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Google are implementing their version of apple's airtag soon. It was supposed to go live a few months back. They have held fire however, until apple can reliably detect and warn about them. There are multiple companies planning to use the system as soon as it goes live.
I'm planning on getting some Chipolo tags, once they are shipped. I've taken a dislike to how tile has developed.
Are there many Android devices that support UWB yet other than the newest Galaxy and Pixel 8 Pro?
Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro do too, but still to your point
Well I imagine other manufacturers will get onboard soon, and it has the potential to be an even more robust system since the iPhone is mostly an American phenomenon. The roughly 2:1 iOS:Android market share is flipped on its head globally. Actually I don't think it's even that high in the US anymore since we're all increasingly fucking broke.
the tracker system doesn't need UWB. That's only used when you're trying to precisely locate something (e.g. arrow pointing to its location). Bluetooth is all the fleet needs. I think Google could pretty much overnight roll out an enormous tracking network
My Note 20 has it, and its 3 years old.
I've taken a dislike to how tile has developed.
How so? It's been a few years since I used mine.
They're now owned by Life360, a somewhat questionable outfit:
An article by The Markup reported that Life360 sells its users' precise location data to data brokers. According to Life360's privacy policy, this data "does not reasonably identify you directly". The company later claimed it was no longer selling this type of data.
x
I'm using Tile atm, waiting for Google's version to be released
There's SIM based ones
Would you need to pay for a second plan? I don't know how that works or if you can have a copy of your existing SIM card
Yes, you will need to pay for a second plan
Not that I could bloody well find
Sadly this is one of the many reasons I moved from a Pixel to the iPhone 15
That's wild, because Google literally announced an air tag system, and companies like Chipolo have released "air tags" that work with the system, all before the iPhone 15 was even announced.
So you switched for no reason.
Having a tracker is one thing. If I wanted I could have gotten a Tile or Chipolo, but all of those require the user to install an app and be part of the tracking network for it to be useful, so you’re limited to those who have installed and allowed the app. Apple on the other hand has built in their tag tracking to every single iPhone period, whether they have a tag or not, so the mesh of phones that can track your tag is much, much larger especially in the US. Instead of relying on people to install an app and a segmented product to get their tags location.
... No
Google announced an air tag system, which will be enabled on billions of Android devices via Google Play services. It's literally air tag for Android, but with an even larger network of devices.
Chipolo released hardware that only works with this new system. No third party app required.
https://chipolo.net/en-us/products/category/chipolo-point
So again, you switched for nothing. In fact, you switched to a worse and closed system. Less iPhones in the world, and you're locked to Apple trackers only. Enjoy.
https://blog.google/products/android/google-android-safety-features/
That’s why later this summer, we're launching a refreshed Find My Device experience that makes it easier than ever to locate your devices and belongings quickly and securely by ringing compatible devices or viewing their location on a map in the app – even when they’re offline. The new Find My Device network will harness over a billion Android devices across the world to help you locate your missing belongings like headphones, tracker tags, or even your phone via Bluetooth proximity.
Attach Bluetooth trackers from Tile, Chipolo, and Pebblebee to your everyday objects — like your keys, wallets, or luggage to make them findable via the Find My Device network. And keep your ears open for updates to your existing Pixel Buds, as well as headphones from Sony and JBL, that will join the Find My Device ecosystem soon.
“Announced” is it ready, is it available right now? And I said that was one of the reasons, not the only reason. My credit card only works with Apple Pay, that’s another. There were a whole host of reasons. Google is saying “we’ll do them to!” But at some point it was keep waiting or switch to something that actually existed.
Your credit card doesn't work with Google Pay? lmao what?
But hey, enjoy your new air tag. Make sure to pick up this official Apple FineWoven Key Ring so you can put it on your key chain.
I will just use the dedicated hole in my Chipolo and save $49, but also be at ease that my airtag isn't going to slip out of a fucking case.