AirDrop
File:AirDrop Mac Screenshot.jpg | |
Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
---|---|
Initial release | July 20, 2011 |
Operating system | iOS 7 and later OS X 10.7 and later |
Platform | iPhone 5 and later iPad (4th generation) and later iPad Mini (1st generation) and later iPod Touch (5th generation) and later MacBook Pro MacBook Air MacBook iMac Mac Mini Mac Pro |
License | Commercial proprietary software |
Website | support |
AirDrop is an ad-hoc service in Apple Inc.'s OS X and iOS operating systems, introduced in Mac OS X Lion (OS X 10.7) and iOS 7,[1] which enables the transfer of files among supported Macintosh computers and iOS devices without using mail or a mass storage device.[1]
Prior to OS X Yosemite (OS X 10.10), and under OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks (OS X 10.7 - 10.9, respectively) the AirDrop protocol in OS X was different from the AirDrop protocol of iOS, and were therefore not interoperable with each other.[2] However, OS X Yosemite and later support the iOS AirDrop protocol (uses both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), which is used for transfers between a Mac and an iOS device as well as between two 2012 or later Mac computers.[3][4] Legacy mode for the old AirDrop protocol (only uses Wi-Fi) between two 2012 or older Mac computers is also available.[4]
There is no restriction on the size of the file which AirDrop will accommodate. Apple users report AirDrop transmissions of video documents larger than 10 GB.[citation needed]
Routine
macOS
On Macs running OS X 10.7, AirDrop is available in the Finder window sidebar.[5] On Macs running OS X 10.8.1 or later, it can also be accessed through the menu option Go > AirDrop or by pressing ⇧ Shift+⌘ Cmd+R.[6]
Wi-Fi must be turned on in order for AirDrop to recognize the other device. The other device must also have AirDrop selected in a Finder window sidebar to be able to transfer files. Furthermore, files are not automatically accepted; the receiving user must accept the transfer.[5] This is done to improve security and privacy.[5]
iOS
On iOS 7 and later, AirDrop can be enabled through the Control Center.[7] Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are automatically switched on when AirDrop is enabled as they are both utilized.[7]
Options for controlling AirDrop discovery by other devices include:[7]
- No one can see device (Airdrop disabled)
- Only contacts can see device
- Everyone can see device.
Note: In iOS 7 or later, if an application implements AirDrop support, it is available through the share button.[8] AirDrop is subject to a number of restrictions on iOS, such as the inability to share music or videos from the native apps.[9]
System limitations
iOS requirements (transfer between two iOS devices)
- iPhone: iPhone 5 or later
- iPad: iPad (4th generation) or later
- iPad Mini: iPad Mini (1st generation) or later
- iPod Touch: iPod Touch (5th generation) or later
Note: AirDrop can be enabled unofficially on iPad (3rd generation). Although not supported by default, AirDrop can be enabled by jailbreaking the device and installing "AirDrop Enabler 7.0+" from cydia. This procedure is not supported by Apple.[10]
OS X requirements (transfer between two Mac computers)
Running Mac OS X Lion (10.7) or later:[4]
- MacBook Pro (Late 2008) or later, excluding the MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010) or later
- MacBook (Late 2008) or later, excluding the white MacBook (Late 2008)
- iMac (Early 2009) or later
- Mac Mini (Mid 2010) or later
- Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010 or later)
Note: AirDrop is also available on Hackintoshes (generic PCs running OS X) that have AirDrop-supported Wi-Fi cards, such as Broadcom's 4322/94322. Despite Apple's legal restrictions, developers have found that AirDrop can be enabled on any Macintosh running OS X Lion with a shell command,[11] and will work over Ethernet as well. In order to get AirDrop to work, both Macs have to use the same type of network.
OS X and iOS requirements (transfer between a Mac and an iOS device)
To transfer files between a Mac and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the following minimum requirements have to be met:[12]
Running OS X Yosemite (10.10) or later:[4]
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012) or later
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) or later
- iMac (Late 2012) or later
- Mac Mini (Late 2012) or later
- Mac Pro (Late 2013) or later
- iPhone: iPhone 5 or later
- iPad: iPad (4th generation) or later
- iPad Mini: iPad Mini (1st generation) or later
- iPod Touch: iPod Touch (5th generation) or later
Note: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have to be turned on for both Mac and iOS devices. (Both devices are not required to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.)
Security and privacy
AirDrop uses TLS encryption when transferring files.[13] In at least one case, a user with AirDrop set to receive from "Everyone" was sent unwanted sexually explicit images from a nearby stranger.[14]
See also
- Android Beam, a similar technology for Android smart phones (NFC based)
- Wi-Fi Direct, a similar technology
- Bonjour, the service discovery protocol employed
- Shoutr, a free P2P multi-user solution for sharing files among multiple people (Wi-Fi)
References
- ^ a b Nations, Daniel. "What Is AirDrop? How Does It Work?". About.com. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ Etherington, Darrell (September 17, 2013). "Apple iOS 7 Review: A Major Makeover That Delivers, But Takes Some Getting Used To". TechCrunch. AOL. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- ^ Jason (June 23, 2014). "iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite Preview: AirDrop finally works across iOS and Mac". iPhone Hacks. iPhone Hacks. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac". Apple Inc. September 30, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rawlinson, Nik (September 29, 2011). "How to use OS X Lion AirDrop - CNET". CNET. CNET. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ "OS X Automation Workshop: Sharing Content Locally". Mac OS X Automation. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Share content with AirDrop from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch". Apple Inc. July 23, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ Ng, Simon (October 30, 2013). "iOS Programming Tutorial: Adding AirDrop File Sharing Feature to Your iOS Apps". AppCoda. AppCoda. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ "AnyDrop enables you to Send/Receive any file including Music using AirDrop - iOS Hacker". iOS Hacker. iOS Hacker. March 24, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ "AirDrop Port Explaination [sic]". Thuchapol. December 27, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Enable AirDrop Over Ethernet & AirDrop On Unsupported Macs Running OS X". OS X Daily. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ "OS X Yosemite: supported devices for Handoff, Instant Hotspot, Phone Calling, SMS, and AirDrop". Apple. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ https://www.apple.com/business/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf
- ^ Sarah Bell (August 13, 2015). "Police investigate 'first cyber-flashing' case".