Samsung's Answer to AirDrop Finally Arrives With the Galaxy S20

[MacRumors]

Last month we reported that Samsung was working on its own AirDrop killer for Galaxy devices, called Quick Share. On Tuesday, the Korean company unveiled its new trio of Galaxy S20 phones, and we finally got a better idea of what the local file-sharing feature can do.

On the face of it, Quick Share works just like Apple's AirDrop, in that if you're near another user with a supported device, they will show up on your screen and you can share a picture, video, or file with them. Similarly, Galaxy users can also choose to receive files from anyone or only people in their contacts.

However, Quick Share has an added feature that AirDrop lacks – it allows you to share files with up to five people simultaneously. With AirDrop, you can only send to one recipient at a time.

It'll be interesting to see if Apple develops AirDrop further in response to Samsung's Quick Share feature, given that we already know Apple is continually looking to improve its ad-hoc file sharing service. The most recent addition to AirDrop's capabilities is "directional AirDrop," which allows users to point an iPhone 11 at another iPhone user to instantly share files with them.

The feature was made possible by the U1 Wideband chip included in iPhone 11 devices that allows the distance between two Ultra Wideband devices to be measured precisely by calculating the time that it takes for a radio wave to pass between the two devices.

Apple says that the directional AirDrop feature is "just the beginning" of what is possible with Ultra Wideband, and says that "amazing new capabilities" are coming later.

The first Android smartphones with Ultra Wideband technology are expected to be released starting later in 2020. Meanwhile, Google is also working on its own AirDrop-like feature called Nearby Sharing for Pixel phones.

• How to Use AirDrop on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

In addition, China's big three mobile vendors are working collectively on an AirDrop-style peer-to-peer transfer protocol that is expected to launch this month. All of which suggests the development of new close-proximity file-sharing features could well hot up between the big players in the coming years.

Android used to have an NFC-based AirDrop equivalent called Android Beam, but it was discontinued with Android 10. Users have had to resort to third-party alternatives like Google's Files Go app since.

Quick Share is currently only available for the new Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra 5G, but Samsung says support for other devices is coming soon.

Article Link: Samsung's Answer to AirDrop Finally Arrives With the Galaxy S20

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Airdrop works great

I use it a lot when on vacation with family to share pics/video back & forth since we all have iPhones

Before AirDrop we would just iMessage it but iMessage compresses the video and pictures

 

[flygbuss]

Airdrop works great

I use it a lot when on vacation with family to share pics/video back & forth since we all have iPhones

Before AirDrop we would just iMessage it but iMessage compresses the video and pictures

Does it? Even with this turned off?

I totally agree that airdrop is the superior solution though..

 

[heov]

AirDrop killer? It only works on Samsung devices lol. And this isn't novel. Many third party apps have done this much longer. It'll be news worthy when Google implements a standard for all of Android.

 

[gixxerfool]

AirDrop killer? It only works on Samsung devices lol. And this isn't novel. Many third party apps have done this much longer. It'll be news worthy when Google implements a standard for all of Android.

I raised my eyebrow at the “killer” term as well. His would suggest it could be used between more than one type of device. Instead of using click bait terms, more precise words would be better suited to not lean the article.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

What ever happed to Samsung NFC "bumping?"

"Bumping" uglies is how STDs are transmitted.

 

[Classie]

How can not all phones have a similar feature by now? AirDrop has been arround for ages.

 

[jinnj]

How do they handle encryption when sending to multiple devices at once? Wonder if the group is known to the receivers? Can they QuickShare back to the same group without having to re-select all of the devices. If so then the encryption could have issues.

 

[69Mustang]

AirDrop killer? It only works on Samsung devices lol.

Yeah, Tim seems to be reaching with that phrase. Like @gixxerfool said, seems a bit click baity.

And this isn't novel. Many third party apps have done this much longer. It'll be news worthy when Google implements a standard for all of Android.

Also, it seems you stopped reading at "AirDrop killer". The article mentions previous sharing applications including Google's previous NFC standard implementation, Android Beam, and their upcoming UWB implementation for Pixels; Nearby Share. I'm guessing Nearby Share will be a standard for any future Android phone with UWB capability.

 

[1144557]

It would however be nice if Apple didnt treat PC users like red redheaded step children. That is INCREDIBLY frustrating as I have zero intention of buying a Mac anytime soon if ever.

There is no reason why Airdrop couldnt work via the iCloud PC app. Youre Apple ID is already logged in and authenticated; and its just bluetooth. It's nothing an app like Pushbullet (not being developed for iOS anymore it seems and they pulled the app from the app store) couldnt already do.

That attitude if you dont own another Apple product you're SOL is getting a bit tired honestly.

And before you get into security etc etc, Dell seems to have made an app that can get calls and get/answer texts mirrored from an iphone to a PC just fine on my laptop. There are iOS limitations though of course (texts only come in or go out as SMS not Imessage obviously, the app has to be open on the phone and phone not locked to work so you cant do anything else on the phone, etc) So it IS technologically perfectly possible, Apple is just being Apple.

And after using iPhones since the 3GS, this is someone saying its getting a bit old and inconvenient now to have to find workarounds for Apple's refusal to include anything not an Apple product or anyone on the PC side. I would think you would get MORE iOS users, not less, if you could show more compatibility with every day people's lives; considering Windows still has 90%+ marketshare.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Airdrop works great

I use it a lot when on vacation with family to share pics/video back & forth since we all have iPhones

Before AirDrop we would just iMessage it but iMessage compresses the video and pictures

It does? I've always thought iMessage media was perfectly fine, that it wasn't until you received an MMS that the media was compressed.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Airdrop works great

I use it a lot when on vacation with family to share pics/video back & forth since we all have iPhones

Before AirDrop we would just iMessage it but iMessage compresses the video and pictures

Media sent through iMessage is only compressed if you have “low quality image mode” toggled on.
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It would however be nice if Apple didnt treat PC users like red redheaded step children. That is INCREDIBLY frustrating as I have zero intention of buying a Mac anytime soon if ever.

There is no reason why Airdrop couldnt work via the iCloud PC app. Youre Apple ID is already logged in and authenticated; and its just bluetooth. It's nothing an app like Pushbullet (not being developed for iOS anymore it seems and they pulled the app from the app store) couldnt already do.

That attitude if you dont own another Apple product you're SOL is getting a bit tired honestly.

And before you get into security etc etc, Dell seems to have made an app that can get calls and get/answer texts mirrored from an iphone to a PC just fine on my laptop. There are iOS limitations though of course (texts only come in or go out as SMS not Imessage obviously, the app has to be open on the phone and phone not locked to work so you cant do anything else on the phone, etc) So it IS technologically perfectly possible, Apple is just being Apple.

And after using iPhones since the 3GS, this is someone saying its getting a bit old and inconvenient now to have to find workarounds for Apple's refusal to include anything not an Apple product or anyone on the PC side. I would think you would get MORE iOS users, not less, if you could show more compatibility with every day people's lives; considering Windows still has 90%+ marketshare.

Unfortunately it’ll never happen. At this point you’re better off getting an Android because the platforms integration with windows 10 has been really great, regardless of which android you buy.

 

[Viet Dang]

BuT wE’vE hAd It FoR yEaRs

 

[1144557]

Unfortunately it’ll never happen. At this point you’re better off getting an Android because the platforms integration with windows 10 has been really great, regardless of which android you buy.

I know and sadly after a decade with iPhones its become do I want the platform/privacy aspect, or to be able to use my phone less of in a walled-off box.

When I have to email myself a file, as Rene Ritchie would say sarcastically, "like an animal" that is not fun.

Yes I can drag and drop it into icloud drive which then takes a few min to sync the file to the cloud, then go into the Files app and open it; or vice versa to get it to the PC). But that is so many (extra) steps.

Its just harder with tech to be walled off in compatibility anymore. Back in 2007-2010, sure, it didnt matter so much. You hooked your iPhone up to itunes via a USB and most issues like this didnt even exist yet as phones did limited stuff

It's sad Apple is backing people into these choices when they surely have the tech capability to do better. I guarantee they could make all features available on PC too (Airdrop, iMessage, etc) absent continuity as the apps dont exist on PC to do that.

I mean take my years old Honeywell wifi thermostat. Before smart home was really a thing. I can now add that old thing to Google assistant to control it, but Siri is obviously a total no go. So I have to set up a shortcut to use Google assistant to control it; its just madness.

I get privacy arguments but at some point you are just shooting yourself in the foot too. There has to be some better line between compatibility and not giving up privacy completely- and I dont think Apple has it correct either as much as they bash everyone else.

 

[NickName99]

Welcome to 2011, Samsung!

 

[Coconut Bean]

How can not all phones have a similar feature by now? AirDrop has been arround for ages.

It's not a phone feature but rather an ecosystem feature.

And Android is just a much more fragmented eco system.

 

[arkhanjel]

I was about to say come on MR you're better than this, using click bait-y terms like this, but then I remembered where we were and no, no they're not. They're actually pretty bad at it.

 

[drinkingtea]

It would however be nice if Apple didnt treat PC users like red redheaded step children. That is INCREDIBLY frustrating as I have zero intention of buying a Mac anytime soon if ever.

There is no reason why Airdrop couldnt work via the iCloud PC app. Youre Apple ID is already logged in and authenticated; and its just bluetooth. It's nothing an app like Pushbullet (not being developed for iOS anymore it seems and they pulled the app from the app store) couldnt already do.

That attitude if you dont own another Apple product you're SOL is getting a bit tired honestly.

And before you get into security etc etc, Dell seems to have made an app that can get calls and get/answer texts mirrored from an iphone to a PC just fine on my laptop. There are iOS limitations though of course (texts only come in or go out as SMS not Imessage obviously, the app has to be open on the phone and phone not locked to work so you cant do anything else on the phone, etc) So it IS technologically perfectly possible, Apple is just being Apple.

And after using iPhones since the 3GS, this is someone saying its getting a bit old and inconvenient now to have to find workarounds for Apple's refusal to include anything not an Apple product or anyone on the PC side. I would think you would get MORE iOS users, not less, if you could show more compatibility with every day people's lives; considering Windows still has 90%+ marketshare.

As someone who is considering purchasing a Surface Laptop, I agree. Apple’s stubbornness is extremely off-putting.

 

[AlanShutko]

There is no reason why Airdrop couldnt work via the iCloud PC app. Youre Apple ID is already logged in and authenticated; and its just bluetooth. It's nothing an app like Pushbullet (not being developed for iOS anymore it seems and they pulled the app from the app store) couldnt already do.

I'm not entirely sure about that. The current airdrop behaves different than the original Airdrop on Macs, and it uses a specific Apple direct wifi protocol that certain older devices didn't support. I don't know whether the chips/drivers on Windows would allow it. It does appear that there is a reverse-engineered version of this for Linux (mentioned in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirDrop).

 

[Mr. Awesome]

It would however be nice if Apple didnt treat PC users like red redheaded step children. That is INCREDIBLY frustrating as I have zero intention of buying a Mac anytime soon if ever.

There is no reason why Airdrop couldnt work via the iCloud PC app. Youre Apple ID is already logged in and authenticated; and its just bluetooth. It's nothing an app like Pushbullet (not being developed for iOS anymore it seems and they pulled the app from the app store) couldnt already do.

AirDrop actually uses TLS Encryption and peer-to-peer WiFi, so no, it's not just Bluetooth.

 

[Jakewilk]

You can definitely airdrop to multiple people at once, I’ve done it so many times... unless they changed it so some reason

 

[falainber]

AirDrop killer? It only works on Samsung devices lol. And this isn't novel. Many third party apps have done this much longer. It'll be news worthy when Google implements a standard for all of Android.

And AirDrop only works on Apple devices lol. There are more Samsung devices out there than Apple devices.

 

[Westacular]

There is no reason why Airdrop couldnt work via the iCloud PC app. Youre Apple ID is already logged in and authenticated; and its just bluetooth.

AirDrop works by broadcasting device availability over Bluetooth, but when the transfer happens, the two devices setup up a private adhoc Wifi connection to actually transfer the data.

This requires:
- hardware support for special features in the Bluetooth chipset
- hardware support for special features in the Wifi chipset
- deep integration in the Bluetooth and Wifi drivers

There is no way Apple could add that to a Windows PC. Even if the hardware did support the required Bluetooth and Wifi features, they’d have to rewrite the Windows hardware drivers to build in support for the low-level trickery they’re doing to make AirDrop work.

 

[philosoraptor1]

I never noticed directional AirDrop. Gonna have to try that.

 

[Shanghaichica]

AirDrop killer? It only works on Samsung devices lol. And this isn't novel. Many third party apps have done this much longer. It'll be news worthy when Google implements a standard for all of Android.

I don’t see why Samsung should be responsible for the whole oh android. AirDrop only works with Apple devices.