Google GM and VP Sameer Samat revealed several new updates the company made at the CES 2024 event. These are the details.

New File Sharing Options

In 2020, Google introduced Nearby Share as a way to make it easier to share files across devices. Samsung also has a capability called Quick Share. By collaborating with Samsung, Google is bringing the best of its sharing solutions into a singular cross-Android solution under the Quick Share name. The experiences have been integrated to create a default built-in option for peer-to-peer content sharing across all devices in the Android and Chromebook ecosystems. To make sharing even easier between devices, Google is also working with leading PC manufacturers like LG to expand Quick Share to Windows PCs as a pre-installed app. So, with a simple tap of the new Quick Share icon, you can see a list of available devices nearby. Quick Share will start rolling out to current Nearby Share-enabled devices next month.

Fast Pair Expanding To Chromecast With Google TV

Fast Pair is a way to quickly find and connect nearby Bluetooth accessories to devices like Android phones or Chromebooks. And in the next month, Fast Pair support is expanding to Chromecast with Google TV and will be expanding to more Google TV devices later this year.

When putting your accessory in pairing mode, you just have to tap to connect your compatible headphones or speakers. And with audio output controls, you can switch back to your default TV audio at any time.

Casting Coming To More Apps And Devices

Since Google launched Chromecast, the company been working to bring casting capabilities to more apps and devices. Now you can cast TikTok content from your phone to your Chromecast built-in devices. Soon you will also be able to cast LIVE videos from TikTok to your big screen.

More devices will also launch with Chromecast built-in, such as the 2024 LG TV series. And later this year, Google will extend Chromecast built-in to LG Hospitality and Healthcare so that when you’re on the go, you can continue to enjoy a show or movie from your streaming apps on the LG TV in your hotel room, without having to log into each app and having to remember to log out when you’re done.

Google TV devices also come with Chromecast built-in, including the latest 2024 Hisense ULED and ULED X Series and TCL Q Class and TCL QM7 line announced at CES this year. There are now more than 220 million monthly active Google TV devices and other Android TV OS devices.

A new casting feature will also launch this year that will allow you to move what’s playing on Spotify and YouTube Music from your compatible Pixel phone to your docked Pixel Tablet when the device is close by. So you can continue listening to your playlist once you’re home.

More Interoperability Through Matter

Google is helping become more ready for Matter (a new standard for smart home platforms, apps, and devices). In the future, LG TVs, select Google TV, and other Android TV OS devices can act as hubs for Google Home. With a Nest Hub, Nest Mini or compatible TV, it is easy to add Matter devices to your home network and locally control them with the Google Home app.

Google Apps Coming To More Cars

Android Auto is also receiving more upgrades. Coming first to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning over the next few months, EVs vehicles compatible with Android Auto can share real-time battery information with Google Maps. And this integration will make driving an electric vehicle easier by providing your estimated battery level upon arrival at your destination while also suggesting charging stops along the way and even estimating how long charging will take based on your vehicle.

Many car brands come with Google built-in – which integrates with apps like Google Maps, Google Assistant, etc. on Google Play directly into your car’s display. And this experience will be launching soon across other top car brands like Nissan, Lincoln and more. Starting to roll out now, you can send trips that you’ve planned on your phone directly to Google Maps on your car display. When you are parked, you can also make the most of your time with new apps on Google Play that are optimized for use in cars so you can safely browse content on Chrome and watch shows from PBS KIDS and Crunchyroll.