Google’s Androidis finally set to copyone of AirPods' most useful tricksautomatic switching between connected devices.
Wireless is supposed to make things easier, and when it does, it’s great.
But it ended up making things more complicated.
One example is the automatic AirPods connection.
If you pick up your iPhone while wearing your AirPods, it will connect to your iPhone.
If you switch to your iPad instead, so does the connection.
In theory, at least.
“I am constantly making work-related phone calls and taking video meetings across my various devices.
In Google’s case, the trick usesFast Pair, available on Android 6.0 and newer phones.
But this time, it’s Android that’s playing catch-up.
Fast Pair is pretty much an exact copy of the AirPods experience.
pop kick open the Pixel Buds near your Android phone, and you’ll be prompted to pair them.
Once paired, you might see battery levels and play a sound to help find lost buds.
And now, you could switch devices, and your Pixel Buds connection will follow along.
With Android, Google’s hardware is only one of many alternatives.
And now the downside.
Fast Pairing currently lets you switch between Android tablets and phones.
Whats the point of fast switching between devices if you only have a phone?
When this happens, the feature will be truly useful, and rival Apples AirPods/Mac integration.
The one thing we wont know until Androidd Fast Pair gets widespread use is whether it works.
As mentioned, Apples tight integration of hardware and software is the key to its success.
Will Fast Pairing, which will be adopted and used by many different manufacturers, actually be reliable?
But even if its not, its still going to be better than what Android users have right now.
