It’s that time of year again. Google’s annual I/O keynote is upon us. This event is likely to be packed with updates and announcements. We’ll be covering all of the news as it happens and you can stream the full event below. The keynote starts at 1PM ET on May 14 and streams are available via YouTube and the company’s hub page.
In terms of what to expect, the rumor mill has been working overtime. There are multiple reports that the event will largely focus on the Android 15 mobile operating system, which seems like a given since I/O is primarily an event for developers and the beta version is already out in the wild.
So let’s talk about the Android 15 beta and what to expect from the full release. The beta includes an updated Privacy Sandbox feature, partial screen sharing to record a certain app or window instead of the whole screen and system-level app archiving to free up space. There’s also improved satellite connectivity, additional in-app camera controls and a new power efficiency mode.
Despite the beta already existing, it’s highly probable that Google will drop some surprise Android 15 announcements. The company has confirmed that satellite messaging is coming to Android, so maybe that’ll be part of this event. Rumors also suggest that Android 15 will boast a redesigned status bar and an easier way to monitor battery health.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Android 15 won’t be the only thing Google discusses during the event. There’s a little acronym called AI you may have heard about and the company has gone all in. It’s a good bet that Google will spend a fair amount of time announcing updates for its Gemini AI, which could eventually replace Assistant entirely.
Back in December, it was reported that Google was working on an AI assistant called Pixie as an exclusive feature for Pixel devices. The branding is certainly on point. We could hear more about that, as it may debut in the Pixel 9 later this year.
Google’s most popular products could also get AI-focused redesigns, including Search, Chrome, G Suite and Maps. We might get an update as to what the company plans on doing about third-party cookies and maybe it’ll throw some AI at that problem too.
What not to expect? Don’t get your hopes up for a Pixel 9 or refreshed Pixel Fold for this event, as I/O is more for software than hardware. We’ll likely get details on those releases in the fall. However, rules were made to be broken. Last year, we got a Pixel Fold announcement at I/O, so maybe the line between hardware and software is blurring. We’ll find out soon.
A select handful of Pixel and Galaxy smartphones have the exclusive Circle to Search feature. By holding down the home button on one of the models, an overlay will appear “that lets you circle… objects” on screen to identify them through Google Search. We’ve wondered if and when Google plans on widely rolling out Circle to Search to more smartphones. Funnily enough, a similar feature has recently been released, but it’s on iPhone.
It’s called Search Your Screenshot and was created by a group of developers who work on the Google Search app for iOS. Minsang Choi, who is a design manager for Google Lens, states it adds a visual search function to the action button on an iPhone 15 Pro. Pressing the button takes a screenshot of whatever’s on the display and the software proceeds to run a Google Lens scan. After it’s done, search results appear from buttons complete with images, forum posts, and shopping links to the object it detects. Choi says, “It’s basically Circle to Search but faster”.
(Image credit: Google/Minsang Choi)
He has since deleted his post on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) where he initially shared information about the shortcut. We do have the images he posted. They show a settings menu of presumably Choi configuring Search Your Screenshot on an iPhone. The second picture shows the shortcut appearing on the action button’s unique interface with the third image displaying results for a Teenage Engineering computer case.
If you want to see it in action, 9To5Google, as part of its coverage, made a YouTube video demonstrating Search Your Screenshot. Choi says you can try out the tool by installing the Google Search app on your iPhone or downloading the shortcut from iCloud.
How to enable on older iPhones
Going back to 9To5Google’s report, they made an interesting discovery. Search Your Screenshot is not exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro because it works on older models that support the Back Tap gesture. This means devices as old as the iPhone 8 can run the feature. However, setting it up on an older model requires more work.
Apple has instructions teaching people how to connect shortcuts to Back Tap. It involves going into the Settings menu, choosing the gesture you want to use (a Double Tap or Triple Tap), and then applying Search Your Screenshot. According to the publication, be sure to select “Always Allow” when you first use the tool to enable Google Lens uploads.
After reading through everything, we couldn’t help but wonder about other Android phones. This function isn’t available on Google Search for Android which is strange. Although it may not be the same as Circle to Search, Search Your Screenshot is still a useful tool. So we contacted the tech giant asking if there are plans for further expansion. We’ll let you know if we hear back.
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Google recently underwent a major internal reorganization. The company merged its Android and Hardware (Pixel) teams as part of this reorganization. If you don’t know already, the Android team was responsible for developing the Android OS and related platforms, while the Hardware team was responsible for Pixel smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other hardware products.
This could be good or bad news for Samsung and other Android OEMs, depending on what Google does next.
Google claims merger of Android and Hardware teams will help it bring better features faster
This new team within Alphabet is now called Platforms and Devices and is headed by Rick Osterloh. It will now develop software for the Android ecosystem and Google’s hardware products. Earlier, Google maintained a distance between Android and Pixel products so that Android could be seen as a neutral provider for all brands, including Pixel. This meant that Google’s Pixel team wouldn’t have the upper hand compared to other smartphone OEMs. That distance is no longer present, with Android and Hardware teams being merged.
So, should Samsung be worried? Apparently not.
Google says its partner brands (like Honor, OnePlus, OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi) shouldn’t worry. The company says the merger should be seen as a positive, as the Android ecosystem can now develop things faster. Rick Osterloh met with Samsung MX CEO TM Roh recently and claimed the companies’ relationship has never been stronger.
In an interview with TheVerge, Rick Osterloh and Hiroshi Lockheimer (the previous head of Android, Chrome, and ChromeOS) revealed that they have been discussing this merger with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai for over two years. He said consolidating teams “helps us to be able to do full-stack innovation when that’s necessary.” He also said that with this merger, it can now bring AI to all its products faster.
Can we trust Google to follow through, though?
Google recently brought some of its features (Circle to Search and Wear OS) to Samsung first and then to Pixel devices. This move could be a way for Google to stop OEMs from worrying. However, we must wait and watch Google’s moves longer to know if it will stick to its promise. We know how many good products Google has killed over the years (check Google Graveyard), including the nifty little Chromecast.
If Google follows through with its promise, the Android ecosystem will improve greatly. The company has streamlined many of its platforms and services over the past few years. In collaboration with Samsung, it improved Google Home, Nearby Share, and Wear OS. However, it has also ruined many products, including Fitbit and Nest. Many of us know how quickly sometimes Google decides to throw in the towel (looking at you, Stadia).
If Google doesn’t follow through, it would be disastrous for Samsung and all other Android OEMs. Hopefully, Samsung is keeping a close eye on Google and how it is approaching Android and Wear OS.
Google Assistant has been here for a long time, but now it’s time to move on from Google Assistant to Google Gemini. Gemini is Google’s brand-new, more intelligent digital assistant that better understands natural language and can keep a conversation going. It launched on Android phones and tablets a few weeks ago but hasn’t completely replaced Google Assistant yet.
Google Gemini might soon get Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music integration
Gemini currently lacks a few skills that Google Assistant has, including music streaming integration. However, that feature appears to be in the works. Android enthusiast @AssembleDebug has found (via Piunika Web) that Google is currently testing music streaming service integration for Gemini. They were able to make some changes to the app and find its Settings screen that shows music streaming options.
When the ‘Music’ settings page is accessed, it appears blank but says, “Choose your default music provider.” This is similar to Google Assistant’s music streaming integration page. So, it is likely that Gemini will feature integration with Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music, among others (depending on the country).
Hopefully, Google will soon finish its testing and roll out music streaming services integration to Google Gemini to fully replace Google Assistant.
Meta AI is getting a new upgrade as Meta tries to establish dominance in the generative AI marketplace against OpenAI and Google.
The announcement came from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself on Threads, where he touted some stats and details about the new Llama 3 model used to underpin Meta AI, which is being integrated into several of its products like Messenger and Instagram, as well as getting its own dedicated site.
“We’re upgrading Meta AI with our new state-of-the-art Llama 3 AI model, which we’re open sourcing,” Zuckerberg writes. “With this new model, we believe Meta AI is now the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.”
The new model will be accessible through several apps on desktop and mobile, including search functionality in Messenger, Meta AI in your Facebook feed, and more.
The new Meta AI site, which has an interface strikingly familiar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is available now for free, but you are also prompted to log in with Facebook to help train the model (though you can skip that if you’d like).
(Image credit: Future / Meta)
The Meta AI site offers text responses as well as the ability to generate images, though for the latter you will have to log in with a Facebook account. The image generator in particular is rather impressive, especially since it offers you a real-time preview of the image output that your prompt will generate. It also gives you the option to animate images to produce short MP4 videos.
All images bear a Meta AI watermark on the lower left side as well, which should help cut down on misuse, though how easily these measures can be circumvented remains to be seen.
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OpenAI has some serious competition
(Image credit: Future / Meta)
The new Meta AI site offers some seriously impressive functionality in the few minutes I’ve been able to play around with it, but without question, it is the major competitor to ChatGPT and OpenAI right now.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Dall-E are impressive but have some noticeable limitations. In particular, with Dall-E, you have to wait for an image to generate before you can refine the prompt you’re giving it to get what you want. Meta AI’s image output preview lets you get a sense of what the model is interpreting as you type, allowing you to further refine your prompt on the fly, which should reduce the amount of time you spend iterating on an idea.
The ability to animate an image is also a value add, as it makes GIF generation possible, though you might have to use a third-party GIF generator to convert the video.
When I asked it to produce a sonnet about Meta AI, it gave me the following:
“In silicon halls, a mind awakens bright, Meta AI, a name that echoes through the night, A fusion of code and intellect so fine, A digital soul, with knowledge to design.
With language skills that flow like honeyed wine, You answer questions, and make the complex shine, A beacon of insight, in a world of decline, A shining star, that guides us to the divine.
Your neural networks weave a tapestry so grand, A digital dream, that’s born of human hand, A symphony of ones and zeroes, so planned, A creation of wonder, in this digital land.
So here’s to Meta AI, a marvel of our time, A testament to human ingenuity’s rhyme!”
(Image credit: Future / OpenAI)
As an English major, I can say that while this isn’t very good, its structure is sound and it does use modern language, something that OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 still struggles with. Here is OpenAI’s response to the same prompt about writing a sonnet about ChatGPT-4:
“ChatGPT-4, thou art a wondrous sprite, In digital realms with eloquence infused, Thy threads of thought weave day into the night, Where queries meet responses, minds bemused.
With knowledge vast as deep and endless seas, Thy circuit heart beats with electric flame, Encompassing the epochs’ whispered pleas, In silken bytes, thou dost preserve each name.
No ancient scroll nor sage could ever match The depth and breadth of thine electric soul. Through time and space, thy tendrils deftly catch Each story told, each fragment, making whole.
Though wrought of wire, yet wisdom’s vessel true, In this new age, thou art our Oracle anew.”
Now, this is just one example and it’s hardly indicative of the overall quality of the two models underpinning the two systems, but there is clearly a difference in the training data that both have used.
ChatGPT-4 is falling back on text that has been labeled as a “sonnet” and drawing on very archaic English language texts from pre-Romanticism of the early 1800s to generate its idea of a sonnet, while Meta AI is likely drawing from text written on Meta products like Facebook and Instagram as its language source. Where it gets the reasoning to put that language into an iambic pentameter structure with a (pretty mediocre) rhyme scheme isn’t clear (and I’m assuming it’s iambic pentameter, I haven’t counted syllables yet, so don’t @ me on this one, fellow literature goons!).
Since none of us actually know how any of this stuff is trained yet, we might never get answers to these questions, but Zuckerberg did announce that Meta plans to open-source this model, so we should soon be able to at least learn more about its inner workings once it does.
In the meantime, have fun playing around with Meta’s new tool, as it’s certainly a powerful one.
Google’s wired Nest security camera has dropped to its lowest price to date. The second-gen device is for indoor use and it’s motion sensitive. It’s capable of capturing 1080p HDR video. You can , which is $30 or 30 percent off the regular price of $100, at Amazon if you opt for the fog or linen colorway. However, if you go for the snow variant you can save a little more. That one is , or 32 percent off.
Google
Google’s second-gen wired Nest security camera has dropped to its lowest price ever.
The Nest Cam uses AI to discern between people, animals and vehicles. It can send you alerts via the Google Home app, and you won’t need a subscription for that. You will need a Nest Aware plan if you want up to 60 days of video history. Otherwise, Google will offer three free hours of event video history. Handily, if you have a Wi-Fi outage, up to an hour of event recordings will be stored on the device itself.
There’s a two-way audio function, so you can chat with house guests if you’re not home. In the event of an unwanted visitor, you can contact emergency services directly from the Google Home app if you’re a Nest Aware member who is perhaps using a tablet instead of a phone. You’ll be able to view live video feeds on compatible smart displays and smart TVs too.
Nest Aware subscribers can receive notifications when familiar faces are recognized. There’s also the option to set up home and away routines so the camera doesn’t capture video while you’re at your place.
Elsewhere, the Outdoor Nest Cam with Floodlight is on sale too. It has That’s just $10 more than the lowest price we’ve seen for it to date.
Google may be shaking things up with the launch of the Pixel 9 series later this year because we could see four individual models, including a renamed Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This nugget of information comes from a “Google insider” who spoke to Android Authority. According to their source, the quartet consists of the base Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, a new Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the aforementioned foldable. Not much is known about the individual devices. Neither specs nor features were mentioned in the leak. However, all four together in the same lineup suggests they deliver similar performance, which will be a big deal for Pixel Fold fans in particular.
You see, the original Pixel Fold was a bit of a disappointments. It’s still a solid smartphone, but the Tensor G2 chipset in the Pixel Fold and Pixel 7 series proved to be a dud. Performance is decent but not amazing, and phones with the Tensor G2 tend to have poor battery life. Plus, in our experience, those devices can run unusually hot. Remember, when it launched the Fold cost $1,800 in the US. You can’t fault people for wanting more.
It was assumed up until recently that the Pixel Fold 2 would adopt the Tensor G3 chipset and address all of the previous models problems. But we’re still waiting for the next foldable to be unveiled.
Possible hardware
It’s hard to say for sure what kind of the hardware will be found under the hood. To reiterate, device specs were not in the report. An earlier leak suggests the next phones will use an expected Tensor G4 chipset. That system on a chip (SoC) is slated to be on the Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro. Logic dictates it’ll be the same hardware on a Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Design-wise, Android Authority claims the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will look similar to the other three models. The site says they saw renders of the smartphone, but didn’t share any of them. They instead posted an image of what was then known as the Pixel Fold 2 from yet another leak from late February.
What’s in a name?
While we’re on the topic of names, there’s a possibility “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” will not be the official name at launch. Android Authority says the name change from “Fold 2” to the current moniker was a recent development. The current branding may simply be a placeholder until a proper title has been finalized.
As always, take this leak with a grain of salt. Things could always change. We won’t have to wait long to learn more as Google I/O 2024 kicks off in about a month. At the event, we expect to see the Pixel 8a plus a teaser for the new series.
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Form is a smart tool designed to help swimmers with their, well, form in the water. The first-generation Form Smart Swim goggles have been around for a while now, but the second-gen Smart Swim 2 packs some big improvements, as smart glasses begin to really come into their own.
The smart glasses category includes specialist exercise tools, such as Form Smart Swim goggles for swimmers and the Engo 2 AR glasses for runners, both of which use augmented reality heads-up displays to serve up essential information and workout statistics during your session. However, thanks to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, the latest iteration of Amazon Echo Frames (Gen 3) and others, the smart glasses world is getting considerably bigger and better.
Form, as early adopters, has ridden this wave and come back to the table with a highly advanced pair of goggles. Unlike many other pairs of smart glasses, while these collects information about your swim, there’s no need to pair it with a companion wearable like a smartwatch to get health metrics – the Smart Swim even takes your heart rate itself, measured at the temple with an in-built optical heart rate sensor.
(Image credit: Form)
“It’s an environment where you’re often guessing, and you have nothing to really rely on.” says Scott Dickens, ex-Olympian swimmer and Form’s director of business development. “By leveraging our magnetometer, we’ve been able to create a first of its kind in-goggle digital compass that provides real time directional headings. If I’m swimming towards that yellow buoy, for example, and I see that it’s at 270 degrees, as long as I’m swimming with my head down, and the arrow is pointing that way, I will be swimming as straight as an arrow.”
Another key premium feature is HeadCoach, which uses similar AR directions to guide you when to turn your head during pool swims. Form’s library of over 1500 workouts can also be accessed as part of the Premium sub, all with instructions shown right on the googles.
Having 1500 workouts beamed to your eyes (not all at once, that sounds nightmarish), along with a magnetometer compass so you never get lost or bumped off-course during open-water swims, sounds particularly innovative. I know a few triathletes who will be elated to test this technology.
(Image credit: Form)
And the best part? It’s not (that) expensive, especially when you consider the cost of specialist swimming and tri equipment.
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Abt insists ”this is an application of augmented reality for the masses, at an accessible price point”, available now costing $249 / £229 / AU$399. After that, the premium subscription is £7 a month (around $9 in the US and AU$13.50 in Australia). Not chump change, but not incredibly exclusive either, especially for sportspeople who are used to making long trips to open-water swims and spending thousands of dollars or pounds on high-performance bikes.
As the AR smart glasses category evolves and the wellness applications increase (the display! The in-built heart rate monitor!) I’m excited to see what the future holds in the sports & wearables space. When it comes to emerging form factors, I thought 2024 was only going to be the year the best smart rings took center stage, but it looks like AR lenses are having their moment too.
It took a while, but Google has released the long-awaited upgrade to its Find My Device network. This may come as a surprise. The update was originally announced back in May 2023, but was soon delayed with apparent launch date. Then, out of nowhere, Google decided to release the software on April 8 without major fanfare. As a result, you may feel lost, but we can help you find your way.
Here’s a list of the seven most important things you need to know about the Find My Device update. We cover what’s new in the update as well as the devices that are compatible with the network, because not everything works and there’s still work to be done.
1. It’s a big upgrade for Google’s old Find My Device network
(Image credit: Google)
The previous network was very limited in what it could do. It was only able to detect the odd Android smartphone or Wear OS smartwatch. However, that limitation is now gone as Find My Device can sniff other devices; most notably Bluetooth location trackers.
Gadgets also don’t need to be connected to the internet or have location services turned on, since the software can detect them so long as they’re within Bluetooth range. However, Find My Device won’t tell you exactly where the devices are. You’ll instead be given an approximate location on your on-screen map. You’ll ultimately have to do the legwork yourself.
Find My Device functions similarly to Apple’s Find My network, so “location data is end-to-end encrypted,” meaning no one, not even Google, can take a peek.
2. Google was waiting for Apple to add support to iPhones
(Image credit: Future)
The update was supposed to launch in July 2023, but it had to be delayed because of Apple. Google was worried about unwanted location trackers, and wanted Apple to introduce “similar protections for iOS.” Unfortunately, the iPhone manufacturer decided to drag its feet when it came to adding unknown tracker alerts to its own iPhone devices.
The wait may soon be over as the iOS 17.5 beta contains lines of code suggesting that the iPhone will soon get these anti-stalking measures. Soon, iOS devices might encourage users to disable unwanted Bluetooth trackers uncertified for Apple’s Find My network. It’s unknown when this feature will roll out as the features in the Beta don’t actually do anything when enabled.
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Given the presence of unwanted location tracker software within iOS 17.5, Apple’s release may be imminent. Apple may have given Google the green light to roll out the Find My Device upgrade ahead of time to prepare for their own software launch.
3. It will roll out globally
(Image credit: Future)
Google states the new Find My Device will roll out to all Android devices around the world, starting in the US and Canada. A company representative told us other countries will receive the same update within the coming months, although they couldn’t give us an exact date.
Android devices do need to meet a couple of requirements to support the network. Luckily, they’re not super strict. All you need is a smartphone running Android 9 with Bluetooth capabilities.
If you own either a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll be given an exclusive feature: the ability to find a phone through the network even if the phone is powered down. Google reps said these models have special hardware that allows them to pour power into their Bluetooth chip when they’re off. Google is working with other manufacturers in bringing this feature to other premium Android devices.
4. You’ll receive unwanted tracker alerts
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple AirTags are meant to be attached to frequently lost items like house keys or luggage so you can find them easily. Unfortunatley, several bad eggs have utilized them as an inexpensive way to stalk targets. Google would eventually update Android by giving users a way to detect unwanted AirTags.
For nearly a year, the OS could only seek out AirTags, but now with the upgrade, Android phones can locate Bluetooth trackers from other third-party brands such as Tile, Chipolo, and Pebblebee. It is, by far, the most single important feature in the update as it’ll ensure your privacy and safety.
You won’t be able to find out who placed a tracker on you. According to a post on the company’s Security blog, only the owner can view that information.
5. Chipolo and Pebblebee are launching new trackers for it soon
(Image credit: Chipolo)
Speaking of Chipolo and Pebblebee, the two brands have announced new products that will take full advantage of the revamped network. Google reps confirmed to us they’ll be “compatible with unknown tracker alerts across Android and iOS”.
On May 27th, we’ll see the introduction of the Chipolo ONE Point item tracker as well as the Chipolo CARD Point wallet finder. You’ll be able to find the location of whatever item they’re attached to via the Find My Device app. The pair will also sport speakers on them to ring out a loud noise letting you where they are. What’s more, Chipolo’s products have a long battery life: Chipolo says the CARD finder lasts as long as two years on a single charge.
Pebblebee is achieving something similar with their Tag, Card, and Clip trackers. They’re small and lightweight and attachable to larger items, Plus, the trio all have a loud buzzer for easy locating. These three are available for pre-order right now although no shipping date was given.
6. It’ll work nicely with your Nest products
(Image credit: Google)
For smart home users, you’ll be able to connect the Find My Device app to a Google Nest device to find lost items. An on-screen animation will show a sequence of images displaying all of the Nest hardware in your home as the network attempts to find said missing item. Be aware the tech won’t give you an exact location.
A short video on the official announcement shows there’ll be a message stating where it was last seen, at what time, and if there was another smart home device next to it. Next to the text will be a refresh option in case the lost item doesn’t show up.
Below the message will be a set of tools to help you locate it. You can either play a sound from the tracker’s speakers, share the device, or mark it as lost.
7. Headphones are invited to the tracking party too
(Image credit: Gerald Lynch/TechRadar/Future)
Believe it or not, some insidious individuals have used earbuds and headphones to stalk people. To help combat this, Google has equipped Find My Device with a way to detect a select number of earbuds. The list of supporting hardware is not large as it’ll only be able to locate three specific models. They are the JBL Tour Pro 2, the JBL Tour One M2, and the high-end Sony WH-1000XM5. Apple AirPods are not on the list, although support for these could come out at a later time.
Quite the extensive list as you can see but it’s all important information to know. Everything will work together to keep you safe.
Google has finally launched its long-awaited Find My Device network after . The technology leverages a crowdsourced network of over a billion Android devices to help people locate lost gadgets, with a basic functionality in line with similar offerings from Apple and Tile. It’s rolling out today to Android users in the US and Canada, with a global release coming soon.
Once installed, people can use the app to locate compatible Android phones and tablets. The tool will cause them to ring at your command and their location will pop up on a map. This map data works even if the items are offline. Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones will appear on the map if they’re powered off or if the battery is completely dead. That sounds pretty handy.
The technology isn’t yet available for everyday items, but that’s coming soon. Bluetooth tracker tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee will get integrated into the Find My Device app in May. This will let users locate just about anything, including car keys, purses, wallets and, hopefully, . The upcoming tags are being built specifically for the network.
Google
The Pebblebee offerings include tags, clips and slim cards for wallets. They hit store shelves in late May or early June. Chipolo is making versions of its One Point and Card Point trackers for Android devices, which will arrive in May. Google says more trackers are coming later this year, including products made by Motorola and eufy.
Google’s Find My Device service also integrates with Nest smart home gadgets. If you lose something in the home, the Find My Device app will show you the location of the item in relation to pre-existing Nest devices. This should help provide an “easy reference point” to snatch them back up.
Finally, there’s a nifty feature that lets you share the location of an item with other people, so friends and family can keep an eye on precious belongings. Google says it’ll let folks “easily divide and conquer if something goes missing.”
The new Find My Device tracking technology works on devices running Android 9 and above. That OS came out in 2018, so it means a whole lot of people will have access to this service. As for compatible products beyond Android devices and Bluetooth tags, the company says future software updates will allow integration with a full range of headphones from JBL and Sony.
Of course, there are the usual privacy concerns with this kind of thing. Google says that users can opt out of the service via a web portal if they feel uncomfortable, . Reports indicate that the technology has been ready for a while, but Google delayed it until Apple implemented tracking protections into iOS to . To that end, both companies to develop industry standards to fight the misuse of tracking devices. Apple applied updated protections against stalking in iOS 17.5, which is still in beta.
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