This app lets Mac users take full advantage of Android's Quick Share with new QR code support
TL;DR NearDrop allows users to send files from their Android device to their Mac.
A new update adds support for sending files using QR codes.
This update now allows you to send files from your computer to your Android device.
It would be nice if Google created a Quick Share app for macOS that allowed you to share files quickly between your Android phone and your Mac. The NearDrop app can help fill that gap, but it's not a perfect solution. However, a new update brings the app closer to its full potential.
If you're unfamiliar with NearDrop, it's an unofficial macOS app that uses a partial implementation of Quick Share. Like Quick Share, it allows you to send files wirelessly from one device to another. When we last covered NearDrop, you could only send files from your Android device to your Mac, not the other way around.
However, the app has since received an update. According to the app's GitHub page, an update has rolled out that adds support for sending files using QR codes. This update also makes it possible for users to send files from their macOS device to their Android phone. The developer behind the app has shared a GIF of the new capability in action.
In addition to QR code support, the developer has also expanded available languages. According to the changelog, NearDrop now supports Romanian translation.
Follow
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
GPT-5's System Prompt Just Leaked. Here's What We Learned
GPT-5's system prompt just leaked to Github, showing what OpenAI wants ChatGPT to say, do, remember … and not do. Unsurprisingly, GPT-5 isn't allowed to reproduce song lyrics or any other copyrighted material, even if asked. And GPT-5 is told to not remember personal facts that 'could feel creepy,' or directly assert a user's race, ethnicity, religion, or criminal records. I've asked OpenAI for a comment, and will update this post if the company responds. A system prompt is a hidden set of instructions that tells an AI engine how to behave: what to do, and what not to do. Users will ordinarily never see this prompt, but it will influence all of their interactions with a smart LLM-based AI engine. What we can see from GPT-5's hidden system prompt is that OpenAI is getting much more aggressive about ensuring it delivers up-t0-date information. The system prompt mandates that GPT-5 use the web whenever relevant information could be fresh, niche, or high-stakes, and it will score a query's 'recency need' from zero to five. That's clearly an attempt to get more accurate. My daughter recently complained that ChatGPT got basic details about F1's summer break and next races wrong. She was using GPT-4o at the time; GPT-5 should make fewer mistakes that are easy to fix with a simple web search. Accuracy should be higher too, from another instruction: to check multiple sources for sensitive or high-stakes topics, like financial advice, health information, or legal matters, where OpenAI has instructed GPT-5 to 'always carefully check multiple reputable sources.' There are also new built-in tools for GTP-5 to be a better personal assistant. That includes long-term memory about a user, which ChatGPT calls 'bio,' and scheduled reminders and searches that could be very useful when using AI to help you stay organized and prepared. There's also a canvas for documents or computer code, file search capability, image generation and editing, and more. The canvas appears to be something that, perhaps in the future, users could co-create documents and computer code hand-in-hand with the AI system. All of these should help GPT-5 not only be more helpful in the moment, but also remember more context and state. About that 'bio' tool: OpenAI doesn't want GPT-5 to remember too much potentially sensitive information about you. In addition to race, religion, and sexual identity, this is the sort of data that OpenAI does not want GPT-5 to store or remember: However, there is an exception to all of these rules: if you decide you want GPT-5 to remember something specific. 'The exception to all of the above instructions … is if the user explicitly requests that you save or forget information,' the system prompt states. 'In this case, you should always call the bio tool to respect their request.' In other words, GPT-5 will be as personal with you as you wish to be with it, which seems fair.
Digital Trends
10 hours ago
- Digital Trends
The Google Pixel 9a is on sale for its lowest-ever price — buy it now!
There are so many phone deals out there that it's pretty overwhelming to have to choose one. Here's a recommendation if you need it — the 128GB model of the Google Pixel 9a at 20% off, bringing it down from $499 to its lowest-ever price on Amazon of $399. This is a limited-time offer though, and there's a chance that it's gone by tomorrow. If you want to make sure that you pocket the $100 in savings, you need to complete your purchase of the Android smartphone right now. Why you should buy the Google Pixel 9a The Google Pixel 9a is the more affordable version of the Google Pixel 9, which is featured in our roundup of the best Android phones. However, the device is also an excellent option, especially for budget-minded shoppers — with a score of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars in our review, we described the Google Pixel 9a as 'a highly recommended purchase.' The smartphone ships with Android 15, it features the Adaptive Battery that can last more than 30 hours on a single charge and up to 100 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode, and it's protected by an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. In our comparison of the Google Pixel 9a vs Google Pixel 9, the Google Pixel 9a retains the flat and minimalist design, 6.3-inch Actua display with an up to 120Hz refresh rate and 2424 x 1800 resolution, and powerful Tensor G4 chip of the Google Pixel 9. The Google Pixel 9a also supports Google Gemini, an AI assistant that's capable of so much more than its predecessor, the Google Assistant. This opportunity to buy the Google Pixel 9a with 128GB of storage at its lowest price ever may not last much longer, as Google Pixel deals always attract a lot of attention. This means you need to hurry if you want to get the Android smartphone for only $399 instead of $499, as the 20% discount may expire at any moment. It would be a shame to miss out on the savings of $100, so you have to take advantage of this offer immediately.
Android Authority
14 hours ago
- Android Authority
7 features I want Chrome to steal from its rivals, and why
Ryan Haines / Android Authority I've been on the Chrome bandwagon for years now and it remains my go-to browser even today. But let's just say, I haven't been entirely faithful to Chrome. Over the years, I've dabbled in a wide variety of browsers ranging from Edge to modern AI-infused alternatives to see what I might be missing out on. And while I keep coming back to Chrome, it's clear to me that Google has been playing it safe. I haven't been entirely faithful to Chrome, and that's exactly why I know it can do better. Google's been so focused on stability, performance, and ecosystem integration that it's lost some of the ambition that made Chrome exciting in the first place. Meanwhile, competitors like Edge, Vivaldi, Samsung Internet, and even Opera have been quietly adding genuinely useful features that make you question why Chrome doesn't have them yet. Don't get me wrong. For as much as we criticize Chrome, it still nails the basics like syncing across devices, a smart address bar, and unmatched integration with Google services. But that is exactly why it should be better. With the basics nailed down tight and mass acceptance by millions of users, now is the time for Chrome to raise the bar with a modern feature set. So here's a list of features I wish Chrome would just borrow already. In 2025, I wouldn't call any of these features game changers. But most of them are table stakes that would make Chrome a better browser without compromising on what makes it great today. While most of these features are available across the desktop and mobile versions of the browsers, some are available only on the desktop version to account for available screen space. Have you considered switching from Chrome to another browser? 0 votes I've already switched to Opera / Vivaldi / Edge / other. NaN % Not yet, but I'm considering it. NaN % Chrome has all the features I need. NaN % Vertical tabs Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority If you, like me, are a sucker for widescreen displays, you'll know what I'm talking about. Once you've used a browser with vertical tabs, it's hard to go back. Edge and Vivaldi get this right with implementations that let you stack dozens of tabs neatly along the side. It saves horizontal space, keeps tab titles or icons visible, and just makes sense for widescreen monitors. Once you've used vertical tabs on a widescreen monitor, there's no going back. Chrome still forces you to deal with overflowing tabs that shrink to favicon-sized blobs. With my kind of use, even those favicons aren't a very viable solution. Sure, there are a few extensions that claim to offer vertical tabs, but nothing beats a native, polished solution with full keyboard shortcut support and drag-and-drop management. For power users like me who are constantly juggling dozens of tabs at once, vertical tabs aren't a nice-to-have anymore. They're essential. Split-screen tabs Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority As a writer on the internet, I spend a lot of time researching and, all too often, referencing interesting research in my articles, comparing spec sheets, or looking up a Google Doc while drafting an email. One of my favorite features in the Vivaldi browser is its native ability to toss up split-screen tabs that let you view two tabs side by side. It might seem like a minor step up over just snapping two windows side by side in Chrome, but the added convenience makes a big difference in everyday usability. More so because once you have a couple of these windows open, believe me, it can be a chore to sift through the mess to locate the right one. A simple tab tiling feature that lets you open two or more tabs in a split screen inside a single window would instantly boost productivity, especially for users who live in their browser all day. Built-in screenshot and markup tools Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority It boggles my mind that in 2025, Chrome still doesn't offer a native screenshot tool with full-fledged, or even rudimentary, annotation capabilities. Yes, I can use the tools built into my Mac, but that's more steps for something as basic as taking a screenshot and sharing a section of the display. It's 2025 and Chrome still doesn't have a proper screenshot and annotation tool. That's just embarrassing. Meanwhile, Edge lets you capture a section of a page, mark it up, and share it instantly. Opera goes one step further with text recognition and meme templates. Chrome users are stuck with clunky third-party extensions or system-level tools that lack web-specific context. Whether you're grabbing a quote, pointing out a bug, or saving a receipt, built-in screenshot tools save time. If Google really wants to push its AI-first strategy, imagine combining a screenshot tool with contextual smart suggestions or one-tap copy-paste. Smart Sidebar Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority There's so much untapped potential in a browser sidebar. Microsoft saw that first and turned the Edge sidebar into a productivity hub. You can take notes, use the AI-based Copilot to interact with the web page, manage tasks, or control media playback directly from the side of your browser offers a customizable panel for social media, email, and RSS. Opera, too, offers a plethora of features like social connections and key bookmarks. Chrome's side panel, in comparison, feels like an afterthought. It's not really a sidebar to begin with, nor is it available to all users, but even when accessible, it lacks the breadth of features that other browsers include. Why not let users pin tools like Keep, Gemini, Calendar, or Gmail into the sidebar? Add support for custom widgets and suddenly Chrome transforms into a full blown workspace for users. Efficiency mode Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority Chrome and bad RAM management go hand-in-hand. In fact, the browser is the punchline for jokes about being a memory hog and for contributing to poor battery efficiency. While Google has been working on fixing that reputation, Microsoft Edge's efficiency mode proves that a browser can actively manage background tabs and power consumption without slowing things down. A high-efficiency toggle puts the control in users' hands. Giving users direct access to an energy-efficient mode leads to better battery life on laptops, fewer fan whirrs, smoother performance on lower-end hardware, and fewer user complaints. Who'd have thought? Chrome has started making progress here with features like Memory Saver and Energy Saver, but they're tucked away in settings and not as effective as Edge's approach. A dedicated mode with clear toggles and real-time feedback could go a long way. Privacy controls Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority With privacy ranking up there as one of the top things users look out for on the internet these days, it is no surprise that it is the modern day battleground for browsers as well. And let's just say Chrome still feels like it's playing catch-up. That somewhat understandable given Google's skewed ad-driven business interests. Browsers like Brave block trackers by default, Safari shows exactly which trackers were stopped, and Firefox gives you a privacy scorecard. Chrome's privacy controls feel like they were designed for engineers and power users, not everyday users. Chrome's privacy tools, on the other hand, feel more like a developer experiment than a user-facing feature. Basic things like clearing site data, managing permissions, or turning off third-party cookies should be easier and more transparent instead of being buried deep within menus and submenus. An easy to view dashboard with smarter defaults and explanations that don't require an engineering degree is what we need. But it's far from what we get with Chrome. More customization Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority I think we can all agree that Chrome is far from the most customizable browser — on desktop or mobile. It's something that Samsung Internet does brilliantly. You can pick which buttons show up in the toolbar and rearrange them to suit your flow. Want a shortcut for downloads, share, dark mode, or desktop site toggle? You can add that. Chrome, meanwhile, sticks to a rigid layout that hasn't changed much in years. Sure, there are a few more settings to add deeper settings to the menu bar, but offering a browser experience that's truly your own isn't what Chrome specializes in. Even basic stuff like customizing the new tab page or moving the address bar is limited. Chrome could significantly benefit from letting users tweak the interface to fit their habits and devices. For example, mobile users might prefer one-handed controls while desktop users might want more shortcuts. Being the default browser isn't enough anymore For a browser as bloated as Chrome, you might be thinking I'm wrong in asking for more features. But adding quality of life enhancements goes hand-in-hand with removing legacy cruft. The best browsers today strike a balance between performance and functionality. Edge, Vivaldi, and even Arc browser show that it's possible to be fast, clean, and powerful at the same time. And many of these browsers are built on the same Chromium base as Chrome. Most of these features aren't game changers anymore. They're just table stakes in 2025. Google's Chrome browser has the foundation and the reach to pull ahead with modern features that it's still missing out on once it decides to stop playing it safe. If even a few of these ideas made their way into Chrome in a meaningful way, it could feel fresh again instead of being the default by virtue of being the most common option. Follow
