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Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

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Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#91

Post by rootusrootus »

stavros wrote: post #79
fainpul wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like sharing your WLAN. It works great between iPhones, if you know how it works and the preconditions are fulfilled (it's undiscoverable). You can't share with Android devices by showing them a QR code – which I would consider the "usual" way and which is easy to do on Android devices. Edit: Here is the procedure I was talking about and all prerequisites for it to work: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102635

It has never worked for me on iOS. Everyone kept saying "I can just share the password" but the prompt never popped up, and there was no way to do anything.

IIRC it only works if you are on their contact list. And I think you need to be in the settings app. Something like that. It's a handy feature but Apple could make it easier to understand, and they could do way better communicating why it isn't working, when it does not work.

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#92

Post by stavros »

wkat4242 wrote: post #84
stavros wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference is that iOS still doesn't show you the files on your device. It only shows you files in a small area.

I love Android but Android does that too. Apps have their internal storage area which you can't access unfortunately (not without root anyway). Nor system files.

When I had an iPhone (a few months ago), there was no way for apps to see files in the filesystem. I wanted to play some music and I had to copy it over to each of the music player apps separately. Is that not the case any more?

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#93

Post by sussmannbaka »

stavros wrote: post #64
sussmannbaka wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im not sure if Android has caught up but the iOS file explorer app is excellent.

Saying "I'm not sure if Android has caught up" when Android is decades ahead of Apple in that regard is some kind of... something.

Certainly wasn’t ahead with the stock file manager that came with my last Android phone.

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#94

Post by miloignis »

nkozyra wrote: post #52
dnissley wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On iPhones you can't install software except through the app store

Well Android is going to be the same way now, too.

No, that's not true - the change was that you could only install software from verified developers, not only from the app store, and now they've partially walked that back too and "are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified." ( https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/11/android-de... )

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#95

Post by cosmic_cheese »

alistairSH wrote: post #44

Is the benefit transferring "local" via BT instead of across the internet as a text message attachment? Because I do the latter plenty, but pretty much never AirDrop anything to anybody, even if they're sitting next to me.

AirDrop uses P2P wifi for the actual transfer which can make it significantly faster than transferring through the internet, which makes a big difference for photos, videos, and other large files. It also works out in the middle of a forest where there are no wireless connections as well as it works in the middle of NYC.

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#96

Post by sussmannbaka »

stavros wrote: post #92
wkat4242 wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Android but Android does that too. Apps have their internal storage area which you can't access unfortunately (not without root anyway). Nor system files.

When I had an iPhone (a few months ago), there was no way for apps to see files in the filesystem. I wanted to play some music and I had to copy it over to each of the music player apps separately. Is that not the case any more?

That’s entirely up to the app developer. Of course apps can see files if they’re developed to do that.

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#97

Post by Almondsetat »

swiftcoder wrote: post #27
rahimnathwani wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Large files.

or images, which WhatsApp insists on recompressing, which tends to really impact the quality

Whatsapp doesn't insist anything. You just send the photos as files

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#99

Post by adrianmonk »

Gys wrote: post #58
OptionOfT wrote: post #5

The fact that I get excited about this is actually a good representation much vendor lock there is. We used to be able to send files over Bluetooth before the iPhone came out.

> We used to be able to send files over Bluetooth before the iPhone came out. Cross platforms, really? So for example between a Blackberry and a Windows CE phone?

Yes. When my mom got her first Android phone, she wanted to transfer all her photos from her Motorola Razr flip phone. She said the guy at the AT&T store had a device that would plug in to the data ports of various phones and transfer stuff between them, but it wouldn't do it, so he declared it impossible.

My mom was upset that she would lose her photos, so I puzzled over it for a long time trying to figure out a way. Finally, I realized I was being stupid and missing the obvious: both phones had Bluetooth! I paired them with each other, dug through Razr menus, selected the photos, and did a Bluetooth file send. As expected, the photos went right over. Well, I shouldn't say right over because it was very slow, but it worked just as it should.

Re: Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10

#100

Post by GeekyBear »

do_not_redeem wrote: post #38
somanyphotons wrote: post #26

Am I right to assume that they simply implemented AirDrop without discussing with Apple?

Reading between the lines, it seems like Google is playing a bit of chess here. Reminds me of the Beeper Mini stunt, except this time by a trillion-dollar company they can't just sweep under the rug. > we welcome the opportunity to work with Apple to enable “Contacts Only” mode in the future. > I applaud the effort to open more secure information sharing between platforms and encourage Google and Apple to work togeth…

I am reminded of Microsoft implementing a YouTube app for Windows Phone, and Google repeatedly blocking it.
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