• Fast Company, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 9:05 AM

In an ideal world, you’d never load an app on your phone. Instead, whenever you pulled it out of your pocket, it would already have loaded whatever you were looking for. Last week, Google took a small but meaningful step toward that future. It launched a feature called Nearby for Android. Nearby essentially allows places you’re physically nearby to send you notifications through Bluetooth "beacons." So when you walk into a CVS, you’ll receive a link to open (or download) its app, so you could check specials or print photos from your phone. When you wait at the gate of a United flight, the airline will point you to the free shows and movies you can watch while you wait for your plane. Similarly, historic landmarks around the campus of Notre Dame will actually contact your phone to teach you more about themselves. Around Oracle arena, fans will be notified of Warriors highlights they can watch on their screens.

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