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Tag: Airdrop

  • Google Just Put a Massive Crack in Apple’s Walled Garden and It’s Good News For Everyone

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    I like my iPhone. I currently use an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it’s great. It has great cameras, a great display, and it has more than enough power inside for any of the things I want to do, which usually means some combination of taking photos, responding to email and Slack, and looking up random medical questions on ChatGPT.

    Of course, I can do all of those things on really any smartphone. The reason I love the iPhone has very little to do with the camera or the chip. Like millions of iPhone users, it’s the fact that things “just work,” especially when it comes to my other Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad.

    Maybe the best example of this is AirDrop. When you think about it, the fact that you can just beam photos or files from one device to another is the result of an extraordinarily complex set of technologies. For the user, however, it’s incredibly simple. It just works.

    AirDrop is one of those features you don’t think about until you use a device that doesn’t have it. Then you realize how much friction it quietly removes from your life. It’s not fancy, but it’s pure Apple: invisible until the exact moment you need it, and then absolutely effortless.

    That’s why what Google’s announcement this week is so surprising. For the first time, the Pixel 10 can send files directly to an iPhone using Apple’s own AirDrop system. It isn’t some convoluted workaround or some cloud-based link. It’s basically AirDrop, but between Android and Apple. And Google did it without Apple’s help at all.

    AirDrop is Apple at its best

    The magic of AirDrop isn’t that it exists. Dozens of file-sharing protocols exist. The magic is that it works everywhere, instantly, and without any setup. Take a photo, tap share, choose a device, and it just appears. No accounts. No pairing. No QR codes. No asking whether the other person has the same app. No converting file formats. No compression.

    That level of simplicity is extremely difficult to engineer, and even harder to replicate across different hardware and software. It’s also one of Apple’s purest “it just works” moments—something the company does better than almost anyone else.

    And because Apple controls the hardware, software, radios, and protocols, AirDrop has always been strictly an Apple-to-Apple feature. That exclusivity turned AirDrop into one of Apple’s most interesting lock-in advantages. In fact, I think you can argue that AirDrop is far more powerful, in practice, than people give it credit for. If you’ve ever tried to send a video from an Android phone to a Mac user over text message, you understand.

    Which is why what Google pulled off here is a big deal.

    How Google made this work

    On paper, what Google did looks almost impossible. AirDrop isn’t documented publicly. The protocol isn’t designed to accept devices that aren’t signed and trusted within Apple’s ecosystem. And, Google says that Apple wasn’t involved in making this happen, but they figured it out anyway. It’s now possible to send Pixel-to-iPhone transfers that behave almost exactly the way AirDrop normally does.

    Image courtesy, Google

    The short version is that Google effectively built its own compatible implementation of the underlying AirDrop discovery and transfer behavior. It uses the same kinds of signals—Bluetooth LE for discovery, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi for the actual transfer—and wraps it in a security-hardened layer that Apple devices are willing to talk to.

    Google rewrote major portions of the logic in Rust, submitted it to independent security testing, and ensured that everything happens entirely on-device. There is no cloud service or servers involved, and Google isn’t collecting any data. It’s just one device sending bits directly to another.

    There is one catch: to receive files from a Pixel, an iPhone must temporarily be set to “Everyone for 10 Minutes,” Apple’s AirDrop visibility mode that loosens the usual “contacts only” restrictions. It’s not quite as seamless as Apple-to-Apple sharing, but it’s surprisingly close and—assuming Apple doesn’t make a change to nuke this capability, it’s a win for everyone.

    Of course, because Apple didn’t formally approve this, the company could break it at any time through a protocol change. And historically, Apple hasn’t been shy about doing exactly that when it believes a feature threatens security, privacy, or its overall user experience.

    This is good for everyone–including Apple

    Here, however, the risk is different. If Apple shuts this down, it won’t look like it’s protecting users. It will look like it’s protecting its walled garden and taking away a capability that genuinely makes using an iPhone better.

    The reality is, people who use iPhones don’t only know other people who use iPhones. I talked to a couple recently where the wife uses an iPhone and the husband has a Pixel. This is the kind of thing that will make sharing photos of their children infinitely better, as one example.

    AirDrop is great because it’s useful and removes friction. And frictionless experiences are more valuable when they work for everyone, not just for the people who bought a specific piece of hardware.

    Apple already knows this. It’s why Messages is adopting RCS. It’s why Apple brought Apple TV to smart TVs. It’s why Apple Music ships on Android. Even Apple—the world’s most successful walled garden—understands there are moments when expanding the garden is better than adding more walls.

    This is also smart for Google in that it positions the Pixel 10 as the Android phone to get if you want to reduce friction with the iPhone users in your life. That’s a powerful competitive advantage that shouldn’t go overlooked.

    Make the experience better for everyone

    There’s a broader takeaway here that applies far beyond smartphones:

    AirDrop is the kind of feature people love because it solves a real problem in the simplest of ways. People want things that reduce friction to exist everywhere. If you won’t provide that interoperability yourself, someone eventually will—whether it’s a competitor, a regulator, or an enterprising engineer on a deadline.

    Google didn’t beat Apple by creating a replacement for AirDrop. It beat Apple, at least temporarily, by making AirDrop more useful. That should get Apple’s attention—not because it undermines the iPhone, but because it reinforces what made the iPhone successful in the first place.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Jason Aten

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  • Holy Sh*t, Google Made Android Play Nice With iPhone’s AirDrop

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    I want you to brace yourself, because, despite what I’m about to tell you, the world (to my knowledge) is not ending. Are you ready? Okay… Google made Android and Apple’s AirDrop play nice with each other. Deep breaths, everyone.

    In a blog post from Google, the company said Quick Share, the Android equivalent of AirDrop, can now send files via Bluetooth to an iPhone just like it can between two Android devices. The same goes the other way, too; iOS users can now AirDrop to Android devices by discovering the device as they normally would on their iPhones. They both just… work now.

    There is one slight catch at this juncture in time, and that’s the fact that only Google Pixel 10 owners have this ability for the time being. Google says it plans to bring the functionality to other Android devices in the future—that is, if Apple doesn’t have a total meltdown first.

    As reported by The Verge, to make matters even more intriguing, Google says that this sudden interoperability was not done in concert with Apple. Rather, Google went ahead and cracked this code all on its own, through “its own implementation,” adding that its security process has been vetted by a third party. Given the lack of cooperation, there’s a definitive chance that all of this will come crashing down. Trust me, I’ve seen how these iOS workarounds go (looking at you, Nothing Chats), and they’re not as simple as they’re made to sound.

    Nothing CEO Carl Pei, which makes phones like the Nothing Phone 3 and Phone 3a Lite, said on X his company is “already exploring how to bring this to Nothing phones as soon as we can.”

    If you’re curious how this all works in action, here’s a video demonstration from Google below, and Google also has official support documentation of how the process happens here. From what I can tell through the documentation and the video, it looks about as intuitive as it gets. For the record, we weren’t able to get the feature to work at Gizmodo, but folks over at Bloomberg seem to have had more success.

    It’s been a slow process, but Apple’s walled garden is definitely a lot more scalable than it used to be. First, there was RCS support, which allowed certain feature interoperability between iOS and Android, like tapbacks, read receipts, and better picture/video messaging and group chats. That process, which was actually sanctioned by Apple, was a long time coming and was more a product of external pressure on Apple to make iOS more friendly with other ecosystems, or, to put it another way, less anti-competitive. Additionally, there was the whole European Union forcing Apple to adopt USB-C thing, which… thank god.

    While better functionality between AirDrop and Quick Share doesn’t appear to have been the product of the same pressure, there’s a chance that it could still stick, given the fact that regulators seem to be more acutely aware of potential anti-competitiveness. In the event that Apple puts its foot down, would Google appeal its case? I don’t know, maybe. Or maybe Apple won’t even try, knowing full well it’s lost similar battles in recent years.

    For now, all we have is speculation and a little hope. Maybe our mobile computing just actually, for real, and for good, got a little bit easier.

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    James Pero

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  • Scammers pilfered $55m from 40k victims in January alone, data shows

    Scammers pilfered $55m from 40k victims in January alone, data shows

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    Analysts at Scam Sniffer say bad actors stole $55 million worth of crypto and created over 11,000 phishing websites in January alone.

    In an X thread on Feb. 9, Scam Sniffer revealed a trend observed in January, noting a rise in phishing attacks coinciding with heightened activity within crypto communities following a series of airdrops in the previous month.

    According to the data, scammers created over 11,400 phishing websites in January, impersonating Manta Network, Frame, SatoshiVM, AltLayer, Dymension, zkSync, Pyth, OpenSea, Optimism, Blast, and others. Apparently, their efforts paid off as cybercriminals pilfered nearly $55 million worth of crypto across Ethereum Virtual Machine-based networks, with the top seven victims losing $17 million.

    “The majority of the thefts occurred on the Ethereum mainnet, followed by Arbitrum, BNB, Optimism, and Polygon.”

    Scam Sniffer

    As per Scam Sniffer, a common method employed by hackers involved exploiting the ERC-20 Permit function, deceiving users into unwittingly transferring funds from their non-custodial wallets under the guise of legitimate operations.

    Total crypto victims in January 2024 | Source: Dune

    Additionally, perpetrators increasingly leveraged the increaseAllowance function, enabling them to manipulate token allowances granted to malicious smart contracts. Many people fell for scams because cybercriminals were actively posting fake comments on X pretending to be real projects like Optimism and zKSync, underscoring the persistent threat posed by fraudulent online presences.

    As crypto.news previously reported, illicit crypto addresses received over $24 billion worth of crypto in 2023, down from an estimated $39.6 billion in 2022. According to Chainalysis data, there has been a transition in the types of assets involved in crypto crime, with stablecoins now constituting the majority of illicit transaction volume.


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    Denis Omelchenko

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  • Birdeye refutes airdrop plans in latest announcement

    Birdeye refutes airdrop plans in latest announcement

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    Crypto trading aggregator Birdeye has unveiled a new feature to customize the data pool, while also addressing speculations surrounding a potential airdrop.

    In an X post on Jan. 27, Birdeye unveiled a tool called “Terminal,” designed to empower users to tailor their data pool for a more personalized trading experience, adding that, as of now, there are no plans for an airdrop. The team behind Birdeye said the Terminal feature allows users to customize notifications related to market movements, token performance, trading events, and technical indicators.

    Birdeye joins other data aggregators, such as CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, in adopting a cautious approach to token issuance, opting against introducing their tokens. However, there are still platforms, like Arkham Intelligence, that have chosen to incentivize user activity by launching tokens. Arkham, for instance, introduced its ARKM token, rewarding users for contributing valuable intelligence insights.

    Birdeye’s statement regarding an airdrop coincides with a broader craze in the crypto community, where there has been a surge in excitement surrounding multiple token distributions in recent weeks. For example, the Jupiter decentralized exchange, based on the Solana network, is set to distribute 200 JUP tokens to its users starting on Jan. 31. Additionally, Solana’s WEN meme coin has garnered attention, experiencing an impressive 4,000% surge since its launch on Jan. 26, achieving a market capitalization exceeding $50 million within 12 hours of its debut.


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    Denis Omelchenko

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  • Celestia Network: How To Stake TIA And Position For 5-Figure Airdrops

    Celestia Network: How To Stake TIA And Position For 5-Figure Airdrops

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    Celestia is the star of the modular network in late 2023 after its airdrop and staking TIA has become a good way to receive airdrops. Celestia is a chain that a lot of people overlooked because, before the launch, there was not a lot of information about Celestia and the airdrop. However, in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, overlooked gems can often surprise the market, and Celestia Network is no exception. 

    Celestia (TIA) Airdrop And What People Missed

    Celestia network had stayed out of the limelight until it announced an airdrop eligibility site. Lots of people didn’t bother checking if they were eligible for an airdrop, because they felt it was irrelevant, people didn’t claim their airdrop at the deadline as requested by the team, which made the team extend the date to give more people the chance to claim. 

    At the end of the claim period, there were a lot of unclaimed airdrops to the extent the team had to distribute all the unclaimed airdrops to the wallets that claimed their airdrops, meaning that eligible wallets got double their initial allocations. 

    After the airdrop, the team focused on developing and creating utility for their chain, making the price of TIA skyrocket, as the demand for the chain and its token started to grow. 

    TIA Utility: Data Availability and Scalability

    Celestia gives great utility towards Data Availability and Scalability giving other chains or upcoming chains a foundation to learn and work on. The Celestia team’s innovative approach, combined with partnerships and a focus on utility, set it apart in a crowded space. 

    In this guide, we will delve into the dynamics of Celestia, explore its transformative airdrop strategy, and discuss how staking TIA can position you for not only handsome rewards but also exclusive airdrops. 

    Unlike many projects that fizzle out post-airdrop, Celestia took a different path. The team continued developing the platform, adding significant utility to the Celestia chain. This utility, focused on data availability and scalability, spurred demand for the native token, TIA, ultimately driving its price higher.

    Celestia (TIA) Network Collaborations

    Celestia has partnered with most roll-ups of other chains like the Manta network which is another rollup that has been able to combine utility from the calamari network, and the EVM network. Collaborating with Celestia for better scalability and data availability increased the demand for Celestia(TIA). 

    Celestia (TIA) Network Airdrop Distribution

    Celestia changed the way they distributed their TIA airdrop, which was different from what the market was used to. The Celestia pre-launch had incentivized node running events, rewarding node runners, but that was not enough to bring more people into exploring its ecosystem, it had to distribute its airdrop by rewarding all EVM users. If you had interacted on the EVM chain, you were eligible for the TIA airdrop. 

    Now, let’s delve deeper into the details surrounding TIA staking, Celestia’s impact on the crypto space, and the broader implications for investors seeking to navigate this dynamic landscape.

    Reasons To Stake TIA

    Staking TIA offers a multifaceted investment strategy, combining an attractive Annual Percentage Rate (APR), potential airdrop eligibility, and the broader positive trajectory of the Celestia platform. Taking a closer look at TIA staking, investors are drawn by the appealing APR, often exceeding 10%. 

    However, it’s essential to note that the choice of validator plays a crucial role in determining the staking rewards. As the Celestia platform continues to innovate and gain prominence, the allure of TIA staking is further heightened.

    Celestia’s commitment to enhancing scalability and data availability. This, in turn, has led to increased demand for TIA, solidifying its position as a valuable asset within the crypto market.

    Celestia’s unique utility and game-changing capabilities have positioned it as a frontrunner in the blockchain space. As a result, any new chain looking to launch and conduct a successful airdrop finds integrating TIA stakers as an effective strategy to garner attention. This is particularly true for projects building on the Celestia platform, where TIA’s association adds a layer of credibility and visibility

    The association of TIA with projects like Dymension, where TIA stakers met airdrop eligibility criteria, underscores the growing trend of projects leveraging TIA stakers for increased visibility and credibility. As more projects within the Celestia chain ecosystem emerge, the potential for additional airdrops targeted at TIA stakers becomes increasingly promising.

    While this analysis sheds light on the potential benefits of staking TIA, it’s crucial to acknowledge the ever-changing nature of the crypto market. Therefore, individuals considering TIA staking should conduct thorough research and stay updated on market trends to make informed decisions. 

    Exchanges to Buy Celestia (TIA)

    To embark on the journey of acquiring TIA, one can explore various prominent exchanges where TIA is listed. Platforms such as Binance, Kucoin, OKX, and Bybit offer a convenient gateway for purchasing TIA. 

    A critical component of the staking process is securing a Keplr wallet. The Keplr wallet is an essential tool for managing and staking TIA securely. Users can download the wallet, create a new wallet by saving the seed phrase, and take precautions to safeguard their keys. The importance of protecting access to one’s crypto assets cannot be overstated, as the security of the Keplr wallet directly correlates with the safety of the stored TIA holdings.

    How to Get Your TIA Wallet Address

    Go to your Keplr wallet and get your TIA address. You can get it by typing TIA in the search bar, but if it’s not available, you have to make it available.

    Click on the hamburger sign at the top left corner:

    TIA

    Click on Manage Chain Visibility next, type TIA, enable it, and Save it:

    Celestia 2

    Go to your wallet dashboard and copy your TIA address, remember, the address is supposed to start with “Celestia”. Go to your crypto exchange and send TIA to that address. 

    The process of obtaining TIA is straightforward, with the cryptocurrency available across major exchanges. Additionally, users can explore the option of bridging from other Cosmos chains, such as converting ATOM on the Cosmos chain or INJ on the Injective chain to TIA.TIA 2

    Once TIA is secured in the Keplr wallet, staking becomes the next logical step. Users can access the Celestia Staking dashboard on Keplr, choose a validator based on their preferences, and stake their TIA accordingly. Choosing a validator that offers a high percentage of rewards is best.

    It’s important to note that unstaking TIA involves a 21-day processing period, requiring users to plan their actions accordingly. 

    Protect Your Staked TIA

    Securing a Keplr wallet is paramount for those looking to engage in TIA staking. The wallet serves as a secure tool for managing and staking TIA, requiring users to download it, create a new wallet with a saved seed phrase, and take necessary precautions to safeguard their private keys. 

    Never store your seed phrase in a place where it can be accessed on the internet. Do not copy your seed phrase on your device. It is best to write down your seed phrase on a piece of paper and keep it in a place only you can access.

    CONCLUSION

    It’s crucial to emphasize that the information provided here is not financial advice, but rather an analysis of the current trends in the crypto market. However, the logic behind acquiring TIA and staking is compelling. 

    The demand for TIA has been on a consistent uptrend, driving its value from an initial $2.2 to well over $10. The combination of robust staking rewards and the prospect of participating in airdrops makes TIA an enticing asset for investors looking to maximize their returns.

    TIA price chart from Tradingview.com (Celestia Network how to stake) 

    TIA price crosses $13 | Source: TIAUSD on Tradingview.com

    Featured image from BSC News, chart from Tradingview.com

    Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

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    Scott Matherson

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  • DeNations Hosts NFT Art Exhibition, Celebrating Genesis Block of the DeNations Art Chain

    DeNations Hosts NFT Art Exhibition, Celebrating Genesis Block of the DeNations Art Chain

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    Defi and blockchain-powered Metaverse, DeNations launches NFT art minting platform, giving away free yield-bearing NFT art to NFT art collectors

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jul 15, 2021


    HONG KONG, July 15, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    DeNations is a blockchain-powered metaverse platform based in Hong Kong that everyone can own nations, build cities/civilizations, and earn tokens.

    In DeNations, ownership of core assets is represented by Ethereum NFT (Non-Fungible Token). Players can register their NFTs at DeNations’ metaverse platform (http://play.denations.com), run their nations and earn token (DENA) profits.

    These NFTs are currently trading on OpenSea and DeNations was ranked 4th in terms of trading volume under the Virtual World category.

    As DeNations is becoming noticeable each day, it has recently released a new collaboration project called DeNations Art Chain, a decentralized ecosystem where various talented artists can easily and sustainably produce valuable NFT arts.

    A contemporary artist Jeon Byeong Sam is chosen as an artist of the Genesis Block of DeNations Art Chain. He has developed a global reputation with large-scale media installation art and also been creating works of art that represent the relationship between the seen and unseen within the realms of the analog and digital. Collaborated with DeNations Art Chain, he recreated the 193 ‘National Flags’ through his <LOST> series, which symbolizes and conveys the notion of the theme “Things You See Only When They Disappear.” 

    Flags of each country are created as digital images; the original shape of the flag disappears and is reborn as an abstract striped image throughout the process of decomposing and recombining one pixel at a time. These artworks will be issued as Non-Fungible Token (NFT) in the blockchain.

    To commemorate these works, the DeNations and the artist hosted an offline exhibition, under the title of <RUMINATIONS: Nations in Metaverse> that exclusively reveals 207 NFTs and 207 pieces of physical arts that related to each other. The first drop is on 14th July UTC 8:00 AM; a unique edition of 15 national flags will be disclosed. 207 Physical arts that were exhibited, will be shipped to the buyer of unique edition after the exhibition.

    In order to let more people get familiar with the concept of NFT, Defi, and metaverse by having their own NFTs in their wallets, DeNations holds an online event where everyone can claim a free Art NFT. This Special Art NFT has two major in-metaverse functions: “Art Farming” and “DGDP Boosting.” Unlike the other common NFTs, NFTs of the Art Chain Block are profitable under the support of the DeNations metaverse ecosystem. 

    By observing how the disparate concepts of art, blockchain technology, nations merge together harmoniously, we are witnessing the beginning of another surrealistic world. DeNations Art Chain project and Jeon Byeong-Sam’s artworks will be a meaningful step in the art history and blockchain industry. Moreover, this exhibition will be the world’s first NFT art exhibition sponsored by the blockchain-based Metaverse.

    Please contact info@denation.com for further queries.

    Source: DeNations

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