1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,580 Welcome to the deep dive. 2 00:00:01,580 --> 00:00:03,460 Before we really jump in, just a quick word 3 00:00:03,460 --> 00:00:06,500 from our supporter for this particular deep dive, 4 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:08,060 safeserver.de. 5 00:00:08,060 --> 00:00:11,060 They're big champions of digital transformation 6 00:00:11,060 --> 00:00:13,580 and actually provide hosting for software 7 00:00:13,580 --> 00:00:16,140 exactly like the kind we're gonna be exploring today. 8 00:00:16,140 --> 00:00:17,340 So if you're curious about that, 9 00:00:17,340 --> 00:00:21,900 you can find out more at www.safeserver.de. 10 00:00:21,900 --> 00:00:22,900 Good place to check out. 11 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:24,700 Okay, so let's talk about something 12 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:27,140 I think almost everyone listening has probably felt, 13 00:00:27,140 --> 00:00:29,660 that, you know, digital headache. 14 00:00:29,660 --> 00:00:30,660 You're sitting there, 15 00:00:30,660 --> 00:00:33,260 maybe phone in one hand, laptop in the other, 16 00:00:33,260 --> 00:00:35,460 and you just need to get a file across. 17 00:00:35,460 --> 00:00:36,300 Right. 18 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:38,260 A photo maybe, or a document you just finished. 19 00:00:38,260 --> 00:00:39,660 Or even just some text you copied. 20 00:00:39,660 --> 00:00:41,860 Exactly, and then you sort of sigh thinking, 21 00:00:41,860 --> 00:00:43,000 okay, now what? 22 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,660 Email it, find a cable, upload it somewhere and wait. 23 00:00:46,660 --> 00:00:48,620 It just feels clunky. 24 00:00:48,620 --> 00:00:50,180 Especially if you're mixing, say, 25 00:00:50,180 --> 00:00:53,180 an iPhone and a Windows PC or Android and a Mac. 26 00:00:53,180 --> 00:00:55,100 Totally, that cross-platform thing 27 00:00:55,100 --> 00:00:57,180 is often where the friction really hits. 28 00:00:57,180 --> 00:00:58,020 Well, we've been digging 29 00:00:58,020 --> 00:00:59,780 into the source material specifically, 30 00:00:59,780 --> 00:01:02,940 looking at the GitHub repository and the main website 31 00:01:02,940 --> 00:01:05,860 for a tool that promises to, well, 32 00:01:05,860 --> 00:01:08,500 make that whole frustrating thing maybe disappear. 33 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:10,100 It's called PairDrop. 34 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:11,000 That's the one. 35 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:11,840 Yes. 36 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,820 And for this deep dive, our mission, really, 37 00:01:14,820 --> 00:01:17,380 is to unpack what PairDrop is all about, 38 00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:19,420 but in a way that's super accessible, 39 00:01:19,420 --> 00:01:20,960 easy for anyone to grasp, 40 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:22,420 even if you're not super technical. 41 00:01:22,420 --> 00:01:23,260 Perfect. 42 00:01:23,260 --> 00:01:24,620 We wanna show you how it tackles 43 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:28,180 that common kind of annoying problem of moving files 44 00:01:28,180 --> 00:01:30,340 between different devices, different systems, 45 00:01:30,340 --> 00:01:33,860 and how it makes it surprisingly easy 46 00:01:33,860 --> 00:01:35,660 based on what we've seen in the sources. 47 00:01:35,660 --> 00:01:36,700 Excellent goal. 48 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:38,700 So let's start right at the beginning then. 49 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:41,220 What is PairDrop, like at its core? 50 00:01:41,220 --> 00:01:43,540 I've heard it described basically as airdrop, 51 00:01:43,540 --> 00:01:44,420 but for everyone. 52 00:01:44,420 --> 00:01:45,260 Is that fair? 53 00:01:45,260 --> 00:01:47,040 Yeah, that's definitely the inspiration, 54 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,140 and it's a really good starting point, actually. 55 00:01:49,140 --> 00:01:50,540 Think about how airdrop works. 56 00:01:50,540 --> 00:01:52,300 Devices nearby just sort of see each other. 57 00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:53,660 You tap, you send. 58 00:01:53,660 --> 00:01:55,300 Right, magic. 59 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:58,020 PairDrop really aims to capture that feeling, 60 00:01:58,020 --> 00:02:01,020 but make it work everywhere across all sorts of devices. 61 00:02:01,020 --> 00:02:03,740 It's actually what's called the fork of another project, 62 00:02:03,740 --> 00:02:04,700 SnapDrop. 63 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:06,540 So it started with that code, but has evolved 64 00:02:06,540 --> 00:02:07,900 some key differences. 65 00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:10,180 But the fundamental promise, pulled straight 66 00:02:10,180 --> 00:02:14,540 from the sources, is simple, easy, cross-platform file 67 00:02:14,540 --> 00:02:17,140 transfer, just using your web browser. 68 00:02:17,140 --> 00:02:18,540 OK, just your web browser. 69 00:02:18,540 --> 00:02:19,620 That sounds interesting. 70 00:02:19,620 --> 00:02:21,620 Does that mean I don't need to install an app or anything? 71 00:02:21,620 --> 00:02:22,260 No account. 72 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:24,780 And that's honestly one of its biggest selling points, 73 00:02:24,780 --> 00:02:27,900 something the source material emphasizes again and again. 74 00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:29,780 Absolutely no setup needed. 75 00:02:29,780 --> 00:02:32,580 No signing up for an account, no logging in. 76 00:02:32,580 --> 00:02:35,420 You literally just open the PairDrop website 77 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:37,980 in a modern web browser on your devices, 78 00:02:37,980 --> 00:02:39,580 and you're basically good to go. 79 00:02:39,580 --> 00:02:41,420 That whole no setup, no sign up thing, 80 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:44,300 it just cuts through so much initial friction. 81 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:45,220 That sounds wonderful. 82 00:02:45,220 --> 00:02:47,660 OK, so how does this work then, this browser magic? 83 00:02:47,660 --> 00:02:49,780 How do my phone and my laptop suddenly 84 00:02:49,780 --> 00:02:52,740 know about each other just because I open the same website? 85 00:02:52,740 --> 00:02:55,860 Well, the core idea is using modern web tech. 86 00:02:55,860 --> 00:02:58,460 So the main way it works, initially at least, 87 00:02:58,460 --> 00:03:00,780 is for devices that are on the same local network. 88 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:02,340 Ah, OK. 89 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:03,340 Like my home Wi-Fi. 90 00:03:03,340 --> 00:03:04,100 Exactly. 91 00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:07,260 Your phone, your computer, both connected to the same router. 92 00:03:07,260 --> 00:03:09,380 They use something called WebRTC. 93 00:03:09,380 --> 00:03:11,380 You can kind of think of it as a way for browsers 94 00:03:11,380 --> 00:03:13,140 to talk directly to each other, peer to peer. 95 00:03:13,140 --> 00:03:14,100 Peer to peer, right. 96 00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:16,140 So when you open PairDrop on both, 97 00:03:16,140 --> 00:03:18,740 they broadcast a little signal on that local network, 98 00:03:18,740 --> 00:03:22,820 find each other, and then you can send files, pictures, text, 99 00:03:22,820 --> 00:03:25,700 whatever directly between them using that connection, 100 00:03:25,700 --> 00:03:26,860 all inside the browser. 101 00:03:26,860 --> 00:03:27,460 OK, same network. 102 00:03:27,460 --> 00:03:28,100 That makes sense. 103 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:29,420 They can see each other locally. 104 00:03:29,420 --> 00:03:32,140 But what if they're not on the same network? 105 00:03:32,140 --> 00:03:34,300 Like I'm at a coffee shop on their Wi-Fi, 106 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:36,940 my computer's at home, or maybe I'm on a work network. 107 00:03:36,940 --> 00:03:39,740 My friend's on their phone's mobile data. 108 00:03:39,740 --> 00:03:41,940 Can PairDrop still bridge that gap? 109 00:03:41,940 --> 00:03:43,860 Yeah, and this is where PairDrop really 110 00:03:43,860 --> 00:03:47,260 adds value beyond just that simple local sharing. 111 00:03:47,260 --> 00:03:49,380 It has ways to handle internet transfers, 112 00:03:49,380 --> 00:03:51,960 even when devices are on totally different networks. 113 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,620 One of the main ways is through something 114 00:03:53,620 --> 00:03:55,540 they call temporary public rooms. 115 00:03:55,540 --> 00:03:56,780 Temporary public rooms. 116 00:03:56,780 --> 00:03:57,740 OK, what are those? 117 00:03:57,740 --> 00:04:01,260 So imagine you need to send a file to someone, maybe not 118 00:04:01,260 --> 00:04:05,280 nearby, or maybe someone you haven't connected with before. 119 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,500 You can both agree on a simple temporary room name. 120 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:10,900 The source has mentioned it's like a five-letter code. 121 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:12,020 Just five letters. 122 00:04:12,020 --> 00:04:13,340 Yeah, apparently. 123 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:15,260 You both type that same code into PairDrop, 124 00:04:15,260 --> 00:04:18,260 or you could maybe scan a QR code for it. 125 00:04:18,260 --> 00:04:21,800 Once you're both in that same virtual room over the internet, 126 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,860 your devices can then see each other within that space, 127 00:04:24,860 --> 00:04:26,220 and boom, you can transfer files. 128 00:04:26,220 --> 00:04:27,300 Ah, I see. 129 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:29,380 This lets you connect and share pretty easily, 130 00:04:29,380 --> 00:04:32,000 even if you're dealing with tricky network situations, 131 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,520 like being behind different firewalls or on public Wi-Fi, 132 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,940 corporate networks, mobile hotspots, that kind of thing. 133 00:04:37,940 --> 00:04:40,060 So it's like creating a quick, disposable meeting 134 00:04:40,060 --> 00:04:43,100 spot just for those devices, wherever they happen to be. 135 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:45,020 That's a great way to put it, yeah. 136 00:04:45,020 --> 00:04:49,100 And the tech that makes that possible across networks, 137 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:51,500 especially when devices are behind something called NAT. 138 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:52,300 NAT. 139 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:54,180 Yeah, that's like the thing my home router 140 00:04:54,180 --> 00:04:56,780 does that gives all my devices one internet address, right? 141 00:04:56,780 --> 00:04:59,140 Makes it hard for things outside to find a specific device 142 00:04:59,140 --> 00:04:59,940 inside. 143 00:04:59,940 --> 00:05:00,500 Exactly. 144 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:01,800 That's a perfect analogy. 145 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,900 It's like a doorman for your home network. 146 00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:06,860 Because of that doorman effect, devices sometimes 147 00:05:06,860 --> 00:05:08,860 need a bit of help to find each other directly 148 00:05:08,860 --> 00:05:09,780 across the internet. 149 00:05:09,780 --> 00:05:10,620 OK. 150 00:05:10,620 --> 00:05:12,580 So PairDrop uses something called a turn server 151 00:05:12,580 --> 00:05:13,220 in those cases. 152 00:05:13,220 --> 00:05:15,300 Think of it as a temporary relay station. 153 00:05:15,300 --> 00:05:19,060 If the two devices can't make that direct peer-to-peer 154 00:05:19,060 --> 00:05:23,460 connection work because of those NATs or firewalls, 155 00:05:23,460 --> 00:05:24,940 the relay helps them pass messages. 156 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:26,020 Precisely. 157 00:05:26,020 --> 00:05:28,660 The turn server relays the data between them. 158 00:05:28,660 --> 00:05:31,020 It helps get around those network barriers. 159 00:05:31,020 --> 00:05:33,700 So even with complicated setups, PairDrop 160 00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:36,180 tries its best to make the connection happen. 161 00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:37,460 That's really quite clever. 162 00:05:37,460 --> 00:05:37,960 OK. 163 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,660 So temporary rooms are good for one-off shares. 164 00:05:40,660 --> 00:05:41,820 What about my own stuff? 165 00:05:41,820 --> 00:05:45,500 My phone, my laptop, I want them to just know each other all 166 00:05:45,500 --> 00:05:47,340 the time wherever I am to do that. 167 00:05:47,340 --> 00:05:47,660 Yes. 168 00:05:47,660 --> 00:05:49,420 And this is another area where PairDrop 169 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:52,380 seems to have built upon its origins in SnapDrop. 170 00:05:52,380 --> 00:05:54,780 They have a feature called persistent device pairing. 171 00:05:54,780 --> 00:05:55,660 Persistent pairing. 172 00:05:55,660 --> 00:05:58,220 OK, that sounds useful for someone like me with a phone, 173 00:05:58,220 --> 00:05:59,660 a tablet, laptop. 174 00:05:59,660 --> 00:06:00,660 Oh, absolutely. 175 00:06:00,660 --> 00:06:03,780 So instead of always needing to be on the same Wi-Fi 176 00:06:03,780 --> 00:06:06,740 or joining a temporary room, you can permanently pair 177 00:06:06,740 --> 00:06:08,180 your devices together. 178 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:11,460 You do it initially with a six digit code or maybe a QR code. 179 00:06:11,460 --> 00:06:12,260 Right. 180 00:06:12,260 --> 00:06:13,940 Once they're paired, these devices 181 00:06:13,940 --> 00:06:16,060 use a kind of shared secret, a key, 182 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:19,020 to always find each other whenever PairDrop is open, 183 00:06:19,020 --> 00:06:20,740 no matter what network they're on. 184 00:06:20,740 --> 00:06:24,340 So even if my phone's on mobile data and my laptop's on Wi-Fi. 185 00:06:24,340 --> 00:06:25,420 Exactly. 186 00:06:25,420 --> 00:06:26,700 The pairing is persistent. 187 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:29,900 You can close PairDrop, open it again later somewhere else, 188 00:06:29,900 --> 00:06:32,700 and your paired devices should just show up ready to go. 189 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:34,180 And you can manage these pairings, 190 00:06:34,180 --> 00:06:38,420 like give devices names or unpair them if you need to. 191 00:06:38,420 --> 00:06:41,340 It makes connecting your personal devices really seamless. 192 00:06:41,340 --> 00:06:41,900 OK. 193 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:44,460 That combination, temporary rooms for anyone, 194 00:06:44,460 --> 00:06:45,980 persistent pairing for my own gear 195 00:06:45,980 --> 00:06:49,700 that sounds incredibly flexible, that's a big plus. 196 00:06:49,700 --> 00:06:53,380 What about actually using it, sending and receiving files? 197 00:06:53,380 --> 00:06:55,740 Is the interface smooth, or is it a bit fiddly 198 00:06:55,740 --> 00:06:56,980 doing this in a browser? 199 00:06:56,980 --> 00:06:58,540 Well, they seem to have put effort 200 00:06:58,540 --> 00:06:59,740 into the user experience. 201 00:06:59,740 --> 00:07:00,260 Yeah. 202 00:07:00,260 --> 00:07:02,620 When you try to send something, the person receiving it 203 00:07:02,620 --> 00:07:04,420 gets a clear notification or request. 204 00:07:04,420 --> 00:07:05,460 They just hit Accept. 205 00:07:05,460 --> 00:07:06,140 Simple. 206 00:07:06,140 --> 00:07:08,500 And then the transfer begins. 207 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:10,860 And a nice touch, mentioned in the sources, 208 00:07:10,860 --> 00:07:13,100 is that files often auto download 209 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:16,340 once the transfer is complete, if your browser supports that. 210 00:07:16,340 --> 00:07:17,300 Oh, nice. 211 00:07:17,300 --> 00:07:18,340 Less clicking. 212 00:07:18,340 --> 00:07:18,820 Right. 213 00:07:18,820 --> 00:07:20,580 And here's something really handy, 214 00:07:20,580 --> 00:07:23,380 especially if you're sending, say, a bunch of holiday photos 215 00:07:23,380 --> 00:07:25,660 or project files. 216 00:07:25,660 --> 00:07:27,940 If you send multiple files at the same time, 217 00:07:27,940 --> 00:07:31,100 PairDrop automatically bundles them all together 218 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:34,940 and downloads them as a single ZIP file for the recipient. 219 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:35,780 Oh, that's fantastic. 220 00:07:35,780 --> 00:07:37,900 Instead of getting, like, 20 separate download 221 00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:38,660 notifications. 222 00:07:38,660 --> 00:07:39,660 Exactly. 223 00:07:39,660 --> 00:07:41,060 Huge time saver. 224 00:07:41,060 --> 00:07:43,420 And on mobile, it seems well integrated. 225 00:07:43,420 --> 00:07:45,580 On Android and iOS, when you get files, 226 00:07:45,580 --> 00:07:47,660 you can use the standard Share button you already 227 00:07:47,660 --> 00:07:49,500 know to download them, share them again, 228 00:07:49,500 --> 00:07:51,780 or save them to your gallery or files app. 229 00:07:51,780 --> 00:07:53,340 OK, familiar territory. 230 00:07:53,340 --> 00:07:54,140 Yeah. 231 00:07:54,140 --> 00:07:55,780 And if you're sending multiple files, 232 00:07:55,780 --> 00:07:58,660 the sources say there's a clear overall progress bar, 233 00:07:58,660 --> 00:08:00,380 so you see how the whole batch is doing, 234 00:08:00,380 --> 00:08:01,700 not just individual files. 235 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:04,100 All right, so sending from PairDrop sounds easy. 236 00:08:04,100 --> 00:08:06,100 But can I start it from outside PairDrop? 237 00:08:06,100 --> 00:08:09,220 Like, if I'm just looking at files on my computer or phone? 238 00:08:09,220 --> 00:08:09,860 Yes. 239 00:08:09,860 --> 00:08:12,580 Another convenience feature they have apparently added. 240 00:08:12,580 --> 00:08:15,460 Often, you can send files or even text directly 241 00:08:15,460 --> 00:08:17,380 from your operating system's menus. 242 00:08:17,380 --> 00:08:20,460 The sources specifically call out support for this 243 00:08:20,460 --> 00:08:24,340 on Ubuntu Linux using the file manager's right-click menu 244 00:08:24,340 --> 00:08:27,580 and also on Windows through its right-click context menu. 245 00:08:27,580 --> 00:08:28,540 Ah, cool. 246 00:08:28,540 --> 00:08:30,720 And like we just mentioned on iOS and Android, 247 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,860 you can use the native Share function from almost any app 248 00:08:33,860 --> 00:08:37,280 to send stuff directly to a Pairedrop recipient. 249 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,860 There's even a command line interface option 250 00:08:40,860 --> 00:08:42,020 for the more technical folks. 251 00:08:42,020 --> 00:08:44,500 That's great, it makes it feel less like a separate website 252 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:46,180 and more like part of your system. 253 00:08:46,180 --> 00:08:48,300 Any other smaller features worth mentioning 254 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:50,600 that just make it nicer to use? 255 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,600 Yeah, there's a decent list of those quality of life things 256 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:54,920 in the source material. 257 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,400 You can easily change your device's display name 258 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:58,460 so you know who's who. 259 00:08:58,460 --> 00:08:59,300 Sensible. 260 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:01,100 You can copy text or files, 261 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:02,780 paste them into the Pairedrop window, 262 00:09:02,780 --> 00:09:05,300 and then decide which device to send them to, 263 00:09:05,300 --> 00:09:06,140 which is kind of neat. 264 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:07,020 Hmm, yeah. 265 00:09:07,020 --> 00:09:08,940 For big files, there's an option to stop your phone 266 00:09:08,940 --> 00:09:11,420 or computer from going to sleep during the transfer. 267 00:09:11,420 --> 00:09:12,380 Crucial. Oh, definitely. 268 00:09:12,380 --> 00:09:15,460 It warns you if you try to close the tab or app 269 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:17,020 while something's transferring. 270 00:09:17,020 --> 00:09:18,860 You can open it in multiple browser tabs 271 00:09:18,860 --> 00:09:20,660 if you need to for some reason. 272 00:09:20,660 --> 00:09:22,880 It apparently has video and audio previews 273 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,160 for files sometimes. 274 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,180 And the source has also mentioned stability fixes 275 00:09:29,180 --> 00:09:30,980 and translations into different languages. 276 00:09:30,980 --> 00:09:31,980 Wow, okay. 277 00:09:31,980 --> 00:09:33,460 It sounds like they've really thought through 278 00:09:33,460 --> 00:09:35,220 a lot of the little practical details 279 00:09:35,220 --> 00:09:37,100 and annoyances of file sharing. 280 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:39,180 Right, let's just quickly peek behind the curtain, 281 00:09:39,180 --> 00:09:40,940 keep it simple, beginner-friendly. 282 00:09:40,940 --> 00:09:42,580 What's the tech actually making 283 00:09:42,580 --> 00:09:44,500 this browser-to-browser stuff happen? 284 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:46,380 Okay, super quick, high-level view. 285 00:09:46,380 --> 00:09:48,580 The part you see and click on, the front end. 286 00:09:48,580 --> 00:09:50,300 That's standard web stuff. 287 00:09:50,300 --> 00:09:53,260 HTML5, JavaScript, specifically a modern version 288 00:09:53,260 --> 00:09:55,300 called ES6 and CSS for styling. 289 00:09:55,300 --> 00:09:56,740 Right, the usual suspects. 290 00:09:56,740 --> 00:10:00,640 The real magic for the direct connection is WebRTC. 291 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,820 That's the tech letting browsers do peer-to-peer data transfer, 292 00:10:03,820 --> 00:10:05,000 like we mentioned. 293 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,660 It also uses something called WebSockets. 294 00:10:07,660 --> 00:10:09,160 Think of those as keeping an open line 295 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,140 between your browser and a helper server 296 00:10:11,140 --> 00:10:12,900 for things like finding other devices 297 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:14,580 or setting up the connection initially. 298 00:10:14,580 --> 00:10:18,300 There is a backend server component built with Node.js. 299 00:10:18,300 --> 00:10:20,220 It doesn't store your files long-term, 300 00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:22,180 but it helps with that initial matchmaking, 301 00:10:22,180 --> 00:10:24,280 managing the temporary rooms, 302 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,580 handling the turn server relay we talked about, 303 00:10:26,580 --> 00:10:28,460 and maybe storing the pairing info. 304 00:10:28,460 --> 00:10:29,300 Got it. 305 00:10:29,300 --> 00:10:33,140 And PairDrop can also work as a progressive web app, a PWA, 306 00:10:33,140 --> 00:10:35,780 which just means you can often install it. 307 00:10:35,780 --> 00:10:38,640 So it looks and feels more like a native app 308 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,100 on your phone or desktop, 309 00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:42,200 even though it's still basically the website. 310 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,620 Oh, and for zipping up those multiple files, 311 00:10:44,620 --> 00:10:47,980 it uses code libraries for that, like zip.js, 312 00:10:47,980 --> 00:10:50,720 and it stores some local data, like pairing info, 313 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,640 using index.db, which is just browser storage. 314 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:54,820 That paints a really clear picture 315 00:10:54,820 --> 00:10:56,020 without getting too technical. 316 00:10:56,020 --> 00:10:56,860 Awesome. 317 00:10:56,860 --> 00:10:58,020 So let's bring it back to the listener. 318 00:10:58,020 --> 00:11:01,060 Bottom line, why should you listening right now 319 00:11:01,060 --> 00:11:02,140 care about PairDrop? 320 00:11:02,140 --> 00:11:03,740 What's the big takeaway? 321 00:11:03,740 --> 00:11:05,580 I think the reason PairDrop matters to you 322 00:11:05,580 --> 00:11:07,380 is that it offers a genuinely simple, 323 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:10,420 genuinely universal fix for a very common, 324 00:11:10,420 --> 00:11:12,220 very annoying problem. 325 00:11:12,220 --> 00:11:14,340 Getting files between your different gadgets 326 00:11:14,340 --> 00:11:16,300 or to someone else's gadget without worrying 327 00:11:16,300 --> 00:11:18,620 if it's Apple or Android, Windows or Mac. 328 00:11:18,620 --> 00:11:21,140 You just skip the cables, skip emailing yourself, 329 00:11:21,140 --> 00:11:23,260 skip installing special software, 330 00:11:23,260 --> 00:11:24,740 or managing yet another account. 331 00:11:24,740 --> 00:11:26,940 It just removes that little bit of friction, doesn't it? 332 00:11:26,940 --> 00:11:28,180 That moment where you just think, 333 00:11:28,180 --> 00:11:29,940 ugh, how am I gonna send this? 334 00:11:29,940 --> 00:11:32,420 Exactly, it's just right there in your browser, 335 00:11:32,420 --> 00:11:33,260 ready to go. 336 00:11:33,260 --> 00:11:36,420 And it works whether the devices are side by side 337 00:11:36,420 --> 00:11:39,660 using that local peer-to-peer or across the internet 338 00:11:39,660 --> 00:11:42,620 using the rooms or the persistent pairing. 339 00:11:42,620 --> 00:11:45,100 It makes sharing big photos or videos 340 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:47,540 in original quality much easier. 341 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:50,980 And because it leans heavily on peer-to-peer when possible, 342 00:11:50,980 --> 00:11:53,860 your files are going directly between devices, 343 00:11:53,860 --> 00:11:56,580 not necessarily sitting on some company's server. 344 00:11:56,580 --> 00:11:57,620 That's a good point, too. 345 00:11:57,620 --> 00:11:59,220 And it's maybe worth mentioning. 346 00:11:59,220 --> 00:12:01,020 The sources point out that PairDrop 347 00:12:01,020 --> 00:12:03,900 is Libre software free and open source. 348 00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:04,500 Nice. 349 00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:05,940 Apparently, the creator mentioned 350 00:12:05,940 --> 00:12:08,300 they're footing the bill for things like the domain name. 351 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:10,860 And the server costs that turn server we talked about 352 00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:12,820 isn't free to run, for example. 353 00:12:12,820 --> 00:12:14,660 So if you try it and find it really useful, 354 00:12:14,660 --> 00:12:16,060 the sources indicate there are ways 355 00:12:16,060 --> 00:12:18,460 to donate to help support the project continuing. 356 00:12:18,460 --> 00:12:19,380 That's great to know. 357 00:12:19,380 --> 00:12:21,420 It's always good to see useful tools being developed 358 00:12:21,420 --> 00:12:22,380 and supported like that. 359 00:12:22,380 --> 00:12:22,860 OK. 360 00:12:22,860 --> 00:12:25,820 So we've seen how PairDrop uses some clever web 361 00:12:25,820 --> 00:12:28,780 tech to solve that everyday file sharing headache, 362 00:12:28,780 --> 00:12:31,300 letting devices talk directly peer-to-peer, 363 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:34,100 right from a browser, often cutting out the middleman 364 00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:35,420 and the need for accounts. 365 00:12:35,420 --> 00:12:37,820 Right, which kind of leads to a final thought for you, 366 00:12:37,820 --> 00:12:39,980 the listener, to maybe mull over. 367 00:12:39,980 --> 00:12:43,580 PairDrop is a really neat, user-friendly example 368 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:46,780 of how powerful these web-based peer-to-peer connections can 369 00:12:46,780 --> 00:12:48,820 be for simple tasks. 370 00:12:48,820 --> 00:12:50,740 It simplifies things, potentially 371 00:12:50,740 --> 00:12:52,980 makes them more private, and reduces reliance 372 00:12:52,980 --> 00:12:54,900 on big central platforms. 373 00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:56,900 So the question to think about is, 374 00:12:56,900 --> 00:12:59,580 what other parts of your digital life, 375 00:12:59,580 --> 00:13:02,100 what other kinds of information or interactions 376 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:05,020 could maybe be made simpler, more direct, or more 377 00:13:05,020 --> 00:13:07,380 decentralized using similar kinds of technology 378 00:13:07,380 --> 00:13:08,380 in the future? 379 00:13:08,380 --> 00:13:10,580 Where else could we cut out the middleman? 380 00:13:10,580 --> 00:13:12,380 That's a really interesting question to ponder. 381 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:13,540 Food for thought. 382 00:13:13,540 --> 00:13:16,100 And on that note, that wraps up this deep dive. 383 00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:18,460 Huge thanks again to safeserver.de 384 00:13:18,460 --> 00:13:20,900 for supporting this exploration into PairDrop today. 385 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,940 Remember, you can find out more about their services 386 00:13:22,940 --> 00:13:25,620 at www.saveserver.de. 387 00:13:25,620 --> 00:13:26,860 Yeah, definitely check them out. 388 00:13:26,860 --> 00:13:29,860 Until next time, keep digging deeper.