Apple was the first to offer its users a universal tool to exchange files between smartphones, tablets and computers. Despite the fact that almost 7 years have passed since that moment, competitors have only now begun to slowly realize that it would be nice for them to have something similar. This is how features like Fast Sharing and Nearby Sharing began to appear. True, due to the fact that most of the manufacturers who have tried to create an analogue of AirDrop do not produce either computers or tablets, they had to limit themselves only to smartphones, and even then their own. However, if your device is not equipped with the default transmission function, we offer you a complete alternative.
Transferring files between devices can be done without internet
The essence of AirDrop and analogues like Fast Sharing is to provide contactless data transfer between devices that are in close proximity to each other, without using the Internet. That is, it will be possible to exchange files even in a deep forest, where even a GSM connection is absent, not to mention a full LTE connection. This is very useful in situations where you need to quickly exchange lightweight data such as photos, videos, or documents. For this, the protocols Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are used, which create a dedicated band, through which transmission is carried out at a fairly high speed. The exact numbers are usually not disclosed, but a 1 GB video is transferred in less than a minute, and 2-3 MB photos – almost instantly.
How to transfer files to Android
The AirDroid app has a similar feature that allows data to be transferred from device to device without using an internet connection.
- In order to transfer the file via AirDroid, install the application on your smartphone;
AirDroid uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth alternately
- Go to the 'Nearby' tab and click on the locator icon to search for nearby devices;
- After identifying nearby devices, establish a connection, select the files and confirm to send them.
Apparently, AirDroid, like AirDrop, uses both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but does not do this simultaneously, but selects the most preferred protocol. If both devices are connected to a Wi-Fi network, it will establish a Wi-Fi connection, otherwise it will select Bluetooth. Because of this, the baud rate can vary greatly. While the Wi-Fi exchange is quite brisk, the Bluetooth speed leaves much to be desired. For example, in this mode, it can take 10 or even 20 seconds to transfer one photo, which is quite a lot. However, if you use Wi-Fi, the transfer will be noticeably faster.
How to replace AirDrop with Android
Since the dedicated transfer band is set by AirDroid itself, using its own algorithms, in order to transfer a file from one device to another, each of them must have this application installed. This is the only way to establish a connection and transfer. This is another limitation that for the worse distinguishes AirDroid from AirDrop or Fast Sharing, but at the same time it is an absolutely universal solution that will be guaranteed to work on all smartphones, regardless of brand.
However, soon Google plans to remove all barriers between devices on Android and launch its own data exchange tool called Nearby Sharing. It is still in beta testing and is not available to ordinary users, but, apparently, it will work exactly the same way as AirDrop. True, its only drawback will be the need to keep devices at a distance of no more than half a meter from each other, which in some situations can be quite difficult, but, on the other hand, and more secure, since Nearby Sharing will be more difficult to use for virtual harassment.
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