This story is one of those CNET covers breaking news on the most amazing technology to come.
Like peanut butter and jelly or Converse socks and knee-high socks, Android and other operating systems will soon fit perfectly. That's Google's plan, anyway. for 2022 and how to make Android work better with devices running Wear OS, Chrome OS, Windows and the new smart home standard. Theme.
Android's main draw has always been choice. When buying an Android phone, you can choose a phone based on the design, features, and price that appeals to you most. But even if you're a devoted fan of Android, everything you have might not work, which can make setting up and syncing between devices frustrating. The good news is that Google is looking to smooth out some of the continuity wrinkles throughout the year. .
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None of the extensions shared by Google are amazing, and that's okay because pretty much everything is aimed at making life easier and devices more user-friendly. Some of these features might sound familiar to Apple device owners. But keep in mind that Apple should only support its own hardware, and Google should support devices from many manufacturers of phones, tablets, watches, and computers.
Android Fast Pair will support more devices even Windows PC
Fast Pair, first announced in 2017, helps you quickly set up and pair your wearables, headphones, speakers, and cars. said the company is extending Fast Pair's functionality to TVs and smart home devices.
The first enhancements are for Chromebooks and will let you automatically detect and pair speakers that support Quick Pair with just one click. Over the next few months, you'll be able to use Fast Pair to connect new Matter-enabled smart home devices to your home network, Google Home and other apps. You will also be able to pair the headphones with Google TV and Android TV OS devices.
Later this year, you'll be able to set up a new Chromebook with Fast Pair and give it instant access to your saved information, including your Google ID and Wi-Fi password.
You'll also be able to connect your phone to a Windows PC, set up Bluetooth accessories, and sync text messages and files Share Files with Nearby Share. Acer and HP computers will be the first to adopt Fast Pair support later this year .
Unlock Bimmer with a digital key and your Android phone with Wear OS
Currently, you can unlock your Chromebook with your Android phone, but in the coming months you'll be able to use a Wear OS watch to do the same. The update will allow you to unlock and access your Chromebook, Android phone or your tablet at any time.
But opening things up easily isn't just limited to phones and laptops. Currently, you can use digital car keys on select Samsung and Pixel phones to lock, unlock, and start select BMWs. of ultra-wideband technology, such as Pixel 6 ProIt will allow you to use digital car keys without taking your phone out of your pocket and to share your car key with friends and family.Google hopes to expand support Support digital car keys to more Android phones and cars later this year.
Automatically switch audio from your Chromebook to your phone
Google also supports automatic audio switching to Bluetooth headphones. For example, if you are watching a video on your Android tablet and you receive a phone call, the video will pause and the audio from the headphones will automatically switch to to your Android phone to place the call. When your call ends, the audio reverts to video.
Another sound addition would be spatial audio support, which adapts sound through the headset based on your movements to seemingly position the sound in the space you're in. Spatial audio and automatic audio switching should be released in the next months.
Phone Hub on Chromebooks will become more useful
Currently, you can use Phone Hub on Chromebooks to browse open Chrome tabs on your phone, respond to chat notifications, switch to do not disturb mode, and activate an alert to help you find your phone.
Later this year, the Phone Hub will be able to access chat apps directly from your Android phone. There's no word that some apps will be supported. You'll also be able to add your phone's camera roll to the Phone Hub, so that you'll be just one click away from your recent photos and videos.
New Google Assistant remote actions for cars
Over the next few months, you'll be able to ask Google Assistant to warm up your car, lock and unlock it, and get things like how much battery is left. Volvo cars will be the first to benefit from this news. voice commands.
Read the full Google post Learn more about what to expect, including extending Chromecast capabilities to more brands.