Google is improving its Find My Device network to make it more efficient and versatile. On April 8, 2024, the Mountain View firm announced in a blog post the deployment of several new features, initially in the United States and Canada.
Utilizing the millions of Android devices in operation, the system sees its device mesh expanded with support for Bluetooth technology. Until now, localization could only be done when smartphones and tablets were connected to the internet.
Thanks to this new feature, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro can be located even when they are out of battery or turned off. Note, Google told American media that it was working with other smartphone manufacturers to offer the functionality on their future high-end models.
Additionally, the company has made support for location trackers official, starting with models from Chiplo and Pebblebee next May (Eufy, Jio, Motorola and others will follow).
We also learn about the addition of a Find Nearby button, which provides visual indications and allows surrounding devices to ring in order to more easily identify their exact location.
Latest new feature, the Find My Device application now makes it easy to find your devices at home, by reporting if one of them is near a Nest product.
Google concludes its blog post by talking about privacy. The firm ensures that its new network is secure and private.