To become the "second phone" for iPhone users?

In September 2024, iOS 18 was officially released. Due to its close alignment with domestic Android systems in multiple functionalities, creating a sense of "mutual understanding," iOS 18 has been labeled by many as "copying Android." As a dual user of iPhone and Samsung, I have mixed feelings about this homogenization of design. On the one hand, I don't want two different systems to become "twins" – I buy two phones to experience two different ecosystems. If the two phones function identically, what's the difference from having just one phone?

But on the other hand, I also believe that the two systems can learn from each other's strengths. For example, Samsung's NFC door card and app split-screen features are worth learning by iPhone. At the same time, it would be ideal if there were deeper interconnections between the two ecosystems, such as a more user-friendly file transfer system.

Interestingly, domestic Android phone brands share this view.

At Xiaomi's new product launch event last month, Jin Fan, Vice President of Xiaomi Phones, mentioned that the core component of Mi Turbo OS 2, Xiaomi HyperConnect, fully supports Apple devices. By installing Xiaomi Interconnect Services on Apple devices, users can easily transfer files across different ecosystems.

Image source: Xiaomi

Earlier at the 2024 OPPO Developer Conference, OPPO also previewed a feature to "break down ecological barriers": ColorOS 15 will support iOS "one-touch transfer." In the future, users will only need to download the corresponding software on their iPhones to send files directly with ColorOS 15 phones across systems, without using data.

But then again, is it really that difficult to send files across systems?

Precedents for cross-system file transfer?

Frankly speaking, file transfer across systems is not difficult in most cases.

As mentioned earlier, I am a "dual user" of iPhone and Samsung, but this is only at the phone level. Besides phones (and tablets) from these two ecosystems, I also use a MacBook Pro for work, a Windows desktop for gaming, and run AI on a Linux server.

Despite sounding complicated, to transfer files within these five ecosystems, I only need one open-source software – LocalSend.

Image source: LocalSend

As the king of intranet data transfer, LocalSend, supported on almost all platforms, can send files in their original format to another device at extremely fast speeds, including URLs or text. The usage is extremely simple – no registration or login required, no additional permissions, no advertisements, end-to-end encryption without an intermediate server, and even the names of sending/receiving devices can be kept confidential.

However, LocalSend also has its shortcomings. The lack of a central server means that LocalSend can only be used for intranet transfers. If two devices are in different network topologies, such as connected to different Wi-Fi or routers, file transfer is not possible. In an offline environment, we can create an intranet environment by using a mobile hotspot. But it's somewhat troublesome to specifically turn on a hotspot just to send files.

Additionally, LocalSend does not convert file formats in any way. In other words, LocalSend ensures the file is delivered, but whether it can be opened is the responsibility of the receiving device.

Technically similar solutions but different paths

However, smart Chinese manufacturers will surely find solutions. For example, when Smartisan phones were still around, the file manager built into Smartisan OS integrated the "iWork" suite conversion function. When the phone encounters Pages, Numbers, or Keynote files, it uploads the files to the Smartisan server after user consent, transcodes them in the cloud, and then allows them to be opened on the phone after downloading.

Image source: Smartisan

Unfortunately, the "prematurely deceased" Smartisan OS only solved the problem of file incompatibility and used HansShaker to solve the problem of wired connection between macOS and Android phones. Accessing iPhones on Windows or wirelessly transferring files between iPhones and Android phones were challenges that were only resolved last month.

Moreover, from a user experience perspective, there is no fundamental difference in technology between Xiaomi and OPPO's transfer solutions and LocalSend:

The sender and receiver need to ensure they are on the same local area network. The application finds nearby devices through broadcasting or LAN scanning. Xiaomi and OPPO's software require an additional user verification (whether logged in to the same account) after finding the corresponding device, while LocalSend requires the user to verify a one-time device nickname displayed on the screen.

Image source: Lei Tech

After finding the device, the user selects the file to be sent and establishes an intranet communication using HTTP and REST API with the receiving device, encrypting the data using the HTTPS protocol to ensure it is protected during network transmission. When establishing the connection, the system generates a temporary TLS/SSL certificate to ensure data security during transmission and prevent interception by third parties.

Once the connection is established, the file is divided into several smaller chunks for transmission, which is beneficial for resuming transmission after network fluctuations. Data is sent directly between devices through peer-to-peer transmission, avoiding the involvement of intermediate servers. When all file chunks are successfully sent to the receiving device, the system automatically recombines the file.

Image source: Xiaomi

Of course, Xiaomi's interconnect suite also offers richer functionality, such as using streaming technology to operate Xiaomi phones with a Mac, which is the first time a domestic phone has "system-level" support for this feature. But in my opinion, it's premature to say that "Xiaomi Turbo supports the Apple ecosystem" based solely on the interconnect suite.

What is the essence of the iCloud ecosystem?

Since the release of Xiaomi Turbo OS 2, many media outlets have described it as "Xiaomi Turbo supports the Apple ecosystem" to highlight this cross-ecosystem compatibility. Admittedly, this move by Xiaomi does make it more convenient for dual-phone users. However, this ecological collaboration is still quite different from truly "compatible with the Apple ecosystem," in my opinion.

Firstly, Xiaomi's interconnect suite is just a tool for file transfer, but the "iCloud" ecosystem that Apple users rave about does not only involve file transfer. Based on the "synchronization" feature of iCloud, Apple has created a series of rich cross-device data synchronization cases within the so-called "iCloud" ecosystem.

For example, Handoff allows you to answer iPhone calls on a Mac and also displays the apps currently in use on the iPhone in the lower-right corner of the computer's Dock. Clicking on it will launch the corresponding Mac version of the app while retaining the user's data. For example, half-written emails or partially viewed web pages can be accessed without using the mobile app in a small projected window; apps opened on the computer can also be continued on the phone.

Image source: Lei Tech

Based on iCloud-synchronized "passwords," apps, web accounts, and passwords can be synchronized and encrypted at the system level across different devices; email and iMessage cloud synchronization can also automatically enter email or SMS verification codes across devices.

I know that Xiaomi can also achieve these functions within its own system ecosystem. After all, even Samsung, a "small factory," can achieve synchronization within its own ecosystem. However, before "Xiaomi can access iCloud password synchronization," there is still a significant distance between Xiaomi and "compatibility with the iCloud ecosystem.""

Striving to become the "second phone" for iPhone users

In my opinion, the core purpose of Xiaomi, OPPO, and other brands in launching "Apple interconnect services" is not to replace the iPhone but to develop a "second phone" for iPhone users without directly shaking the foundation of the iPhone.

Firstly, from the perspective of user habits and market share, iPhone users are heavily reliant on the so-called "Apple ecosystem." Based on iCloud, Apple has created a deeply integrated system-level interconnect service and also built an "ecological cage" that is difficult for users to escape. It can be said that the Apple ecosystem built years ago has the core purpose of keeping iPhone users firmly within its ecosystem, which is not replaceable by the Android ecosystem that has always prioritized openness and integration since its inception.

Image source: Lei Tech

Xiaomi and OPPO's "Apple interconnect services" can also tap into the iPhone user group under the current market landscape, providing users with a product experience that is "one-way compatible" with the Apple ecosystem. This allows iPhone users to enjoy Xiaomi and OPPO product features without giving up their existing Apple devices, thereby reducing the cost and psychological barrier of switching camps.

Secondly, this strategy also avoids direct competition with Apple in the core market to a certain extent. By providing cross-platform connectivity and one-way data sharing capabilities, Xiaomi and OPPO are not trying to replace the iPhone but rather providing a more flexible solution in specific scenarios (gaming, work, photography), which not only meets users' diverse needs but also enhances the presence of Android brands in the high-end market.

Image source: Apple

Ultimately, the "interconnect services" of Xiaomi, OPPO, and other brands are not intended to completely shake the Apple ecosystem but to attract and convert some iPhone users' attention under existing conditions, giving "fruit fans" an additional option besides the iPhone. For "dual users," the emergence of interconnect services also brings greater convenience, lowers the threshold for cross-platform use, and enriches device functionality to a certain extent.

It is certain that with further technological advancements, the integration of iPhone and Android ecosystems will become deeper, enabling more seamless interconnectivity across devices from different brands and systems, truly breaking down "ecological barriers." The day when "fruit fans" can ignore ecological compatibility and use Android phones as their "main phone" will naturally be the day they "switch sides.""

   Source: Lei Tech