The Android Find My Device community has been given a big improve this yr, with assist for offline devices and crowd-sourced gadget monitoring – and it seems as if one other new Apple-inspired characteristic is on the best way.
As per 9to5Google, hidden code within the newest Discover My Machine app for Android factors to a brand new ‘compass’ characteristic for extra exact gadget monitoring. It will presumably present a compass on display, and provide you with messages like “flip left”, “flip proper”, and “the gadget is behind you” as you search out your misplaced merchandise.
That is nearly actually going for use with ultra-wideband (UWB) units, just like the Pixel Watch 3, which might be positioned with a excessive diploma of accuracy. Most devices will use GPS, if they’ve it, to report their whereabouts – however UWB expertise makes it even simpler to seek out one thing inside a room.
In case you’re pondering this sounds acquainted, it is the identical tech obtainable by means of Apple’s Discover My community – UWB was added to the iPhone again in 2019, with the iPhone 11. You might need seen the Apple advert the place Boba Fett makes use of UWB to trace down his pals.
Catching up
For now, the code would not do something – the 9to5Google staff have been unable to get the performance working with a Moto Tag. Nevertheless, Google has previously promised that Discover My Machine upgrades are on the best way, and this seems to be one among them.
This additionally matches up with other code snippets we have noticed hinting at UWB assist, and it seems as if there is likely to be some augmented reality options concerned as properly – so that you may be capable of navigate to your misplaced gadget in the identical approach you may navigate to a vacation spot using Live View in Google Maps.
Google is lagging behind on the subject of UWB assist, which has been in Apple and Samsung telephones for years now. The tech is within the Pixel Watch 3, however not in the usual Pixel 8 or Pixel 9 handsets – that you must improve to the Professional fashions to get UWB (see our Google Pixel 9 Pro review for one possibility).
As but, Google hasn’t mentioned something formally about UWB assist on the newly improved Android Discover My Machine community, however it should not be too far off now. Up to now few months, the upgraded service has been rolling out to more regions.
