In concrete terms, Nearby Sharing works very similarly to the iPhone’s AirDrop system. Once enabled, the option appears in the sharing menu. You can then select a nearby person to start the transfer immediately. Most file formats are supported.
As well as websites and other content.
How can I test Nearby Sharing on Android before everyone else?
The Nearby Share feature relies on Google Play Services. To test the functionality, you must therefore join the Google Play beta program:
- Click here Join the Google Play Services testing program
- Follow the instructions to enable the beta version of Google Play services on your smartphone
How to share a file with Nearby Share:
- Make sure you have two Android smartphones with Google Play Services Beta
- Go to your settings and enable it Share Nearby (make sure the service is active on the other smartphone too)
- Start sharing the file as you normally would
- Then the “Share Nearby” option will appear in the list, click on it
- Click on your recipient’s smartphone
- And there you have it!
In this article, we give you an overview of the functionality. This video from XDA also shows Nearby Share in action starting at 2:30:
What do you think about Nearby Share? Have you tested it? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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