Being connected today seems a normal thing while until some time ago it could have been a real bet. Yet we know that in the world, particularly in the US, a family today can have up to 25 connected devices on average. Definitely higher number than in 2019 alone when the connected devices could be a maximum of ten. A reality that leaves little to the imagination and that makes it increasingly necessary to create a real ecosystem capable of guaranteeing continuity to the user, perhaps allowing the passage from an old device to a new one in the shortest possible time or even being able to choose a brand rather than another without having to give up fundamental aspects or functions.
Android over the years has tried to do just that. It offers a wide choice of devices that change based on manufacturers' design choices, their secondary functionality or even overall value. In fact, however, Android remains the same and is the basis of all smartphones or products. It has evolved allowing you to find it not only on advanced phones but also on watches, tablets, TVs or even cars. A systematic evolution that has also made it possible to evolve by finding ground also on laptops, headphones, speakers and devices for the smart home.
CES 2022, the consumer electronics fair that is taking place in Las Vegas, is nothing more than the stage that Google has decided to exploit to present its commitment to using and developing simple ways to make it even more compatible the devices thanks to the Android ecosystem.
Quickly configure and connect Android devices
Setting up a new device can be tedious to many or even difficult for those who are not very familiar in this field. Google has decided to make this initial step as short and simple as possible by pairing for multiple devices. In this case we are talking about `` Quick Pairing '' which has already made it possible to connect Android smartphones with Bluetooth accessories for over 100 million times. The feature does nothing but make the configuration and pairing of devices practically immediate by transferring the Google credentials automatically.
The will on the part of Google is to further improve this aspect and to collaborate with brands to further expand the Quick coupling in addition to audio connectivity with wearables, headphones, speakers and cars, arriving at TVs and smart devices. home, so you can start using the devices right away.
Here, in a few weeks, the Mountain View company will release even more the quick pairing functionality in order to guarantee when the headphones will have to be activated, the Chromebook will automatically detect them and pair them with a single click. , allowing you to stay focused while working or studying anywhere. In this case, once you have purchased a Chromebook later this year, you will be able to use your Android phone to quickly set it up and immediately access all saved information, such as your Google credentials and Wi-Fi password.
And again in the coming months, it will be possible to configure the headphones based on the required sound volume when watching content on Google TV or on the Android TV operating device at home. Plus, with built-in support for Matter on Android, you'll also be able to use Quick Pairing to quickly connect your Matter smart home devices to the network, Google Home, and other companion apps in just a few simple steps.
Lock and unlock devices
Today we know that it's already possible to unlock Chromebooks using your Android smartphone to get to work right away. In the coming months, the Mountain View company will extend this functionality to paired Wear OS smartwatches, so you can instantly unlock your Chromebook, Android phone or tablet and access them when you're nearby.
In addition with a digital car key, it will now be possible for the compatible Pixel or Samsung phone to lock, unlock and start the BMW vehicles supported by the phone. Starting in the second half of this year, it will no longer be necessary to take the device to use it as a car key with ultra-broadband (UWB) technology phones. And not only because it will also be possible to remotely and securely share car keys with relatives and friends in case of need. Google says it is working to extend support for digital car keys to more Android phones and vehicles in the second half of the year.
Share multimedia content between devices
To improve video and audio experiences, devices should know instinctively which of these the user wants to use and when. That's why Google is making a Bluetooth headset technology that will automatically allow audio to be moved to any device in use for listening. So, if the user puts on the headphones to watch a movie on the Android tablet and receives a phone call, the movie will pause and the audio will automatically switch from the headset to the Android phone, then return to the movie once the call is over.
And space also for the quality with the spatial audio on the headphones that will allow you to hear as if the user were really on the scene, adapting the sound according to the movements of the head and the audio in the space that surrounds him. These features will be available in the next few months on supported headphones.
Google then made it known that it is working on simplifying the movement and managing content on any device. With Chromecast built in, an Android phone already allows you to share video on displays and TVs, as well as audio content on select speakers from Nest and other devices. To help stream the music and podcasts the user is listening to on an Android phone to other speakers, the company will extend integrated Chromecast to other brands in the coming months, starting with all Bose smart speakers and soundbars.
Google will also add features to Phone Hub on Chromebooks in the second half of the year, which will help get more tasks done on various devices. Today, you can use your Chromebook to view and reply to chat notifications, turn Do Not Disturb on / off, set the ringtone to find your phone, or continue browsing recent Chrome tabs. In the second half of the year, if the user is working on a Chromebook and the Android phone is away (for example, it is charging in another room), it will be possible to keep in touch with friends and family by accessing the chat apps on the phone directly from your Chromebook, without having to reinstall them on your device. And not just because the camera roll will also be added to the Phone Hub functionality, so you can access the latest videos and photos with just one click.
Today it is also possible to use voice commands while in the car to close the garage, turn off the kitchen lights, the thermostat and check if the main door has been closed. It will soon be possible to ask Google for help even before leaving the house. With remote operations, it will be possible to use voice commands to heat and cool the car, close it, open it and receive information (such as the amount of battery left) on all devices with the integrated assistant. These features will be available first for Volvo Car vehicles in the coming months and then for others.
Increase productivity with Windows and Android PCs
For the first time with Android, Google has decided to also focus on making products for other platforms, such as Windows, moving from gaming to productivity and other areas. For example, by connecting your Android phone to your Windows PC via Quick Pair, you can quickly set up Bluetooth accessories, sync SMS and share files with Nearby Sharing. Additionally, the Mountain View company is working with Acer, ASUS, HP and Intel to bring these experiences to a selection of Windows PCs in the second half of the year.