iOS 7 May Include AirDrop Wireless File Sharing Capabilities - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 7 May Include AirDrop Wireless File Sharing Capabilities

by

According to 9to5Mac, Apple is internally testing versions of iOS 7 that include AirDrop drag-and-drop file sharing capabilities.

First introduced with OS X Lion, AirDrop is a Finder function that allows Mac users to share files with other Mac users without the need for a Wi-Fi network or storage device. AirDrop for iOS is said to work in the same way, allowing files to be quickly shared between two different users.

airdrop

AirDrop for OS X

Sources say that the AirDrop functionality is currently integrated into the standard iOS share menu. AirDrop will work between two iOS devices and potentially between an iOS device and a Mac. The feature will make it easier than ever to transfer, for example, a photograph or document from one person's iPhone to another person's iPad.

While iCloud synchronization works well for sharing photos and documents between two iOS devices owned by the same person, the AirDrop feature will allow seamless individual file exchanges between iOS devices belonging to different people.

Along with AirDrop file sharing, iOS 7 is also expected to feature a major redesign and enhanced social network integration, which includes support for both Flickr and Vimeo. As noted by 9to5Mac, beta features that are in testing, like AirDrop, may or may not make it into the final version of the operating system.

iOS 7 will debut at the keynote of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which is scheduled to take place on June 10.

Tag: 9to5Mac
Related Forum: iOS 7

Top Rated Comments

_Refurbished_ Avatar
_Refurbished_
168 months ago
S Drop

- Samsung
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BJB Productions Avatar
BJB Productions
168 months ago
The day I can stop emailing myself photos that I take on my iPhone will be a good day.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ECUpirate44 Avatar
ECUpirate44
168 months ago
Finally something useful!
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
springsup Avatar
springsup
168 months ago
They already have this functionality. Its called s-beam (android beam) Its also much better implemented and uses wifi direct so it doesn't require devices to be on the same wireless network like this will. Using NFC for the pairing makes the setup of the connection extremely simple.

No, AirDrop doesn't require you to be on the same WiFi network.

It also doesn't require you to touch devices or anything. The other person could be in the next room, upstairs, etc.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
springsup Avatar
springsup
168 months ago
AirDrop is actually very cool.

The way it works in the Mac, you don't even need to be on the same Wi-Fi network - in fact you don't need a WiFi network at all to send files.

It works if you're both on different WiFi networks, or if one or both of you has no WiFi at all. It's perfect for the iPhone.

It works by having the WiFi card switch rapidly between the two states; which means you get a real proximity-based 'who is near me' list (...of people also in the AirDrop window; for privacy reasons the Mac doesn't keep broadcasting).
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F
fertilized-egg
168 months ago
They already have this functionality. Its called s-beam (android beam) Its also much better implemented and uses wifi direct so it doesn't require devices to be on the same wireless network like this will. Using NFC for the pairing makes the setup of the connection extremely simple.
So based on your comments you do not even know how AirDrop works on a Mac right now even though it's been around since 2011.

I'm quite intrigued. How do you know the S-Beam feature is "much better implemented" when you don't know anything about AirDrop and none of us knows exactly how the feature will be implemented on iOS? Are you a clairvoyant?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments