Since its introduction in iOS 7, AirDrop has become the preferred tool for iPhone users who want to instantly share photos, videos, documents, and more with nearby Apple devices. Despite its popularity, AirDrop‘s functionality has remained relatively consistent over the years. However, that is about to change with the arrival of iOS 17, which brings several truly useful features to AirDrop.
NameDrop: Goodbye to number exchange
The standout feature introduced by Apple in iOS 17 is NameDrop. Until now, when meeting someone and wanting to exchange contact information, it was necessary to type or dictate phone numbers and emails. Now, with NameDrop, this process is greatly simplified and becomes much more elegant. When two iPhones are brought close together – and in the future, it will also work with Apple Watches – the contact card of each user will appear.
A poster that we can set up with a photo of our choice and serves as our business card. Then, each person can choose which contact information to share, for example, only the work phone number or even just an email address.
A gesture redefines sharing
The same proximity between iPhones that is used for NameDrop also allows us to share content such as photos or files. Instead of having to enter the AirDrop interface and manually search for the person we want to send the content to, the process is now simplified.
When the two phones are brought close together, the transfer is automatically initiated through AirDrop, eliminating the step – which is prone to errors – of manually selecting the desired recipient.
SharePlay: Sharing experiences in real time
Bringing two iPhones close together will also allow us to initiate shared activities through SharePlay. Want to listen to a song or watch a movie at the same time with a friend? Now it’s possible in the easiest way imaginable. Moreover, thanks to the new SharePlay API, developers will be able to integrate this feature into their applications, allowing users to immerse themselves in the same game or enjoy a joint streaming experience with a simple gesture.
AirDrop without distance limits
One of the drawbacks of AirDrop in previous versions was the need to stay close to the receiving device to complete the transfer. In iOS 17, if we move away from the AirDrop range, the transfer will continue securely over the internet, as long as both users are signed in to an iCloud account.
Protection against sensitive content
AirDrop has always offered the option to accept or decline shared content. However, in some cases, the preview of the content, especially images, could be uncomfortable. Apple has addressed this issue in iOS 17 with a feature that automatically blurs potentially sensitive images. If we want to view the content before accepting it, we can simply press a “Show” button; otherwise, this filter will ensure that no explicit images appear on our screens at any time.
With all these new features, iOS 17 promises to redefine how we use AirDrop, offering a safer, more integrated, and user-friendly experience for everyone. By improving key points of the experience, we gain significantly in versatility and, above all, convenience. When we add to this the high speed and efficiency of AirDrop, it’s undeniable that this technology is positioning itself as one of the most powerful and versatile tools in the Apple ecosystem. As we await what devices like the Vision Pro can do with it, soon one of the standout features of iOS 17 will become even better.
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