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Google’s prized Android multi-platform operating system is an important player in device operability, so it’s no surprise that it has a presence at CES 2024. Today (10 January 2024), the Android team has announced the following quality-of-life updates. These enhanced features improve Android 14 on mobile and make Android-compatible devices more seamless than ever.  Android has upgraded Nearby Share, which was first announced in 2020.  The tech giant worked with Samsung’s Quick Share to reinvent and broaden everyone’s peer-to-peer file-sharing experiences. Now, the new default file-sharing option for Android is Quick Share, which works across all Android and Chromebook ecosystems.  To use the new Android Quick Share, simply tap the Quick Share icon to see all available devices where you can send or receive files from. You can set it to Everyone, Contacts Only, or Own Devices Only. Android is also working with PC manufacturers to make Quick Share a pre-installed option on Windows PCs. The team name-dropped LG as one of its first partners. Fast Pair was previously interoperable between Bluetooth accessories, Android devices, and Chromebook devices. The upgraded Fast Pair now includes Google TVs and Chromecast with Google TV (the dongle or built-in variant that make dumber TVs smarter). It works like before: tap to connect your audio gadget (headphones or speakers) to watch your shows.  Now, you can cast TikTok videos to Chromecast devices, and even to TVs with Chromecast built-in.  The benefit here is not having to log in to personal accounts while casting (the old method). For example, you can log in to TikTok on your phone, and cast it to a Chromecast-able hotel room TV without sharing login credentials to the appliance. Google Pixel users get special casting treatment. Later this year, users with compatible Pixel phones (models not specified) can transfer currently-playing songs on Spotify or YouTube Music to a docked Pixel Tablet.  Matter is an open-source connectivity standard for smart appliances, smart devices, and IoT devices. The was its partnership between Samsung and Google. In the future, LG TVs, select Google TV devices, and other Android OS TVs can act as a hub for Google Home.  That means you can add more Matter devices to your home network via the Google Home app on your TV, without reaching for your phone. Electric vehicles (EVs) compatible with Android Auto can now share real-time battery information with Google Maps. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning are the first EVs to support this functionality. The obvious benefit is having Google Maps suggest charging stops along the way, with charging estimation times built into your journey planner on Google Maps. You can also now send your planned trips from your phone’s Google Maps to the car display. Source: