Google could soon make it easier to locate lost devices, report suggests
Google’s Find My Device app may get ultra-wideband (UWB) and augmented reality (AR) features, making it easier to locate lost or stolen devices, according to a report. The Find My Device service helps Android users locate lost devices by scanning nearby devices using Bluetooth. It is speculated that both features will come with an upgrade, allowing for more accurate device location. According to the report, hints of the features were discovered during an APK teardown of the Android app.
New features of Find My Device
An Android Authority reportin collaboration with tipster Assemble Debug, suggested that mentions of the UWB features were spotted in an APK teardown of the Find My Device app version 3.1.078-1. It is reported that UWBAdapter libraries were found in the app’s code. It is speculated that this feature will bring precision search capabilities to the app.
Apple, one of Google’s biggest competitors, already uses UWB technology in its AirTag, which allows users to accurately locate lost or stolen items. It can provide directions to the device, sometimes even from a few feet away, helping to locate it. Google, however, is not using this technology yet, but that could change soon.
In addition to UWB, the report also suggested that AR technology could potentially be integrated into the Find My Device app as well. The app’s code noted support for ARCore, Google’s software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to create augmented reality experiences. According to According to Google, it uses the device’s sensors and APIs to communicate with information.
The findings don’t reveal exactly how either technology will be used to improve Find My Device, however. The report speculates that UWB could pinpoint the lost device, and the user could then turn on the device’s camera to get directions using AR overlays.
Both features are reportedly still in development, with no information on a release timeline. Speculation is whether Google will introduce these features or not, but if they do, they will likely release a future beta version of the app first so that select users can test the functionalities.
