Apparently Google can track Pixel 8s even after they run out of battery – at least for a few hours. Colleagues noticed it 9to5google by configuring the feature on their unit: it’s not perfectly clear when and how this new feature was implemented on devices – Google’s communication about it has been rather poor, and simply says that it has been active since April.
The Mountain View giant is working hard to offer a effective and well-spread localization network like the one that Apple offers in its ecosystem. The goal is clearly to allow users to find their lost or stolen smartphones, tablets and other gadgets.
It’s not hard to imagine why a smartphone without a battery is generally difficult to locate: if it has no power available, how does it send the signal that says “I’m here”? Google doesn’t delve too deeply into the technical explanation: it simply says that it uses “Pixel specialized hardware”, and which is working to make the solution available to other manufacturers as well.
It’s safe to assume that Google doesn’t want the exact specs of the technology to get out too much because it would give bad guys a free head start: knowledge is the first step towards a countermeasure. Realistically, you can assume that hidden somewhere in the smartphone there is a second emergency battery, dedicated only to the components that must remain turned on to transmit. But that’s just conjecture, at least for now.
In any case it is quite clear that dedicated hardware is needed: Google says it is on board Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Buds Pro. On the two smartphones, in fact, the software update that enables the hardware is already being distributed; as for Pixel Buds Pro, more on that later. Google notes that for this to work the user must take some precautions:
- Bluetooth and geolocation must be active when turned off.
- In the Find my device options, you must select one of these two modes:
- With the network only in areas with high volume of use
- With the network in all areas
(updated May 9, 2024, 08:35)
