Google announces Find My Device network for tracking devices, headphones, and other gadgets

It is already known which devices will work with it.

At the Google I/O conference, not only were numerous gadgets presented, but also a useful update for existing technology: the Find My Device network, which will simplify the search for gadgets. This is similar to Apple's "Find My iPhone."

Although the Find My Device app has long been available on Android devices, in its current version it can only approximately determine the location of devices via internet connection or based on their last Bluetooth connection point. This can help find a forgotten smartphone, but a headphone that fell behind the couch is unlikely to be found.

The revamped Find My Device version will link all devices into a single network to provide accurate geolocation using information from various users' gadgets. In other words, if your smartphone lost a headphone, but a passerby's smartphone "saw" it, the geolocation will be displayed in your app. Moreover, the data is transmitted with end-to-end encryption, so even Google will not be able to access the gadgets.

The updated Find My Device service also adds support for two new categories of devices: headphones and Bluetooth trackers. You can assign any name to the beacons for easier searching.

It is noted that immediately after the update is released, the Find My Device network will work with existing Pixel Buds, while support for "upcoming models" of Sony and JBL headphones will be added in later updates.

Support for Bluetooth beacons includes Chipolo, Tile, and Pebblebee, but only new models. On the manufacturers' websites, these trackers have a compatibility badge with Find My Device.