Skip to main content

Google’s Nearby Share just copied one of Apple’s best features

Just a day after Apple held its Far Out event and CEO Tim Cook shut the doors on RCS messaging for iPhones, Google has announced a grab bag of features for phones, smartwatches, and other connected Android ecosystem devices.

There’s not one particular feature that’s a standout, but these all look like welcome upgrades to bolster Google’s product ecosystem for the next little while.

Recommended Videos

Nearby Share takes a hint from Apple

Nearby Share in action.
Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends

Let’s start with Nearby Share, Google’s own take on the wireless file transfer system that the world knows as AirDrop.

Nearby Share allows users to move data between two phones or Chromebooks much faster than Bluetooth would allow. However, users have to go through the pairing and verification process for each transfer session. That is about to change in the coming weeks, thanks to “Nearby Share self share.”

As the name makes it abundantly clear, moving data between your own devices will be less of a hassle. All you need is the same Google account running on the two devices. Once the first connection has been verified, all subsequent file transfers in the future will happen without any intermediary pairing process. Google says file transfer will happen even if the recipient device’s screen is turned off, as long as the same Google account is logged in on both devices. It’s just like how AirDrop works with the same iCloud account, and it’s fantastic to see Google take this page out of Apple’s playbook.

More control (and fun) in Meet calls

Google Meet running on Android phones. It shows the live sharing and multi-pinning features.
Google

On the productivity side of things, Google Meet is getting a crucial upgrade. Users will now be able to arrange the layout of tiles representing meeting attendees. The idea here is that you can now pin multiple tiles on the screen in the order of choice, letting you focus on the more important person(s) in a video call.

The aforementioned functionality is now rolling out for Android phones and tablets, alongside a new watch party-like sharing feature. Thanks to the new Live Sharing feature in Meet, users can now watch YouTube videos or play casual games like Uno with up to 100 members in a call.

Powerful widgets for Drive and Keep

Google Keep tile on Wear OS.
Google

Continuing its tablet renaissance, Google is also making changes to the Google Drive widget on Android tablets. The updated tablet widget for the Google Drive app now prominently features three dedicated home buttons that will let you access Docs, Sheets, and Slides with a single tap. Google is also increasing the size of the Keep app’s widget and is also making it easier for users to access elements like reminders and to-do lists.

Talking about Keep, the note-taking app is getting a new tile for Wear OS smartwatches, allowing users to access it with a swipe and jot down notes in a jiffy. I heavily rely on Keep’s checklist feature for day-to-day chores, and the ability to access it with a swipe from my smartwatch’s home screen sounds quite convenient.

New emoji and Bitmoji tricks

Emojify feature on Board.
Google

Now that emojis have become an integral part of chats across different platforms, Google is showing some love to the expressive icons, too. To that end, the Gboard app is getting a new “emojify” feature that puts in the appropriate emoji in-between words based on the context.

All you need to do is type your message and tap on the relevant emoji recommendations that appear in the top row. More emoji kitchen combinations have also been added to the keyboard app’s sticker section, right on time for the fall season, with some Halloween and pumpkin-spiced themes in tow.

In the same vein, Google says you will soon be able to set a custom Bitmoji as your watch face for Wear OS devices. Depending on the weather, time of day, or the activity you’re currently engaged in, the Bitmoji watch face on your smartwatch will also change its expressions.

Accessibility gets a boost

Movies on Google TV with audio descriptions.
Google

On the accessibility front, there’s a new Sound Notifications system that has been added to the Transcribe & Notifications section of an Android phone. It has been designed to help folks living with hearing impairment.

This feature allows the phone to detect sounds like running water, door knocks, and fire alarms. Once an audible alert is picked up by the phone, a notification pops up on the phone and the connected smartwatch. A vibration alert and a flashing light cue are also part of the system.

Going a step further, the company is also adding “a curated library of movies with audio descriptions” on Google TV. These audio descriptions actually capture the on-screen visuals in the form of commentary that is read out loud so that people with vision issues don’t miss out on the subtle visual drama and scenery. A simple Google Assistant voice command like “Search audio description movies” will also pull up the entire library of such accessibility-friendly films.

Nadeem Sarwar
Nadeem is a tech and science journalist who started reading about cool smartphone tech out of curiosity and soon started…
Getting a Google Play services error? You’re not the only one
Rose Quartz Pixel 9 Pro on a peppermint background.

If you've received an alert from Google Play Services to install an update but you can't find, don't worry: you aren't alone. The error message warns that certain official Google apps won't work unless you update through the Play Store, but no update is available. The problem seems to be affecting a wide number of people, many of whom took to social media to find an answer to the problem.

Tipster CID (@theonecid) reports this same error, and it has been confirmed from several other outlets. The source of the bug isn't clear, but it seems to affect users on both the stable and beta releases of Play Services.

Read more
Your Google Assistant just lost a bunch of features ahead of the move to Gemini
Google Assistant messaging shortcut

We've only just learned that Google Assistant is being replaced with Gemini, and now, it turns out that some features are being quietly retired as a result. Some will be available as part of Gemini, but devices that don't yet have access to Google's latest AI companion may not have an immediate replacement. Here's what's going away.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google Assistant will lose a total of seven features, and this will affect Android, Nest Hub, and Nest speakers users.

Read more
Google Pixel 10 leak is a warning shot for Apple to lift its iPhone game
Leaked render of Google Pixel 10.

Google’s Pixel phones have cultivated a solid reputation for their stunning camera chops. In 2025, Google might take things to the next level with the Pixel 10, edging past mainline iPhones in the process. As per a fresh leak, it seems the company’s next baseline flagship will take the zoom capture prowess to newer heights.

The folks over at Android Headlines (in collaboration with @OnLeaks) have shared alleged product renders of the upcoming Pixel 10, which shows a triple-lens camera array at the back. On the Pixel 10, buyers will be greeted by a dedicated telephoto zoom camera.

Read more