Google wants to do for Android and Chrome users what Apple does for the people in its ecosystem. It announces a number of news today at CES 2022 designed to help users of non-Apple devices easily set up, connect, and share across platforms. This includes expanding the existing Fast Pair and Chromecast functions to include other products and improving data exchange between Android phones and laptops. In fact, Google said that “for the first time with Android, we’re also focusing on developing for other platforms like Windows.”
First, quick pairing. Google works with Acer, HP and Intel to create Fast couple on Windows PCs so you can quickly connect your Android phone to your laptop. You can then set up Bluetooth accessories, sync your text messages, and easily share files using Near Share. This feature will be available on select Windows PCs later this year.
Meanwhile, Google is bringing Fast Pair to devices beyond wearables, cars, and Bluetooth audio accessories, including televisions and smart devices. It already works with the Pixel Buds and some Fitbit watches, and makes it easier to set up on those devices. In a few weeks, your Chromebook will be able to automatically detect your Fast Pair enabled headphones when you turn them on, so you can connect with a single click. New Chromebooks arriving later this year will also be easier to set up. You can connect your Android phone and port over saved data like your Google account and WiFi password.
The company said you will be able to connect headphones to Google TV or Android TV in the coming months, and that Fast Pair will work with new Matter-enabled smart home devices as well. That should make adding connected devices to your home network easier than before. It doesn’t sound as simple as Apple’s HomePod setup where you can just hold your iPhone near your speaker to trigger the installation process, but we’ll have to wait for Google’s solution to be in action to make it safe to know.
After your gadgets are all set up and synchronized with each other, Google would also like to enable convenient connections à la Apple’s AirPlay or AirDrop. It has cast support for more brands, starting with all Bose smart speakers and soundbars, so you can stream music and audio from your Android phone to compatible speakers.
The company is also “building technology for Bluetooth-enabled headphones” that allows them to automatically switch audio output based on the device in use. For example, suppose you are wearing earbuds while watching a show on your Android tablet and you have an incoming call on your phone. The system will pause your movie and the headphones will switch to your phone and then go straight back to your tablet when your call is over. This works for all audio files played on your devices at the system level and not just based on a supported app. For Apple users, this is similar to how AirPods can automatically switch between iPads, iPhones, and Macs.
Google says that compatible headphones also have spatial audio support, so you can hear directional sound based on your head movements for an even more immersive experience. These features are coming in the next few months.
Later this year, Phone Hub on Chromebooks is also getting new features to make it more useful. For example, you no longer need to install separate apps like Signal or WhatsApp on your laptop to send messages to your friends over your phone. Messages from chat apps will appear on your Chromebook and you can reply to them from there. Google also adds Camera Roll to the Phone Hub so you can view your media without opening photos.google.com.
Locking and unlocking devices and vehicles is also made easier. Just like the Apple Watch (and some Samsung devices), for the coming months you can use your paired Wear OS 3 watch to unlock your Chromebook and Android devices when you’re around.
Cars also get an Android update. Compatible Samsung or Pixel phones can now lock, unlock and start supported BMW vehicles. Later this year, phones with ultra-broadband support will be able to open car doors without leaving your pocket or wallet. Google also supports key sharing according to the Connected Car Consortium’s interoperable standard, so you can share access to your vehicle right from your phone. The company said it was working to bring digital car keys to more Android phones and vehicles later this year.
Finally, you can also instruct the Google Assistant to warm up, cool down, lock and unlock your car and ask about the remaining battery capacity of your electric vehicle. This will be number one for Volvo Cars vehicles in the coming months, with “more to come,” according to Google.
Everything Google announced today fits in with the vision of ambient computing that the company has been talking about for years. “This is a fundamental element for us to realize the vision of ambient computing,” Erik Kay, vice president of multi-device experiences, told Engadget. It seems like with these updates rolled out, non-Apple users will have less reason to envy the seamless ecosystem that iPhone or Mac users enjoy.
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