iOS 7 May Include AirDrop Wireless File Sharing Capabilities

[dugbug]

I did not know the i5 wifi chip was the first to have WD support. Makes sense that now airdrop is being revisited. PLEASE make this happen Apple.

I wonder as to its implemetation for receiving:
Would I launch an airdrop app to accept a transfer, then target an app to load it within said app's sandbox?
Do we have to rebuild our apps to support it as a receiving option and initiate the receive in-app?

Perhaps it will end up just being a sharing/transmit only thing. That would still be quite welcome.

 

[ClemyNX]

Why? Every iOS device has it's name based on OS X/Windows user account name.

It's only a name. I can't remember if that name is even changed by the user if the device is used without a computer.

People don't really change their phone names currently. If you could see the name of iPhones in the streets they would probably all be called 'iPhone', which isn't very helpful when you need to send a file to someone specific. They need to implement a simple way by which people will choose an image and a name for the device.

 

[iKnowMr.Jobs]

The closest thing to this now is an app called instashare. Its a free app on both iOS and OS X that does the same thing. Its wonderful that it might be native in iOS.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Why not Airdrop functionality over ethernet ? I still don't get why this isn't an option without hacking settings.

Probably because Apple is depreciating Ethernet & pushing people to wireless. Most Apple laptops don't have a port anymore. IPads never did. I won't be too shocked if its removed from future iMacs & minis in place of an additional USB3 or TB. Legacy support will be available via dongle but no new functionality support.

I'm not advocating for the removal of Ethernet, just assessing reality. Don't blame the messenger.

 

[Kaibelf]

They already have this functionality. Its called s-beam (android beam) Its also much better implemented and uses wifi direct so it doesn't require devices to be on the same wireless network like this will. Using NFC for the pairing makes the setup of the connection extremely simple.

Either you're not familiar with how AirDrop actually works and are speaking out of turn, or you're deliberately lying. Which is it?

 

[bbeagle]

I still don't get why some people here are: Complaining all the time and hating on iPhone and praising Android.

Hating on iPhone and parsing the competition on an iPhone forum just wastes yours and other forum member's time.

Just get an Android phone and be happy with it. No one is forcing you on a phone or forum you don't like.

You have it spot on.

There are so many Android users who think that their trashing the iPhone will get all these iPhone people to switch to Android. Because, of course, the only reason iPhone users are iPhone users is that they don't understand what is out there and why the iPhone is trash. They are here to set the record straight. Sigh.

Android users need to understand that their view of the world is not the only view. A feature and a feature that works are 2 different things.

 

[Fishticks]

Finally something that I can get excited about. This would strengthen the "ecosystem" argument for using iOS/OS X.

While you people can share data from their Samsung device to my Macs, it means I won't be able to share my data (my data) with friends I haven't offered AAPL products yet.
Uncool.

 

[e-coli]

No, AirDrop doesn't require you to be on the same WiFi network.

It also doesn't require you to touch devices or anything. The other person could be in the next room, upstairs, etc.

And it doesn't require you to go into the settings menu every time you want to transfer a file.

 

[dankedieter]

Dropbox already works great for me, whether it's between my home and work computer, ios device or friends.

 

[latts]

They already have this functionality. Its called s-beam (android beam) Its also much better implemented and uses wifi direct so it doesn't require devices to be on the same wireless network like this will. Using NFC for the pairing makes the setup of the connection extremely simple.

How can you possibly say this is better implemented when this is macrumours.com and WWDC is next week so until it's announced we know absolutely nothing about how Apple will or will not implement this. FFS!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I still don't get why some people here are: Complaining all the time and hating on iPhone and praising Android....

Just get an Android phone and be happy with it.

Trolls are not happy people. Period.

 

[Slix]

It's only a name. I can't remember if that name is even changed by the user if the device is used without a computer.

People don't really change their phone names currently. If you could see the name of iPhones in the streets they would probably all be called 'iPhone', which isn't very helpful when you need to send a file to someone specific. They need to implement a simple way by which people will choose an image and a name for the device.

Currently you may change the iOS devices name in the Settings > General > About > Name area without using a computer. But I agree, most people just leave it as "iPhone" or "John's iPhone" or whatever.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Dropbox already works great for me, whether it's between my home and work computer, ios device or friends.

Agree but you still have to send a download link. It would be cool if you could have a list of people you could directly send files to a sandboxed folder on their device.

 

[gotluck]

It's about time!

Now lets get iFile (from cydia) into the app store and we're really talking.

Full mail attachment support in the native mail app would be nice too. I need to email pdf's and it looks more professional than a dropbox link IMO. I currently use iFile for this (among other things, it's a fantastic app)

 

[antonis]

They already have this functionality. Its called s-beam (android beam) Its also much better implemented and uses wifi direct so it doesn't require devices to be on the same wireless network like this will. Using NFC for the pairing makes the setup of the connection extremely simple.

Nope.

Airdrop - at least the way it works on Mac - does not require the 2 participants to be on the same wireless network. They just need to turn their wifi on and it works flawlessly. I know since I use it all the time to transfer files between laptop/imac. It also supports more than 2 machines at the same time. It virtually detects any mac in range, and enables you to exchange files with it.

If they bring this to iOS it will be really great. If - even more - allow transfers between iOS devices and Macs it will be even cooler.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

S Drop

- Samsung

The direct transferring of files between Android devices has been possible for a couple of years and is known as Android Beam. A year ago Samsung extended this protocol with the release of the GS3 (S Beam).

As has been the case with the last few releases of iOS, it's Apple who is playing catchup, not the other way around.

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Perfect for dropping movies instead of syncing. AirDrop is faster than USB tends to be.

If you think Apple is going to open this feature up to any file extension which could potentially contain copyrighted material (such as music or movies), I think you might be in for a disappointment.

 

[anomie]

Nice. Welcome to 2013, Apple!

 

[ren857]

Quotes from http://www.wi-fi.org/discover-and-learn/wi-fi-direct about WiFi Direct (and therefore S-Beam):

Mobile phones, cameras, printers, PCs, and gaming devices can now connect to each other directly to transfer content and share applications quickly and easily. Devices can make a one-to-one connection, or a group of several devices can connect simultaneously.

Wi-Fi Direct device connections can happen anywhere, anytime - even when you don't have access to a Wi-Fi network. Your Wi-Fi Direct device will signal to other devices in the area that it can make a connection. You can view available devices and ask them to connect, or you might receive an invitation to connect to another Wi-Fi Direct device. When two or more Wi-Fi Direct-certified devices connect directly, they have formed a Wi-Fi Direct Group, using Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ and the latest Wi-Fi security.

What's the difference between this and Airdrop?

 

[pirg]

The direct transferring of files between Android devices has been possible for a couple of years and is known as Android Beam. A year ago Samsung extended this protocol with the release of the GS3 (S Beam).

As has been the case with the last few releases of iOS, it's Apple who is playing catchup, not the other way around.
.

Wrong. This is not the same as android beam.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

Yes you absolutely right , it will be fine if apple implements in built in file system

This has been mentioned about a dozen times in this thread. Hint: Your iPhones already have filesystems, you just do not have direct access to them by way of a file manager.

 

[blackcrayon]

The direct transferring of files between Android devices has been possible for a couple of years and is known as Android Beam. A year ago Samsung extended this protocol with the release of the GS3 (S Beam).

As has been the case with the last few releases of iOS, it's Apple who is playing catchup, not the other way around.

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If you think Apple is going to open this feature up to any file extension which could potentially contain copyrighted material (such as music or movies), I think you might be in for a disappointment.

Every time I swipe to scroll or resize the screen on an Android device I'm reminded that both systems are "catching up" to each other.

As for potentially copyrighted material, I don't think they will put an Air Drop button in the Music app, but it's "not going to care" in any other situation. It's not like you can't email or send files between devices in several other ways (Goodreader, etc).

 

[SlCKB0Y]

Wrong. This is not the same as android beam.

A mechanism for allowing the fast transfer of files between two phones where Samsung "S Beam" is using NFC to initiate the connection and then WiFi Direct for the actual transfer? Yep, you're right, totally different.... the iPhone does not have NFC and will use some other means to initiate the connection.

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Quotes from http://www.wi-fi.org/discover-and-learn/wi-fi-direct about WiFi Direct (and therefore S-Beam):

What's the difference between this and Airdrop?

Duh! iOS AirDrop is totally different. S Beam uses NFC to initiate the connection whereas this will use something else.

You're just getting distracted by the fact that they both allow for the exact some functions and use the same WiFi Direct protocols to transfer the data. Plus, S Beam isn't magical!

 

[Karma*Police]

They already have this functionality. Its called s-beam (android beam) Its also much better implemented and uses wifi direct so it doesn't require devices to be on the same wireless network like this will. Using NFC for the pairing makes the setup of the connection extremely simple.

There's no pairing involved with Airdrop, no confusing list of settings to wade through to figure out how to turn it on and you don't need to be on the same network. It's classic Apple plug and play and IMO, far better implemented than S beam, from both a setup and UI perspective.

 

[esaruoho]

No, it doesn't. You don't need wifi for your photos to upload from your iphone to the cloud. Only a phone that is activated and has a data plan. And you HAVE to have some sort of data plan if you have an iphone.

You also don't need wifi to be able to pull them from your photostream to the Mac... just an internet connection.

Settings -> iCloud -> Photo Stream -> Photo Stream -> My Photo Stream
"Automatically upload new photos and send them to all of your iCloud devices when connected to Wi-Fi".

Trust me, I tried with 3G on and Wi-Fi Off, PhotoStream images did not go from my iPhone5 to iPhoto running on my MacBookPro.

If there's something I'm missing, do tell. I did look. The general consensus on the internets was that Photo Stream = Wi-Fi *ONLY*.

 

[Ed91]

Apple will never implement a file system, get used to it.

Now, I'm going to ignore the attitude that makes you sound like a bit of a [redacted] and respond politely. I didn't ask for a filesystem. I asked for a file app with a library. Libraries have solved the filesystem problem for years. The biggest problem with them was that they were imposed on top of filesystems that people knew, and most people stuck with what they knew & had. iOS is a clean slate and a library app (All My Files) for iOS would solve a lot of headaches.

Next time think before you comment.