Unfortunately, I appreciate the deep integration between my phone and my laptop too much to drop either

I don't have Apple devices to compare, but I think KDE Connect can closely replicate this, entirely locally. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple's "deep integrations" rely on cloud components that are privacy-violating by design (even if Apple promises not to look at the data flowing through their servers).

▲

cosmic_cheese 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Most cross device stuff in the Apple world actually works via P2P Bluetooth and WiFi and functions without an internet connection or even a shared WiFi network. Mac and iDevice WiFi hardware is even designed with this in mind and is capable of maintaining P2P connections to other devices and a WiFi network simultaneously without rapidly switching between the two like many commodity WiFi cards have to.

▲

arzig 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Unfortunately the integration is really quite weak with Apple. KDE Connect cannot remain active while the application is not in the foreground. It’s possibly a packaging issue but pairing from fedora is also quite flakey.

As absurd as this sounds windows -> iPhone via their phone link is actually almost as good as apples built in ecosystem to the point where I can make phone calls and send texts on my computer. It’s not quite as seamless especially the setup but that is a well done wizard and it mostly works.

	▲	Rohansi 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> KDE Connect cannot remain active while the application is not in the foreground. Looks like you can thank Apple for that one. https://github.com/KDE/kdeconnect-ios?tab=readme-ov-file#kno...

▲

cpuguy83 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

KDE Connect with iOS, while useful, is terrible.