Google unveils its new location feature for the general public
Responding to a growing need for security, Google is launching its new “Find My Device” feature, a technology that enables users to locate lost items, similar to that already known by Apple users.
The upcoming arrival of innovative and compatible GPS tracking devices is keenly anticipated, especially by Android users eager to enhance the security of their possessions, such as bikes.
The challenge of bike theft and the technological response
Theft is often a major barrier to bike usage. Although electric bike manufacturers like Bosch, Cowboy, and Lemmo already incorporate GPS tracking systems, this option is not accessible to all types of two-wheelers. This is why Google’s solution seems to come at just the right time by offering an alternative to cyclists.
The vast network of Android at the service of lost objects
Google’s technology plans to use the dense network of Android smartphones to establish an effective and participatory tracking mesh.
If an object equipped with a compatible device is lost, any nearby Android smartphone operating under Android version 9 or later can detect the object and inform the owner. This concerns a significant part of the user base, as Android represents about three-quarters of the smartphone market.
Partnerships already in place for GPS tracking devices
Unlike Apple, which offers its own AirTag, Google has not yet launched a tracker under its brand.
However, several manufacturers such as Pebblebee and Chipolo have already lined up with Google’s Find My technology, thus promising compatibility with future tracking devices.
GPS trackers, affordable and effective allies
To secure a bike, GPS trackers turn out to be economical and practical alternatives. Without requiring costly subscriptions and with an operating autonomy of several months, they offer discretion and ease of use.
Models like the Pebblebee Tag or Chipolo One Spot offer attractive options from a pricing standpoint.
The competition of technology giants
Samsung’s solution with the SmartTag 2 seemed promising but remains confined to a limited ecosystem of Samsung Galaxy phones.
Google, with its wider coverage and a technology open to a broader range of devices, seems to offer a more promising alternative in the long run.