Google and Samsung have teamed up to make sharing files between Android devices much easier and faster, bringing the latter's Quick Share utility to all Android.
As the name suggests, Samsung's Quick Share feature allows you to quickly share things like images, files and text between two compatible Samsung devices, for example a Galaxy S23 and a Galaxy Tab S9. The feature is similar to Apple AirDrop.
Google has a similar tool called Nearby Share, which also makes it easy to share files between nearby devices.
Then at CES 2024, Google announced that it has been collaborating with Samsung to not only bring Quick Share to more Android users, but also to integrate Near Share with the tool.
“We've integrated experiences and created the best default, integrated option for peer-to-peer content sharing across all types of devices in the Android and Chromebook ecosystems,” said Sameer Samat, general manager and vice president of Android at Google. Ecosystem arm.
“This means that with a simple tap on the new Quick Share icon, you can see a list of available devices nearby. You stay in control of your privacy and can choose in your phone settings who can discover your device and send files, whether it's everyone, just your contacts, or just your own devices. “Quick Share will begin rolling out to Nearby Share-enabled devices next month.”
What might seem like a pretty basic integration is actually a big help from my point of view. While I like using some of the better Samsung phones, the glut of extra apps the company puts on its devices too often duplicates what Android comes with as standard, which can make for a frustrating experience, with two options available. do essentially the same thing.
Samsung has improved by allowing users to hide these extra apps and choose what to install when setting up a new Galaxy phone, but greater integration will help make for a better, smoother overall experience.
Additionally, Samat said that Google will look to bring Quick Share to Windows machines: “To make sharing even more seamless between devices, we are working with major PC manufacturers like LG to expand Quick Share to Windows PCs as an app pre-installed. ”
Google and CES 2024
Google had a few more announcements to make at CES, notably expanding the Fast Pair utility on Android to larger screens. As such, the Bluetooth-focused pairing tool will work with Chromecast and Google TV devices starting in February, with more Google TV devices coming as the year progresses.
The next step is the ability to use Chromecast's casting features on more apps and devices, as we explain in our roundup of new Chromecast features. As Samat notes: “You can also expect the launch of more devices with Chromecast built-in, such as the LG 2024 series of TVs. And later this year, we will extend Chromecast built-in to LG Hospitality and Healthcare so that when you're out and about, you can still enjoy a show or movie from your streaming apps on the LG TV in your hotel room. without having to log into every app and having to remember to log out when you're done.”
This type of streaming is also coming to Spotify and YouTube Music, allowing you to move what's playing from a connected Pixel phone to a Pixel tablet without needing to stop or interrupt the music stream.
Speaking of smart home devices that work well together, Google is expanding its interoperability between its own devices and the Google Home platform with the Matter smart home standard. This should mean that devices running the Android TV and Google TV platforms can act as a Google Home hub, allowing you to control a set of smart devices from one large screen. And naturally, this will mean that more Matter-compatible smart home devices can be controlled through the Google Nest Hub.
Finally, Android Auto will be updated to bring more Google apps and services to cars that support it. One such service is the ability to obtain real-time information about an electric car's battery and offer an estimated battery level upon arrival at a selected destination on Google Maps, while also marking charging stops along the way.
In short, CES for Google has been more focused on app and service integration, with the search giant seemingly taking a backseat while headline-grabbing hardware is revealed, like Kohler's new smart shower technology that almost gave us leads to indecent exposure at CES.
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