4 ms·

Fun fact: Apple and non-Apple devices won't share files via Bluetooth.

sofixa 5y ago
Why? What's Apple's reasoning for that? Probably something along the lines of security or privacy but i really don't see it.
- InitialLastName 5y ago
  Same as Apple's reasoning for their other, er, opportunistic hesitance when it comes to interoperability: "Every time we add friction to the boundary of our ecosystem, it drives people to operate exclusively within our ecosystem". There's a reason people without iPhones show up a different color in iMessage too (and that group chats with Android users frequently don't function [carrier dependent]), and it has nothing to do with technical constraints.
tomrod 5y ago
Really?
- celsoazevedo 5y ago
  Yep. It was already like this when I got an iPhone 5 and as far as I know it's still the same on the iPhone 13. While these days we have faster technologies, bluetooth is available on most devices. It's like SMS, but for file transfers. Another reason for me not to buy iPhones.
  - errcorrectcode 5y ago
    File sharing over BT is insecure, obsolete, and not widely-supported. It's better to deal with reality that BLE-capable apps and cloud apps are universal replacements.
    - celsoazevedo 5y ago
      > not widely-supported Can you mention one main stream phone or tablet released in the past 10 years that doesn't support bluetooth file transfer? Android certainly supports it and I also remember using it on Windows Phone. As far as I know, only iOS (and iPadOS) doesn't... a bit weird as Apple supports it on macOS (just tested by sending a photo from my 2021 M1 MBP → Android phone). Anyway, is it the best option available today? No. Speeds alone are a good reason to avoid it. But Airdrop only works with Apple devices and Nearby Share is for Android (and apparently Windows in the future[0]), so the alternative is either a cloud app or some cross platform app which both sides need to install (who wants to do that just to transfer a file?). [0] https://9to5google.com/2022/01/05/google-nearby-share-android-windows/ https://9to5google.com/2022/01/05/google-nearby-share-androi...
errcorrectcode 5y ago
Do you mean AirDrop or BT File Sharing? Edit: In general without Apple, BT File Sharing has never interop'd. It's better to use a third-party app that uses BLE or a cloud or chat app with file sharing.
- whyoh 5y ago
  >In general without Apple, BT File Sharing has never interop'd. I've used it with Windows, Symbian and Android at least, sending small files to each other without issues. The main problem is that it's just very slow. Wi-Fi Direct (also used in 'AirDrop') however, doesn't interop. Windows and Android even both call their implementation 'Nearby Sharing' — but they're not compatible.

Why? What's Apple's reasoning for that? Probably something along the lines of security or privacy but i really don't see it.

InitialLastName 5y ago
Same as Apple's reasoning for their other, er, opportunistic hesitance when it comes to interoperability: "Every time we add friction to the boundary of our ecosystem, it drives people to operate exclusively within our ecosystem". There's a reason people without iPhones show up a different color in iMessage too (and that group chats with Android users frequently don't function [carrier dependent]), and it has nothing to do with technical constraints.

tomrod 5y ago

Really?

celsoazevedo 5y ago
Yep. It was already like this when I got an iPhone 5 and as far as I know it's still the same on the iPhone 13. While these days we have faster technologies, bluetooth is available on most devices. It's like SMS, but for file transfers. Another reason for me not to buy iPhones.
- errcorrectcode 5y ago
  File sharing over BT is insecure, obsolete, and not widely-supported. It's better to deal with reality that BLE-capable apps and cloud apps are universal replacements.
  - celsoazevedo 5y ago
    > not widely-supported Can you mention one main stream phone or tablet released in the past 10 years that doesn't support bluetooth file transfer? Android certainly supports it and I also remember using it on Windows Phone. As far as I know, only iOS (and iPadOS) doesn't... a bit weird as Apple supports it on macOS (just tested by sending a photo from my 2021 M1 MBP → Android phone). Anyway, is it the best option available today? No. Speeds alone are a good reason to avoid it. But Airdrop only works with Apple devices and Nearby Share is for Android (and apparently Windows in the future[0]), so the alternative is either a cloud app or some cross platform app which both sides need to install (who wants to do that just to transfer a file?). [0] https://9to5google.com/2022/01/05/google-nearby-share-android-windows/ https://9to5google.com/2022/01/05/google-nearby-share-androi...

errcorrectcode 5y ago

Do you mean AirDrop or BT File Sharing? Edit: In general without Apple, BT File Sharing has never interop'd. It's better to use a third-party app that uses BLE or a cloud or chat app with file sharing.

whyoh 5y ago
>In general without Apple, BT File Sharing has never interop'd. I've used it with Windows, Symbian and Android at least, sending small files to each other without issues. The main problem is that it's just very slow. Wi-Fi Direct (also used in 'AirDrop') however, doesn't interop. Windows and Android even both call their implementation 'Nearby Sharing' — but they're not compatible.