Google has rolled out the Nearby Share app for Windows, which has been in beta since March. The new tool lets you easily send and receive files – photos, videos, music documents and more – between nearby Android devices and Windows computers.

During the Nearby Share beta program, 1.7 million people downloaded the application, sending over 50 million files between their Android and Windows devices, according to Google.

Nearby Share isn’t close to being the first file-sharing feature between Android and Windows. It’s not even the only file transfer tool that Google currently has – you can transfer files via Google accounts, such as Drive and Photos, or even via USB.

However, it’s easy to use. Nearby Share doesn’t involve cables, and it doesn’t require uploading files to any existing accounts. Instead, much like Apple’s AirDrop feature, you can quickly send a file from your Android phone to your Windows computer, as long as the two devices are nearby and connected. It’s simply less complicated to use than other existing file transfer methods.

  • darrsil@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    New? Nearby Share has been around for at least a year. The issue is no one knows about it, because as usual Google is horrible with branding.

    They should have just called it “Google Beam” or something like that.

    • BackStabbath@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Nearby share’s convenience is that it’s available on all Android phones by default. It’s not that fast, but it is convenient.

      • SaveComengs@lemmy.federa.net
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        1 year ago

        is it available on windows by default though?

        Also most android devices take a while, I don’t even think most devices are running android 13 so it’ll take a while for that to be the case

        • BackStabbath@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          13? Isn’t nearby share available for almost all Android devices that are running Android 6 and beyond? And no, it’s not available on windows by default, but being default on one device is better than being default on none.

          • SaveComengs@lemmy.federa.net
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            1 year ago

            kde connect is default on kde :)

            btw, I thought nearby share was a new feature in android, ig it’s just the windows integration that’s coming in now

            • BackStabbath@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              Yes, it’s been there for a while and is widely available now. I want it to improve because it’s the closest thing the Android ecosystem has to Airdrop but it’s not close in terms of speeds.

  • CantSt0pPoppin@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 year ago

    submission statement

    Google has released the Nearby Share app for Windows, making it easier than ever to share files between Android devices and Windows computers.

    The app is similar to Apple’s AirDrop feature, and it does not require cables or accounts. To use Nearby Share, you simply need to make sure that both devices are nearby and connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

    During the Nearby Share beta program, 1.7 million people downloaded the application, sending over 50 million files between their Android and Windows devices, according to Google.

  • jaackf@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I just use Tailscale to send stuff between system. Works perfectly between my android and mac.

  • Margot Robbie@lemmy.worldM
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    1 year ago

    Poppin if you are gonna do this then I’m going to make it a rule to require a submission statement from YOU in particular.