- More signs of Ultra Broadband in Find My device is stained
- The upgrade could be rolled out immediately
- Devices can be traced more precisely with the technology
Google’s Find My Device Platform got a fierce upgrade last year, added support to offline devices and third-party trackers, and it seems that it is getting another significant lifting with permission from Ultra Wide-Band Technology (UWB).
This is the exact location tracking protocol, which you will find in everything from Apple Airtag to Google Pixel 9 Pro, and the team on Android Authority has just found references to it in the latest Find My Device app to Android.
Phones and other gadgets can already be found via GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but UWB adds an additional level of accuracy. Instead of just knowing that something is in your house, you can actually find the couch pad it is buried underneath.
We actually got the first signs of this upgrade last June, which was then followed by mentions of a ‘Compass’ tool in the Find My Device app. The latest code pieces – which are not yet live – suggest that the feature is now being implemented.
Compatible devices
Ultra Wide-Band is not just about placement tracking: Standard works over short distances using radio waves, and it also has applications in Smart Home and Car Tech (lets you wirelessly unlock your vehicle, for example).
In order for you to find something via UWB, you need the technique to be built into the phone you are looking for and the gadget you are trying to find. You can then find the lost item for an accuracy of only a few centimeters or inches.
Many devices now include UWB, such as Google Pixel Watch 3, but it’s not everywhere – the flagship Google Pixel 9, which was launched last August, does not offer UWB. You can find UWB in some tracking devices, including Galaxy Smart Tag 2.
We are still waiting for some Google brand Airtag competitors, and we haven’t seen anything suggesting they are launching immediately. If Google should soon launch its own trackers, it would be the perfect way to show UWB support to find my device.
