Google introduced Nearby feature for Android users

Google has recently announced new Android feature called ‘Nearby’. It is an advanced feature that suggests the apps or website you might be looking for based on your location. Imagine that you are in the Disney World, and you receive a notification of the apps or website related to that location. Or you are visiting a historic museum and you receive an audio tour about the place. Isn’t it great? Well, all these and many more things like this are now possible with the Google’s latest feature ‘Nearby’. It works like a virtual assistance in your device. It fetches your location, sees the world around you and offers you the options to get better real world experience.

Google has actually discussed this feature in I/O 2016 a few weeks back. Nearby Product Manager, Akshay Kannan has announced the Nearby feature approaching for the Android users on Android Official Blog. He also announced new partners who have updated their apps to utilize this feature. Mr. Akshay wrote, “The Play Store offers over one million apps – many of which are created to be used in specific locations or situations. The right app at the right moment lets you get more done.” He added, “But, getting the right apps at the right time can be tough if you don’t already know about them. So, we’re introducing a new Android feature called Nearby, which notifies you of of things that can be helpful near you.”

You can do lots of things that can revolutionize the way you interact with your Android device. Following are some of the examples where you can utilize the Nearby feature.

• Print photos directly from your phone at CVS Pharmacy.
• Explore historical landmarks at the University of Notre Dame.
• Download the audio tour when you’re at The Broad in LA.
• Skip the customs line at select airports with Mobile Passport.
• Download the United Airlines app for free in-flight entertainments while you wait at the gate, before you board your flight.

This feature provides an opportunity for the businesses to feed customers with the right information at the right time. Users can receive Nearby notification on any Google device including Google Cast and Android Wear watches. You just need to enable the Bluetooth and Location on your device to access Nearby feature.

You will automatically start receiving notification if any Nearby app or website will be available around you. You can directly visit that website just by clicking on the notification. Google has actually introduced this feature for website links under Physical Web Project earlier this year. If there is any Nearby app available, you will be able to access the app link by tapping on the Nearby notification. If you have not installed that specific app on your device, tapping on the notification will prompt you to download the application. This feature is not at all enforced on the users. If you don’t want to receive the nearby notification, you can simply swipe the notification and it won’t bother you again. You can start receiving the Nearby notifications again by simply enabling the notification from the settings.

Nearby feature is rolled out as a part of the Google Play Service update. Users having Android version 4.4 (KitKat) will get the access to this feature. This feature could be very useful for the users looking for the additional information or assistance about the place they are visiting.