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OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

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Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#51

Post by Kliment »

perillamint wrote: post #46
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 discove…

This has been reversed - see https://hexway.io/blog/apple-bleee/

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#52

Post by trollied »

krtkush wrote: post #23

I haven't looked at the OP yet but as convenient as AirDrop is, I find its reliance on both BT and WiFi confusing. One needs both the devices to be connected to the same network to be able to able to drop stuff. Few days back my home router broke down and I was unable to send URLs from my iPhone to Mac just because there was no common network. I wish for AirDrop to be more like Pushbullet.

It doesn't need a wifi network, it's direct device-to-device.

In fact, it can be much faster than copying using traditional file shares etc, as wireless routers can slow things down.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#53

Post by nesadi »

ekwogefee wrote: post #34

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

This looks interesting. I'm a bit confused though. It seems like all the pricing plans are structured in a way that you're either only paying for iOS devices or for every kind of device except iOS ones. Does this mean transfers between iOS and non-iOS devices aren't supported? Or do I have to buy two plans in order to do it?

edit: Okay, on a closer look, it seems like you do need two licenses, because the iOS license can only be purchased through the iOS app. Just wish they'd provide a brief trial so I could test it.

edit2: Nevermind, apparently, if you install the apps, you can use them in a limited fashion before buying. It doesn't say anywhere what the limits are, but it says there are limits.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#55

Post by snypox »

spuz wrote: post #40
tecleandor wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not a problem. That was precisely Apple's idea: a not interoperable message network. We had XMPP among others, and Apple decided not to be open. We now also have Signal or Telegram, which are multi-platform.

Sorry but how is iMessage being a walled garden not a problem for those outside that wall?

It might be a problem but it’s definitely intended by Apple. FaceTime, too.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#56

Post by DerDangDerDang »

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’ve found it very flaky on iOS - regularly try to transfer between my phone and my wife’s sitting next to each other and it will randomly not see the other phone or take minutes to find it :(

When it works, it just works.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#57

Post by arghwhat »

est wrote: post #47
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.

They are not using AirDrop to bypass the GFW for themselves, they are using it to spread information to citizens that are otherwise normally subject to GFW and therefore only have government-approved or government-generated information available to them.

Mainland news put HK protesters as violent, rebellious youngsters that are causing trouble and injury to everyone else by having greedy demands of something better than what mainland has. Such story leads to minimal sympathy and curiosity.

Even knowing that this information is filtered, few will end up truly questioning it, and thus even when they leave GFW, they will not know that there is conflicting information to find.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#58

Post by jtbayly »

trollied wrote: post #52
krtkush wrote: post #23

I haven't looked at the OP yet but as convenient as AirDrop is, I find its reliance on both BT and WiFi confusing. One needs both the devices to be connected to the same network to be able to able to drop stuff. Few days back my home router broke down and I was unable to send URLs from my iPhone to Mac just because there was no common network. I wish for AirDrop to be more like Pushbullet.

It doesn't need a wifi network, it's direct device-to-device. In fact, it can be much faster than copying using traditional file shares etc, as wireless routers can slow things down.

Yes. I've been surprised how very fast it is when sharing videos between devices.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#59

Post by stephenr »

snypox wrote: post #55
spuz wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry but how is iMessage being a walled garden not a problem for those outside that wall?

It might be a problem but it’s definitely intended by Apple. FaceTime, too.

Steve (Jobs) famously, and impulsively claimed they were going to release FT as open source - so impulsive that he never even checked with their lawyers first, because it never happened due to legal/licensing issues, not because they didn't want to.

Re: OpenDrop: An Open Source AirDrop Implementation

#60

Post by toxik »

Fnoord wrote: post #35

Interestingly the article on the bottom links to a Usenix 2019 (held Aug 14 - 16) paper with the title "A Billion Open Interfaces for Eve and Mallory: MitM, DoS, and Tracking Attacks on iOS and macOS Through Apple Wireless Direct Link" Abstract: "Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) is a key protocol in Apple's ecosystem used by over one billion iOS and macOS devices for device-to-device communications. AWDL is a propri…

I can’t hep but think that these seemingly numerous security flaws are a product of proprietary software development. There is the old “many eyes” idea for software bugs, but even on a standards level. Did Apple not send out an RFC? Isn’t this type of architectural level screw up exactly what you want to avoid with an RFC?

I’m glad Apple are taking the privacy issue to heart, but for every inch we’ve won in privacy, we lost an inch in openness and interoperability. Apple is perhaps one of the worst offenders when it comes to vendor lock-in.

I use almost only Apple products out of sheer laziness (and honestly inertia.) At least their war with Qualcomm and NVIDIA creates some competition in their respective markets...

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