Google’s Nearby Sharing Could Work with Linux
Google’s answer to Apple’s AirDrop feature is rumored to work with the Linux desktop.
For Linux users, one of the big frustrations with Android is transferring files to and from a mobile device. You could certainly set up an SMB share and install an Android file manager that includes Samba connectivity, or configure an FTP or sFTP server on your Linux machine and use a supporting app on Android.
That necessity could be coming to an end.
If the rumors are true, Android will soon be bringing a new feature to the mobile platform that will allow you to easily share things to nearby devices. That feature is aptly named, Nearby Sharing. Originally this feature was to be used for sharing links, photos, and more between Android devices. However, Google has brought the feature to the latest Chrome OS Canary builds. And although the feature is yet to actually do anything, the description of Nearby Sharing for Android is the same found in the Chrome browser_features.cc file, which indicates the feature will be coming to the Chrome browser on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Yes, that mean Nearby Sharing doesn't technically work natively on Linux, but requires the use of Chrome on the open source platform. Even so, it'll be an important step forward for any Linux user who depends on Android and needs an efficient way to transfer files back and forth between Google's mobile OS and their desktop of choice.
Read the original commit for the Chrome browser file here.
Issue 248/2021
Buy this issue as a PDF
News
-
KDE Plasma 5.22 Released with Better Stability and Usability Across the Board
The KDE Plasma desktop development has kicked into high gear and the latest release reflects newfound popularity and drive behind the open-source environment.
-
Nvidia and Valve Collaborate to Bring DLSS to Linux
Both powerhouses in the gaming industry are trying to make the experience on Linux much improved, by way of DLSS.
-
Kali Linux 2021.2 Official Release Now Available
The latest iteration of security fan-favorite Kali Linux has been released with new tools, themes, and plenty of improvements.
-
Entroware Unleashes a Beast of a Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a portable workhorse, look no further than the Entroware Proteus laptop.
-
System76 Unveils its “Launch” Keyboard
The open-source darling, System76, is about to launch the Launch keyboard and you can pre-order yours now.
-
Armbian 21.05 Now Available
The Armbian developers have released the latest update to the Debian-based Linux distribution geared for ARM and embedded devices.
-
StarLabs has Released Another Linux Laptop
A new 14" Linux laptop has been released by the company that created the 11" Star Lite and can be purchased with your choice of Linux distribution.
-
Ubuntu 21.04 Adds Support for Active Directory and Other Major Changes
In a bid to help make Linux more viable for the business desktop, Canonical adds support for Active Directory and a few other notable changes.
-
GNOME 40 Available on openSUSE
The rolling release edition of openSUSE, Tumbleweed, now offers the latest version of the GNOME desktop.
-
Apple M1 Hardware Support to be Merged into Linux Kernel 5.13
Linux users will be able to install their favorite distribution on Apple’s M1-based hardware.