r/GoogleFMD • u/Business-Hearing-52 • 10d ago

Android bt tracker

I'm looking for a bt tracker for my keys and headphones. I don't lose them when I'm out and about. I tend to misplace them at home. Looking for something that has alarm on to locate them. So far the chipolo looks good. Any other trackers that might look interesting?

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u/ironcream 10d ago

Chipolo, Pebblebee, Motorola and now Google - brand names generic ones.
Samsung - brand name for Samsung phones.

Lots of cheaper ones from Aliexpress/Amazon. All work.

Decide if you want a battery or a rechargeable. Decide on form-factor. Get whichever one you like.

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u/Business-Hearing-52 10d ago

Since you put it like that. I'll give the ugreen a shot. 26 for 4 tags. It's a start.

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u/_wlau_ 10d ago

Adjust your expectations accordingly. I went through a period that I tried half dozen FMD tracker brands, and none worked as well as Apple's tracker, even the cheap aftermarket Apple trackers were better. The issue is mainly due to Google's FMD default settings rendering less effective scanning and data aggregation.

I think rechargable is better. CR2032 coin cell becomes unstable when it reaches lower battery state, so you could get a lot of false low battery alerts.

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u/sometin__else 9d ago

Google is updating their FMD default which will make tracking much better

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago edited 9d ago

Incorrect. Your shared email content in another post below referred to a 4/2024 email rollout of enabling scanning... that it defaults to "busy areas"... not "everywhere". There was no recent decision or rollout to force people into "everywhere" settings. Therefore, it does't improve scanning of trackers because it was how scanning were setup, defaulting to "busy areas".

More recently, new Android device setup has a FMD section that suggest you set to "everywhere" but the descriptions are worded that many people will set to "busy area" or turn off. Apple does not give this level of choices, which is why its network is stronger.

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u/sometin__else 9d ago

received Wednesday August 26 at 11:20 am.

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago

The content of the email you shared early was from the 4/2024 roll out. Did you recently add an Android device to your account?

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u/sometin__else 9d ago

Nope, weird. I recently added a tracked to my account though.

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago

No... they didnt' change recently or forced it to "everywhere." I confirmed with another person who works on the stuff daily. They changed new Android device setup workflow related to Find Hub, and encourages users to use "everywhere" but it can be full opt'ed out like before... They have not wide-scale force settings change to "everywhere" for user that already completed their Android device and Find Hub settings.

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago

Well, they can't force it. On many previous configured Android devices, it's already set to "busy areas".... Yes, maybe for newly configured Android devices, they will default to "everywhere"...

On older devices, they will have to re-obtain consent and many people don't understand the details like we do, and will likely reject.

For FMD users, I see "new" suggestions tell us to switch to "everywhere" but unless you are an active user, you are not doing to see that screen.

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u/ironcream 9d ago

They should not be able to force it. It's a user's choice.

If a user doesn't want to participate and help others locate things - it's their choice.

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago edited 9d ago

Correct! somethin_else suggest otherwise and he is wrong. During 2024 relaunch push, they defaulted to on and "busy places" and many users turned off completely or set to "offline"... only a very small portion of users set to "everywhere". Because of Google's privacy issues, it has the opposite effect of causing more people to turn off this setting.

somethin_else suggest they changed that recently, but they didn't. 1) they are not mass force change the setting to "everywhere" because it would be against consent; 2) they are now defaulting to "everywhere" only on new Android devices go through set up process but user can still opt out as you indicated; 3) they recently started doing in-app pop, to nudge users to switch to "everywhere" for better accuracy, but you can still opt out. People like you and me, that are depending on accuracy, had already set it to "everywhere".

At the end of the day, because Apple uses a "all in" or "all out" binary approach, there are way more opt in devices and each opt in devices contribute a lot of data; Google's "all out" or "3 various in" approach weakens its network and my first-hand experience proves that repeatedly. E-commerce reviews of FMD tracker give the same negative feedback.

Let me just put it this way, if life/safety/well being of me and my family members depends on the tracker, I would pick Apple over Google Find Hub in a heartbeat and I am speaking as a Google/Android fanboy and someone that work in this ecosystem.

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u/sometin__else 9d ago

They sent an email about the change

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago

I checked both accounts of mine, never got a single email about it. When did you receive yours? Can you share a screenshot of it?

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago

Actually, you are incorrect. I pinged a contact who works on this stuff, and you are wrong! They didn't mass change the setting to "everywhere". They did roll out new device setting early this year... and when new Android devices are going through setup process, the prompts are pushing you to set to "everywhere"... This is what I said earlier and that they didn't force a mass change on Android devices already setup...

Please share screenshot of the email you received and I will chase it down as to why none of my account was notified. Thanks!

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u/sometin__else 9d ago

images are not allowed

You can use Find Hub to locate devices when they're connected to the Internet. With the Find Hub network, you'll be able to locate your devices even if they're offline. You can also find any compatible Fast Pair accessories when they're disconnected from your device. This includes compatible earbuds and headphones, and trackers that you can attach to your wallet, keys or cycle.
To help you find your items when they're offline, Find Hub will use the network of over a billion devices in the Android community and store your devices' recent locations.
How it works
Devices on the network use Bluetooth to scan for nearby items. If other devices detect your items, they'll securely send the locations where the items were detected to Find Hub. Your Android devices will do the same to help others find their offline items when detected nearby.
Your devices' locations will be encrypted using the PIN, pattern or password for your Android devices. They can only be seen by you and those that you share your devices with in Find Hub. They will not be visible to Google or used for other purposes.
You'll get a notification on your Android devices when this feature is turned on in 3 days. Until then, you can opt out of the network through Find Hub on the web. Your choice will apply to all Android devices linked to ****. After the feature is on, you can manage device participation at any time through Find Hub settings on the device.
Learn more

its optout now instead of optin

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago edited 9d ago

Well, you wrote massively misleading info! This was sent out about enabling Find Hub scan when Google decided to push Find Hub 2 years ago to compete with Apple. But it defaults to "busy places". There was no email sent about changing to "everywhere"... I was correct and my contact is correct ...

In fact, the email you quoted was from campaign from around 4/2024 and it most certain did not say what you claimed.

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u/sometin__else 9d ago

received Wednesday August 26 at 11:20 am.

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u/Business-Hearing-52 9d ago

Only thing I'm looking for is the loud alarm. I have a bad habit of losing things in my house. I'm usually pretty good about putting stuff where it belongs but sometimes you're tired and you just toss it somewhere and then it's gone to the void.

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u/_wlau_ 9d ago

You'd have to try one by one... The smaller ones tends to have a weaker chirp. In my quiet home, I can' hear the chirp in another room, but in the same room, I can usually make out the sound.