this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
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EU regulation has led to Apple being forced to open up iOS in ways that many never expected, but it’s not done just yet. In an effort to ensure “effective interoperability” with other platforms, the EU wants Apple to make native features of iOS being compatible with Android, including the likes of AirDrop and more.

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[–] emax_gomax@lemmy.world 122 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Can they add chromecast as well. Absurd that it's a closed source protocol that still doesn't work well with Firefox and other browsers.

[–] king_tronzington@lemm.ee 23 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Chromecast is the only reason I keep chrome installed on my laptop. Would love a better alternative

[–] kivulallo@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

I use fx_cast extension, it's been working great for years. Although it needs the "bridge" to be installed, which is some minimal headless chromium thing.

It's not a seemless experience, as it has a domain whitelist enabled by default, so you need to mess with it in the extension settings first, but once it's been set up, it's fine.

Sometimes it can mix up old/expired sessions, so the website would say you're casting but you're not. You can just press the "active" cast button and disconnect, then reconnect again.

Some other times (rarely) it fails to mock the casting feature and you won't see the cast button or it would be disabled. Refreshing the page helps. If not, double check your whitelist.

[–] pemptago@lemmy.ml 41 points 4 days ago

Liked "EU regulation has led to Apple being forced to..."

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 24 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Finally. Even though it works horribly.

[–] pupbiru@aussie.zone 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

i’m not sure of the issues that you’re having, but it almost always works perfectly for me - screen mirroring, media control (streaming from device as well as remote control of existing media - even streamed from 1 device to eg a homepod and then using another device to skip etc), airdrop files and photos etc to my own device or others’ devices, even the new ability to walk away and have the transfer continue over the internet

can’t remember the last time i had an issue that wasn’t solved immediately by a retry, and even those issues are very rare

… in my experience at least

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

600 students, ~100 teachers, everyone has an iPad (plus many have an iPhone). ~20 students per class.

AirPlay often didn't work with the 'smart' boards, and not even much better with the extra AppleTVs we got.
AirDrop only showed ~50% of the students, of course including ones in other classrooms, so that isn't due to distance. Even if you were displayed, again 50% that the file actually got to you. A restart 'fixed' that - but restarting every 1.5 hours for a new class because Apples AirDrop team is apparently just as incompetent as its MDM team is pretty annoying. Then, sometimes, WiFi was way too unstable, but still used by AirDrop normally, which meant nothing worked.

We resorted to teams, which was perfect for me, as I was using a laptop at that point, as it was much better suited for basically everything done in class.

It may work in small groups, eg. one to one, but only if both have an Apple device, which isn't really likely. And in larger groups, eg. schools, it scales very badly.

Edit: I forgot to say: I have a literal tirade about apple devices, in that context and in general, but that's only minorly relevant, and I'm too lazy to translate it to english.

[–] pupbiru@aussie.zone 1 points 4 days ago

yeah i’m not sure about the scale issues. i’m a software engineer, so use it in teams of ~6-10 (more in the building, but not as close as classrooms) where everyone gets a macbook and iphone

it works close to perfectly in those situations

[–] boboliosisjones@feddit.nu 4 points 3 days ago

Apple should want this for themselves already, the closed loop Apple shit is so dumb. Hence why very few use this stuff in my country where Apple probably has around half the market give or take.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 8 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Is airdrop more than just some random gimmick? All I heard was that people use it to spew memes and dick pics onto unsuspecting passengers in the same subway car and the likes.

[–] coronach@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

It's very, very useful for people to share videos instantly. For instance, someone takes a video at the end of a dance class and then sends it to the teacher for them to post online after. Or two people want to practice something so they record a small thing and send to the other person. It's seamless and really quick.

Android users end up having to wait for someone to upload to e.g. Dropbox and then share a link.

[–] theterrasque@infosec.pub 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] coronach@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thanks for showing, I didn't know about that. Proprietary, of course...

[–] theterrasque@infosec.pub 4 points 3 days ago

Proprietary, of course…

Sadly. At least there seem to be an open source implementation of it, don't know if it's reverse engineered or if there's design docs available somewhere: https://github.com/Martichou/rquickshare

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 2 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Couldn't you just do that with Bluetooth like 20 years ago?

[–] coronach@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 3 days ago

You have to pair first. Then you have to troubleshoot because Bluetooth isn't very good. And then you get slow transfer rates.

With airdrop you literally open it up, find the person, then drop it. No pairing, no bullshit. It just works and you get on with your life.

Even today I don't know how to share files to or from my Android phone as easily as I can with AirDrop. Bluetooth sharing is slow as balls and requires setup. Is Quick Share better now, or is it just a new name for the same old feature? I haven't tested it recently myself.

AirDrop operates over wi-fi with autodiscovery over local networks. No account or pairing required.

[–] bokherif@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

It’s useful when it works. You have alternatives in Android, but come on we’re in 2024, “smart” devices should be able to talk to each other regardless of the operating system.

[–] WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago

It’s often the fastest and most convenient method to send a file between two computers or phones (provided both are Apple products).

[–] drwankingstein@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 4 days ago (3 children)

when does apple turn around and just stop selling in the EU?

[–] lemmus@lemmy.world 70 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Whenever they want to. The EU is entitled to protect its citizens from anticompetitive behavior and companies are free to stop doing business there if they don’t like it.

[–] lolrightythen@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago

Truth.

Corpos might cave to pressure. Another politician might get elected.

Or your consumer/voter base might get dumb and complacent.

Good luck, all

[–] Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

People are also free to simply not buy products.

[–] Delzur@vegantheoryclub.org 13 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Given the market size, never?

[–] RandomVideos@programming.dev 2 points 3 days ago

When it stops being profitable to sell in the EU

According to Wikipedia, apple is the second most profitable company so i dont think that will happen soon

[–] oldfart@lemm.ee 2 points 3 days ago

Android Auto and Chromecast when?