Among the many obvious benefits of an iPhone is the ability to make good use of the AirDrop feature. Now, according to reports, Google is seemingly close to introducing its own version of the file-transferring feature for Android devices.
As spotted by the Gizmodo team, the folks over at XDA Developers managed to get Nearby Sharing activated on a device after a tip from developer Quinny899 ahead of a formal reveal of the new feature. Previously known as Fast Share, Google's Nearby Sharing feature was tested out using a Google Pixel 2 XL and a Google Pixel 4 running Android 10. The developer, meanwhile, ran a test using a Google Pixel 2 XL and a OnePlus 7T Pro.
The report makes clear that the feature still has a few kinks in need of working out prior to an official release, but that—all in all—it’s seemingly close to being user-ready. In the test shown in the video above, photo transfers went off with zero issues, while an initial attempt at a video transfer failed before a second try proved successful.
According to XDA Developers' Mishaal Rahman, Google's Nearby Sharing "might turn out to be superior" to similar features from Samsung and OPPO/Vivo/Xiaomi because of Android device "universality." Those alternatives, however, could stake out their own identity by providing stronger app integration. Nearby Sharing, meanwhile, is expected to officially launch soon.
Apple first introduced its AirDrop feature way back in 2011 via the OS X Lion and iOS 7 software, with its abject handiness quickly ensuring emulation as inevitable.
