It sure sounds like Android is getting its own version of AirDrop
Wirelessly sharing memes with people in close proximity via the iOS AirDrop feature is a fun way to waste time. Now it looks like Android users will be able to join in on the fun soon, too.
As spotted by 9to5Google, the newest developer preview for Android 11 seems to confirm that "Nearby Sharing" is in the works for the newest version of Android. The unannounced feature shows up in the release notes for the new Android preview, though it's called "Fast Share" there.
That was the name of the wireless sharing feature when 9to5Google first reported its existence a year ago, though apparently it's going to be called "Nearby Sharing" when it's actually released, according to an XDA Developers report from January. If Google is taking suggestions, "Fast Share" is a more catchy name. But hey, maybe it's not actually that fast. Who knows?
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Anyway, this is probably a welcome development for Android users who have watched their Apple-loving friends enjoy AirDrop for the last year or so without having an alternative of their own. There was a similar feature called Android Beam once upon a time, but Google killed compatibility with it when Android 10 launched last year.
Hopefully Nearby Sharing is in fighting shape by the time Android 11 comes out, theoretically later this year. If so, Android users can experience the joy of a stranger trying to send them weird photos on public transit. The future is wonderful, isn't it?
Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social.
