Continuity isn’t a monolithic feature of the new operating systems so much as it is a range of features, each with its own hardware requirements and mode of operation. As we already did for iOS 8’s Extensions, in this article we’ll be using Apple’s developer documentation, WWDC videos, and early reports from forums and rumor sites to explain the technology behind these features. We’ll speak in brief about how phone integration and AirDrop work. Then, we’ll examine how Handoff works and how developers can integrate Handoff support into their own iOS and OS X applications.
Ars takes a look at Apple’s Continuity.
I’m looking for a similar solution to air drop for Android for wireless transfers. Currently what I do is launch a file manager on Android, start up a web or ftp server within the app, go to the PC, type ‘192.168….’ and then send the file that way.
But that’s kind of a pain in the ass
Is there a more elegant way to do this? And I mean, something that doesn’t require uploading to the cloud first (not exactly ideal for 1gb+ video files). Just use a browser extension or something on the PC, choose a file, choose the target device, and hit send.
AirDroid ? That and more:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sand.airdroid&hl=e…
Edited 2014-07-21 22:01 UTC
airdroid is a great app, you can setup the link using a QR code scanned right from within the application.
From airdroid you can share files, send/receive texts, view photos etc.. it’s really powerful handy and free. One of the things i miss moving back to the iPhone full time.
No cloud required as it uses WiFi, the files and send/received purely over the wifi link.
Edited 2014-07-21 22:03 UTC
IRIC, Airdroid doesn’t let you use in landscape mode. That is a deal breaker. This is 2014, not 2009.
You start airdroid, connect it to your pc and enable it. After that you do everything from the pc. Was landscape support really important for those 10 seconds?
I like “Web Sharing” on Android. There’s a free version and a paid version (one of the apps actually worth paying for).
It’s similar to AirDroid, but has a much nicer interface. And, if you give your device a static IP or have dynamic DNS configured, then you can even bookmark the website on the desktop to make it even easier.
I use this instead of Bluetooth transfers between devices. Much simpler and easier to navigate (the web interface is quite slick).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.websharing
And this is why Apple comes out on top with the masses, when it comes to ubiquitous computing. No configuration, no fiddling with IP addresses, just log in to iCloud and Bob’s your uncle. Of course, I personally prefer knowing what’s going on behind the scenes and having more control, which is why most of my time at the computer is spent in GNU/Linux. But Apple has the technophobes and everyday users covered quite nicely.
Well, you could also use mDNS/Bonjour/whatever to access the device by name. Works on Android the same as on anything else. I, personally, disable all that multicast crap, though, as it just wreaks havoc on networks with more than 3 devices on it. And Apple is especially bad for that crap.
Except iCloud has proven to be the most unreliable and limited of all big online platforms and we just have to hope they will get it right this time. And Airdrop was a feature that was on both OSX and IOS but didn’t even work together. And we are talking about in-development features right now that already exist on other platforms via apps (Android) or online accounts (Microsoft).
Apple is indeed great at simplifying solutions, but only when you live entirely inside the Apple hardware AND software AND services ecosystem. There is a whole world outside of that ecosystem where Apple hasn’t simplified much at all.
Never once have I had even a single problem with iCloud (a service which I use heavily). My experience (anecdotal though it may be) is contrary to everything you just said. While I’m sure you can provide me a link to people having problems, the same can be done to companies offering similar solutions. Neither is confirmation of your assertions.
Well then they can continue to live in a less-integrated world or can be like an ever-increasing number of others who can benefit from it by being within it. Are you suggesting that Apple should empower those outside that ecosystem thereby removing a major point of positive differentiation between their integrated approach and those who pull from different suppliers?
Edited 2014-07-22 16:00 UTC
If you never used MobileMe, or only used ICloud for document syncing I can believe you. But Core Data + ICloud has been broken since IOS 5 and that is not just based on some customer complaints. This article has an excellent summary: http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/26/4148628/why-doesnt-icloud-just-wo…
Apple NEEDS to make life better for people who don’t live entirely inside the Apple ecosystem because almost all their own customers are like that. There are about 800 million IOS devices out there and only 80 million OSX devices (numbers from their own latest keynote). Even if you assume that a household has 3 personal IOS devices that are connected to 1 shared OSX device this still leaves most of the IOS devices in the hands of … Windows users. Don’t they deserve a nice iTunes/Safari as well?
Also, can I run an IOS app on my OSX device? No, I cannot even run most iPhone apps that I paid for on my iPad. Windows is almost there with universal apps and once ChromeOS can run Android apps this leaves the IOS/OSX combination behind, not ahead.
It was nice to share a movie I took with my Windows Phone with a Samsung Galaxy user via NFC-tap-2-share. How would I have done that with an iPhone user?
Apple makes their money on hardware which means they will only make their own hardware work nicely with each other. That works when you are a monopoly but they aren’t anymore.
Google and Microsoft don’t care which hardware you run their services/software on, they will just try to make it the best experience everywhere. Even if it is on a competitors product (Chrome on Windows, Skype on Android, Office on IPad)
Edited 2014-07-22 17:02 UTC
I guess they don’t have to if they only want OSX users to have a pleasant experience with iOS products. It is certainly their prerogative. But if they’re going to ignore Windows users with the continuity stuff, I will continue to ignore them.
I find it amusing that this thread started off and then continues several posts in with Android-exclusive subject matter. This is done every time Apple unveils a compelling feature that doesn’t or is unlikely to exist on an equal footing within the Android ecosystem. Inevitably, the same characters swarm to find at least a cobbled-together solution to show that Android isn’t lacking anything of any significance.
Does this have to do with dislike for Apple solutions? I don’t think so. To put it simply, people (at least on this site) like the to think that they are doing the Lord’s work by perpetuating “open” solutions.
Aside from the fact that Google’s OS is far from being open, vendor lock in is treated as only being device or OS oriented. What about cloud lockin ? Google’s proprietary stuff is really all in the cloud and you can’t use a google app and decide to store it elsewhere. For those who won’t consider Apple products due to concerns (both perceived and those genuine) that is a concern as google’s primary revenue model is mining and monetising models of your data.
Frankly, I’ve been expecting this type of solution from Apple for over 10 years now, from back when smartphones were still those clunky Palms and Windows Mobiles. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone paying attention as was Apple that made the first crack at it, although I have a feeling that MS is working towards something like it (just slower and more myopically, as per usual).
What I don’t see is any way for Linux to pull this off successfully.
These features along with the IBM deal show us a little bit of the new Apple strategy.
The ios devices are in there already, IBM will concentrate this further.
Now to get the best from these ios devices you should also be running osx at your desk.
Well that will be the push and I think it will be pretty successful too.
Edited 2014-07-22 04:09 UTC
I would agree with a lot of what you say. I think eventually Android will be just as seamless, but I agree it doesn’t need to be pointed out in an article about Apple technologies.
I think it is worth pointing out that Google does allow you to export data dumps from a number of their services quite easily though – think it is quite a new thing though and I haven’t tried it.
I think it is because Apple is really boring. What is there to say? They have a new feature and it works… It is easy to use and you don’t have to configure anything. That is nice but what is there to talk about?