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Google’s Find My Device network for Android didn’t exactly hit the ground running. Early comparisons to established players like Apple and Samsung highlighted significant gaps, particularly in how quickly lost items could be located. And many of you likely remember the unfortunate test (conducted 10 months ago) where an Android-compatible tracker sent through the mail vanished, while its AirTag counterpart kept reporting its location. It wasn’t a very good look.
However, things have been looking up in the time since. In fact, Google has officially confirmed some big advancements and, speaking with The Verge, the company stated that its Find My Device network is now locating items four times faster than it did at launch, based on internal testing. This boost reportedly stems from “continuous algorithm and technical under-the-hood improvements,” specifically citing adjustments to the frequency and duration of Bluetooth scanning to enhance communication between devices and trackers on the network.
Another contributing factor, according to Google, is that “more” users are adjusting the network’s privacy settings. By default, Android devices only contribute to the Find My Device network in “high-traffic areas.” While Google started prompting users last year with in-app notices explaining how to switch this to “all areas” for better coverage, the more limited “high-traffic” setting remains the default. Having more users opt-in to broader participation naturally strengthens the network’s reach and effectiveness.
Looking ahead, Google also teased that more information regarding Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support for precision finding is coming “very soon.” With Google I/O just around the corner, it seems likely that we’ll hear more details then. Currently, the Moto Tag is the only tracker available designed for the Android Find My Device network that includes UWB hardware, but I’m sure more are on the way.
For now, it’s nice to know that Google has definitely improved the speed and responsiveness of the Find My Device network’s core technology. It’s significantly faster than before, even if its full potential isn’t quite met just yet. Google was quite a bit later than Apple to the game, but it looks to be catching up rapidly. Hopefully before long, keeping up with items on the go will be a breeze regardless of what phone OS you are using.
VIA: 9to5 Google
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