that allows you to manage user profiles, browsers, and multiple displays efficiently.

Whether you are a student or a software engineer, a researcher or a project manager, a content creator, or a gamer, SmartWindows assists each role with its advanced functions.

How does SmartWindows work?

  1. Download and install SmartWindows on Windows 10.
  2. Make app arrangements on your desktop screen.
  3. Save the screen configuration into a SmartWindows profile.
  4. Restore the profile whenever you need.
  5. The browsers and apps will be auto-restored and auto-arranged with just one click.

Benefits of SmartWindows

  • • Save time every day.
  • • Get started on work with just one click.
  • • Increased productivity at work.
  • • No manual arrangement of apps.
  • • Optimized system performance by distributing work on multiple profiles.
  • • No need to remember browser restoration steps for each browser separately.
  • • An efficient work environment with 6 displays and unlimited profiles.

Briar features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    Briar prioritizes user privacy by encrypting all messages end-to-end, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the content.
  • Decentralized
    The app operates in a decentralized manner, meaning it doesn't rely on a central server, which reduces the risk of censorship and server-based attacks.
  • Peer-to-peer Communication
    Briar uses peer-to-peer communication methods, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the internet, enabling connectivity even without a central network or in environments with internet censorship.
  • Open-source
    Briar is open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and contribute to its codebase, which helps with transparency and trust in the platform.
  • Offline Messaging
    Briar supports offline messaging via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi direct, which is particularly useful in regions with limited internet access.

Possible disadvantages of Briar

  • Limited User Base
    Due to its niche focus on privacy and security, Briar may have a smaller user base compared to more mainstream messaging apps, potentially limiting its network effects.
  • Resource Intensive
    The app can be resource-intensive, consuming more battery and data than traditional messaging apps due to its encryption and peer-to-peer communication methods.
  • Lack of Features
    Briar may lack some of the features found in popular messaging apps, such as media-rich messages, stickers, or integrated services, which might not appeal to all users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the app less intuitive and harder to use compared to mainstream messaging apps, potentially creating a barrier to entry.
  • Android-only
    As of now, Briar is limited to Android devices, which excludes users on other platforms like iOS and may restrict its overall user adoption.

SmartWindows.app features and specs

  • Auto-Restoration and Auto-Arrangement
    SmartWindows help you auto-arrange the apps you opened last time at exactly the same position on the screen as you saved. Auto-adjust the apps on your desktop screen using SmartWindows with one click.
  • Microsoft Office File Support
    SmartWindows reopens MS Office files such as Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Project, Notepad, and Wordpad. It provides auto-arrangement support and restores applications at same position in a single click.
  • Multi-Browser & Multi-Tab Support
    It helps restore browser tabs of Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge all at one with a single click. SmartWindows keeps the browser’s tab history and URLs in each browser window separately.
  • Multiple Displays
    SmartWindows supports up to 6 displays. It remembers the window size and display position of each application on multiple displays. It helps you work efficiently on multiple monitors.
  • Profile Management
    SmartWindows supports unlimited profiles. It helps increase productivity by creating multiple profiles. Each profile remembers the desktop apps, their window size, and display position on the screen.
  • Work Zones
    You can create your own work zones against each task and project to work efficiently. SmartWindows restores the work zones automatically, saves your time, and increases your productivity at work.

Analysis of Briar

Overall verdict

  • Briar is highly regarded for those seeking secure and private communication. It is particularly valuable in areas with censorship or where traditional internet infrastructure is unreliable. Its focus on decentralization and encryption makes it a strong choice for privacy-conscious users.

Why this product is good

  • Briar is a communication app designed with privacy and security at its core. It uses peer-to-peer WiFi, Bluetooth, or the Tor network to allow messaging and sharing of information without relying on a central server. This ensures that users can communicate securely even in environments where the internet might be compromised or monitored.

Recommended for

  • Activists working in regions with restrictive internet policies
  • Individuals who prioritize privacy and security in their communications
  • Communities in remote areas lacking reliable internet infrastructure
  • Users looking for decentralized and censorship-resistant communication tools

Analysis of SmartWindows.app

Overall verdict

  • Overall, SmartWindows.app is a valuable tool for individuals who need streamlined management of their digital workspace. It can significantly enhance the workflow for users who juggle various tasks and helps in maintaining an organized desktop environment.

Why this product is good

  • SmartWindows.app is considered good due to its ability to simplify multitasking for users who often work with multiple applications and windows. It provides features like automatic arrangement, restoration of desktop layouts, and support for multiple profiles, which can help improve productivity and efficiency. It also supports both Windows and macOS, making it a versatile choice for users on different operating systems.

Recommended for

  • Professionals who frequently switch between different workspaces or applications
  • Users with multiple monitors who want to maintain a consistent layout
  • Individuals who require quick access to specific sets of apps or files for different tasks
  • Anyone looking to improve their personal productivity by reducing the time spent arranging windows

Briar videos

Briar for Android

More videos:

  • Review - CJRB Briar G10 Liner Lock Knife from Artisan Cutlery
  • Review - CJRB J1902 Briar

SmartWindows.app videos

SmartWindows Demo

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Get Windows 11 Features on Windows 10

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Briar and SmartWindows.app)
Communication
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
Group Chat & Notifications
Office & Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Briar and SmartWindows.app

Briar Reviews

We have no reviews of Briar yet.
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SmartWindows.app Reviews

  1. Excellent app

    This is just the app I needed to fix my browser and tabs crashing issues. It works well and saves time so that I can focus on my work. Highly recommended!

  2. Practical and smooth

    Such a handy app! Highly recommended if you're tabaholic like me.

    👍 Pros:    Smooth|Lightweight|Extremely useful
  3. John glover
    · Data Scientist at ThikInternational ·
    Other Features

    Very helpful software for windows 10.

    👍 Pros:    Quick support...|Professional

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Briar seems to be a lot more popular than SmartWindows.app. While we know about 125 links to Briar, we've tracked only 4 mentions of SmartWindows.app. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Briar mentions (125)

  • The Protesters' Guide to Smartphone Security
    Lots of groups have used https://briarproject.org/ successfully in the past, I've heard. Assumes you're using Android though which if you're using a burner, you most likely are. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Is Telegram an encrypted messaging app?
    This snake oil is spreading like [Herpes] Simplex . Again, the company lies about queues (a programming technique) being a privacy feature. The application can not get rid of the metadata of server knowing which IPs are conversing, unless the clients explicitly connect to the service via Tor. The server must always know from which connection to which connection it routes packets. It's not a network hub, it's a... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Is Telegram an encrypted messaging app?
    Https://briarproject.org/ (almost as great, lots of interesting features like forums and blogs inside Tor). - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Nomad, communicate off-grid mesh, forward secrecy and extreme privacy
    How is this better than Briar? https://briarproject.org/ comes with quite a pedigree. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Sharedrop: Easy P2P file transfer powered by WebRTC – inspired by Apple AirDrop
    >but your $1000 phone is a brick if it can't see a cell tower. Something went wrong there. I suppose in that case there's mesh networking apps such as Briar? https://briarproject.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
View more

SmartWindows.app mentions (4)

  • Microsoft Windows Notepad App got a Visual Refresh for Windows 11
    Notepad alongside MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is also supported by SmartWindows for both Windows 10 and 11. SmartWindows allows its users, to work smartly and achieve their work goals while maintaining productivity. For instance, researchers, programmers, designers, and writers who need to work on different applications can easily do that while using SmartWindows. It allows the user to create a profile and save... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Technology allows you to not spend time on tasks that can be done automatically
    SmartWindows is providing all the above-mentioned features. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Good Old days :)
    You can try SmartWindows and no need to keep your tabs open. You can open them instantly with SmartWindows whenever needed. Read more about other features of SmartWindows. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • How to Reopen Closed Tabs In FireFox
    When you are managing multiple projects and have opened multiple browsers to do organized browsing, you are highly vigilant about the URLs you have opened. As it is very difficult to remember the useful web pages that can help you out in performing tasks, it is crucial to make sure that you have them all the time. SmartWindows help you increase productivity at work by reopening the closed tabs of multiple browsers... Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Briar and SmartWindows.app, you can also consider the following products

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

Desktop Restore - MIDI-OX is the world's greatest all-purpose MIDI Utility.

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Element.io - Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

PingPoint - Never miss a Mark Zuckerberg signup to your app ever again