Android could steal one of the iPhone's best features — and we're glad

(Image credit: Apple)

Google might be working on an Android version of the Find My network that you discover on the best iPhones and other Apple tree devices. Leveraging the power of Play Services as well every bit the vast amount of Android phones out there, Google could come up with an even better solution.

The Find My network is an interesting concept — even if it does make some of u.s. a scrap queasy — and it was only a matter of time earlier Google put its weight backside its own variant. But we'd need some Pixel Tags to truly match Apple's Observe My ecosystem.

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In case you don't know, Find My is a massive network of Apple tree devices that creates a web of device locations. That means you tin can track something that yous lost, like your iPhone or whatever you fastened your AirTag to. And so having an Android equivalent would be great.

Google already has the first-class Find My Device app, where you can sign in on another device to track the last known location of your telephone. Information technology works quite well almost of the time, fifty-fifty if it has some extra steps to go going. Taking that and turning it into something more similar Find My would be helpful to the billions of Android users.

XDA Developers discovered two references to a "find_device_network" in the latest Play Services beta. The string description reads, "Allows your telephone to assistance locate your and other people'southward devices." This would, theoretically, mean that locating your lost device would become even easier if y'all have another Android device nearby (like a friend or family fellow member'due south phone).

If Google plays its cards correct, this could be a huge boon. Basically every Android device outside of China runs Play Services, so you can see the utility here. Other than those two strings institute by XDA, we don't know annihilation else about this Find My equivalent, but perhaps Google could denote it aslope the Pixel 6 after this year.

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Hashemite kingdom of jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. He's written about phones for over v years and plans to go on for a long while to come. He loves nothing more than than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, but you can all-time accomplish him on Twitter.