Comment by dmitrygr

3 months ago

0, this is reverse engineered AirDrop protocol. Implementations have been around for a while, eg: https://github.com/seemoo-lab/opendrop

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dmitrygr

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hu3  3 months ago

If implemntations have been around for a while but it only happened now, then it's 99% chance that's it's Apple backpedalling and trying to weasel their way around DMA.

They got smoked in court, see ruling at https://ec.europa.eu/competition/digital_markets_act/cases/2...

    5.4.8. Implementation timing
    (245) Apple should provide effective interoperability with the P2P Wi-Fi connection
    feature by implementing the measures for Wi-Fi Aware 4.0 in the next major iOS
    release, i.e. iOS 19, at the latest, and for Wi-Fi Aware 5.0 in the next iOS release at
    the latest nine months following the introduction of the Wi-Fi Aware 5.0
    specification.

  • leo60228  3 months ago

    These rulings only affect third-party apps, not AirDrop. Apple is not required to stop using AWDL for system apps, and is also not required to allow third-party implementations of the AirDrop protocol. They are however required to implement a mechanism allowing competing solutions to automatically trigger a prompt to install their own iOS apps, but the deadline for that isn't until next year and they have not yet shipped it.