Google is reportedly engaged on a “Discover My Gadget” characteristic for Android units. The alleged characteristic is alleged to be able to finding the gadget even when it’s turned off. In keeping with a report by 91Mobile cellphone, the search large is creating an enormous community that covers all Android units. This characteristic will embrace elective help for UWB, locator tags just like Apple AirTags.
The characteristic will likely be known as Pixel Energy-off Finder, a minimum of on Pixel telephones. To reap the benefits of this characteristic successfully, the Bluetooth chip should be enabled always.
Google takes cues from Apple’s “Discover My Gadget”
Apple’s ‘Discover My Gadget’ community is notable as a result of it permits customers to find their misplaced or stolen iPhone, iPad, Mac, or AirTag even when turned off. Now, leaker Kuba Wojciechowski has revealed (through 91Mobiles) that Google has the same characteristic in retailer. In December 2022, Google launched the same characteristic that may observe misplaced Android telephones even with out an Web connection.
The leaker revealed that Google shared the preliminary supply code of Android 14 with OEMs as a part of the Early Entry Program (EAP). He additionally revealed that Google additionally has an Apple AirTags-like tag codenamed “grogu” within the works.
Leaked supply code reveals Google’s plans
The leaked supply code incorporates a brand new {Hardware} Abstraction Layer (HAL) definition with the string “{hardware}.google.bluetooth.power_off_finder”. The code implies that the gadget’s Bluetooth chip will at all times be on, permitting the person to find their gadget utilizing precomputed Finger Community keys.
It stays to be seen whether or not present units, such because the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, have the required {hardware} to help the know-how. Nonetheless, coming Pixel 8 there’ll most likely be built-in help for the alleged characteristic.
If that is the route Google plans to take for its new Android units, then we might see the know-how quickly. The corporate might reveal extra in regards to the {hardware}’s options and capabilities at I/O 2023, scheduled for Might 10.