Google’s Files Go — the app that helps Android users free up space, find files quickly, and share files offline with people close by — is out of beta and available globally. Google also announced a suite of new features and apps today that are tailored for India, alongside the launch of Android Oreo Go edition for low-end phones with less than 1GB of RAM.
Similar to Apple’s AirDrop, Files Go lets you transfer files directly between devices (at speeds up to 125Mbps) without it costing mobile data, so long as both devices have the app installed. And by using the company’s mobile vision technology, the app suggests which files users should delete like unused apps, duplicate files, low resolution videos, and memes. Google previously launched a beta version back in November. Files Go is built for Go edition devices, but the app works with any Android devices running Lollipop (5.0) or higher. Google says the average person is saving around 1GB of space by using it.
Another newish app is Google Go, a polished version of Search Lite that does basic Google Search with a simple, tappable interface that’s less than 5MB in size. It’s designed to be easy to use and load quickly, even on patchy connections. The search results in the app are optimized to save up to 40 percent on data and users can easily switch between languages in the results. Google also announced other features, including Google Assistant on JioPhone, a “two-wheeler” mode in Maps that shows shortcuts for motorcycles and scooters that aren’t accessible to cars, and a new customized way to pay bills in its Tez app.
India has more than 400 million internet users, and Google is increasingly looking to Asia as more and more users from developing markets in that region come online. Google notes that though these features are India-first, they aren’t just useful to people in India, but help the company to build better products for everyone.
