Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Google’s Fast Share to replace Android Beam, will be similar to Apple’s AirDrop

Aaron Mamiit
By

Android Beam, which uses NFC connections to send information between Android smartphones, will be dropped from Android Q, but Google is already preparing its replacement in a feature named Fast Share.

The Android Beam feature, which was introduced in 2011 through Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, allowed the transfer of information such as photos, videos, contact information, and website links by bumping two smartphones together. However, it was flagged as missing on Google’s Issue Tracker for Android Q in March.

Recommended Videos

It was eventually confirmed that its omission from Android Q was not a mistake, and that Android Beam will not be returning in the next major version of Google’s mobile operating system.

Related

Regular Android Beam users, however, have something to look forward to in Fast Share, which Google is working on as a replacement. 9to5Google was able to get Fast Share working on a Pixel 3 XL running the Android Q beta, to give a glimpse of how the feature will work once the operating system is widely rolled out.

Fast Share will allow images, URLs, text, and other files to be shared between Android smartphones without the need to connect to the internet. The feature is accessible through the system share sheet, or through the Settings menu under the Google section.

The process for Fast Share retains the simplicity of Android Beam, as smartphone owners are only required to enter a Device Name and turn on the feature, while Bluetooth and Location are enabled. Once the two smartphones detect each other, a full-screen user interface will appear to show what is being shared as well as a progress indicator. The recipient, meanwhile, will get a notification to accept or decline the transfer, with the prompt showing the Device Name of the sender.

With Fast Share using Bluetooth to initiate the connection and a direct Wi-Fi connection for the transfer, the feature will be quicker for sharing large files. It also offers Preferred Visibility for frequent connections, so that they will always detect a person’s smartphone if they are nearby.

The flow of the feature seems similar to Apple’s AirDrop, but its reliance on Google Play Services may limit its reach. It is also unclear if Fast Share will require smartphones to be on a specific Android versions.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Aaron Mamiit
Aaron Mamiit
Contributor
Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…
Samsung is testing its own version of AirDrop for its smartphones
samsung galaxy s10e s10 plus smartphones amazon discounts review 2 768x768

Whatever you think of Apple's iPhones, it's undeniable that AirDrop is one of the best features of iOS. Surprisingly in the current age of smartphones, it's a feature not mirrored by Android. That might not be the case for much longer, as a source close to XDA Developers has revealed "Quick Share" -- an AirDrop-like feature created by Samsung that's apparently set to debut on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S20 flagship range.

For the uninitiated, AirDrop is a way to quickly send a file between two iPhones using a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The feature is popular because it doesn't use cellular data and is easy to use. According to XDA Developers, Samsung's Quick Share looks set to copy that formula. After installing the test APK (Android Appliance Package), XDA's writers were able to access Quick Share's interface. They reported being able to see other nearby Galaxy devices. Unfortunately, they were unable to use the app's share feature, as it apparently only works on specific test devices.

Read more
YouTube Music replaces Google Play Music as default app for tunes in Android 10
youtube music pre installed android 10

Google has completed YouTube Music's replacement of Google Play Music. The YouTube Music app will now come pre-installed on all Android 10 devices, doing away with Google Play Music, which was the previous music-streaming app on Android. The app will also be installed on new devices that ship with Android 9.

Until now, to use YouTube Music, you had to download it separately from the Google Play Store, but now you'll be able to use it out of the box. In other words, the two apps will essentially switch places -- so you'll still be able to download Google Play Music from the Play Store if you so choose.

Read more
Google was sharing Android user location data with carriers worldwide
Android

Amid growing privacy concerns from the public and in line with its own privacy initiatives, Google quietly shut down a two-year-long data-sharing service it had with cellular carriers in April, Reuters reports.

Google’s “Mobile Network Insight Service” gave aggregated, anonymous data on the cellular signal strength and connection speeds relative to customer location. This map served as an important reference for carriers as about 75% of the world’s smartphones run Android.

Read more