For people who have trouble keeping track of their belongings, Samsung has a solution with its new object finder Galaxy SmartTag. Rumors of the South Korean company working on such a device had surfaced for a while, but it was only officially unveiled during its recent Galaxy Unpacked event on January 14. Here's a look at what exactly the device does, as well as how it works.
The company typically uses the Galaxy Unpacked event each year to unveil new products in the Samsung Galaxy line, culminating in the launch of its latest flagship smartphone. This year saw the introduction of the Galaxy S21 smartphones and the Galaxy Buds Pro — the latest iteration of its wireless earbuds. The Galaxy SmartTag, in comparison, may be more of an afterthought for some consumers.
However, that doesn't mean the Galaxy SmartTag won't attract buyers. The small diamond-shaped fob with rounded corners uses Bluetooth Low Energy so that when it is paired with a smartphone, it can be tracked pretty much anywhere. It is tracked via SmartThings Find, a Galaxy device tracking add-on to the SmartThings app — Samsung's smart home solution that's available on both Android and iOS. As it has a small hole at the top, the SmartTag can be fastened with string or wire to a variety of different non-connected devices, such as key chains, bags or a pet's collar.
Setting up the device is rather simple. First, users must launch the SmartThings app and log in to their Samsung account and they'll be brought to the home screen. They then can click on the plus sign to bring up the Add screen and choose Device. On the next page, there are various ways to add devices, such as scanning the nearby area, using a QR code, or searching by brand. Overall, the easiest way is to search by device type. Users should select Tag/Tracker and then Samsung as the brand on the next page. Then, they should have the option to choose Galaxy SmartTag on the following page. If the SmartThings Find add-on is not already installed, it will do so now. After this, a picture of the SmartTag should pop up and users just need to follow the instructions on the screen. This entails pressing a button on the front of the device, and waiting for it to beep and pair with the smartphone while the app registers the device.
How Well Does SmartTag Work?
Once set up, SmartThings Find will appear as a map on the home screen and show the location of the SmartTag and any other registered Galaxy devices. Clicking on the map will expand it to full screen and let users zoom in to show the approximate location of the device. It will also offer the street address for the device to the best of its ability. In other words, it can give a building address, but not an apartment or room number.
Now, depending on the location, that or may not be a problem. If a student, say, had the SmartTag attached to a backpack and left it at their apartment building, the non-specificity wouldn't be as much of an issue. For unless the student regularly spends time in a variety of different apartments in the building, the backpack would likely be at home. However, if the student left the backpack at school and all the app gave was the address, it might be harder to find.
That's why Samsung is also developing a more-advanced Galaxy SmartTag+, slated to come later this year, that incorporates ultra-wideband technology and an AR finder that will help locate it within the room. In the meantime, not all is lost if the SmartTag is misplaced. Through SmartThings Find, users can make the Galaxy SmartTag ring to make it easier to find. The 8-bit tune won't help if the device is far away, but it is useful if the person is in the right general area. However, it's probably best not to use the feature if the tracker is attached to something alive, as the shrill ring could lead to a howling dog (or crying kid). The Galaxy SmartTag can be pre-ordered now for $29.99 in the U.S. and C$39.99 in Canada.
Source: Samsung
January 22, 2021 at 08:44AM
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