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      1 page.title=Interact with Nearby Users
      2 page.metaDescription=Use the Nearby feature to interact with nearby people, devices, and beacons.
      3 page.image=images/distribute/nearby_connections.png
      4 page.tags="users, nearby, engage"
      5 @jd:body
      6 
      7 <p>Create experiences that seem magical for users who are in close proximity by using the unique
      8 close-range and cross-platform capabilities of Nearby. Set up multiplayer games, ad-hoc groups,
      9 sharing, or collaborative sessions so that your users can work or play together more easily when
     10 they're close.</p>
     11 
     12 <p>Learn more about <a href="https://developers.google.com/nearby/">how to add nearby interactions
     13 to your app or game</a>.</p>
     14 
     15 <div class="wrap">
     16   <div class="cols" style="margin-top:1em;">
     17     <div class="col-4of12">
     18       <h3>
     19         Messaging
     20       </h3>
     21       <img src="{@docRoot}images/distribute/nearby_messaging.png">
     22       <p class="figure-caption">
     23         Find nearby devices and share messages to enable rich interactions and collaboration
     24         among users.
     25       </p>
     26     </div>
     27 
     28     <div class="col-4of12">
     29       <h3>
     30         Connections
     31       </h3>
     32       <img src="{@docRoot}images/distribute/nearby_connections.png">
     33       <p class="figure-caption">
     34         Discover other local devices and create connections that enable real-time, cross-device
     35         experiences.
     36       </p>
     37     </div>
     38 
     39     <div class="col-4of12">
     40       <h3>
     41         Beacons
     42       </h3>
     43       <img src="{@docRoot}images/distribute/nearby_beacons.png">
     44       <p class="figure-caption">
     45         Receive messages from beacons using
     46         <a href="https://developers.google.com/beacons/eddystone">Eddystone</a> and add context to
     47         location-based apps and games.
     48       </p>
     49     </div>
     50   </div>
     51 </div>
     52 
     53 <p class="note"><strong>Note:</strong> Nearby uses Bluetooth 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, and an
     54 ultrasonic modem to function over distances of up to 100 feet.</p>
     55 
     56 <h2 id="best-practices">Best practices</h2>
     57 
     58 <p>The following list contains some helpful tips and best practices that will help you set up
     59 and use Nearby effectively:
     60 
     61 <ul>
     62   <li>Use Nearby features sparingly and only when they're needed because they can consume battery
     63   life quickly (up to 3.5 times faster than normal).
     64   </li>
     65 
     66   <li>Invoke Nearby explicitly with a button, switch, or special screen, and provide a visual
     67   indication when the features are actively sending or receiving content.
     68   </li>
     69 
     70   <li>Ensure that users are aware of the data that is made visible by Nearby before
     71   they start using the features.
     72   </li>
     73 
     74   <li>Stop any publish or subscribe operations when the user exits the app or stops the
     75   activity that requires Nearby.
     76   </li>
     77 
     78   <li>Use the <em>earshot</em> option, which uses only the ultrasonic modem to send and receive
     79   messages, to limit the range of Nearby messages to about five feet when privacy is important.
     80   </li>
     81 
     82   <li>Accelerate the exchange of messages (when appropriate) by making one device the publisher
     83   only, and all other devices subscribers.
     84   </li>
     85 </ul>
     86 
     87 <h2 id="related-resources">Related resources</h2>
     88 
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