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Android Beam was Google’s attempt to provide seamless local sharing functionality, but the company removed the feature in Android Q’s developer preview. Thankfully, it’s now emerged that the search giant has a replacement, dubbed Fast Share.

The new feature, spotted by 9to5Google, is reportedly similar to the local file-sharing functionality in the Files By Google app. It set to be available via the standard Android sharing sheet or via Settings > Google > Fast Share, and it’ll let you share files, URLs, and text snippets with nearby users.

The functionality apparently requires Bluetooth and location services (while also using peer-to-peer Wi-Fi), and the devices need to be brought close together. Interestingly enough, the outlet’s screenshots (seen above) suggest that the functionality is compatible with Chromebooks, smartwatches, and iPhones too.

Editor's Pick

Google confirms Android Beam won’t be available in Android Q

Android Beam was one of the most prominent features when Google released Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich back in 2011. The feature allowed for peer-to-peer file sharing via NFC, but it looks like it won't …

Receiving a file is similar to receiving a file via Bluetooth, as you can quickly accept or decline the shared content via the notification shade. The feature even includes a “preferred visibility” option so people can see your Fast Share-enabled device when you’re nearby, even if you don’t have the functionality enabled at that moment.

It’s believed that Fast Share might not be limited to Android Q devices, as it’s purportedly a Google Play Services feature. This means you might see it on much older devices too, so hopefully those with phones stuck on Nougat or Oreo can get in on the action. What do you make of Google’s new file-sharing feature? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

NEXT: How to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone

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Netflix

Netflix is making a big push in India and understandably so. With a population of over 1.3 billion, even ten percent of that will almost double Netflix’s global subscriber base. Not only is it rapidly expanding its Indian catalog, but is also testing out cheaper mobile-only plans to make it more accessible. But Netflix is also doing what it does best – create original content.

There’s a growing number of Hindi and regional language movies and TV shows that Netflix has bought or produced and it has even bigger plans going forward. It’s limited for now, but here are some of the best original Hindi movies and series on Netflix!

Best original Hindi movies and series on Netflix:

Best Netflix Original Hindi movies

1. Love per square foot
2. Soni
3. Lust Stories

Best Netflix Original Hindi series

1. Sacred Games
2. Delhi Crime
3. Little Things
4. Ghoul

Note: This list focuses on original Netflix content because there’s too many to choose from otherwise. I’ll include some recommendations in the special mentions section though. We’ll continue to update this list as more original Hindi movies and series are released on Netflix.

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Best Original Hindi movies on Netflix

Love per square foot

“Love per square foot” follows the lives of Sanjay (Vicky Kaushal) and Karina (Angira Dhar). Buying a home is a dream that neither can achieve individually. A couple-friendly home loan scheme leads to a marriage of convenience. Hijinx ensues as they struggle to figure out their increasingly complicated lives. This a fun, quirky comedy that has its fair share of moments. The premise is a touch farcical, but it’s ultimately a story about the value of money, family, and love. Strong performances help overcome the constraints of the story. At over two hours, it does run a little long though.

Find out more

Soni

Soni (Geetika Vidya Ohlan) is a young cop in the Delhi police force. She works closely with her superintendent, Kalpana (Saloni Batra), to fight growing incidents of violent crimes against women. A professional setback and difficult personal situations derail their plans.

As loathe as we might be to admit it, Soni is an incredibly relevant film in today’s day and age. It tackles the misogyny that women face every day, but without getting preachy or by overtly pointing fingers. It’s an uncomfortable truth that any and every woman will attest to. It’s also something that those in power and society as a whole need to address. Soni may not be a movie for the masses, but it is one that everyone should see.

Find out more

Lust Stories

Lust Stories is an anthology movie comprised of four short films by some of India’s best directors – Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, and Anurag Kashyap. An apparent sequel to Bombay Talkies (2013), Lust Stories explores love, sex, and relationships in modern India.

Lust Stories provides an honest look at sexuality and modern relationships. It doesn’t go out of its way to be provocative or offensive, but tackles a topic that you’ll rarely see discussed in mainstream cinema or TV. The good news for fans of their work is that all four directors are set to return for a sequel called Ghost Stories, a horror anthology, that is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2020.

Find out more

Special mentions

• One of my absolute favorite recent Hindi movies on Netflix is Andhadhun, starring Ayushman Khurana and Tabu. When the movie ruins its most interesting twist at the beginning, you can’t imagine it doing any worse. However, that’s just the start of a thrill-ride that is packed with more twists and turns than you’ll know what to do with.
• Fans of Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar will be impressed by the range of their films available on Netflix. You’ll only find a bunch of old Salman Khan movies though.
• Some more random favorites of mine – Dhrishyam, Queen, Special 26, Dear Zindagi, Stree, and Piku, just to name a few.

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Best Original Hindi series on Netflix

Sacred Games

Indian television is divided into three segments – soap operas, comedies, and reality TV. Compelling, thrilling television with episodes that drop once a week and with limited runs was a foreign concept until the idea of the web series took hold. Some of the best TV you can see in India is online. This segment was ripe for the picking and Netflix was right on the money with its first Original Hindi series – Sacred Games.

It’s a familiar enough story. Cops vs Gangsters. But take away the limitations of a Censor board, add the general “anything goes” attitude of web content, and you have a winner on your hands. The ensemble cast, including high flyers like Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, delivers excellent performances as well. The great news for fans is that a second season should drop soon.

Find out more

Delhi Crime

Delhi Crime, starring Shefali Shah, is based around the aftermath of the horrific “Nirbhaya” case from 2012 (I’m not going to go into any detail here) that shocked the nation and jolted the powers that be into action. It’s a compelling true crime drama that gets as uncomfortable as the subject matter demands. Shock, grief, and anger are what you’ll feel as the show kicks off. The series then focuses on the next few days as the Delhi Police investigate and arrest all those responsible. It’s dark, disturbing, and gritty, but an excellent watch nonetheless.

Find out more

Little Things

Little Things, starring Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal, is a fantastic exploration of modern relationships in India. The ups and downs, the struggle to deal with life, work, love, and everything in between, is beautifully showcased in this series. It was actually a YouTube series produced by Dice Media a couple of years ago. It was then picked up by Netflix for a second season (both seasons are now on Netflix) with more, and longer, episodes. If you’re looking for something that’s equal parts sweet and heartbreaking, Little Things is a great binge.

Find out more

Ghoul

Netflix followed up Sacred Games with Ghoul. It’s a compelling horror series that takes its inspiration from Arab folklore. The story is set in a dystopian future with a fascist regime in power. The interrogation of a suspected terrorist goes wrong, resulting in a variety of supernatural events to occur.

Ghoul is produced by Blumhouse, that has made horror its business with other great releases like Jordan Peele’s Get Out. Most good horror in recent years has Blumhouse or Jason Blum involved in some way, and Ghoul is no different. Netflix favorite Radhika Apte stars in this three-part miniseries that is bound to keep your heart racing.

Find out more

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Looking for more Netflix recommendations?

• The best movies on Netflix
• The best comedy movies on Netflix
• Best binge-worthy TV shows on Netflix right now

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Messaging is one feature Apple does well. With an iPhone linked to Apple’s cloud, you can send and receive messages from any other Apple device. Windows 10 takes a slightly different path now that Windows 10 Mobile – which hasn’t received new features since 2017 – reaches its end-of-life in December.  We show you how to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone.

For some time, you could text from Windows 10 using Cortana. Texting was a feature built into Windows 10 Mobile that gravitated over to Cortana for Android and iOS. You could send SMS messages by opening Cortana and type “send text message,” or use a verbal command like “Hey Cortana, send a text message to…”

But the method felt clunky and pulled contacts from your Microsoft Account. Now SMS messaging is a bit more streamlined for Android devices. Google launched Android Messages for web in 2018 that’s tied to its Messages app for Android. Meanwhile, Microsoft introduced its Your Phone app to the masses via the October 2018 Update (version 1809) along with the re-branded Your Phone Companion Android app.

Our guide on how to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone covers both methods. It’s based on Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903).

Related:  Windows 10’s screen-sharing features now works on more OnePlus and Samsung phones

How to text with Microsoft Your Phone

This is an app-based method. It uses Your Phone Companion for Android and Your Phone for Windows 10. Link the two together and you can text from Windows 10 without picking up the phone. This method requires Android 7.0 Nougat and Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803).

1. Click Start and select the “gear” icon on the Start Menu toolbar. This opens the Settings app.

2. Select the Phone category.

3. Click the Add a phone button under Linked phones.

4. Select Android and  click Get Started.

5. Click the Continue button to send an app link to your phone.

6. Enter your phone number and click Send in the next window.
7. Select the link provided in the text sent to your Android phone.

8. Install the Your Phone Companion app from Google Play.
9. After installing the app, log in to your Microsoft Account and allow app permissions.
10. Allow the connection and click Done.

11. Download and install Your Phone from the Microsoft Store if it’s not already installed.

12. Click Start and locate the Your Phone app on the Start Menu.

With the two devices linked, your Android device appears in the top-left corner with the Photos and Messages categories listed underneath. In addition, it’s  listed under Phone in the Windows 10 Settings app.

Unlike the Google version, you’ll see text messages appear as a Windows 10 notification. Even more, you can respond within the notification without opening the Your Phone app. But this is only a quick text reply. You must use the Your Phone app to respond with an emoji, GIF, or an image stored on your PC.

Related: Bill Gates says losing mobile war to Android was ‘the greatest mistake ever’

How to text with Google Messages

This is a browser-based method. You’re essentially linking Google’s Messages app for Android to its Messages for web service. Simply open any browser, navigate to the page, and send texts.

1. Install the Messages app from Google Play if it’s not already on your phone.
2. Select Yes if prompted to make Messages your default SMS client.

3. Tap the three-dot More button in the top right corner.
4. Select Messages for web in the drop-down menu.
5. Tap the blue QR code scanner button.

6. On Windows 10, open a browser and enter messages.android.com in the address field.
7. Toggle on (make blue) Remember this computer and then use your Android phone to scan the QR code.

8. You are now connected. Send a message by clicking the blue Start chat button in the browser window.
9. Select a contact or type a name, phone number, or email address in the To field.
10. Type your message.
11. Click the blue SMS button to send.

With this method, you can send emojis, stickers, and GIFs. You can send images stored on your Windows 10 PC as well. Everything you send and receive through the web client appears in Google’s Messages Android app. You’ll need to enable browser notifications to receive incoming text alerts.

That wraps up our guide on how to text from Windows 10 using an Android phone. For other Windows 10 tips and tricks, check out these guides:

• How to text with iMessages in Windows 10
• How to stream the Xbox One to Windows 10
• How to use notifications in Windows 10

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Perform backups of all of your devices.

Automatic file change detection uploads new versions of any files you modify, so you always know your most recent changes are securely stored. Degoo also gives you easy access to your files, allowing for quick sharing between friends and coworkers via links and email.

Naturally, you can perform backups of all of your devices, so your files are both secure and accessible whether you’re on your laptop or on the go with your Android device. It’s all secured under military-grade 256-bit AES encryption. 

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• Perform backups to all of your devices.
• Get more backup space than Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive combined.
• Keep your backup automatically up to date thanks to automatic file change detection.

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A great way to take advantage of the outdoors is with a few friends and some good music, but the problem is some of the best Bluetooth speakers can cost hundreds of dollars. The good news is that there are plenty of great Bluetooth speakers under $100 that will do just as good of a job at keeping the party going. Whether you are prone to breaking your electronics, losing them, or just don’t want to spend too much on something that you know is going to take a beating, we’ve got you covered. This list of speakers should get the job done whether you’re hanging out in the living room or hiking a volcano (not recommended). 

For a closer look at the pros and cons of each pick as well as some other useful information, make sure to check out the full article over on our sister site Soundguys.

Without further ado, here are the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.

The JBL Flip 4 is hard to beat

The JBL Flip 4 is the perfect combination of size, durability, and sound.

Reasons to consider the JBL Flip 4:

• The Flip 4 is IPX7 waterproof and has a small cord that lets you hang it from wherever you want. 
• Sound quality isn’t half bad considering its size. 
• You can usually find it at or around $99. 
• Solid 12 hour battery life should last you through most of the day. 

See JBL Flip 4 on Google Express

If you’re going to be near WiFi, you might want to check out the JBL Link 20

The Link 20 is slightly larger than the Flip 4, but it features the Google Assistant built-in.

Reasons to consider the JBL Link 20:

• Like almost every new-ish speaker in the JBL line-up, the Link 20 is also IPX7 waterproof. 
• The speaker has integrated Chromecast and voice-activated Google Assistant functionality, so connecting it to your existing Google Home setup is simple. 
• Can connect to it via Bluetooth or over WiFi. 
• The battery life of roughly 10 hours isn’t great, but it’s not bad for a speaker that works best when connected to WiFi anyway since you’re never far from an outlet. 

See JBL Link 20 on Google Express

The most portable option is the UE Roll 2

The UE Roll 20 is the most portable option thanks to a bungee cord on the back.

Reasons to consider the UE Roll 2:

• Super lightweight and the bungee cord makes it easy to hang anywhere, from a tree to a shower. 
• It’s also IPX7 rated, and if you can’t tell from the pictures comes in a few interesting color options as well. 
• It has a fairly long connection range up to 100 feet. 

See UE Roll 2 on Amazon

If you want to add some boom to your bag, go with the Sony XB20

The top of the Sony XB20 features an extra bass button for you bass-heads out there.

Reasons to consider the Sony XB20:

• The XB20 is a simple speaker that does exactly what it advertises: plays music and can emphasize bass notes.
• It has an IPX5 certification so it isn’t entirely waterproof to the point where you can submerge it, but it is highly water-resistant. 
• Has all the best tech built in like NFC for easy pairing and LDAC codec support for higher quality streaming.
• Playback buttons are simple, nicely clicky, and reflective of the overall solid build quality. 

See Sony XB20 on Google Express

For the price, the Anker Soundcore Flare is a no-brainer

The Anker Soundcore Flare packs a punch for the price.

Reasons to consider the Anker Soundcore Flare:

• It’s significantly under the $100 budget this list was made for, so you’re saving even more money.
• Has really good build quality with an IPX7 waterproof build and a colorful ring of lights on the button. 
• Plays music in 360 degrees around the speaker .

See Anker Soundcore Flare on Google Express

What you should know

There aren’t as many things to be aware of with Bluetooth speakers as there is with other audio equipment, but there are still some important factors to consider. 

IP ratings

Wirefield This IP rating guide sums everything up nicely for the purposes of this article.

One of the most important things to consider when looking for a Bluetooth speaker is the environment in which you’re going to be using it. If you plan on taking it anywhere outside or poolside, then a water-resistant or waterproof rating is highly recommended. In the chart above, you can see that means that, at the very least, the second number in the IP rating should be at a four or above. If you’re going to be using the speaker while doing something like hiking, camping, or even at the beach, then you also want it to be protected against dirt and dust. In that case, the first number should be at the very least a five or above. That’s basically all you need to know for the purposes of this article, but we recommend reading the full explainer to learn more about what an IP rating is.

Bluetooth codecs

If you really want to dig into this part of Bluetooth audio, it’s worth checking out the article where Lily Katz explains everything you need to know about Bluetooth codecs. The good thing is, you don’t need to know all of that for the purposes of this article. Instead, all you really need to know is that some Bluetooth codecs allow for more data transfer between devices, which results in higher quality audio transfer and better sound. Of course, sound quality is likely not the reason you’re looking for a sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for something that sounds terrible. 

Why you should trust SoundGuys

SoundGuys is the sibling site to Android Authority that goes over everything you need to know about audio. Whether you’re looking for reviews on a new speaker, a list of the best headphones, or just want to learn how some of your favorite audio gadgets work, the team at SoundGuys has made it their mission to explain it all. 

And that wraps up our list of best Bluetooth speakers under $100. What’s your favorite?

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It’s ‘pay what you want’ time folks, and this package is enormous. The Adobe CC A-Z Lifetime Bundle is 100 hours of training in the world’s leading design suite. You can access the lot for just a few bucks.

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