Google unveiled a bunch of new features today at CES. Taking the cake is probably the new Quick Share system, developed in partnership with Samsung. This will replace Google’s Nearby Share, introduced in 2020.
It’s interesting to see Google adopt Samsung’s naming for what used to be its own similar service. The new Quick Share is billed as the best of both worlds. Google says it’s “integrated the experiences” with Samsung and thus created the best default, built-in option for peer-to-peer content sharing across all types of devices that run Android or Chrome OS.
Moreover, the company is working with “leading PC manufacturers” like LG to expand the new Quick Share to Windows PCs as a preinstalled app in the future. With the new system, you just tap the Quick Share icon and get a list of available devices close by.
Of course you can choose who can discover your device and send files – everyone, only your contacts, or just your own devices. The new Quick Share is expected to start rolling out to current Nearby Share enabled devices in February.
Moving on, Fast Pair is expanding to Chromecast with Google TV within the next month and will reach even more Google TV devices later this year. Once you’ve put your accessory in pairing mode, it’s just a tap to connect your compatible headphones or speakers to your Google TV. There will also be easy audio output controls, letting you quickly switch back to your default TV audio whenever you want.
Starting today, you can cast TikTok content from your phone to devices with Chromecast built-in. Soon, this will also apply to live videos on TikTok.
Google says in 2024 LG’s TV lineup will come with Chromecast built-in, as will devices under LG Hospitality and LG Healthcare, so you’ll be able to cast from your phone to the LG TV in your hotel or hospital room. Google says there are now over 220 million monthly active Google TV and other Android TV devices out there.
A new casting feature is coming later this year that will allow you to move what’s playing on Spotify and YouTube Music from your compatible Pixel phone to your docked Pixel Tablet when it’s close by. This way if you’re listening on the road on your phone, you can then switch to the tablet once you’re home, for example.
In the future, LG TVs and select Google TV and other Android TV devices will act as hubs for Google Home, making it easier to add devices supporting the Matter protocol to your home network and locally control them with the Google Home app.
Google has also recently added new features to Android Auto, including the Chrome browser and a way to customize the wallpaper on your car’s infotainment screen.
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