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OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

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Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#42

Post by flixic »

shimms wrote: post #37
micheljansen wrote: post #28

I wonder if it's more reliable than Apple's own implementation for MacOs. It used to be rock solid – and between iOS devices it still is – but between Macs I regularly have to switch both to "Search for an older Mac" to make them see each other, with no explanation why.

I was complaining about this with a coworker today. AirDrop 1 was flawless, since 2.0 it has been more often than not unreliable between Macs. I’d love to know if anyone knows the technical details about what caused this regression?

Interesting, my own experience has been the opposite. From what I remember v1 was constantly broken, initial v2 was not much better but now everything is very smooth all the time.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#43

Post by flixic »

amq wrote: post #41
ekwogefee wrote: post #34

Cross-platform local file transfer alternative with resumable file transfer: https://feem.io

Looks great, I wonder why it doesn't have more traction.

The killer feature of AirDrop is that it's built in. Impossible to compete against network effects like that.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#45

Post by elcomet »

amq wrote: post #41
ekwogefee wrote: post #34

Cross-platform local file transfer alternative with resumable file transfer: https://feem.io

Looks great, I wonder why it doesn't have more traction.

Maybe because it's not free: 5$ a year for 4 devices but only the same type, you cannot install it on your Mac and your iPhone With only one licence. So if you want to transfer between Mac and iPhone, it's at least 10$ a year.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#46

Post by perillamint »

andrewstuart wrote: post #36

I'm guessing someone will take a $10 esp32 chip and put this code on it and just drop the esp32 in some hidden location and it just sending images to any open airdrop that passes by.

ESP32 theoretically can provide all of the hardware requirements (WLAN monitor mode, BLE) but there is one missing part:

> Triggering macOS/iOS receivers via Bluetooth Low Energy. Apple devices start their AWDL interface and AirDrop server only after receiving a custom advertisement via Bluetooth LE (see USENIX paper for details). This means, that Apple AirDrop receivers may not be discovered even if they are discoverable by everyone.

If someone reverse engineer BLE advertisement, yes they can build such hardware.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#47

Post by est »

em3rgent0rdr wrote: post #2

This is great, especially considering that AirDrop is used for instance by Hong Kong protesters to bypass the great firewall [1]. [1] https://qz.com/1660460/hong-kong-protesters-use-airdrop-to-b...

GFW is only implemented in the mainland China, not Hong Kong.

    China == (mainland + (Hongkong SAR + Macau SAR) + (... possibly other de jure claims))
To use Airdrop the main advantage is it can be used to spam everyone nearby.

If it can be used by protestors it also can be used by advertisers.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#48

Post by cprecioso »

devtanna wrote: post #3

I wish we had something like AirDrop to work between android and iOS devices.

They found code for kind of that in the new Google Play Services bundles ( https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/06/30/google-fast-sharing... ). They theorize in the article that it uses the same technologies as Airdrop, so they might be compatible - though I doubt it.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#49

Post by darrenf »

tonyedgecombe wrote: post #30
lawtalkinghuman wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I’ve used it to send photos/videos I’ve taken to friends while outside in places where there are no wifi networks.

I wonder if it's different if you have it set to "Contacts only". It may need to connect to iCloud.

I have mine set to Contacts Only, and regularly use it to move photos between iPhone and iPad when on flights (and indeed other locations) without wifi or cellular.
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