Although CES does not enter the moments that Google has chosen to present news from its growing ecosystem of devices, this does not mean that those from the search engine will be absent from one of the most important meetings of the year in the technology sector. Exactly opposite, Its presence at CES 2024 actually ties in with a large portion of the announcements and launches made by many manufacturers participating in the event.

A key element of today’s devices is connectivity, the possibility of establishing a connection with other devices and, if possible, in the fastest, easiest and most reliable way possible. Protocols are designed and standards set for this purpose, although unfortunately these are not always accepted by mainstream industry. However, when industry giants take steps in this direction, the scale of these solutions usually grows more than substantially.

That, Google arrived at CES 2024 with interconnectivity as its flagship, improving existing solutions, expanding their scope… even ending the duplication that existed until now, with two services that were overlapping until now becoming one. A set of ads that will benefit users of smartphones, computers, TVs, Bluetooth accessories, home automation devices and even cars. Let’s look at them one by one.

Nearby sharing will change to Quick sharing

As you already know, Nearby Sharing is a connectivity solution facilitates the transfer of digital assets (files, links, etc.) between compatible devices. And if you’re a Samsung smartphone and/or laptop user, chances are you’re also familiar with Quick Share, a similar service but exclusive to the Korean brand’s devices. Both solutions are compatible with Android and Windows, and no, a device with Nearby Sharing cannot share an asset with another device that uses Quick Sharing, even if their purpose is the same.

To end this duplication that provides little or nothing to users, Google and Samsung have worked together and as a result, they designed a solution that keeps the Samsung name, Quick Share, but combines the best of it and Nearby Sharing, and that will of course provide complete connectivity between all devices in the Android ecosystem, and of course with Windows 10 and Windows 11. And that all of course while maintaining the security and privacy features that are already present in Nearby.

And when will Nearby Sharing and Quick Sharing stop being two independent services and become a “trans-Android” solution, as Google calls it? From then we will only have to wait a few weeks The start of its deployment is scheduled for next month. This move feels so perfectly right that if I had to criticize it for any reason, the only thing I can think of is that I will no longer be able to joke about whether a Google service is called Near or Near.

Fast Pair is coming to TVs

It seemed like a sensational surprise to me because responds to a deficiency that I have observed for a long time. In general, when purchasing Fast Pair compatible wireless headphones, the intention is to pair them with a smartphone or perhaps a laptop, and under these conditions the process is simple and instant. What happens if our intention is to use them with a television? Couldn’t a similar system be implemented for this type of connection?

The answer is yes and connectivity Fast Pair will be expanded precisely to meet this need. This way we will be able to use this connection method with Chromecast devices with Google TV from next month. And for those who have other devices that already include Google TV, such as more and more televisions, this feature will begin to roll out to them as well, allowing one-touch connections.

Google and connected vehicles

Android Auto has happened a feature that new car buyers are increasingly asking for, understandably so, as it provides a previously unseen level of integration of smartphone functions into the car interface. At Google, they are very aware of what this can bring to the user, and as a result, they often add improvements, in addition to trying to reach more manufacturers and more vehicle models.

In this sense, Google has announced that it is working to bring Android Auto to more brands such as Nissan or Lincoln, among others. And they also told us about new features like being able to send the routes you plan in Google Maps on your smartphone directly to the car’s consoleor a function for electric cars that monitors the level of charge and recommends charging points based on it and reports estimated charging times.

Matter and connected home

Home automation and the connected home suffer from an endemic problem in the technology sector that it is the existence of multiple protocols that are not compatible with each other. In fact, from the experiences I’ve seen in my immediate area, there are many people who have purchased connected home elements, only to find out later that they are not compatible with their infrastructure, that they need a hub to work, etc. As a result, many people, which it happens to, will eventually discourage.

To end this problem, Google is one of the major tech companies backing Matter, a connectivity standard that aims to end the current plethora of connectivity systems. And to advance in this sense, very soon LG TVs and other Google TV devices running the Android TV operating system will be able to function as Google Home hubs. With this expansion, users who have a Nest Hub, Nest Mini or a compatible TV will now have all the necessary infrastructure to start using Matter-compatible elements in a unified way.

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