By 
While it’s taken a very long time, Google might finally release its own version of Apple’s Airdrop soon. Called Nearby Sharing, the feature will allow users to quickly send and receive content between devices with the tap of a “Share” button, XDA Developers reports.
Nearby Sharing
Nearby Sharing is Google’s method for allowing two Android smartphones or tablets to quickly share content between devices. This method will be faster and easier than Android Beam, which was never marketed in any significant way and had a habit of being buggy.
Start off your week with tech news recap and trending conversations in your inbox
Will It Work For All Android Devices?
Reports have been surfacing for a while now, but in a hands-on video with XDA Developers’ Mishaal Rahman, we get to see it in action. The feature is demonstrated between a Google Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 4 running Android 10. But, he points out that it’s also been used between a Pixel 2 XL and OnePlus 7T Pro.
So, that means the feature isn’t locked in to Pixel devices. It might be available on any Android device that comes with Google Pixel Services pre-installed on the phone.
How Does It Work
The feature uses WiFi to share content, meaning it quickly transfers from one handset to another. But as the video states it is not limited to WiFi only. It will be able to use data and Bluetooth if need be. This is much faster and less buggy than using Bluetooth for file transfers. The Nearby Sharing feature is readily accessible in the phone’s Quick Settings, though assuming the user makes their handset visible, they won’t need to access the settings for it too often. It’s unclear when exactly Google plans to make the feature available for everyone.
Comments