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Apple's "AirDrop" & China. Your Opinion

esmith

esmith

Veteran Member
First after hearing about Apple's decision concerning their AirDrop app I had no idea what the app did.
After doing a little research finally figured it out after reading the below link. Now it appears that Apple is planning on implementing the restrictions world wide.
I can see positive and negative reasons for doing so, but think there are more negative reasons in my opinion; then again I don't have an Apple phone and wouldn't use the app if I had it.
So, just wondering what your opinion's are concering this?

https://www.fastcompany.com/90817341/why-is-apple-limiting-chinese-protesters-use-of-airdrop
 
Stevicus

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
esmith said:
First after hearing about Apple's decision concerning their AirDrop app I had no idea what the app did.
After doing a little research finally figured it out after reading the below link. Now it appears that Apple is planning on implementing the restrictions world wide.
I can see positive and negative reasons for doing so, but think there are more negative reasons in my opinion; then again I don't have an Apple phone and wouldn't use the app if I had it.
So, just wondering what your opinion's are concering this?

https://www.fastcompany.com/90817341/why-is-apple-limiting-chinese-protesters-use-of-airdrop
Click to expand...

I'm not too familiar with this app either, although the first time I heard about it was from a story (within the past year or two) I saw in the news about some passengers on a flight using the app to send unsolicited naked pictures to other passengers. Someone reported it, and the pilot got on the intercom and told everyone to cut it out or else he'd turn the plane around and go home.
 
Quintessence

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
It's not really an app so much as a file transfer function that exists on all MacOS devices, including desktop/laptop computers.

When I discovered it was a thing, it utterly changed how I do file transfers and I love the thing. It used to be I needed to use an external cloud service or USB cables to transfer files around but now AirDrop makes it all elegant and easy. Amazing quality of life feature of Mac devices.

That said, if you are stupid in how you use it and leave it on all the time, yeah, you could be discoverable by all nearby Apple devices and get unsolicited stuff. Which is why you... don't leave it on all the time? By default it is off. You can also restrict to contacts only. It's not hard, but user error is a meme, so...
 
PureX

PureX

Veteran Member
Chinese oppression isn't Apple's fault. Nor is it Apple's responsibility to counteract. That's an issue between the Chinese people and their government.

And why would we Americans, so in love and admiration with unfettered capitalist greed, suddenly be shocked and disappointed when a billion-dollar global corporation fails to care in the least about information oppression in China, or anywhere else?
 
exchemist

exchemist

Veteran Member
Quintessence said:
It's not really an app so much as a file transfer function that exists on all MacOS devices, including desktop/laptop computers.

When I discovered it was a thing, it utterly changed how I do file transfers and I love the thing. It used to be I needed to use an external cloud service or USB cables to transfer files around but now AirDrop makes it all elegant and easy. Amazing quality of life feature of Mac devices.

That said, if you are stupid in how you use it and leave it on all the time, yeah, you could be discoverable by all nearby Apple devices and get unsolicited stuff. Which is why you... don't leave it on all the time? By default it is off. You can also restrict to contacts only. It's not hard, but user error is a meme, so...
Click to expand...
Agreed. I find it useful to send files, pictures etc from my iPad or phone to laptop, or to share files with my son. But I would never want to use it in a public place where files could be offered to unintended people.

It’s worth pointing out however that the recipient has to agree to accept the file that is made available on Air Drop. So if you are silly enough to accept unknown files from unknown sources, I think you deserve what you get.
 
Subduction Zone

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
exchemist said:
Agreed. I find it useful to send files, pictures etc from my iPad or phone to laptop, or to share files with my son. But I would never want to use it in a public place where files could be offered to unintended people.

It’s worth pointing out however that the recipient has to agree to accept the file that is made available on Air Drop. So if you are silly enough to accept unknown files from unknown sources, I think you deserve what you get.
Click to expand...
If you read the article protesters have found that they can quickly communicate with those of a like mind. Leaving it on is risky, but one can instantly relay messages about protests and other info to anyone within bluetooth range. In China the internet is heavily regulated, at least it appears that way according to the article. It allows a near instantaneous game of "telephone" without the errors one gets by verbally passing a message along.
 
exchemist

exchemist

Veteran Member
Subduction Zone said:
If you read the article protesters have found that they can quickly communicate with those of a like mind. Leaving it on is risky, but one can instantly relay messages about protests and other info to anyone within bluetooth range. In China the internet is heavily regulated, at least it appears that way according to the article. It allows a near instantaneous game of "telephone" without the errors one gets by verbally passing a message along.
Click to expand...
Yes I can see that. But what exactly is Apple changing and what reason do they give? Will it prevent this use of the feature?
 
Subduction Zone

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
exchemist said:
Yes I can see that. But what exactly is Apple changing and what reason do they give? Will it prevent this use of the feature?
Click to expand...
One thing that I got was that it will only stay on for ten minutes at a time. In other words one cannot just set it and forget it. I am not so sure if that will be terribly effective.
 
exchemist

exchemist

Veteran Member
Subduction Zone said:
One thing that I got was that it will only stay on for ten minutes at a time. In other words one cannot just set it and forget it. I am not so sure if that will be terribly effective.
Click to expand...
That certainly would not impede its intended application, but I suppose it might make it less useful for broadcasting information.
 
Subduction Zone

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
exchemist said:
That certainly would not impede its intended application, but I suppose it might make it less useful for broadcasting information.
Click to expand...
Repurposing of technology is fairly common. And since China puts such strong limits on the ability of its own citizens to communicate with each other alternatives will always be looked for.

Frankly I can see how for those that want to only have the app for its intended use this change would be an improvement. And for those that wish to communicate without the government telling them "No" they will probably adapt too.
 
W

Wildswanderer

Veteran Member
esmith said:
First after hearing about Apple's decision concerning their AirDrop app I had no idea what the app did.
After doing a little research finally figured it out after reading the below link. Now it appears that Apple is planning on implementing the restrictions world wide.
I can see positive and negative reasons for doing so, but think there are more negative reasons in my opinion; then again I don't have an Apple phone and wouldn't use the app if I had it.
So, just wondering what your opinion's are concering this?

https://www.fastcompany.com/90817341/why-is-apple-limiting-chinese-protesters-use-of-airdrop
Click to expand...
That's messed up.
We are truly living in a dystopian future, where government controls keep getting tighter.
 
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