Why create an open protocol when reinforcing the duopoly will do the trick?

Good stuff. It should theoretically be possible on any Android device with WiFi, by the way. Google is branding this as Pixel exclusive to push Pixel 10 sales.

For context, AirDrop is a proprietary communication between Apple devices, but the EU forced them to open it up and adopt an open protocol called WiFi Aware. Apple did so but they didn’t make a big deal out of it. (Why would they? It still works 100% for all Apple devices.) So in theory, any Android device with WiFi should be able to use the system. But Google made it Pixel exclusive. Now they’re saying they’re going to make it an APK distributed via the Play Store to “certain” devices. But again, since the EU made Apple use an open protocol, any Android should be able to do it.

There are two caveats. One, the Apple device’s OS must be 26 or higher. Before 26, they were numbered inconsistently, but last year, they all adopted version 26, named for the upcoming year (this year). So if the iPhone isn’t running iOS 26 (aka the Liquid Glass update — or Liquid Ass, depending on who you ask), it’s not going to work because that iPhone doesn’t support WiFi Aware. Two, if it’s an iPhone or iPad, AirDrop is either off or it’s on for contacts. And the contacts have to be Apple users. That’s 100% on Apple’s end. So the iPhone must be manually set to “everyone for 10 minutes” which, as the name implies, needs to be put back every 10 minutes. Macs however, are just on or off, none of this “10 minutes” bullshit.

Surprised Apple hasn’t patched this yet.