AirDrop
Nearby Apple sharing
AirDrop is Apple's proprietary feature for wirelessly transferring files, photos, and other content between nearby Apple devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi: She AirDropped the concert video to everyone at the table.
The name has become somewhat genericized as a verb meaning to send files wirelessly, even on non-Apple platforms. (Lowercase airdrop refers to deliveries from aircraft or cryptocurrency distributions.)
Mobile operating system
- macOSApple computer operating system
- iPhoneApple mobile device
- iPadApple's tablet device
- MacApple's computer line
Bluetooth · Wi-Fi · proximity · seamless · peer-to-peer · instant · everyone · receiving
Short-range wireless protocol
- Wi-FiWireless network standard
- peer-to-peerServerless network architecture
- encryptionConverting data into code
- discoveryAct of finding something
handshake · authentication · TLS · firewall · packet · connectivity · pairing · range
iOS
Mobile operating system
Mac · Bluetooth · Wi-Fi · proximity · seamless · peer-to-peer · instant · everyone · receiving · photos
Bluetooth
Short-range wireless protocol
- Wi-FiWireless network standard
- peer-to-peerServerless network architecture
- encryptionConverting data into code
discovery · handshake · authentication · TLS · firewall · packet · connectivity · pairing · range · signal
cross-platform
Works on multiple systems
- AppleiPhone, iPad, Mac, MacBook, Mac Pro
- data transferupload, download, send, receive, transfer speed
- digital sharingshare, shares, share button, upload, download
- online sharingsharing, content sharing, file sharing, photo sharing, video sharing
- Apple SoftwareSafari, FaceTime, Pages, Numbers, Keynote
- connectivityBluetooth, WiFi, Wi-Fi, cellular, wireless
AirDropUSB transfer
Moving data via cable
wired · landline · wired connection · hardwired · plugged-in
AirDropsneakernet
Physical data transport
snail mail · floppy disk · CD burning · fax · postal delivery