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>technologically it is one of the simplest things possible then how come there are zero FOSS "AirDrop replacements" that seamlessly create an ad-hoc wireless n

>technologically it is one of the simplest things possible then how come there are zero FOSS "AirDrop replacements" that seamlessly create an ad-hoc wireless network between two devices to allow for truly p2p high speed transfers?

g_p 3y ago
My guess is that it's difficult to interface with the system's Bluetooth and WiFi sufficiently without a native app on any modern platform (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux) enough to create and advertise that kind of ad hoc network, without a native app on the device (perhaps even with system permissions). Since Apple won't implement any third party one, and theirs is natively integrated with their platform, half the ecosystem won't implement or adopt any FOSS alternative. Since such an alternative won't be pre loaded on handsets (and the Android ecosystem is complex without one single vendor producing firmware everyone ships), the rival would need to be installed manually by users before use. Not impossible - WhatsApp and other apps have (in some markets) gained near-ubiquity without being built-in, but I think the native app barrier here will always be a hurdle. And Apple presumably knows and strategizes that an alternative won't gain adoption if their half of the ecosystem won't adopt it, therefore holding back the wider market and keeping airdrop functionality as a USP.
- Almondsetat 3y ago
  If that were the case someone would at least have made a version for Linux devices since you can have full access to them
  - bmicraft 3y ago
    There are plenty of competing niche apps doing pretty much that. xkcd.com/927 applies here.
    - Almondsetat 3y ago
      pretty much = "they don't do what you asked"
agazso 3y ago
There is KDEConnect, which has apps for all major platforms (iOS, android, macOS, Windows and of course Linux) and some more. I even used between Apple devices when AirDrop did not work for some reason. https://kdeconnect.kde.org/ https://kdeconnect.kde.org/
- Almondsetat 3y ago
  KDEConnect does not implement what I've said
  - berkes 3y ago
    It doesn't?
    - Almondsetat 3y ago
      Does it create a seamless p2p wifi connection between any pair of devices it's installed on?
    - JeremyNT 3y ago
      Kde connect requires two devices already connected to the same local wireless network.

g_p 3y ago

My guess is that it's difficult to interface with the system's Bluetooth and WiFi sufficiently without a native app on any modern platform (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux) enough to create and advertise that kind of ad hoc network, without a native app on the device (perhaps even with system permissions). Since Apple won't implement any third party one, and theirs is natively integrated with their platform, half the ecosystem won't implement or adopt any FOSS alternative. Since such an alternative won't be pre loaded on handsets (and the Android ecosystem is complex without one single vendor producing firmware everyone ships), the rival would need to be installed manually by users before use. Not impossible - WhatsApp and other apps have (in some markets) gained near-ubiquity without being built-in, but I think the native app barrier here will always be a hurdle. And Apple presumably knows and strategizes that an alternative won't gain adoption if their half of the ecosystem won't adopt it, therefore holding back the wider market and keeping airdrop functionality as a USP.

Almondsetat 3y ago
If that were the case someone would at least have made a version for Linux devices since you can have full access to them
- bmicraft 3y ago
  There are plenty of competing niche apps doing pretty much that. xkcd.com/927 applies here.
  - Almondsetat 3y ago
    pretty much = "they don't do what you asked"

agazso 3y ago

There is KDEConnect, which has apps for all major platforms (iOS, android, macOS, Windows and of course Linux) and some more. I even used between Apple devices when AirDrop did not work for some reason. https://kdeconnect.kde.org/ https://kdeconnect.kde.org/

Almondsetat 3y ago
KDEConnect does not implement what I've said
- berkes 3y ago
  It doesn't?
  - Almondsetat 3y ago
    Does it create a seamless p2p wifi connection between any pair of devices it's installed on?
  - JeremyNT 3y ago
    Kde connect requires two devices already connected to the same local wireless network.