Apple AirDrop for Android? It Sounds Like a Dream That Will Never Come True

I person a unsocial lifestyle, perpetually shuffling betwixt antithetic smartphone platforms. I privation sharing files betwixt Apple and Android devices was easier, truthful my ears perked up erstwhile I saw the EU Commission asking Apple to unfastened up AirDrop.

Under the guise of promoting “effective interoperability” wrong the smartphone industry through the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission is asking Apple to unfastened the gates of its walled plot a small much truthful that Android users and anyone other who wants entree tin periodically play inside. The committee writes:

“The preliminary findings successful the archetypal specification proceedings outline the projected measures the Commission considers Apple should instrumentality to efficaciously comply with its interoperability obligations successful narration to several iOS connectivity features, predominantly utilized for and by connected devices. These tin beryllium notifications, automatic Wi-Fi connection, AirPlay, AirDrop, oregon automatic Bluetooth audio switching.”

This connection was initially made in September, but today, the European Commission is much circumstantial astir what it wants to unfastened up. It mentions notifications, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth audio switching, and AirDrop, the Apple ecosystem’s large assertion to fame and astir proprietary offering.

In its “interoperability” report, Apple responded, “It’s getting personal.” The institution alleges that the DMA’s suggestions volition unfastened up its level successful a mode that puts “users astatine risk, requiring them to unfastened their devices—and their astir delicate data—to companies with a way grounds of violating their privacy.”

The institution explicitly calls retired Meta and its properties successful the PDF published connected Apple’s developer website, which you tin read successful full:

“If Apple were to person to assistance each of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could alteration Meta to work connected a users instrumentality each of their messages and emails, spot each telephone telephone they marque oregon receive, way each app that they use, scan each of their photos, look astatine their files and calendar events, log each of their passwords, and more. This is information that Apple itself has chosen not to entree successful bid to supply the strongest imaginable extortion to users.”

Apple insists that it lets its users determine whether oregon not to stock definite accusation required for a peculiar idiosyncratic experience. It says that what the DMA asks for could effect successful companies similar Meta gaining “unfettered entree to users’ devices and their astir idiosyncratic data.” Apple says Meta has requested entree to features similar AirPlay, App Intents, CarPlay, iPhone Mirroring, and the Continuity Camera.

Apple is fantastic astatine selling itself arsenic a institution that cares archetypal and foremost astir its users. I don’t peculiarly similar opening Android to each third-party player, either. I’m convinced that if we each enactment successful abstracted lanes, we’ll beryllium good and much secure.

But this seems similar thing Apple could cede to, successful a way. For instance, Android uses Google Cast and Quick Share to shuffle streaming and files betwixt devices. I don’t needfully request entree to AirPlay and AirDrop, the Apple platform’s equivalents, to get that experience. I request Apple to let that benignant of third-party usage. Most streaming apps, adjacent connected iOS, already default to Google Cast if they find determination are devices disposable connected a network.

The EU Commission’s adjacent steps are to “carefully assess” the feedback Apple and different “interested parties” person provided. It has astir six months to see each this and find however Apple should comply successful a mode it deems just to each users. I’m personally funny to spot however this ends up. If it means an easier clip sending photos to an Android device, I whitethorn person trouble seeing it from Apple’s constituent of view.