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Android’s Find My clone launches along with Apple-compatible tracker tags

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Google thinks Apple’s Find My network is so clever it “borrowed” the idea. After announcing the system last year, Android’s Find My Device network is ready to locate misplaced handsets, tablets and tracking tags.

Aside from an opportunity to mock Google for its “innovation,” the new system is relevant to iPhone users because Rolling Square unveiled a pair of tags that support both Google’s and Apple’s system.

Android Find My Device is very familiar

Apple’s Find My system allows a lost tracking tag, Apple device or compatible third-party product (like this backpack) to be located by any iPhone that passes near it. That means the lost item’s location can be determined almost anywhere on Earth. Google’s Find My Device system allows a lost tracking tag or similar accessory to be located by any Android that passes near it, yadda yadda yadda.

Apple implemented its version years ago and launched its AirTag trackers in 2021. Google unveiled the Android knockoff in May 2023, and the system is finally available.

Rolling Square AirThingy Pro supports Apple and Google Find My systems

Rolling Square AirThingy Pro and Card Pro
Rolling Square AirThingy Pro and Card Pro support Apple Find My.
Photo: Rolling Square

Chipolo and Pebblebee announced tracker tags that support Android’s Find My Device network, but these will only be for devices running Google’s operating system.

That’s where Rolling Square AirThingy Pro stands out: It will work with both. It will be loaded with other features as well.

“AirThingy Pro will have the loudest speaker ever seen in similar devices, it will be extremely durable, with a CNC machined aluminum and ABS structure with IP68 rating, so it can be used even in extreme environments,” explains Carlo Ferraris, cofounder of Rolling Square. “Lastly, it will have a 50% longer battery life than competitors, and feature photo-luminescent inserts for easier findability in the dark.”

The accessory will cost $29. It’s expected to launch before the end of June.

Rolling Square is also working on AirCard Pro, a card-shaped wallet tracker also compatible with Apple’s and Google’s systems. It will have Qi wireless charging and come in at 2.2mm thickness.

The price for this version is also $29, but there’s not yet an estimated release date.

Apple and Google try to hinder stalkers

Tracking tags like AirTag and the Android equivalents prove ideal for keeping track of keys, bags and more. But there’s also the potential for abuse by criminals, creeps and stalkers.

Apple built antistalking features into AirTag and its associated Find My system. But there’s a weakness. While iPhone users get a warning if an unknown AirTag is following them, Android users must install a separate app for that.

To make the whole process better, Apple and Google collaborated on a cross-platform system so users of one platform will be alerted if they’re being followed by a location tracker that uses the rival platform.

“The standard means that both Android and iOS users will receive unknown tracker alerts if the on-device algorithm detects that someone may be using a Find My Device network-compatible tag to track them without their knowledge, proactively alerting the user through a notification on their phone,” promises Google.



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Business Industry

Android’s Private Space copies Samsung Secure Folder features

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In November 2023, Google released Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1, which brought Private Space, a feature similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder that you find on most smartphones and tablets from the company. Well, Google has now released Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, and it brings a new option to Private Space which Samsung already offers with Secure Folder. Along with that, the new version of the OS brings a new setup flow for Private Space, which gives you more information on how the feature works and what you can do with it, and a new suggestion to make the most out of the new feature. Let’s take a look.

Starting with the new option, which is ‘Lock private space automatically,’ it lets you configure the feature to automatically lock the protected space depending on one of the two sub-options you select in it, which are ‘Every time device locks’ and ‘After 5 minutes of inactivity.’ If you select the first, the feature will lock Private Space immediately after you lock the device, and if you select the second, it will lock Private Space after five minutes of inactivity. Now here’s something very interesting: Secure Folder already offers this feature. So, it looks like Google has taken inspiration from Samsung.

As for the new suggestion, when you are setting up Private Space, the feature now recommends you create a dedicated Google account for using it to “stop data appearing outside private space, such as:” “Synced photos, files, emails, contacts, calendar events, and other data,” “App download history and recommendations,” “Browsing history, bookmarks, and saved passwords,” and “Suggested content related to your activity in private space apps.” This suggestion, as well as the option to automatically lock the protected space further enhances the privacy and security of Private Space.

Lastly, Private Space now offers a revamped setup flow, giving you a better idea of the feature, as you can see in the images above shared by Mishaal Rahman on Android Authority.

Overall, the development of Private Space seems complete, and Google could offer the new feature to the public with Android 15. Fortunately for Samsung users, they don’t have to wait for it as they already have Secure Folder. That being said, it would be interesting to see what Samsung does with Secure Folder once Private Space arrives with Android 15. It could either replace Secure Folder with Private Space or it could disable Private Space and continue offering Secure Folder. We expect Samsung to go with the second option as Secure Folder offers more features than Private Space, at least for now.

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