In an unexpected move, it seems Google is rebranding Nearby Share, Android’s AirDrop competitor, to “Quick Share.”
Initially arriving as a handy way to send files between Android devices, Nearby Share has expanded to support Chromebooks and even Windows PCs (Mac is not yet supported). Like AirDrop, it’s easy to send files to yourself or friends, while there’s also an option to receive files from anyone.
For whatever reason, it seems that Google is preparing to ditch the “Nearby Share” branding that the company has used since 2020. The news comes courtesy of Kamila Wojciechowska on Twitter/X.
Top comment by JG
Since it is losing "Nearby" I'd like to see Google expand its features to include the ability to transfer data over the cloud rather than just being limited to local only transfers.
Similar to my phone seamlessly switching from WiFi to cellular this could allow transfers to switch from local WiFi Direct to cloud based if we move out of range of each other, a feature Apple recently added to AirDrop.
Though I'd like to see Google take it a step farther and give us the ability to also start the share even if the recipient isn't in proximity
Google could host a server that our phones could use to check to see who is visible to us & where to find them. Then the actual transfer could take place via a private peer-to-peer tunnel exclusively between our two devices. Google wouldn't be able to scan, index, compress, etc the file...
After installing the latest beta update to Google Play services (version 23.50.13), a notification reportedly appeared informing of the rebranding. Alongside the new “Quick Share” name, the service has also been given a new icon consisting of two arrows pointing at each other with semicircular tails. The new icon even appears in the Quick Settings tile on Android devices. The previous icon resembled two opposing arrowheads/boomerangs woven together.
Nearby Share is now Quick Share
Look for the new name and icon to share with nearby devices
This change appears to only be a visual one, as otherwise, the service seems to still function exactly as it did before.
That said, it’s interesting that Google has chosen to use the name “Quick Share,” a moniker that currently Samsung uses for its own file-sharing utility on Galaxy phones. It’s currently unclear if Samsung’s Quick Share has anything to do with Google’s rebranding of Nearby Share.
As this change is currently only appearing in a beta version of Play Services, it will likely be a few more weeks before Nearby Share is widely rebranded to Quick Share on Android devices.
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