iOS 7 May Include AirDrop Wireless File Sharing Capabilities

[duffman9000]

hope they wont go privacy on music and videos etc

allow for documents too


a file system aint gonna happen

It already has a file system, even if everything was located under /.
What some people want is a file system browser. I doubt this will happen.

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iOS is a clean slate and a library app (All My Files) for iOS would solve a lot of headaches.

That sounds like a great idea and is a happy middle ground. I doubt Apple will allow a file browser like a Finder.

 

[Tankmaze]

please utilize bluetooth for file transfer apple. so we can send and receive files with phones other than ios.

 

[vikingjunior]

Just Sayin...

 

[chazcron]

Emailing iPhone photos to self

Sounds like somebody doesn't know what photostream is! ~

Some of us have to stay on Snow Leopard at work. Apple didn't see fit to include us in the whole iCloud experience.

Further, they give NO access to my default photostream within a browser at iCloud.com. But, hey, make a separate photostream and manually share it to that one and Presto! You have a semi-complicated workaround to getting your photos at your browser-based iClould account.

Yeah, probably easier to email the image, but I get sick of having to clear the warning that i have nothing in the subject line.

 

[koban4max]

No, it connects to a computer via Wifi, but it does so without a router. You could be in the middle of the desert and it would work, as long as you have 2 macs, or a mac and (now) an iPhone running iOS 7.

oh ok. i see what you're saying.

 

[Dorje Sylas]

Ad-hoc WiFi networking and file transfer should have been a feature as far back as iOS4, perhaps even iOS3. Slow Apple is slow.

 

[4TheLoveOfTech]

this works nothing like nfc, two completely different things. For someone who's a lover of tech, your knowledge of tech is pretty limited. Might I suggest some reading?

Maybe you should go back and look at my post regarding WiFi Direct before making judgement on me.

The facts are Apple does not at the current time have a modern file system that allows any user interaction or ability to create a folder to receive documents in any manor.

This is a choice and has been a choice by Apple. Android has numerous ways to send ANY file to another user or computer. Some of which include WiFi Direct, NFC, S Beam (Samsung) and a straight USB connection for full access to the file system.

Until Apple allows this type of choice they are playing catch up.

But at least you have copy and paste.

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iPhones have a full Posix-compatible file system. Always had. Since 2007.

What you mean is that Apple needs (in your opinion) to give visible access to that file system to the user. Most users disagree.

I'd say by the postings in here you are incorrect about what "most users" want from a modern file system.

Unless I missed the post where you were voted to speak for most users it's your opinion and nothing more.

 

[_Refurbished_]

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.

It was a joke.

 

[pirg]

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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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!

Silliness. Nfc is hardware dependent and both phones require nfc in order to accomplish it. This is like saying a Bluetooth transfers are the same as Wi-Fi

You're getting distracted by your insistence that apple is catching up.

 

[duffman9000]

The facts are Apple does not at the current time have a modern file system that allows any user interaction or ability to create a folder to receive documents in any manor.

Apple does have a modern file system that allows any user interaction or ability to create a folder to receive documents in any manor. It's called OS X.

Apple also already has a modern mobile file system, but Apple doesn't allow file system browsers. If you're going to troll at least get your story straight.

 

[charlesdayton]

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.

Thanks. To me it seems as if they don't feel secure about their own choice of phone and have to justify it with silly claims on iPhone forums: "it has a larger screen", "is open source", "has higher specs", "everyone not using Android is dumb".

I am a comp. Engineer. I know how to compile a kernel and build a custom Linux distro. I know how to Root an Android and install the latest CyanogenMod as well as jailbreak an iPhone and install Cydia.

But my iPhone does everything I need without any extra effort on my part and is stable. I love the OS and design. Sure I can install extra apps on Android to simulate find my iPhone, iCloud, Podcasts, etc. But I still prefer the functionality of the stock iPhone without having to purchase other apps and login to different services. Not to mention no need to root to uninstall carrier crap-ware.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

Silliness. Nfc is hardware dependent and both phones require nfc in order to accomplish it. This is like saying a Bluetooth transfers are the same as Wi-Fi

You're getting distracted by your insistence that apple is catching up.

You think this feature will work on iPhone 4S? No, it's hardware dependent as well as it requires Wifi Direct which means iPhone 5+ only.

 

[SpyderBite]

Finally something useful!

Agreed. I'm looking forward to this feature of it is real. Especially if it is cross platform (OS X & iOS) and integrated with iCloud.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

I am a comp. Engineer.

What sort of education/training does that involve?

 

[doctorossi]

If they include this, maybe I'll finally be able to transfer music to my phone again, which I haven't been able to do since they removed the "sync apps" checkbox from iTunes.

 

[pirg]

Maybe you should go back and look at my post regarding WiFi Direct before making judgement on me.

The facts are Apple does not at the current time have a modern file system that allows any user interaction or ability to create a folder to receive documents in any manor.

This is a choice and has been a choice by Apple. Android has numerous ways to send ANY file to another user or computer. Some of which include WiFi Direct, NFC, S Beam (Samsung) and a straight USB connection for full access to the file system.

Until Apple allows this type of choice they are playing catch up.

But at least you have copy and paste.

You're changing your argument now. The post I responded to was where you said airdrop was like nfc and people would find it revolutionary now because apple did it. No. It is not like nfc.

 

[tevion5]

This will be helpful but Apple still needs to implement a built in file system.

Well actually in order for any device like an iPhone to operate at all it needs a file system. In iOS it is just hidden. That is essentially the major difference between iOS and android. If file system access is more important to you than easy, solid performance then you ought to get an android phone or a blackberry. When the iPhone was first released it was not the most feature-some phone. Instead it focused on reinventing the core interface of the mobile phone. The hidden file system is key to iOS.

 

[pirg]

You think this feature will work on iPhone 4S? No, it's hardware dependent as well as it requires Wifi Direct which means iPhone 5+ only.

Oh ok I apologize thought the 4s had it.

ETA: did some fact checking cuz I didn't think it was hardware dependent, and it's not...It's software dependent.

So yes, it's not available on the 4s, but the 4s can still receive files from a 5 through airdrop.

With nfc, it's completely hardware dependent.

 

[Northgrove]

I have never used this once.

If I need to share a file I just throw it into a Dropbox folder that's already being shared by people I know. Proximity and platform is then irrelevant.

That's nice and all until you're transferring a lot of photos or a single HD video from your iPhone and need to use Dropbox as a middle man when you don't really need to for any particular reason other than to get it to your computer. Obviously Dropbox is great for sharing videos or photos with your family or friends, but that's not the problem this feature is supposed to solve.

 

[The Phazer]

Well actually in order for any device like an iPhone to operate at all it needs a file system. In iOS it is just hidden. That is essentially the major difference between iOS and android. If file system access is more important to you than easy, solid performance then you ought to get an android phone or a blackberry. When the iPhone was first released it was not the most feature-some phone. Instead it focused on reinventing the core interface of the mobile phone. The hidden file system is key to iOS.

This really is crap.

The lack of an accessible file system has always (ALWAYS) made iOS harder to use, not easier.

iOS already has an accessible file system - it's called the photos app. It's just time to be able to do the same for other kinds of data.

 

[guzhogi]

I hope this happens and works well. I work in a school and use Apple's Configurator app to manage paid apps on our iPads. Unfortunately, it pretty much disables the dock connector when not connected to the administrator computer. That means transferring files to a student or teacher computer is ridiculously hard. Students don't have e-mail and even then, somethings might be too big to e-mail like iMovie projects and some Keynotes. So if AirDrop works with Configurator, I'll be a very happy camper.

 

[tevion5]

This really is crap.

The lack of an accessible file system has always (ALWAYS) made iOS harder to use, not easier.

iOS already has an accessible file system - it's called the photos app. It's just time to be able to do the same for other kinds of data.

That is your opinion.
If you want that functionality you can jailbreak, at the cost of reliability.

In my opinion, all other mobile operating systems are far more unreliable, buggy and harder to use than iOS. No doubt some may have more features, but iOS does everything I need it too better than any other mobile OS.

 

[The Phazer]

That is your opinion.
If you want that functionality you can jailbreak, at the cost of reliability.

If Apple wants to let me Jailbreak any given software version then fine. Meanwhile you cannot actually jailbreak any iPhone shipping today.

In my opinion, all other mobile operating systems are far more unreliable, buggy and harder to use than iOS. No doubt some may have more features, but iOS does everything I need it too better than any other mobile OS.

Even if that were true, that doesn't mean it's related to a choice of file system.

The reality is this - if there was a file manager app in the app store that gave access to a central folder for word documents, or voice recordings, or any other types of data that the user wanted to put in there and share between applications, then that app would be the best selling app of all time. Period.

 

[bag of kittens]

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.

It's because they either work for Samsung, or are paid by them. It is well documented that Samsung infiltrates Apple/Technology websites with propaganda.

 

[bbeagle]

What sort of education/training does that involve?

Seriously?

That's all you take from his previous post - to bully him?