Andrew wrote:

> "thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners
> will also be able to find their devices if they're powered off
> or the battery is dead"
>
> That means, I guess, what we discussed in the past, is that a phone which
> is simply indicating that it's off, isn't necessarily off after all.

I think the CPU, wifi and 4G/5G radios will be off, but the last thing
the CPU will do is pre-compute the "I'm lost" beacon packets and put the
bluetooth radio into a special mode where it repeatedly transmits them
(maybe at decreasing frequency?)

On 29 May 2024 17:55:05 GMT, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>
> Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote:
> > I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about this here. I've been
> > googling (!) for a way to opt out of using my bandwidth and my
> > battery to be part of this network.
> >
> > Everything I could find told me to make settings changes in the Find
> > My Device app, but I don't have that app. Does that mean I'm not part
> > of the network, or do I need to install an app I don't want just to
> > opt out of a network I don't want?
>
> I got an e-mail (today) from Google, saying the 'feature' will be
> turned on in three days and with instructions how to opt out of the
> network:
>
> <https://www.google.com/android/find/settings/fmdn>

Thanks for that, Frank: it exactly solves my problem.

I haven't received emails, I don't think, but definitely multiple
notifications on the phone for about the last week. The settings
mentioned in your article do exist on my phone. It was set to "with
network in high-traffic areas only" and I changed it to "without
network."

I'm not so much concerned about privacy--that ship has sailed with
Google--but about battery use from being constantly on line. I have
Power Saver selected, but still I'm lucky to go 48 hours without
recharging.

I've bookmarked that link -- it can be handy to find the phone when I
can't remember where in the house I set it down. :-) While I'm moving
house, everything is topsy turvy, and it's easy to lose track of
almost anything temporarily.

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...

On Wed, 29 May 2024 18:00:19 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:
>
> Robert Roland wrote:
>
> > In a system like this, the number of participating devices is
> > critically important, so I doubt you will be allowed to turn it off.
>
> According to 9to5google, it has three states
>
> Without network:
> With network in high-traffic areas only:
> With the network in all areas:
>
> <https://9to5google.com/2024/04/03/android-find-my-device-network-live-early/>
>
> under
> Settings > Security & privacy > Device finders > Find My Device
>
> I don't see those choices, but i can do a manual scan for trackers near me,
[end of article missing?]

On my Samsung A54, Android 14, OneUI 6.1, I have

Settings » Security and privacy » Lost device protection: Allow this
phone to be found in case it gets lost

Tapping that leads to a complaint "not signed in to Samsung
account," which is true. I wouldn't create a Microsoft account; why
would I create a Samsung one?

But I wonder: is Samsung maybe hiding Google's Find to push people
toward Samsung's? Samsung updates have been coming about once a week
lately, and who knows what's in them?

BTW, Frank Slootweg posted the answer that fits my phone exactly:
https://www.google.com/android/find/settings/fmdn

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...

Stan Brown <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote:
> On Wed, 29 May 2024 18:00:19 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:
> >
> > Robert Roland wrote:
> >
> > > In a system like this, the number of participating devices is
> > > critically important, so I doubt you will be allowed to turn it off.
> >
> > According to 9to5google, it has three states
> >
> > Without network:
> > With network in high-traffic areas only:
> > With the network in all areas:
> >
> > <https://9to5google.com/2024/04/03/android-find-my-device-network-live-early/>
> >
> > under
> > Settings > Security & privacy > Device finders > Find My Device
> >
> > I don't see those choices, but i can do a manual scan for trackers near me,
> [end of article missing?]
>
>
> On my Samsung A54, Android 14, OneUI 6.1, I have
>
> Settings Security and privacy Lost device protection: Allow this
> phone to be found in case it gets lost
>
> Tapping that leads to a complaint "not signed in to Samsung
> account," which is true. I wouldn't create a Microsoft account; why
> would I create a Samsung one?

You get that error, because you're in the *Samsung* 'Find My Mobile'
settings.

There is also the *Google* 'Find My Device' function. Note Samsung
"Mobile" versus Google "Device". Confusing, isn't it!? :-(

To get to the *Google* 'Find My Device' function (instructions for my
Samsung Galaxy A51 Android 13):

Settings -> Google / Google services -> 'All services' tab -> Find My
Device

> But I wonder: is Samsung maybe hiding Google's Find to push people
> toward Samsung's? Samsung updates have been coming about once a week
> lately, and who knows what's in them?
>
> BTW, Frank Slootweg posted the answer that fits my phone exactly:
> https://www.google.com/android/find/settings/fmdn

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
> Andrew wrote:
>
> > "thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners
> > will also be able to find their devices if they're powered off
> > or the battery is dead"
> >
> > That means, I guess, what we discussed in the past, is that a phone which
> > is simply indicating that it's off, isn't necessarily off after all.
>
> I think the CPU, wifi and 4G/5G radios will be off, but the last thing
> the CPU will do is pre-compute the "I'm lost" beacon packets and put the
> bluetooth radio into a special mode where it repeatedly transmits them
> (maybe at decreasing frequency?)

How does Bluetooth help? I'm much more likely to lose my phone in the
middle of an empty field than somewhere at home in range of other
Bluetooth devices.

--
Chris Green
·

Frank Slootweg wrote on 30 May 2024 15:48:12 GMT :

>> Tapping that leads to a complaint "not signed in to Samsung
>> account," which is true. I wouldn't create a Microsoft account; why
>> would I create a Samsung one?
>
> You get that error, because you're in the *Samsung* 'Find My Mobile'
> settings.

I already explained that in detail so it's disconcerting Stan said what he
did as it means Stan likely hasn't been reading anyone's responses about
this topic - and yet we all responded with great detail to assist him.

https://i.postimg.cc/25C1Jppb/findmy.jpg

Stan Brown wrote:

> I'm not so much concerned about privacy--that ship has sailed with
> Google--but about battery use from being constantly on line. I have
> Power Saver selected, but still I'm lucky to go 48 hours without
> recharging.

I wouldn't think data usage would be very high, after all it only has t
report the location of a 'lost' device if it finds one. We'll have to
see whether listening for lost beacons over bluetooth is battery
intensive, or not.

Stan Brown wrote:
> Settings » Security and privacy » Lost device protection: Allow this
> phone to be found in case it gets lost
Although I have the new enough version of Play Services required by
FindMyDevice, I think it's not yet been enabled in the UK.
> Tapping that leads to a complaint "not signed in to Samsung
> account," which is true. I wouldn't create a Microsoft account; why
> would I create a Samsung one?
I don't have a Samsung device, but haven't seen anything that says this
new feature requires a MySamsung account, maybe it can work as an
alternative to a Google account?

Chris Green wrote:

> How does Bluetooth help?

BLE can have quite a range, hundreds of feet, but they system is
designed around having other people around to do the finding,

> I'm much more likely to lose my phone in the
> middle of an empty field than somewhere at home in range of other
> Bluetooth devices.

bluetooth is your only realistic choice though, it has to be something
the lost device can transmit, you can receive, and not too much of a
burden on the batteries ... yo could always go into your field with
another phone to search for the lost one?

On 29 May 2024 17:55:05 GMT, Frank Slootweg wrote:

> I got an e-mail (today) from Google, saying the 'feature' will be
> turned on in three days and with instructions how to opt out of the
> network:
>
> <https://www.google.com/android/find/settings/fmdn>

Same here. I got the e-mail on May 22, but so far no notification and no
option to opt out (because it isn't active yet?).

--
s|b

On Wed, 29 May 2024 18:23:54 +0200, Robert Roland wrote:

> In a system like this, the number of participating devices is
> critically important, so I doubt you will be allowed to turn it off.

Sorry, but that's BS.

--
s|b

On Wed, 29 May 2024 22:33:14 +0200, Jörg Lorenz wrote:

> On your Android device, open the Find My Device app.

There's no such app on my Pixel 6. Apparently, I can install it, but the
function is already active (in my settings) and I don't see the point.
What am I going to do with the app? Find my own device?

--
s|b

s|b wrote:
> Jörg Lorenz wrote:
>
>> open the Find My Device app.
>
> There's no such app on my Pixel 6. Apparently, I can install it, but the
> function is already active (in my settings) and I don't see the point.
> What am I going to do with the app? Find my own device?
That's been the only available functionality for the past few years, and
I've found it helpful once or twice, it can't actually do any "finding",
it can tell you where the device is (or last was before battery gave up).

On Thu, 30 May 2024 21:12:46 +0200, s|b wrote:

> Same here. I got the e-mail on May 22, but so far no notification and no
> option to opt out (because it isn't active yet?).

The e-mail refers to
<https://support.google.com/android/?p=find_offline_devices>

I checked again on my Pixel and it has the option 'Find your offline
devices' as shown in the screenshot. It's set to OFF (not by my doing,
maybe Google choose 'opt in' instead of 'opt out', for European users?)

--
s|b

On Thu, 30 May 2024 20:20:14 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:

> That's been the only available functionality for the past few years, and
> I've found it helpful once or twice, it can't actually do any "finding",
> it can tell you where the device is (or last was before battery gave up).

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing here. I don't have
the app on my phone, because I can already use 'Find my phone/device'
through a browser. I simply activated it in my settings.

--
s|b

s|b <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
> On Thu, 30 May 2024 20:20:14 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:
>
> > That's been the only available functionality for the past few years, and
> > I've found it helpful once or twice, it can't actually do any "finding",
> > it can tell you where the device is (or last was before battery gave up).
>
> I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing here. I don't have
> the app on my phone, because I can already use 'Find my phone/device'
> through a browser. I simply activated it in my settings.

It's an alternative for the web-browser. In order to find a device,
you need 1) *another* device and 2) an 'app' on that device. The 'app'
is either a general purpose web-browser or the dedicated 'Find My
Device' app.

In comp.mobile.android, on Thu, 30 May 2024 20:20:14 +0100, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

>s|b wrote:
>
>> Jörg Lorenz wrote:
>>
>>> open the Find My Device app.
>>
>> There's no such app on my Pixel 6. Apparently, I can install it, but the
>> function is already active (in my settings) and I don't see the point.
>> What am I going to do with the app? Find my own device?
>
>That's been the only available functionality for the past few years, and
>I've found it helpful once or twice, it can't actually do any "finding",
>it can tell you where the device is (or last was before battery gave up).
>
How precise is it. will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I
don't know where?

micky wrote:

> How precise is it. will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I
> don't know where?

It will be as accurate as whatever geolocation type you allow, for GPS
it'll probably tell which quarter of your house it's in, for wifi it
might nly distinguish between your house and your neighbour's, for cell
site it might only know which road it's on.

On 5/31/24 8:38 AM, micky wrote:

>How precise is it [FMDN]. will it help
>me if it's somewhere in my house but I
>don't know where?

I just use the other phone that lives
in my house to call mine and listen for
the ring. No second phone? Maybe Google
Voice from the laptop...

AJL wrote:

> micky wrote:
>
>> will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I don't know
>> where?
>
> I just use the other phone that lives
> in my house to call mine and listen for
> the ring. No second phone? Maybe Google
> Voice from the laptop...

OK, so long as the battery hasn't subsequently gone flat, the findmy
option will at least tell you where it was ...

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
> In comp.mobile.android, on Thu, 30 May 2024 20:20:14 +0100, Andy Burns
> <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>
> >s|b wrote:
> >
> >> Jörg Lorenz wrote:
> >>
> >>> open the Find My Device app.
> >>
> >> There's no such app on my Pixel 6. Apparently, I can install it, but the
> >> function is already active (in my settings) and I don't see the point.
> >> What am I going to do with the app? Find my own device?
> >
> >That's been the only available functionality for the past few years, and
> >I've found it helpful once or twice, it can't actually do any "finding",
> >it can tell you where the device is (or last was before battery gave up).
> >
> How precise is it. will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I
> don't know where?

If it's in your house, as AJL said, just call it from another phone.

If you don't have another phone, just use

'Find your phone'
<https://myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone>

on any device.

That will already play a notification sound (twice), but if you miss
that, just click on 'Play sound' and it will sound your ringtone on your
'lost' device ('device, not 'phone', because it also works for tablets).

In comp.mobile.android, on 31 May 2024 18:59:11 GMT, Frank Slootweg
<this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

>micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
>> In comp.mobile.android, on Thu, 30 May 2024 20:20:14 +0100, Andy Burns
>> <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >s|b wrote:
>> >
>> >> Jörg Lorenz wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> open the Find My Device app.
>> >>
>> >> There's no such app on my Pixel 6. Apparently, I can install it, but the
>> >> function is already active (in my settings) and I don't see the point.
>> >> What am I going to do with the app? Find my own device?
>> >
>> >That's been the only available functionality for the past few years, and
>> >I've found it helpful once or twice, it can't actually do any "finding",
>> >it can tell you where the device is (or last was before battery gave up).
>> >
>> How precise is it. will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I
>> don't know where?
>
> If it's in your house, as AJL said, just call it from another phone.
>
> If you don't have another phone, just use
>
>'Find your phone'
><https://myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone>
>
>on any device.
>
> That will already play a notification sound (twice), but if you miss
>that, just click on 'Play sound' and it will sound your ringtone on your
>'lost' device ('device, not 'phone', because it also works for tablets).

Thanks!

In comp.mobile.android, on Fri, 31 May 2024 17:46:01 +0100, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

>
>AJL wrote:
>
>> micky wrote:
>>
>>> will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I don't know
>>> where?
>>
>> I just use the other phone that lives
>> in my house to call mine and listen for
>> the ring. No second phone? Maybe Google
>> Voice from the laptop...

I do have a home phone, and I found the phone once your way. It was my
pants pockets on the floor of the bathroom. But I'd be happy with
another method too.

>OK, so long as the battery hasn't subsequently gone flat, the findmy
>option will at least tell you where it was ...

Aha, very good.

In comp.mobile.android, on Fri, 31 May 2024 16:50:46 +0100, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

>micky wrote:
>
>> How precise is it. will it help me if it's somewhere in my house but I
>> don't know where?
>
>It will be as accurate as whatever geolocation type you allow, for GPS
>it'll probably tell which quarter of your house it's in, for wifi it
>might nly distinguish between your house and your neighbour's, for cell
>site it might only know which road it's on.

Well, I know what road my house is on, so that won't help mch. GPS is
always on so that might help a lot.

Or maybe I should take Super Beta Mind Speeder. ;-)

On Thu, 30 May 2024 21:31:56 +0200, s|b wrote:
> I don't have
> the app on my phone, because I can already use 'Find my phone/device'
> through a browser. I simply activated it in my settings.

Same here. I'm always reluctant to clutter up my hone
with app I don't actually need, and the Find My Device
in my PC's browser makes the phone emit a sound.

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA
https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...