Android and iPhone users can now share files much more easily, but there's a catch

"I use an iPhone as my primary mobile device. From my phone, I can easily share files with another iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac. However, I'd also like an easy way to share files with Android devices, whether one of my own or those owned by an Android-loving friend or relative. Now Google is taking the first step toward making that capability a reality."

"So, how does this capability work? Based on the video in Google's blog post, you first fire up Quick Share on the Android device and then select the file or files you want to share. Quick Share then scouts around for nearby devices, including iPhones. When the right iPhone appears, select it on the Android phone. AirDrop then appears on the iPhone and asks if you want to accept the transfer. Accept the transfer, and the file completes the trip."

iPhones and Android devices can now share files through interoperability between Quick Share and AirDrop. At launch, the capability is limited to Google's Pixel 10 series, leaving other Android models unsupported for the time being. The sharing workflow requires initiating Quick Share on the Android device, selecting files, and choosing the nearby iPhone; the iPhone then displays an AirDrop prompt to accept the transfer. The feature bridges previous AirDrop-only and Quick Share-only ecosystems, enabling cross-platform transfers. Google implemented strong safeguards to protect files during transfers and plans to expand the technology to additional Android devices.

Read at ZDNET