Last week Samsung introduced Flow, a platform for sharing tasks between all your devices: finish reading on the phone a text that started on the computer, take a call on the tablet because the phone is little far, forward postal addresses and other data to the smart watch, hear on the TV that we got a message and so on.
The company is illustrated in the following video: the operation is not automatic (you have to manually send a task from one device to another, choosing from a list approved) but, at the same time, this allows better control what is shared and what not with three specific functions: transfer (a task from one device to the other), postpone (to complete activity later in such a device) and notify that shows certain alerts on all possible screens (a call, for example). It is not yet available, but the good news is that developers can create applications that take advantage of these features. Of course, it is a unique feature for Samsung devices.
Readers who follow such as mobility news not fail to note points of contact between Flow and Continuity, the feature that debuted with iOS 8, which allows you to synchronize iPhone, iPad and Mac (OS X Yosemite) to transform the tasks performed during the day in a flow that is moving from screen to screen as you are changing device: take a call that comes to the iPhone from the tablet or Mac; finished editing, the notebook, a document initiated in the tablet; see everywhere browsing history and other details (including open tabs and position within them), and so on. Also works with maps, email, office suite, calendar and so on, and approaches the vertical control that has Apple on the hardware and software of their equipment, which facilitates this type of integration.
But Apple and Samsung are not the only ones working on something. Google also has a similar synchronization feature, but it is limited-for now, at least, to synchronize the status of applications between devices running Android (one of them, least should have Lollipop). It should eventually allow synchronization with Chrome OS, see Notifications and phone on the big screen (Pushbullet style) and more.
And Microsoft already has something so in Windows 8, although very limited not in real time (synchronize the installed applications, wallpaper), and prepares more Continuity style for Windows 10 (not confused with Continuum, which is the change of a hybrid PC interface when switching from notebook to tablet).
Nextbit on Android
Meanwhile, a company called Nextbit has in development a Baton, a system similar to Flow or Continuity, but limited – for now, at least – teams with CyanogenMod (an alternative, but entirely compatible, firmware of Android). Here you can choose to sync the data collected by a device, (the closest thing to Continuity and Flow) exact status of an active application or make a remote backup application status and device data.
For Android users, in addition, historically were available applications such as Pushbullet, which shows Android notifications in the browser, and now supports sending and receiving SMS from PC; or AirDroid that enables access from the PC to almost all functions and phone files; both offer some of the functions that thought Apple and Samsung, and although they are more limited as to be considered direct competitors, can equally be useful to move tasks from one device to another.