Tracker tags have been around for a while, but none disrupted the market more than the Apple AirTag. It’s not a perfect product, but the ease of use if you own an iPhone works to your advantage. With this seamless ecosystem integration, many have asked for an alternative to Google’s AirTag that “works out of the box” on his Android.
There have been rumors lately that Google is working on its own tracker tag. While this is good news for his Android users, he wants Google to learn from AirTag’s shortcomings and make trackers more secure and versatile.
1 please make a better design
The Apple AirTag looks cute with its circular design, but it causes problems when connecting to valuables such as keys. The device doesn’t have a built-in lanyard port, so typical Apple practice is to use an accessory to attach it to a keychain or pet collar. If Google wants to build a better tracker than the AirTag, it can start by fixing this design flaw. Many people appreciate tags that rely less on accessories for basic functionality.
As for the tracker’s battery, Google should probably stick to coin cells to avoid flak like many tile tags that are useless after a few years of use and then run out of battery. Switching to rechargeable batteries in such small devices presents a range of challenges, from thermal management to battery replacement after health conditions deteriorate. Moreover, adopting a rechargeable method would make the tracker’s price skyrocket, making Google’s product significantly less competitive.
2 Robust and well-thought-out privacy features
Apple has established itself as a custodian of user privacy. Still, AirTags have been a disaster on that front since their introduction, with several reported cases of stalking and theft. When you step in to propose legislation, you know it’s bad. .
Aside from fraudulent tags to warn victims if they’re being stalked, Google has developed an improved logic system that makes AirTags less time-consuming to tell trackers nearby, such as in cafes. can. Fool the system to minimize false alarms. Given that not all Android phones support the more reliable ultra-wideband, Google will have to rely on its existing ragged Bluetooth tracking technology. Also, if a user doesn’t have her Bluetooth enabled on her Android phone, they won’t be able to know if a tracker is following them.
Google is using its new Find My Device network to keep its Bluetooth antenna on in the background so it can continuously receive signals from beacons, much like Apple has done with iPhones for years. can be Making Google trackers more reliable requires more than a simple software tweak. A hardware tracking system is required (more on that below).
Source: Tile
3 Put it inside your Google TV remote
The recent Apple TV 4K launched with an updated remote that charges via USB-C, but it doesn’t have built-in precision tracking features like the AirTag, and we consider this a missed opportunity. Your TV remote control is probably the most misplaced item in your home, making it a perfect candidate for a tracking feature. Hopefully his next Chromecast comes with a remote with Google’s tracker built in. Google could also take a page from the AirPods Pro 2 book and burn trackers into his Pixel Buds.
Four make it an open standard
Tracking technology can be put inside anything that isn’t stationary, so why limit it to Google’s first-party devices? can be embedded in any device. Think of it as a Chromecast built-in. But for trackers. Google may license other companies to make third-party devices and accessories part of the Find My Device network. No dangling tag is required for each. This expands the scope of the tracker beyond tracking keys and wallets.
Apple launched its own Find My Network Accessories program a few years ago, allowing other manufacturers to embed U1 chips in products like bicycles and bags that can be tracked like AirTags. However, its adoption has not picked up pace since, with only a handful of third-party products supporting the feature. and may make tracking technology more prevalent.
Five Promotion of UWB ubiquitous
Most of the features mentioned above are not important until more Android smartphones support ultra-wideband. His UWB in recent iPhones with the U1 chip enables the AirTag’s most compelling feature: precision tracking.
But on this side of the fence, only a handful of top-end Android smartphones (Google Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S21+ and newer, etc.) have UWB chips. We can expect the upcoming Galaxy S23 lineup to include UWB, but not many brands are keen to add the band to their mid-range and budget phones.
Google has an extensive network of active phones for its Find My Device network, but rumor has it tracker adoption won’t pick up pace until UWB makes way for most mid-range phones. If your phone has his UWB, you can use your phone for many things like using it as a (supported) car key or smart door lock. Even Bluetooth has announced its own indoor precision positioning solution. Recent Bluetooth versions are able to determine the direction the signal is coming from. However, it relies on the 2.4GHz band, which is prone to congestion and interference, making it unsuitable for such applications.
Google’s tracker tag? Yes, please!
Tile is probably the most well-known tracker maker, and Samsung also has its own SmartTags, but neither brand has managed to dominate the market like Apple. Despite this, Apple provided a functional and affordable product. One of AirTag’s weakest points is its incompatibility with Android available from Google.
Just like AirTag is for iPhone owners, Google Tracker is likely to become the default choice for many Android users, taking advantage of Android’s strengths. The benefits of Google’s ecosystem are just one piece of the puzzle, but when Google allows other his OEMs to incorporate their trackers into their products, the limits are endless. That’s the kind of reality we have our fingers crossed.