Definitive version of Google Nearby Share arrives for Windows
Google has announced the official launch of the Nearby Share feature for computers running the Windows operating system. Nearby Share is equivalent to Apple’s AirDrop, but allows Android phones and Windows PCs (in 64-bit version 10 and 11) to share files with each other. The tool had been available in beta since March.
To use Nearby Share, it is mandatory that the computer has support for Bluetooth connection. The feature was already available on other Android devices, such as tablets and Chromebooks. In addition to the stable version, ending the beta, Nearby Share for Windows brings performance and usability improvements.
What’s new in Google Nearby Share for Windows
With the official launch of Nearby Share, Google releases the following news and improvements to the feature:
Reduction of failures in Nearby Share that caused program closures;
Increased success rate of file transfer;
To improve usability, Nearby Share now shows the estimated time to complete the file transfer;
Preview image in a device notification to assist in identifying the file to be transferred, which allows you to view whether the correct file is transferred;
To help expand and access Nearby Share, Google announced that it is negotiating with Windows computer manufacturers to have the program pre-installed on some devices. On its official website, Google used an example that it is in contact with HP to have Nearby Share come out of the factory on the brand’s PCs.
No Nearby Share in the Microsoft Store
Ironically (I’ve already explained), Nearby Share is not yet available in the Microsoft Store. This causes an oddity because Microsoft wants to popularize its app store as a source of programs for users.
To download Nearby Share, you need to go to the website of Android, Google’s operating system for mobile devices.
If your desktop doesn’t have Bluetooth, you’ll have to buy an adapter to use Nearby Share. On the other hand, Bluetooth is pretty much a must-have feature in notebooks.
