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Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

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Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#31

Post by simonmales »

eigenspace wrote: post #28

My problem is that all these alternatives require the devices to be on the same local network. One beauty of Airdrop is that it creates and handles that local network automatically under the hood (as far as I understand). So you could be out on a hike with friends and Airdrop something. The workaround I've found after switching to an Android device has been to teather my connection to my friend's device, which ends u…

I think nowadays on Android it's called QuickShare, and it works. But I believe the fragmentation and awareness is a part of the problem for Android.

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#32

Post by d3Xt3r »

a7fort wrote: post #8

Recently started using it, it works really well and it's much more reliable than AirDrop. But the UX could be improved. But I just wish Apple fixed AirDrop, every time I go to use I have so little confidence in it, it often doesn't see devices or if you have multiple Mac users it will confuse them, showing you the same Mac device twice without telling you which user it is

I'm curious, what do you people use this for? What are all these (presumably large) files that you guys are generating and transferring, that requires the use of apps like these?

Like in my case, the only files I generate on my phone are photos and videos, and these get backed up by Immich, which I can then share with someone by sending them a link to the files/album in question. I imagine normal folks would use iCloud or Google Photos for the same task.

For syncing other files like documents and such, I use ownCloud OCIS, and I'd imagine most other folks would use something like DropBox or iCloud, or even just email or WhatsApp the files.

For local network transfers of say ISOs or something, I'd just copy them over SMB, which is pretty much universal and doesn't need any special app. Or even just plug in a hard drive, if I'm doing backups.

So I don't understand why I should be using this.

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#33

Post by jumpconc »

subscribed wrote: post #29

I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found. Previously I was using syncthing or had to install ftp server, used wormhole after packing all my files into one, etc. Android QuickShare never worked for me (wouldn't help me much with sending to the pc either). It has some rough edges (ie: on multi-homed devices it's less that ideal to see the one octet that matters, when the list is very lon…

For your own trusted devices on a LAN, you should try KDE Connect. KDE is not required.

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#36

Post by subscribed »

jMyles wrote: post #14

The README and website certainly seem polished, but I haven't used the utility yet. What's the main value prop over wormhole? That it works from the browser?

That you can send over 1000 files without it messing it up, and they'll end in the right place.

That you can set the recipient so it will auto-accept from the trusted senders.

And for me that in Android I can do Share to....localsend to do it faster than with wormhole.

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#37

Post by eigenspace »

simonmales wrote: post #31
eigenspace wrote: post #28

My problem is that all these alternatives require the devices to be on the same local network. One beauty of Airdrop is that it creates and handles that local network automatically under the hood (as far as I understand). So you could be out on a hike with friends and Airdrop something. The workaround I've found after switching to an Android device has been to teather my connection to my friend's device, which ends u…

I think nowadays on Android it's called QuickShare, and it works. But I believe the fragmentation and awareness is a part of the problem for Android.

Can't QuickShare cross-platform. My wife has an iPhone and my desktop and laptop are linux, so QuickShare is a non-solution for me.

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#38

Post by ementally »

xd1936 wrote: post #34

Great app. I wish it supported PWA features like Web Share Targeting. https://web.dev/articles/web-share https://developer.chrome.com/docs/capabilities/web-apis/web-...

They have web app but had terrible experience with it (can't find devices when you are using the mobile app and the other device is using the web app).

https://github.com/localsend/web

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#39

Post by michaelscott »

d3Xt3r wrote: post #32
a7fort wrote: post #8

Recently started using it, it works really well and it's much more reliable than AirDrop. But the UX could be improved. But I just wish Apple fixed AirDrop, every time I go to use I have so little confidence in it, it often doesn't see devices or if you have multiple Mac users it will confuse them, showing you the same Mac device twice without telling you which user it is

I'm curious, what do you people use this for? What are all these (presumably large) files that you guys are generating and transferring, that requires the use of apps like these? Like in my case, the only files I generate on my phone are photos and videos, and these get backed up by Immich, which I can then share with someone by sending them a link to the files/album in question. I imagine normal folks would use iClo…

For me, video is the main one. Sizes from 100MB - 3GB. Getting videos from an Apple device to an Android is a pain in the ass because I need to 2FA log in or click through something relatively convoluted (Dropbox, GDrive) or deal with pulling out some hardware I use once every 100 years (external drives). Localsend is a 2 or 3 click operation and very robust.

Re: Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

#40

Post by SingleSourceAI »

eigenspace wrote: post #28

My problem is that all these alternatives require the devices to be on the same local network. One beauty of Airdrop is that it creates and handles that local network automatically under the hood (as far as I understand). So you could be out on a hike with friends and Airdrop something. The workaround I've found after switching to an Android device has been to teather my connection to my friend's device, which ends u…

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