The expected close Android sharing may be almost done. The feature, which allows you to share files between Android devices quickly, easily and wirelessly, has been compared to Apple’s AirDrop, and Google has confirmed to us that a beta test for close sharing is actively being implemented through the version Play Services beta. We have also managed to get a quick practice to show you how it works.
Left: “Close” on the share sheet in a Tweet. Right: ‘Near Sh … “in the shared sheet application list for a file in the built-in file application.
Nearby sharing may appear slightly different depending on the type of content you are trying to share. In all cases, it appears as an app in the apps list on the share sheet, but you can also get a smaller message just below the content preview, more like it did in the previous Android 11 video leak We tested it on a Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 3a running Android 10, but the appearance may also vary on other Android versions.
Keep in mind that Nearby Share works both for files and photos or videos, as well as for other sharable content such as Tweets and URLs. It probably works with a lot of things.
The notice you will receive when you test the function for the first time.
Select Share nearby on the share target sheet, and you will be prompted to activate the feature if this is your first time using it. The quick setup process allows you to configure the default device name and device visibility settings, although they can also be changed later.
Left: Close Share looking for another device. Center: Close Share settings, accessible by tapping your avatar in the upper right corner. Right: Close Share visibility settings.
Once you have it enabled, nearby sharing begins searching for other nearby devices. The interface is pretty simple: A big X in the upper left corner supports it, your avatar on the right takes you to a settings panel that allows you to configure things like your device name, visibility, and what mechanism to use to perform the transfer (that is, whether to use your Internet connection for small files, to connect to Wi-Fi, or to always share offline).
There are three visibility settings: All Contacts, Some Contacts, and Hidden. In any case, you can’t seem to send an obscene photo to a subway car full of unintended recipients, as you can do on Apple’s AirDrop. You are limited to your contacts.
Left: Close Share notification if your phone sees a nearby device trying to share a file. Right: The expanded message if you touch the notification, making your phone visible to other devices.
Nearby phones that meet the visibility criteria will be notified if they have also set up Near Share, asking if you want your phone to be visible to receive the shared content. Touch it, and the device receiving the content receives a message similar to that of a shipment, notifying you that your phone is visible and ready to receive.
Left and center– Request to share the file with a specific device. Right: The final message to receive the file.
Next, a two-stage process is performed with explicit consent between the two devices: the hardware that sends the content specifically selects a target, and the hardware that receives the content recognizes and accepts it. Then the content is sent between the two devices (pretty fast, in our experience), and you get an intent message to open it, depending on what it is. Tweets, for example, will likely open in your Twitter app, URL in your browser, photos you have set up to open image files, etc. If the content is a file, it is stored in the Downloads directory, in case you need it later.
Google tells us that Nearby Share is currently in limited testing through the beta version of Play Services:
“We are currently conducting a beta test of a new near-sharing feature in which we plan to share more information in the future. Our goal is to launch the feature with support for Android 6+ devices and other platforms.”
While participating in the beta version of Play Services is mandatory, there is also a server-side component for testing right now, so you may not get it right away. (The current test seems very limited, so most of our readers probably don’t have it.) If you like gambling, you can also download the latest version in APK Mirror.
