KDE Connect Now Available on iOS

[heavyset_go]

KDE Connect is one of those unsung features that really should be front and center in Plasma's marketing, and elsewhere, since it is available on more than just Plasma Desktop.

[sph]

KDE Connect has the problem of having KDE in the front of its name, which really limits its adoption. I'm deep in the Linux world and I only recently found out this app exists, works on GNOME and works on anything which ain't a KDE phone - I don't even know if it's a thing.

KDE developers really like their brand name, or at least putting a K in front of their name.

[jeroenhd]

I recommend this to all iOS users that are also on Linux (or run KDE Connect on Windows) because KDE Connect is an awesome piece of software.

I do find it interesting that they've published a GPLv3 application in Apple's App Store, though. I recall the App Store and GPLv3 not going together well, though I must admit that I never cared enough to read into the details.

[dustyharddrive]

They acknowledge the GPL conflict in the license file (https://github.com/KDE/kdeconnect-ios/blob/master/License.md):

> … we have committed not to pursue any license violation that results solely from the conflict between the GNU GPLv3 and the Apple App Store terms of service, including the FOSS-specific policies as outlined in sections 3.3.22, 5.1, and 9.1

[flatiron]

Apple itself when I worked there was strict on having no gpl3. But everything on the inside is Linux. They even have their own version of arch (and Java and spring boot which is what I did)

[heavyset_go]

> I do find it interesting that they've published a GPLv3 application in Apple's App Store, though. I recall the App Store and GPLv3 not going together well, though I must admit that I never cared enough to read into the details.

If they're dual licensing it, it would make sense. GPLv3 has stipulations that Apple's App Store platform refuses to meet, making it otherwise incompatible with the license.

[rascul]

I don't have much use for KDE Connect currently but I've used it in the past. It can be quite handy. It was very useful for replying to text messages when my phone wasn't around, for example.

I do like to see KDE software propagating outside of the KDE world (KHTML is a great example of that).

[hsbauauvhabzb]

I don’t see this function in the App Store app, I’d love to use my phone remotely, is this possible without a mac device?

[dhruvmittal]

Reminder that the KDE Connect app also works with the Gnome Shell version GSConnect https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1319/gsconnect/

[jonathannerat]

Also reminder that it works with mconnect [1], an implementation in vala.

I'm linking a fork since the original repo hasn't seen any recent commits (at least in master, looks like the owner has been trying to rewrite it first in Rust and now in Go)

1: https://github.com/grimpy/mconnect

[rlopezcc]

I use KDE Connect every day. I use it to control the volume and screen brightness of my laptop when it's out of reach and many other things.

The mouse cursor functionality is great and works flawlessly.

[anyfoo]

I hope this supports Shortcuts, that would make it even more awesome.

I have Shortcuts on my iPhone that issue commands over ssh and perform HTTP uploads and requests (works out of the box on both iOS and macOS), but if I could send e.g. results to a non-Airdrop desktop or would be even better.

[konart]

Shortcuts are not yet implemented but on the list

[nozzlegear]

Just curious, can you give some examples of what you do with those shortcuts? I just purchased my first Mac and I’ve been looking for shortcut/automation ideas.

[xattt]

The killer feature would be message integration, but their own Features page in the app says it’s unlikely.

Dell had a mobile connect app that’s artificially limited to Dell machines on Windows that somehow is able to accomplish this feat.

[rahimnathwani]

"somehow is able to accomplish this feat"

Via Bluetooth.

[whalesalad]

I repurposed a 2015-ish Macbook Pro as a "year of the linux desktop" dogfooding machine. I am running EndeavourOS (Arch under the hood) and it has honestly been an incredible experience. KDE has come SO FAR from the old days! (to put things in perspective when I first started using KDE, the Linux kernel was on version 2.4)

Really the only thing I miss is iMessage and all of the other "quality of life" things you get in the Apple ecosystem. Definitely going to start using KDE Connect now that I can run it on my iPhone. What a time to be alive!

[soheil]

> Remote presentation remote: control a laser pointer on the screen of your computer by moving your phone around.

How does it detect the phone movement and its relative position?

[makeworld]

I've used this feature. When you click the pointer button, the "laser pointer" overlay appears in the middle of your screen. When you rotate your phone, it moves on the screen, presumably detecting using the gyroscope. So the way it works is by assuming you are pointing at the center of the screen when you first click (and then hold) the pointer button. It's not a bad assumption, it my experience it works pretty well.

[savant_penguin]

Does it/will it support Bluetooth?

As is usually happens, the places I generally need kde connect are the ones with the worst internet connectivity

[heavyset_go]

Pretty sure it's IP based, but I haven't really looked.

[_Algernon_]

Does it not work with a ad hoc wireless network? That seems perfect for situations without a wireless router.

[jraph]

It should work if you manage to share a network connection through Bluetooth between the devices.

[diffeomorphism]

IIRC there is a bluetooth build for Android since a few years ago. Too buggy/beta though.

[starik36]

Very nicely done. I can see that it's the first version and there are some discoverability issues. But the functionality is great!

My wish list would be to add the app to the Share sheet when sharing a photo. And on the other side (Windows in my case), it would be nice to have an indicator that the file has arrived.

[nabla9]

I have been using it few days. Promising but not there yet.

It loses connection after short time, don't get it back, makes it unusable after while. You can move only few images/files at the time or it hangs. Had some discoverability issues.

It has many cool features, but it's still alpha quality.

[heavyset_go]

I found it to be stable on rolling release distributions. I had issues with it on Ubuntu.

[sithadmin]

Those are the same issues that seem to plague the Android version.

[capableweb]

Seemed great, until I installed it and tried to use it. Apparently, you need to keep the app in the foreground to work, making it relatively useless for now.

Looking forward to it getting a proper MVP/beta release in the future :)

[zikohh]

Had used it on Windows. The functionality is good. Quite buggy though.

[CommanderData]

Intel had a similar keyboard/mouse app. The experience was seemless and elegant but it was scrapped.

I've tried KDE connect but it does not compare, and is often a little buggy.

[pmontra]

I don't know if that Intel software was only about keyboard and mouse but KDEConnect does much more than that. I'm using it with my GNOME laptop and my Android phones and tablet to send files from one device to another one, open browser tabs usually from phone to desktop and occasionally to ring my phone from the desktop when I don't find it. Keyboard and mouse, almost never.

Edit: it also mutes the audio of the laptop when I make or receive a call on the phone.

[chupasaurus]

Probably because KDE Connect was made originally on top of KIO [0] library, which wasn't designed for real time data exchange.

[0] https://community.kde.org/KIO

[netheril96]

The copy paste between multiple devices work fantastically.

For sending files, I would like to send HEIC instead of JPEG files. It doesn’t seem possible right now.

[jbhouse]

this is incredible, I'm so glad to hear it

[lordofgibbons]

This is super cool! I can't believe I haven't run into KDE Connect even after years of using Linux desktop

[captn3m0]

Looking for more apps designed for the Linux/iOS crowd. Firefox for eg syncs stuff well. Maybe BitWarden?