With endless apps for sharing files between Android and a native Quick Share to unite them all, there’s a new app that breaks from the established: LiveDrop shares files using animated QR codes. And it works much better than it looks, we’ve checked it.
Imagine you want to send a file as anonymously as possible, without a wireless connection acting as a bridge for sending data. If you have two phones, you can use a dual USB C cable and, thanks to a file manager, move them from one unit to another. This doesn’t involve a lot of complications, although two Android phones don’t always behave the same way; Not to mention that a cable is necessary, which we don’t always have with us. Is there another way to guarantee anonymity? Well yes: the camera.
QR codes to send files without any type of connection
A certain amount of data can be stored in a static QR code. It’s possible attach text of up to 4,296 characters in alphanumeric mode; with a maximum information size that would correspond to 2,953 bytes if a binary code was used in the QR, or approximately 0.003 megabytes (MB). At first glance, there seems to be very little capacity to send data taking advantage of this system, but LiveDrop manages to achieve this.
As if we captured the image of a QR from a bar table, but without the kibble service appearing on the screen: with LiveDrop we can send a PDF, a photo from the gallery and other documents enjoy QR codes and camera. The mobile phone sharing the information generates QR codes so that the phone receiving the file can capture these QR codes with its camera.
We have tested the application and the truth is that it works wonderfully. And it’s surprising that you can send files with QR codes, or even images. Even if yes, he does it with a little trick: The maximum to send is 150 KB; LiveDrop therefore applies compression to images to accommodate these limitations. Anything larger than 150 KB cannot be sent, at least for now. LiveDrop will likely expand the limits in future updates.
The process for exchanging files with LiveDrop is as follows:
- The app must be installed on both phones.
- On the mobile phone sending the file, you must add it from the selector with the lower “+”. Choose what you want: if it is an image LiveDrop will compress it in webp, the rest of the files must not exceed 150 KB.
- On the mobile phone that receives the file, you must click on the QR icon, the one above the “+”.
- All that remains is to capture the animated QR displayed on the sending phone with the receiving phone’s camera. Both devices should be kept in visual contact until the transfer is complete.
- All received files are displayed in a list in LiveDrop: you can view them from there, also share them with the share icon above.
Process of sending files using LiveDrop
LiveDrop is a very curious application that may be appropriate when you need to send a file and no type of connection is available. A plane ticket in the boarding line for example, or any other document without fear of someone intercepting wireless connectivity. For privacy paranoid people, this is perfect.
The app is free, contains no ads, and requires no in-app purchases. We thought it was a wonderful concept.
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