What you want to know
- Android 15 is predicted to introduce a Powered Off Finder API.
- This API will allow suitable gadgets to be tracked even when switched off.
- The characteristic is predicted to be obtainable on the Google Pixel 9 sequence, and the Pixel 8 sequence.
Google has been laborious at work on its Discover My Gadget community however has not but made the system broadly obtainable to customers. Nevertheless, current experiences recommend {that a} Powered Off Finder API shall be a standout characteristic of Android 15 when it rolls out, probably within the second half of 2024.
As reported by Android Police, the characteristic will enable suitable telephones to be positioned even when they’re switched off. The system works by permitting the handset to broadcast Bluetooth beacons to different Android gadgets which are a part of the Discover My Gadget community. The receiving gadgets will then encrypt and add the system’s location, transmitting the beacon to Google’s server and permitting the system’s proprietor to see the place it’s.
In line with the report, this characteristic will solely work on gadgets with particular {hardware} assist that permits them to energy the Bluetooth controller even when the telephone is shut down. For that motive, it is not going to work on all Android gadgets.
It’s anticipated that the Google Pixel 9 sequence would be the first suitable handset to profit from this characteristic. However curiously, it additionally seems that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional may even be capable of assist the API, in addition to the upcoming Pixel 8a. Older gadgets, together with the Pixel 7 sequence and the Pixel Fold, don’t seem to have the mandatory software program assist to function Powered Off Discovering.
This might make sense; again in April 2023, we reported that Google was engaged on a Discover My Gadget characteristic. Google even introduced the characteristic at I/O 2023, stating it might arrive “later this summer time.” At that time, it was believed that the characteristic was being designed to work with the Pixel 8 when it launched later that 12 months.
The discharge of Powered Off Discovering was subsequently pushed again whereas Google and Apple collaborated to resolve the issue of undesirable location monitoring. Whereas Google affords unknown tracker alerts that may detect Bluetooth trackers, together with AirTags, an equal doesn’t at present exist on iOS. In the meanwhile, Apple gadgets can detect AirTags however can not detect trackers that aren’t linked to Apple’s Discover My community.
Google and Apple have been working collectively since Might 2023 to create a joint specification primarily based on Detecting Undesirable Location Trackers (DULT). The hope is that Android gadgets will quickly begin to profit from this characteristic.