Android’s Find My Device Now Tracks Luggage Like iPhone
▼ Summary
– Google is rolling out an Android update that allows users to share the location of luggage with airlines, similar to a recent Apple feature.
– Several airlines, including Air India and the Lufthansa Group, currently support this Find Hub feature, with more like Qantas planned for the future.
– The feature includes privacy controls, such as expiring links after seven days and encrypting location data, with tracking stopping once the item is recovered.
– Another update enables real-time location sharing directly within Google Messages for easier meetups.
– Additional Android updates include custom Calling Cards, a video carousel in the Play Store, and new games on Android Auto for parked vehicles.
Traveling just got a little less stressful for Android users, as Google’s latest update brings a powerful luggage-tracking feature directly into the Find My Device network. This new capability allows you to share the real-time location of a tagged bag with your airline, mirroring a function already popular with iPhone owners. By using a compatible Bluetooth tracker, often called a Find Hub tag, you can view your luggage on a map and generate a secure link for airline staff to aid in recovery should your bag go missing.
The feature is currently supported by a growing list of international carriers. Early partners include AJet, Air India, China Airlines, Saudia, Scandinavian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and the entire Lufthansa Group, which covers airlines like Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Swiss. Google has confirmed that more airlines, such as Qantas, are slated to accept these tracking links soon. Regarding adoption by U.S.-based carriers, the company stated it is actively collaborating with additional airline partners to integrate the tool into their luggage recovery systems, with more announcements expected in the future.
Privacy and user control are central to the design. You can stop sharing your bag’s location at any moment, and all generated links automatically expire after a seven-day period. Google emphasizes that your item’s location and your device’s location data are encrypted. Furthermore, the system is designed to automatically disable tracking once your phone detects that the tagged item has been reunited with you. To make the technology even more seamless, Google is partnering with luggage manufacturer Samsonite to embed Find Hub functionality directly into new suitcase designs.
This luggage tracker is part of a broader set of Android enhancements. A significant addition is the ability to share your live location with friends and family directly within the Google Messages app. This provides a real-time view on a map, which can be incredibly useful for coordinating meetups in busy places like airports or concert venues.
Other personalization and entertainment updates are rolling out as well. Users can now design their own custom Calling Card, similar to iOS Contact Posters. Previously, only your contacts could create a card for you, but this new control lets you design and share your own visual identity with everyone in your contacts list or a select group. The Play Store is introducing a carousel of short-form videos to showcase different apps. For families, Android Auto is gaining a new “teacher-approved” games section, offering a curated selection of games for children to play while the vehicle is safely parked.
(Source: The Verge)
