Google lastly did it: AirDrop now works on Android!

[ad_1] 00:00 – Mishaal Rahman: Samsung is perhaps going again to the drafting board for its subsequent set of Galaxy Buds.

00:04 – C. Scott Brown: And Google might have torn down Apple’s walled backyard.

00:07 – Mishaal Rahman: I’m Mishaal Rahman.

00:10 – C. Scott Brown: And I’m C. Scott Brown, and that is the Authority Insights Podcast the place we break down the most recent information and leaks surrounding the Android working system.

00:18 – Mishaal Rahman: It appears like yearly Samsung simply retains switching up the design of its Galaxy Buds. With final yr’s Galaxy Buds Professional 3, we had this type of triangular blade design, however now it appears to be like like for subsequent yr’s Galaxy Buds Professional 4, we is perhaps getting a flatter stem in addition to some new head monitoring options.

00:36 – C. Scott Brown: And in a shock twist, it appears to be like like Google has secretly added AirDrop capabilities to Fast Share, which is loopy. This makes it very easy to wirelessly share information between Android smartphones and Apple iPhones. There are some limitations that we’re going to get into and there's a sturdy risk that this isn't going to final lengthy, however we’ll discuss that later.

And in one other story, is Samsung making a sensible transfer by copying the Pixel 10’s Magic Cue characteristic for its subsequent model of One UI? We actually hope they know what they’re doing as a result of Magic Cue just isn't precisely probably the most spectacular characteristic ever, however, , obtained to present it to Samsung for attempting to do new issues.

01:21 – Mishaal Rahman: Yeah. Earlier than we get into the clearly the largest story that you simply all need to hear about, and belief me, you’ll need to keep tuned for that as a result of we've got some form of unique behind-the-scenes tidbits about Fast Share’s compatibility with AirDrop that we need to share. However earlier than we get into that and earlier than we begin speaking about our first story of the week, I did need to point out that subsequent week’s episode received’t occur as a result of it’ll be Thanksgiving week within the US, so each Scott and myself can be out on trip. So no podcast subsequent week. We’ll return the next week after that.

So, circling again to the primary story, the Galaxy Buds Professional 4, or at the least what we predict goes to finish up shaping as much as be the Galaxy Buds Professional 4. We did some digging into leaked One UI 8.5 builds, our Authority Insights group, and we found proof that Samsung is perhaps ditching the sharp triangular blade design of the Buds Professional 3 in favor of a brand new flatter stem design. And they're additionally eradicating some distinctive options that made the Buds Professional 3 extra distinctive. They're eradicating the sunshine blades and eliminating that mild characteristic solely. And a few photorealistic wanting photographs that we discovered inside the firmware counsel that they will be including a big steel grille on the facet of the earbuds and that we predict that these can be masking the microphones for ANC transparency mode, however seemingly simply an aesthetic option to make it look nicer. And we additionally discovered by means of this animation that if I can discover the video proper right here that you simply’ll truly be inserting the buds contained in the case form of horizontally as a substitute of dropping them vertically into the case such as you do proper now with the design. And likewise we additionally found there’s a speaker grille on this case, which we consider can be powering a Discover Your Telephone characteristic form of much like what the AirPods Professional presently does.

And talking of options, we've got found that head monitoring is perhaps one of many distinctive capabilities, the brand new capabilities of the Galaxy Buds Professional 4. So these earbuds will have the ability to detect your head motion. You’ll have the ability to nod or shake your head to reply or reject calls or notifications, dismiss alarms, timers, and calendar alerts, work together with voice assistants with out talking. And yeah, as we talked about, the opposite new characteristic could be on the case itself, there’ll be a button that you may faucet to provoke a discover my earbuds characteristic. So Scott, Samsung simply launched that triangular blade form design on the Buds Professional 3 final yr, and it looks like they’re already pivoting and fully switching issues up. Why do you suppose they’re abandoning that design and switching to this new flatter, extra rounded design within the Buds Professional 4?

04:03 – C. Scott Brown: I feel it’s as a result of there was a lot backlash in opposition to the design for the Buds 3 and the Professional Buds 3. I keep in mind, so I went to the launch occasion as a result of they launched in July of 2024. And I keep in mind going to the launch occasion and seeing the lights on the earbuds and considering to myself, that’s actually cool. But additionally saying to myself, man, these look loads like AirPods now. And I knew that Samsung followers, , I've a ton of respect for Samsung followers as a result of they love Samsung. And so they love that Samsung is Samsung. So anytime Samsung does one thing like this the place it abandons what made it distinctly a Samsung product and tries to make it one thing that’s extra like an Apple product, they're simply up in arms. In order quickly as I noticed them, I stated to myself, Samsung followers will not be going to love this. And certain sufficient, that’s what occurred. Samsung followers weren't joyful that Samsung deserted the distinct look of the earbuds that that they had had. In the event you return, all their earbuds had been very distinct. They appeared very totally different from AirPods. You could possibly see somebody strolling down the road and look of their ear and be like, these are Galaxy Buds as a result of they only appeared loads totally different from AirPods.

05:30 – Mishaal Rahman: Nicely, to be honest, they appeared distinct from AirPods, however additionally they appeared distinct from one another. Like I don’t suppose there was a transparent Galaxy earbud design that I may level to and say, oh, that’s clearly a Galaxy Bud.

05:45 – C. Scott Brown: That's true. However I do suppose that Samsung went within the improper route with the third era Professional and the common. I feel that they only had been like, oh, as a result of it's a must to keep in mind that it additionally got here out with the Galaxy Watch Extremely, which additionally appeared similar to the Apple Watch Extremely. It even had the distinct orange band and the whole lot. So it was like these two merchandise popping out proper subsequent to at least one one other positively despatched Samsung followers right into a tizzy. So I feel Samsung, all it did was simply checked out that and stated, we made a mistake, we’ve obtained to alter issues up, and let’s abandon that and undertake this one as a substitute. And it’s proper although, it’s like, when is Samsung going to decide on what a Galaxy Bud truly appears to be like like? As a result of as you possibly can see, I've the Google Pixel Buds in my ear and these are distinct. Like if you happen to purchase the Pixel Buds 2a, you purchase the unique Pixel Buds, all of them look fairly comparable. I imply, the wing suggestions are gone, however actually it’s like they don’t look something like AirPods. That’s I suppose what I’m saying. And so yeah, Samsung is simply altering issues up and attempting to determine what’s going to work.

06:54 – Mishaal Rahman: I imply, it is a little little bit of a tangent, however I really feel like in its quest to make earbuds which are very distinctive visually from the AirPods, like are they only abandoning one thing that has been confirmed to simply work? Just like the AirPods is just like the distinctive earbud design. And I don’t suppose lots of people are copying it, I imply, there’s actually a number of firms which are copying it as a result of they need to appear to be the AirPod, but in addition that's only a good earbud design. And is Samsung form of robbing themselves of getting a very good earbud design by deliberately straying so far as they'll from that design? As a result of I personally just like the Buds 3 Professional design. I really like the triangle form of it as a result of it actually made it straightforward to do gestures like swiping up and swiping down since you had a transparent place you would grip, like a transparent edge you would put two fingers round to truly correctly maintain it. So I appreciated the design they went with, and I really feel like simply altering issues for the sake of adjusting issues just isn't actually a great way to design merchandise.

07:50 – C. Scott Brown: That’s true, and it might be potential that Samsung’s dug itself right into a gap at this level and may’t get out, , as a result of now, I imply, , this would be the fourth vital era, however there have been so many. I imply, there was the Buds Plus, there was the Beans, no matter they had been referred to as, the Galaxy Buds Stay.

08:10 – Mishaal Rahman: Say what you'll about these issues. These issues, that they had their followers. The Beans. I cherished these issues.

08:16 – C. Scott Brown: No, no, I really like them. I believed they had been superior. I'm positively not criticizing them. They had been superior. I cherished the ergonomics of them. Like they only slot in your ear, ? Like they had been actually cool. To not point out distinct. They had been one thing that basically set aside. You could possibly see any person strolling by be like, these are the Beans, ? So yeah, I feel that possibly it's too late. Perhaps Samsung has taken too lengthy and now they don’t have a particular identification for his or her earbuds and possibly that’ll simply by no means occur. However I don’t know. I imply, possibly this would be the one. We’ll have to simply wait and see. However it's attention-grabbing that we’re seeing this leak now contemplating that the final era got here out in July. However clearly, we’re well beyond July for the subsequent era. So which means these are most likely going to come back out subsequent yr, I'd say.

09:10 – Mishaal Rahman: Yeah. Both with the S26 in like early, late January, early February, or possibly with the subsequent foldable sequence in July. Like who is aware of?

09:18 – C. Scott Brown: Yeah, so if it comes out in July, that may be two years separating between the earlier era and this era, which isn’t unprecedented. Google’s performed that, Apple’s clearly performed that, in order that’s not out of the query. In the event that they do come out with the Galaxy S26 sequence although, that’ll be the primary time that we’ve seen earbuds launch with a Galaxy S cellphone in a few years. I feel the S21 was the final time that we had that occur. So it’s been some time. So yeah, in order that’ll be attention-grabbing to see if that’s what Samsung finally ends up going with.

However yeah, I don’t know, , and it sucks too as a result of Samsung has such audio pedigree. Lots of people don’t know however like Samsung owns Harman Kardon, proper? I feel yeah, that’s a Samsung model. So it’s like that’s like a well-respected audio model and Samsung owns it. So that you’d suppose that they might have the ability to, , deliver that pedigree to their earbuds and make them like a no brainer sale, however I don’t know, possibly aesthetics matter. , it is a dialog about, , that I’ve had in quite a few occasions is that lots of people suppose like, oh, designs aren’t actually that essential. It’s like, no, designs are actually actually essential. Like how your product appears to be like is a significant factor. Like simply, , a Ferrari drives by, it’s a Ferrari as a result of Ferraris look a sure method. And in the event that they didn’t, then would they be Ferraris? Most likely not. So it’s like, it’s actually essential and I feel that Samsung must decide on no matter it's their design goes to be and keep it up.

10:52 – Mishaal Rahman: Precisely. And also you’re the Pixel man. In the event you see that visor within the background from like 50 ft away, that individual’s obtained a Pixel. Like I’ve seen that instantly recognizable. So like, yeah, branding could be very, crucial.

11:06 – C. Scott Brown: Yeah. Fast tangent. I've an enormous, one among my greatest superstar crushes is Ashly Burch, the voice actress. She did Aloy on Horizon Zero Daybreak, and she or he does Tiny Tina on Borderlands. She has a YouTube channel that’s her and puppets going over psychological well being points. It’s a tremendous channel. It’s referred to as I’m So Completely happy You’re Right here, and it’s actually, actually cool. However anyway, in her newest video, she has just a little section the place she makes use of her cellphone. Instantly, Pixel. Such as you simply see the, she takes it out of her pocket and also you see the visor and I used to be similar to [gasp] I used to be actually enthusiastic about that. However anyway, so however yeah, no, design issues and Samsung wants to determine what its design is for its earbuds. And possibly that is it. I feel they give the impression of being cool. Like I’m enthusiastic about these. I had the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional and I really like them. I used these issues for a yr and a half, I feel earlier than I ultimately upgraded to the Pixel Buds Professional 2. Pixel Buds Professional 2. Trigger it’s not Buds 2 Professional. It’s not what you suppose it's. It’s not Buds 2 Professional, it’s Buds Professional 2. Anyway, sure, so I've these now, however the ones I used earlier than this had been the Galaxy Buds they usually had been nice. So yeah, I’m excited to strive these out.

12:23 – Mishaal Rahman: what I’m excited for? Lastly, lastly, Google is bringing AirDrop assist to Android. So Google introduced on Thursday that they're rolling out an replace to Fast Share, which is, as , Android’s native file sharing answer, they usually’re making it suitable with Apple’s AirDrop, beginning with the Pixel 10 sequence. So by the point you’re listening to this podcast, this replace can have already rolled out to your Pixel 10 gadget, so you'll have already had the chance to strive it out.

However mainly, this characteristic permits you to seamlessly ship and obtain information between your Pixel 10 and your iPhone or your iPad and even your MacBook. This mainly bridges the largest remaining hole in performance between the 2 platforms. , we had the SMS and RCS factor that form of helped bridge the hole between texting on Android and texting on iPhones. However there was no actual straightforward answer to share information between Android and iOS until you had individuals on each platforms set up the identical software like WhatsApp or one thing or I don’t know another file sharing service that allowed you to share information.

However now you don’t have to put in something extra in your Android cellphone or your iPhone to make this work. It’ll simply simply work as a result of Google mainly carried out full assist for AirDrop into Fast Share. And I imply what it’s an unimaginable achievement contemplating they actually did all of it on their very own. Google informed us in a press release that “we completed this by means of our personal implementation. Our implementation was totally vetted by our personal privateness and safety groups, and we additionally engaged a third-party safety agency to pen check the answer.”

So not like the earlier initiatives that Google and Apple labored collectively on like RCS as I simply talked about, unknown tracker alerts, Google did this solely on their very own, which form of begs the query, like, is Apple going to face for this? As a result of we noticed what occurred when Beeper tried to implement iMessage assist of their Beeper Mini software. It labored for like a single weekend, after which Apple simply broke it. They silently pushed out an replace to iMessage that fully broke the applying. And it grew to become a cat and mouse sport from there, however Beeper Mini misplaced as a result of ultimately, , there was nothing they might do to make Android gadgets use iMessage once more. So like, who is aware of what’s going to occur now, like who is aware of if Apple goes to face for this as a result of Apple at the least on the time of this recording, which is Thursday afternoon proper after this announcement was made, Apple hadn’t performed something in response to this information. However hopefully they don’t do something as a result of that is such a cool characteristic to have between Android telephones and iPhones.

So Scott, what was your speedy response while you noticed this information? As a result of my speedy response, I’m not going to say it right here as a result of I don’t need to get demonetized, however you possibly can learn my speedy response to it on X and like Mastodon and many others. I expletive. I used to be like, holy.

15:17 – C. Scott Brown: Yeah, no, that’s precisely what I used to be like, I can’t. I can’t consider this. And actually, I didn’t consider it. Clearly, it got here instantly from Google. Like we obtained this announcement from Google itself. This was not, for people who find themselves simply tuning in and possibly missed this over the previous few days, this was not one thing that somebody found after which we began writing about it and attempting it out. Google truly similar to despatched out a press launch out of nowhere. No one knew this was coming and was similar to, guess what guys, that is what we did. And I didn’t consider it. I used to be like, I can't consider this till I truly see it occur on my telephones as a result of I've the Pixel 10 Professional after which I've the iPhone 17 Professional. So I used to be like, I need to make this work. And it took us about an hour I feel between all of us on the group to actually like work out what we wanted to do to get the whole lot working. However as soon as we did, all of us did it and we had been like [mind blown noise] like, oh my god, we’re doing this. We’re truly AirDropping from a Pixel to an iPhone. So yeah, I didn’t consider it both. It was very, very surprising. However very thrilling. Very thrilling to lastly have this characteristic that not simply Android cellphone customers need, however iPhone customers need. And that’s one thing that I discover astonishing about Apple is its perception that it is aware of what its customers need greater than they do, ? Like iPhone customers need to have the ability to simply share issues with Android customers. So why wouldn’t they need this? However everyone knows how Apple works, so who is aware of how lengthy that is going to final.

16:54 – Mishaal Rahman: I imply that that lock-in has been a key a part of Apple’s technique even when they haven’t been formally telling those that they wished to lock individuals in by means of AirDrop. However like that social stress that’s placed on Android customers to get an iPhone as a result of they need to have the ability to AirDrop their pals has been a key a part of why Apple is so dominant amongst, , Gen Z and a number of younger individuals internationally. However now with this compelled compatibility that Google is mainly forcing on Apple, may they begin tearing down that wall? Like may this be the beginning of individuals not caring in case you have an iPhone or an Android cellphone as a result of you possibly can simply share information it doesn't matter what platform you've gotten? I don’t know. And I doubt that Apple needs to see that occur. So I’m actually curious to see what they’re going to do in response to this. Like are they going to maintain quiet? Are they going to deliberately push out an replace to AirDrop on Apple gadgets and break compatibility ultimately? Can they even try this? Like so many potentialities, so many issues, so many questions left to be answered. We’ll have to attend and see how Apple responds.

18:00 – C. Scott Brown: So the way in which I see it's that Apple has two selections. They will simply let it go and simply be like, cool, good for you, Google. You figured this out. Um, , and Google can develop. Like the way in which it really works is it’s not a Pixel unique characteristic. Like proper now it solely works on the Pixel 10, but it surely’s constructed into Fast Share. Fast Share grew to become a brand new app and that app can simply be up to date to it could possibly simply be pushed out to Android customers. So actually any Android consumer may do that. It’s simply that Google has to love truly broadly roll it out, which I’m certain Google doesn’t need to do till it like navigates the murky waters of all this taking place. So Apple’s alternative may simply be like, we’re not going to do something, and Google can simply develop it after which who is aware of? Perhaps by the start of 2026 each Android consumer will have the ability to AirDrop one thing to an iPhone. Or Apple may do what you stated, which is simply shut it down. Prefer it may do the identical factor it did with Beeper and simply flip a swap, a metaphorical swap, and this might simply not work.

The issue that Apple would face there may be twofold. Primary, like I simply talked about, iPhone customers need this too. So it’s going to piss off the those that use its merchandise. , as a result of iPhone customers are going to be watching all this occur as properly. And so they’re going to be like, lastly, , I can simply think about like a husband and spouse, , the place the husband has an iPhone and the spouse has an Android cellphone. They’re going to be like, lastly, we will lastly share information. I can lastly take a photograph of our child or our pet or no matter and I can simply AirDrop it to you. Lastly. That is nice. After which Apple’s going to come back by means of and be like, no, you possibly can’t. And that’s going to make them upset. So Apple’s going to have a PR downside there.

Additionally, and possibly much more importantly, Apple’s going to have an issue with the EU. The EU doesn't like the truth that the Android ecosystem and the iOS ecosystem don't play properly collectively. So now that Google has actually compelled the scenario and proved that Android telephones and iPhones can do that after which Apple shuts it down, the EU goes to be like, why did you shut this down? Let the market determine. Let the individuals have what they need and, , compete. You’ll must do different issues to compete apart from simply lock individuals into your ecosystem. And if Apple shuts it down, the EU goes to take that as an opportunity to assault. So actually Apple’s in a lose-lose scenario right here. And I like it. I like it. I really like when Google does stuff like this. It makes me so joyful. I really like when Google simply does this like passive aggressive like, , simply shake up. When the RCS factor occurred, oh my god, that was so wonderful. I cherished it.

20:40 – Mishaal Rahman: Yeah. I imply, there’s nonetheless some questions on how precisely did Google truly do that as a result of they had been very mild on technical particulars of their weblog publish. In even the safety weblog publish which talked about how they designed this to be safe. They talked about that they went by means of a third-party safety agency and audited their implementation that it’s safe, however they didn’t truly discuss how they carried out this characteristic. As a result of in the event that they didn’t have Apple’s assist in any respect, clearly Apple didn’t change something on the iOS or macOS or iPadOS facet of issues to make this work. So Google needed to do one thing to make Fast Share suitable. And from what I can inform, there’s a number of theories which are form of floating round. Like the preferred idea that I’ve seen is that the EU compelled Apple’s hand. As a result of a few months again, when the EU designated Apple as a gatekeeper, one of many issues that the EU wished Apple to do is to mainly present the identical capabilities that Apple gives to their very own gadgets to third-party {hardware} distributors.

So for instance proper now, Apple gadgets, if you wish to talk shortly, provoke a pairing and ship switch information and do all types of different issues that AirDrop permits, Apple gadgets have a proprietary protocol referred to as AWDL which stands for Apple Wi-fi Direct Hyperlink. Now AWDL just isn't an open protocol. It’s solely accessible on Apple gadgets. So if you wish to have some form of comparable connection between Apple gadgets and different gadgets like Android gadgets for instance, you possibly can’t as a result of AWDL is the one answer.

So the EU mainly informed Apple that, okay, you've gotten two selections. You may both implement assist for an open customary referred to as Wi-Fi Conscious, which is being, which has been developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and to Apple’s credit score, they really performed an enormous position within the improvement of that customary. One of many underlying key applied sciences behind Wi-Fi Conscious was developed by Apple. However Apple itself didn't implement assist for Wi-Fi Conscious. In order that they helped develop the expertise that led to Wi-Fi Conscious, however they themselves didn't implement Wi-Fi Conscious in their very own working techniques.

So the EU mainly informed them you possibly can both implement Wi-Fi Conscious in your platforms or you may make AWDL suitable with Wi-Fi Conscious or open up some form of API for builders to make use of AWDL. I don’t know what ended up taking place. I feel from what I imply we do know that Apple did find yourself ultimately including assist for Wi-Fi Conscious in iOS, like there are APIs now that builders can use within the newest variations of their working system to make use of Wi-Fi Conscious. However I heard by means of the grapevine, I can’t point out sources, that AirDrop doesn't use Wi-Fi Conscious. And actually that AWDL just isn't suitable with Wi-Fi Conscious. It was not suitable on the time that the EU was wanting into Apple’s practices and I heard that it’s nonetheless not suitable.

Which might mainly undercut the argument that the EU was mainly accountable for this transformation. And that leads me to consider that Google truly did the very dangerous factor that I by no means thought they might do. They might have truly performed a clear room reverse engineering of the AWDL protocol. And we at all times knew that may be potential as a result of some builders previously have performed or have tried to do the exact same factor. Reverse engineer AWDL and pressure it to work on various platforms as a result of at a really fundamental degree, it’s nonetheless based mostly on open requirements like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. So theoretically any gadget that helps Bluetooth or Wi-Fi ought to have the ability to assist AWDL so long as it, , has like a number of the identical options that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options that AWDL relies on. However nobody’s ever performed it as a result of it’s proprietary and reverse engineering one thing proprietary opens you as much as a number of potential authorized points as a result of, , you might contain your self with code that you're not licensed to be distributing in like a reverse engineered type. So like a clear room implementation, , go look that up if you wish to know what that's. If that's one thing what Google did, I'd be very stunned and really impressed that they really had the balls to do that. An organization as huge as Google to do one thing like that to implement assist for AWDL on Android. Which if what I’m listening to is true is certainly what they did, however not confirmed in the intervening time.

25:12 – C. Scott Brown: Yeah, no matter they did, I feel it’s nice. Like I feel it’s superior. Simply push Apple to do what they must do, ? Like Apple can’t construct its legacy and construct its buyer base on the thought that you're trapped within the walled backyard. Like that isn't good. That’s not a great way to do enterprise, ? I can’t inform you the variety of occasions I’ve had individuals praise how nice the photographs that my Pixel takes, . Or not even my Pixel, any cellphone, , any Android cellphone that I take out after I’m with individuals. Like if I’m testing, , the Galaxy cellphone or no matter. I’ll take a photograph they usually’re like, oh my god, that appears nice. And I’m like, yeah, Android telephones take actually good photographs, . Some are higher than others, however all of them take photographs which are simply nearly as good because the iPhone that you simply use. And so they’ll say issues like, oh man, I actually want I may depart iPhone, however I can’t as a result of, after which they’ll say iMessage or AirDrop or no matter. They’ll say these items and I’ll level out, I’ll be like, you’re trapped. Like they have you ever trapped. And it’s like, that sucks. Like that sucks. Such as you shouldn’t really feel trapped. It is best to really feel like your smartphone, your laptop computer, no matter, you're feeling you must really feel like these merchandise, you personal them. They don’t personal you.

And that’s what Apple’s bread and butter is, is making your merchandise, make you're feeling like your merchandise personal you. And that sucks. So something, for for my part, something that busts that down is nice. And so, yeah, Google doing this, I don’t care how they did it. Like I imply I’m curious about how they did it. Like I’m certain you’re going to learn how they really did it in some unspecified time in the future and it’s going to be actually cool to know and I’m going to like studying about it and it’s going to be thrilling, however on the identical time prefer it doesn’t actually matter to me ultimately as a result of I’m simply glad that it’s taking place as a result of like that is nice. That is nice for everybody, . iPhone customers too.

27:04 – Mishaal Rahman: Yeah. I imply, I do have one potential extra piece of data to share about this characteristic. And it’s pertaining to why this characteristic might initially be restricted to the Pixel 10. So Google didn’t point out why that is solely rolling out to the Pixel 10 sequence immediately, however I additionally heard by means of the grapevine {that a} Wi-Fi firmware replace could also be accountable. That, , they had been capable of make this suitable on the Pixel 10 first as a result of that they had a suitable Wi-Fi firmware replace able to roll out for the Pixel 10 sequence.

And this can be, like I haven’t absolutely appeared into it on the time of recording, however after we lined this, we discovered that there’s a pending Google Play System Replace that it's a must to set up with a purpose to get the Fast Share extension software that allows you to truly add AirDrop compatibility to Fast Share. And if you're properly acquainted with Android modularization, the Undertaking Treble and the Undertaking Mainline initiatives, one of many Mainline modules on Android is definitely Wi-Fi.

The Wi-Fi stack is an updatable module. So I’m considering that Google truly pushed out a Wi-Fi module replace and to the Wi-Fi stack they added assist for AWDL within the backend. And that this new Fast Share extension software takes benefit of some new capabilities they added to the Wi-Fi stack, which is why it’s a system software, you possibly can’t simply sideload it on different functions and it simply received’t work, , if you happen to simply sideload it. Prefer it needs to be particularly one thing you put in as a system software.

So that could be why it’s solely accessible on the Pixel 10 sequence proper now. And hopefully this doesn’t imply that it’s going to be very restricted to solely a handful of gadgets. Hopefully, it’s one thing that a number of different Android gadgets can benefit from. Google has not likely been forthright with what different gadgets can be getting this characteristic, however hopefully it’s, , broadly accessible within the close to future. As a result of if it’s only a Pixel 10 sequence, I imply, I’m certain that can do nice numbers for Google. Individuals desire a cellphone that works with AirDrop, but it surely’s not going to do loads for the Android ecosystem as a complete, which I’m certain is one among Google’s targets with making Fast Share suitable with AirDrop.

29:12 – C. Scott Brown: I suppose now could be a very good time to plug that Black Friday sale has began for the Pixel 10 sequence. So if you wish to avoid wasting cash, now’s the time.

29:23 – Mishaal Rahman: If you wish to get monetary savings by not shopping for a Pixel and protecting your Samsung Galaxy cellphone, however you’re envious of a number of the cool new AI options on Pixel telephones, then you might be happy to listen to that Samsung is engaged on a wide range of new AI-powered options in One UI 8.5, together with a brand new characteristic referred to as Now Nudges. So from what we will inform, this appears to be mainly Samsung’s model of Magic Cue.

And earlier than we dive into Now Nudges, only a transient clarification on what Magic Cue is. So it is a Pixel 10 unique characteristic that's powered by Gemini and it mainly watches what’s taking place in your display to supply useful proactive options based mostly on context out of your numerous Google companies and functions. So for instance, if you're in a cellphone name with a enterprise and also you had beforehand made a reservation with them, then Magic Cue can intelligently pull up that reservation data out of your Gmail for instance and show it in a card in the midst of your cellphone name with that enterprise. So that you don’t must trouble to modify functions to tug up that data then swap again and inform the enterprise your reservation particulars. It’s excellent there within the cellphone name for you.

And, , that characteristic debuted with the Pixel 10. It’s nonetheless unique to the Pixel 10. But it surely appears to be like like Samsung is perhaps engaged on their very own model of the characteristic referred to as Now Nudges. Our Authority Insights group did some evaluation right into a leaked One UI 8.5 construct and we found that Samsung is engaged on a really comparable characteristic that can have contextual nudges that can floor previous data like screenshots or chats precisely while you want it. It’ll even have autofill nudges that can use your private knowledge to mechanically fill in complicated types. And also you’ll even have motion nudges that can mechanically swap functions to, for instance, leaping from a textual content message mentioning a location on to a map view of that spot. So based mostly on our understanding, this seems to be mainly a close to equivalent implementation of Magic Cue and this can be Samsung’s try at protecting individuals from switching from Galaxy to Pixel telephones. So Scott, I don’t have a Pixel 10. I do know you've gotten one and also you’ve reviewed one or you should still be utilizing one proper now. How do you're feeling about Magic Cue now that it’s been over three months for the reason that Pixel 10 launched?

31:41 – C. Scott Brown: Magic Cue is a very, actually cool concept that has not been carried out properly. That’s the essential abstract that I may give. For a video and for the assessment, I set it up in order that my companion despatched me a textual content and within the textual content she would say, are you aware after we’re going to dinner subsequent week or no matter. And that query triggered Magic Cue to undergo my calendar and undergo my Gmail and discover the details about our dinner reservation and it instantly pulled it up and all I needed to do was hit just a little button that appeared magically proper there and it might paste the data that I wanted to ship and ship it to her. So it labored. It was nice. Like in that exact scenario, it saved me the effort of opening my e mail, discovering that reservation, copying and pasting. It lower out a complete bunch of time that it might have taken to reply that query.

The issue is that that query doesn’t come fairly often. , like I’m not typically requested by my companion when our dinner reservations are as a result of it’s in our shared calendar so she would simply look within the calendar and discover that data for herself. She wouldn’t really feel the necessity to textual content me about it. So I'll admit that after we did these testing, I don’t suppose Magic Cue has pulled up something since in simply my pure day-to-day lifetime of like that is what has, , is going on in my life and right here’s Magic Cue. So actually, with the Samsung, , this replication that Samsung has, I don’t suppose that it’s going to have the identical downside. I feel that it’s going to be one thing the place, , it’s going to wrestle to search out an viewers as a result of it simply doesn’t occur naturally. The one asterisk I’ll put there may be that filling out the types is one thing that Magic Cue doesn't do. That's one thing that so far as I can inform anyway from the place I’m sitting now and what we’ve learn and what we learn about this characteristic, that's one thing that Magic Cue doesn’t try this Samsung’s would do. And that may be useful. The flexibility to simply have a type open up on my cellphone and it simply say, hey, we discover you’re filling out a type, do you need to fill it in with the data that you simply historically fill it in with? And also you hit a button and it simply fills in your identify and your deal with and your cellphone quantity and all that. That’s nice. I take advantage of 1Password and 1Password already has that characteristic, so I don’t want that characteristic to be performed by an AI system like Magic Cue. Which is perhaps why Google didn’t implement it with the Magic Cue characteristic when it got here out for Pixels.

So personally, this wouldn’t change something for me, however lots of people don’t use password managers. In the event you’re listening to this, you have to be utilizing a password supervisor. Please choose one. It doesn’t must be 1Password. It may be something, however choose one. So lots of people don’t have these options and so this is perhaps a factor that may be actually helpful. Yeah, so I’m enthusiastic about this. I’m at all times enthusiastic about new options coming to smartphones, particularly in the event that they’re ones that might be actually helpful for individuals and save them time, save them cash, save them no matter. However yeah, thus far anyway, Magic Cue isn’t let me simply put it this manner, Magic Cue isn’t the characteristic that I'd be attempting to duplicate on my smartphone if I used to be making one proper now. There are a complete lot of issues that Pixels try this Samsung telephones don’t try this I'd need earlier than I’d need Magic Cue simply because it hasn’t been that helpful.

35:05 – Mishaal Rahman: I imply, simply because it’s not helpful proper now or at launch doesn’t imply it received’t grow to be extra helpful in a while. As a result of particularly in the event that they proceed so as to add increasingly more integrations. This looks like a kind of options that on the floor might be extremely helpful as a result of, , if it integrates with all of your functions and companies. If there’s possibly some API sooner or later for third-party app builders to supply their very own nudges, for them to supply their very own data that then you would then floor as chips inside different functions. It might be extremely helpful. Once more, it’s like a kind of issues the place, , like with Gemini and ChatGPT and stuff like that. What number of third-party companies truly need to combine absolutely with a characteristic like this? They need your eyeballs on their functions. They need you to open their functions, and the extra that you simply form of have this data surfacing in a centralized location, then the final time you’re spending and opening these functions. Clearly Google is ready to shortly implement it in a lot of their very own first-party companies, however assist from third-party companies could be very restricted proper now with Magic Cue.

Samsung, they've much more companies to supply, which are solely accessible on their Galaxy gadgets, so possibly they’ll do a greater job with integrating it throughout their ecosystem. Perhaps, who is aware of, some SmartThings integration, you would have some kind of good house integration inbuilt with their model of Magic Cue or Now Nudges what they’re calling it. However we’ll have to attend and see precisely how Samsung implements it and the way it differs from Magic Cue.

36:38 – C. Scott Brown: Yeah, I may see good house stuff being a boon for this. I can think about the home getting chilly, possibly you’re away from house you’re at work and it’s a chilly day and the home temperature – the inside temperature drops under a sure threshold. You choose up your cellphone and it’s just a little pop-up. Simply so , the temperature of your own home is low, do you need to flip the warmth on. And also you hit a button and it turns the warmth on. You come house and your own home is sweet and toasty. That’s superior. That’s a terrific characteristic that individuals would genuinely actually like. However the way in which Magic Cue is about up, I don’t suppose that may actually be potential, proper now at the least. Google must combine all these items with Google Dwelling and your work day and the place you might be and all these various things must occur. However possibly Samsung may make it work due to its totally different integrations. Yeah, I agree I feel that Magic Cue and this nudge system have nice potential. It’s simply that that potential hasn’t been exploited sufficient by Google as of but. So it’s form of exhausting to see the place it’s going as a result of it’s been, what have we obtained, August, September, October, November, yeah it’s been 4 months and I’ve been utilizing the Pixel 10 Professional each single day because it got here out and it simply hasn’t made that a lot of a distinction. There are a number of cool issues the Pixel 10 does that almost all different smartphones don’t do and they're very helpful and I may go and listing them, however as a substitute you must go on my YouTube web page and verify that out @CScottBrown and I've loads to say about all that stuff. However yeah there’s so many cool stuff that it does, I'd say Magic Cue and Digital camera Coach are the 2 issues that I simply have barely used since I obtained the cellphone.

38:23 – Mishaal Rahman: Yeah. I imply, very helpful options. The options that I feel have probably the most potential to win over customers simply due to how not in your face they're and the way useful they are often after they’re used properly, however proper now they’re not used very properly. Perhaps that’ll change sooner or later.

38:38 – C. Scott Brown: I hope so. And possibly Samsung will push, , possibly this can mild a hearth beneath Google’s ft. , possibly Samsung will do it higher than Google after which Google can be like, oh yeah, we should always do, , they’re simply gonna they’re gonna feed off one another. , Google’s gonna do it first after which Samsung’s gonna copy it, make it just a little higher, then Google’s gonna make it just a little higher, after which it’s gonna travel and it’s going to be the perfect factor ever. I’m all for it. Let’s go.

39:03 – Mishaal Rahman: All proper. I imply, we nonetheless have fairly a bit of the way till we truly get the total unveiling of this characteristic. I’m assuming it’s going to debut with the S26 sequence in about two and a half months from now in like early February. So keep tuned for that. We’ll positively be attempting it out ourselves as soon as this characteristic debuts on subsequent yr’s gadgets. However for now, that’s the whole lot we’ve obtained for you this week. You will discover hyperlinks to all of the tales talked about on this episode down within the present notes. And you'll find extra wonderful tales to learn over on AndroidAuthority.com.

39:30 – C. Scott Brown: Thanks for listening to the Authority Insights podcast. We publish each week on YouTube, Spotify, and different podcast platforms. You may observe us all over the place on social media at Android Authority and you may observe me personally on Instagram, BlueSky, and my very own YouTube channel @CScottBrown.

39:47 – Mishaal Rahman: As for me, I’m on most social media platforms posting day in and time out about Android. If you wish to sustain with the most recent on Android information, observe me on X, Threads, Mastodon, or Telegram @MishaalRahman. Thanks for listening.