Will Apple Kill Google's Surprise Android to iPhone AirDrop Interoperability?

[jakey rolling]

Why should Apple work with google when it invisibly doesn’t want to do so?

Well, the biggest reason I would think is that Apple would want to make their device more useful to their customers.

And maybe google shouldn’t be building a house of cards that can literally be blown down.

If you understand Google's motifivation in doing this, it becomes pretty clear that Google had two main goals in mind when working on this:
1) To provide additional interoperability between iOS and Pixel users for sharing files via Airdrop.
2) To expose how Apple limits their own customers' ability to communicate with the outside world.

If Apple works with Google to improve Airdrop support on Pixel phones (or better, Android in general), or if Apple agrees to participate in defining and supporting a new, wider standard, then Goal #1 is achieved.

If Apple decides to break this functionality, Goal #2 is achieved.

It’s not about easy peasy and all of that, it’s about protecting your airports assets, imo.

Technically, it's easy peasy, since the work has already been done. From a business decision standpoint, sure, Apple needs to decide which is the worse evil: giving up one point of differentiation in their platform, or breaking functionality without there being a really good customer-focused reason to do so.

 

[I7guy]

Well, the biggest reason I would think is that Apple would want to make their device more useful to their customers.

They balance that out with the non warranty support and bad press if it goes south. If apple wanted to work with google there would be an announcement.

If you understand Google's motifivation in doing this, it becomes pretty clear that Google had two main goals in mind when working on this:
1) To provide additional interoperability between iOS and Pixel users for sharing files via Airdrop.
2) To expose how Apple limits their own customers' ability to communicate with the outside world.

Well they hacked apples devices and Apple is well within their source to change things up.

If Apple works with Google to improve Airdrop support on Pixel phones (or better, Android in general), or if Apple agrees to participate in defining and supporting a new, wider standard, then Goal #1 is achieved.

If they indeed do.

If Apple decides to break this functionality, Goal #2 is achieved.

And it’s perfectly valid for Apple to protect its stuff. Google would appear as the bad “guy” here hacking apples protocols.

Technically, it's easy peasy, since the work has already been done. From a business decision standpoint, sure, Apple needs to decide which is the worse evil: giving up one point of differentiation in their platform, or breaking functionality without there being a really good customer-focused reason to do so.

Apple is scrappy is what I will say.

 

[I7guy]

Yes, that is true.


This part really doesn't make much rational sense. I can understand why Apple would be against it in this case. But why would Apple's customers care if Apple breaks functionality that they rely on vs. some third party doing so? At least if it is Apple breaking it, there is a small chance that they can voice their displeasure to Apple and actually be heard.

MR posters are the ones arguing this. Not Apple customers.

 

[jakey rolling]

They balance that out with the non warranty support and bad press if it goes south.

Well sure. Apple partnering with Google to make sure that Airdrop to Android works properly would likely increase the instances of support calls that Apple might have to field in relation to Airdrop. And yes indeed, if it fails to work properly, ("goes south") then Apple would face some bad press.

Here's the thing, though. Both of those things are also likely to happen if Apple breaks Google's implementation of Airdrop on Android. Now as far as "non-warranty support" goes, Apple could just wave off a caller with "that's not supported functionality", which is probably something they already are well-trained to do. But there really is no way to avoid the bad press because "things went south", especially when those things go south because you intentionally made them go south.

Well they hacked apples devices and Apple is well within their source to change things up. And it’s perfectly valid for Apple to protect its stuff.

Sure. Apple has many rights - they have a right to change their source, they have a right to break Airdrop, and they even have a right to just completely drop Airdrop or any other functionality from future phones if they so wish to do so. Nobody is debating on what Apple has a "right" to do.

It is, however, also perfectly valid for consumers, reporters, YouTube commentators, and MacRumors forum commenters to point out when Apple (or anyone else for that matter) exercise such rights in a way that only benefits themselves and is otherwise detrimental to their customers.

Google would appear as the bad “guy” here hacking apples protocols.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. As it stands right now, Google has provided additional functionality to both Apple and Pixel users without any apparent downside to either Apple users or Pixel users. If Apple were to intentionally break this functionality, they'd be hurting their own customers without providing really any benefit in return.

Now, usually when Apple does something like this, they use "security" as the justification. And, of course, there is definitely a large subset of Apple users who will just blindly accept such a justification. To those users, yes, absolutely, Google are probably going to be seen as the bad guy. Google doesn't really care about those users, though, because Apple has a lock on them. The vast majority of those users will never even consider anything other than an iPhone.

The other 50-ish percent of iOS users who use Apple phones for no other reason than "it is what I prefer", the ones Google is actively trying to court over to Android - who those users perceive as being the "bad guy" is much less certain.

Apple is scrappy is what I will say.

They aren't the only ones who are.

 

[I7guy]

Well sure. Apple partnering with Google to make sure that Airdrop to Android works properly would likely increase the instances of support calls that Apple might have to field in relation to Airdrop. And yes indeed, if it fails to work properly, ("goes south") then Apple would face some bad press.

Here's the thing, though. Both of those things are also likely to happen if Apple breaks Google's implementation of Airdrop on Android. Now as far as "non-warranty support" goes, Apple could just wave off a caller with "that's not supported functionality", which is probably something they already are well-trained to do. But there really is no way to avoid the bad press because "things went south", especially when those things go south because you intentionally made them go south.

For the reasons you mention this is why hacking airdrop is a bad idea. Apple would be well within it's to make changes and not consider the "hack".

Sure. Apple has many rights - they have a right to change their source, they have a right to break Airdrop, and they even have a right to just completely drop Airdrop or any other functionality from future phones if they so wish to do so. Nobody is debating on what Apple has a "right" to do.

It is, however, also perfectly valid for consumers, reporters, YouTube commentators, and MacRumors forum commenters to point out when Apple (or anyone else for that matter) exercise such rights in a way that only benefits themselves and is otherwise detrimental to their customers.

Sure and it is well within reasonable discourse to discuss what a bad idea hacking someone else's protocol is. And of course if this catches on and annoys apple customers to such a great extent apple will be forced to listen. Of course it's also possible it's a non-event if apple breaks it.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. As it stands right now, Google has provided additional functionality to both Apple and Pixel users without any apparent downside to either Apple users or Pixel users. If Apple were to intentionally break this functionality, they'd be hurting their own customers without providing really any benefit in return.

The downside is the hacked protocol.

Now, usually when Apple does something like this, they use "security" as the justification. And, of course, there is definitely a large subset of Apple users who will just blindly accept such a justification.

As there is a large subset of critics who will attempt to discredit these justifications. There are parties on all sides of this.

To those users, yes, absolutely, Google are probably going to be seen as the bad guy. Google doesn't really care about those users, though, because Apple has a lock on them. The vast majority of those users will never even consider anything other than an iPhone.

I can't comment on the vast majority.

The other 50-ish percent of iOS users who use Apple phones for no other reason than "it is what I prefer", the ones Google is actively trying to court over to Android - who those users perceive as being the "bad guy" is much less certain.


They aren't the only ones who are.

Yep for sure!

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

I cannot imagine why some people want their devices to be less convenient and less flexible.

Less flexible to me means more security. Privacy and data control over texhnological conveniences 20 times out of 10 bro.

No idea why so many are against it, this doesn't hurt iOS users in any way, it just allows you to easily share stuff. This is good for everyone.

Not if it somehow leads to a less secure iOS.

Please Apple stop dealing with all these other companies…

 

[kody137]

probably tvs and speakers that apple do not manufacture in the first place

Exactly, which is counter to your original point lol

 

[dba415]

Less flexible to me means more security. Privacy and data control over texhnological conveniences 20 times out of 10 bro.



Not if it somehow leads to a less secure iOS.

Please Apple stop dealing with all these other companies…

This would be fine, unless your idea on security is heavily based on what Apple tells you about security.

 

[MacBH928]

Exactly, which is counter to your original point lol

incorrect, Apple allows airplay over TVs and speakers because they are not in that business. If Apple wanted to benefit iOS users they would let airplay over Windows, ChromeOS, AndroidTV so you buy macOS device and AppleTV