- Google I/O took place last night
- Google announced that its Find My network would support AirTags and unauthorized tracking alerts starting this summer.
- Google also took the opportunity to call Apple to order about RCS
Last night, Alphabet organized its traditionalGoogle I/Ojust before Apple follows with its Worldwide Developer Conference. During the Mountain View event, we notably discovered a superb foldable smartphone, thePixel 7aand a tablet running stock Android. But another, more subtle announcement was also there: the compatibility of AirTags with Google's Find network. This platform offers a solution equivalent to the eponymous app from Cupertino.
Among the changes in question, we notably learned that Android devices will now be able to alert their owner if aAirTagwhoever does not belong to them follows them. Which will also work with Bluetooth beacons from other brands: Chipolo, Tile, etc. Apple has already been offering it on iPhones for several months now, which has also made it possible to arrest several people suspected of harassment.
It's not for now
The only downside, and not the least: Google announced that this update would not be available before this summer. You will therefore have to wait a few more weeks to benefit from it. But Internet users will at the same time be entitled to another advantage: that of being able to also geolocatewireless earphoneslike the Pixel Buds, or those from Sony and JBL, in the same way. We can bet that AirPods will also be eligible soon; these can already be identified in this way via Locate on iOS.
Whether with Google's Locate network or Apple's, several other features are already available. For example, it is possible toring a beacon remotelyto find it, which is, for example, very practical when it is hidden under a sofa cushion. With this, an option offers the possibility of simply erasing the contents of a smartphone if it has been stolen. A technique favored by professionals to better protect their customer data, among others.
Google tackles RCS, once again
During Google I/O broadcast live on YouTube and relayed by our colleagues fromPresse-citron.net, one of Sundar Pichai's lieutenants also took the opportunity to discuss the case ofRCS. This solution makesinteroperable emojis and SMS containing rich text, no matter the brand of your smartphone... unless it's an iPhone.
A disparity to which the presenter of course did not fail to refer, encouraging all manufacturers to follow suit – without directly naming the Apple firm, however.
