Google, part of Alphabet Inc’s, announced at the annual CES technology conference on Jan 9 that it is collaborating with TikTok to enable the streaming of videos from Android phones to television sets. This move is part of Google’s broader effort to enhance the seamless integration of its devices.
This new feature will provide Android users with the ability to display clips from TikTok on TVs equipped with Google’s Chromecast system, similar to Apple Inc’s AirPlay service which allows for video sharing from an iPhone to an Apple TV set-top box.
At the conference, Google is also showcasing several other new features, including the ability for a user to start a podcast on an Android phone and then transfer it over to a docked Pixel Tablet at home, much like Apple’s offering. This functionality will be available this year for YouTube Music and Spotify. Additionally, there is an enhancement to streamline the pairing of new earbuds and speakers with Google TV devices.
Google’s efforts to make it easier to share data between devices includes the development of a new Quick Share feature in collaboration with Samsung Electronics Co that enables the exchange of images and other files.
Furthermore, Google is expanding its presence in the automotive sector by integrating its Android Auto software with Ford Motor Co’s Mach-E and F-150 Lightning vehicles to allow for the sharing of battery information with Google Maps, enabling the system to suggest charging stops.
Google’s move to expand its presence in cars puts it in direct competition with Apple, which recently announced that Porsche and Aston Martin would be the first new cars to support its redesigned CarPlay interface. – Bloomberg
