Google announces new features coming to Android at CES 2024

At the CES 2024 trade show, Google announced several new Android features, including Quick Share for all Android devices, the expansion of the Fast Pair feature to Chromecast and Google TV devices, and the ability to cast TikTok videos to Chromecast-enabled devices.

Quick Share

According to details reported by Donanımhaber, Google announced at CES that it is working with Samsung to combine the best sharing solutions to create a cross-Android solution called Quick Share.

What does this mean? The wireless file-sharing feature that Samsung phone users know and frequently use as Quick Share, and which is also available on other Android phones as Nearby Share, has been unified under a single name: Quick Share.

Quick Share will offer peer-to-peer content sharing across all devices within the Android ecosystem, including phones and even Chromebooks. This application will come pre-installed on Windows PCs. Quick Share will significantly simplify the services already offered by Nearby Share and will reach devices starting in February.

Fast Pair support is expanding

Fast Pair works seamlessly with Bluetooth headphones on Android. Google plans to expand this feature next month to support other devices, such as Google TV with Chromecast remote and other Google TV devices to be released later this year.

Casting to more apps and devices

Google is working to bring the casting feature to more apps and devices. Android phone users will now be able to cast TikTok content directly to a Chromecast-enabled device. Users will also be able to cast their content to screens in hotels without having to log into the app. Meanwhile, more devices with built-in Chromecast, such as the 2024 LG TV series, will be hitting the market. On the other hand, a new feature will be introduced that allows users to transfer content playing on Spotify and YouTube Music from a compatible Pixel phone to a Pixel tablet.

More devices working together with Matter

Google is working on a feature that will allow devices from different companies to work together. To this end, the company continues to adopt industry standards, and with the help of Matter, the new standard for smart home platforms, LG TVs and some Google and Android TV devices will soon act as hubs for Google Home. In other words, it will be easier for users with a Nest Hub, Nest Mini, or a compatible TV to add Matter devices to their home network and control them with the Google Home app.

Google apps and services are coming to more vehicles

Android Auto will soon be coming to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. Additionally, electric vehicles compatible with Android Auto will share real-time battery information with Google Maps. This integration will improve the driving experience by providing the estimated battery level upon arrival at the destination, suggesting charging stops along the way, and estimating how long the charge will last depending on the vehicle.

Google says many leading automotive brands are coming with Google built-in, which integrates Google Maps, Google Assistant, and useful apps from Google Play directly into the vehicle. This experience will soon be available in Nissan, Lincoln, and other well-known automotive brands. Users will also be able to send trips planned on their phone directly to Google Maps on the vehicle's display.