At CES 2024, Google unveiled a series of exciting new Android features designed to enhance the user experience of the smartphone ecosystem. Highlights include the ability to quickly share across Android devices, the expansion of Fast Pair technology support for Chromecast and other Google TV devices, and the ability to cast TikTok videos directly to devices with built-in Chromecast.
快速分享（Quick Share）
Google and Samsung have teamed up to bring together the best of both worlds to deliver Quick Share, a cross-device peer-to-peer content sharing solution for the entire Android ecosystem. This feature is based on Samsung's existing Quick Share technology, combined with the less widely used Nearby Share feature on Android. Quick Share not only supports file transfer between Android phones, but also extends to Chromebooks and beyond. Google is working with PC manufacturers to pre-install the Quick Share app on Windows PCs. It is expected that from February this year, Quick Share will be gradually launched on relevant devices.
The Fast Pair function has been expanded
Currently, Fast Pair has achieved seamless connection with Bluetooth headphones on Android phones. In the coming months, Google will further expand the availability of Fast Pair to support Chromecast with Google TV, as well as other Google TV devices (the feature will be released later this year).
More casting capabilities for apps and devices
Google is constantly pushing the casting feature to more apps and devices. Now, Android users can cast TikTok content directly from their phones to devices with Chromecast built-in, and this is just the first step in the content creator experience improvement. In the future, more built-in Chromecast devices, such as the 2024 LG TV and its hospitality healthcare lineup, will support content casting, allowing users to display content on hotel room TVs without having to log in to each app.
In addition, a new feature allows users to transfer music playing on Spotify or YouTube Music from a compatible Pixel phone to a Pixel tablet that is connected to it to continue playing.
Enhanced device interoperability under the Matter standard
To ensure that smart devices from different vendors work better together, Google continues to push for the adoption of industry standards, especially in the context of Matter, the new standard for smart homes. LG TVs and select Google and Android TV OS devices will soon become core components of Google Home, enabling broader interoperability with Matter.
The expansion of Google's apps and services in the automotive space
Android Auto will be further integrated into the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning models, and Android Auto-compatible EVs will be able to share real-time battery information with Google Maps, giving drivers an estimate of how much power they have left when they reach their destination and how long it takes to charge.
At the same time, many top car brands such as Nissan, Lincoln, etc. will also see deep integration of their in-car displays with Google Assistant, Google Play, and other apps.