Google makes Wi-Fi photos and passwords easier to sync with Chromebooks

Google is grabbing some pages from Apple’s playbook with the release of Chrome OS 103.

The company says (Opens in new window) that the operating system update will introduce the ability to automatically sync photos and share Wi-Fi settings between a Chromebook and a paired Android smartphone. The first is very similar to iCloud Photos, which syncs images between Apple devices, but Google really plans to make the feature much more powerful than its competitor’s offering.

“With the latest update, you’ll now also have instant access to the latest photos you’ve taken on your phone, even if you don’t have a connection,” says Google. “After taking a photo on your phone, it will automatically appear in your phone’s Phone Hub under ‘Recent Photos.’ Just click on the image to download it, and then you’re ready to add it to a document or email. electronic “.

The company’s response to sharing Wi-Fi settings between devices seems a little less compelling. Google says users will need to follow a multi-step process on their Android phone to share information with a nearby Chromebook; Apple’s offer asks users to share a Wi-Fi password if their device is unlocked and connected to the network in question.

But Google has another trick planned for Chrome OS. It’s called Fast Pair, and the company says it will allow Chromebooks to “automatically detect when a new pair of Bluetooth headsets is turned on, close and ready to set up.” The devices can then be paired with a single tap (or tap) in a pop-up window that appears whenever these conditions are met.

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“Whether you want to use new headphones to watch a video, join a virtual meeting, or listen to music, Fast Pair will do it for you,” says Google. “This feature will be compatible with hundreds of different headset models, and counting.” The company says it plans to launch Fast Pair in a standalone Chrome OS update “later this summer.”

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