There are a number of competing sensible tag networks – which isn’t nice since there may be energy in numbers for such networks (the extra customers there are, the higher the monitoring). Google launched its Discover My community final 12 months and it’s alleged to be the “one true Discover My community for Android”, however it nonetheless doesn’t work nice. Samsung’s SmartThings Discover is good, however it’s accessible solely to homeowners of Galaxy telephones.
Not anymore, developer Kieron Quinn created the uTag app (“common tag”), which permits any Android cellphone (OS model 11 and newer) to make use of Samsung SmartTags. The app even has some options that the official Samsung app lacks.
You possibly can obtain uTag from the undertaking’s GitHub web page, the place you’ll find a pre-built APK. The app is absolutely open supply, for the reason that developer desires its customers to really feel comfy that there’s nothing shady occurring. You possibly can even be part of the undertaking’s Discord if in case you have questions.
Right here is the one difficult half – uTag will obtain and set up a modified model of the SmartThings app. You should register as soon as to that app and as soon as once more to offer uTag entry to the Samsung APIs. The official app will refuse to work on non-Samsung units, the modified model removes this test (and likewise has code that talks to the uTag app).
uTag in motion, monitoring a tag utilizing UWB
As soon as performed, you are able to do all the pieces, beginning with organising a brand new SmartTag. You should utilize UWB for exact monitoring (path and distance). You possibly can share a tag with your loved ones members too. And you’ll contribute again to the SmartThings community, so tags noticed by your cellphone will be tracked by their homeowners. Apparently, the one factor that doesn’t work is Pet Strolling mode.
Then there are some options that you simply received’t discover within the SmartThings app. uTag can routinely scan for unknown tags close to you – that is to forestall somebody from utilizing a tag to trace you. Additionally, you may add widgets to your homescreen that present a particular tag’s location or a location historical past.
uTag can contribute again to the SmartThings community, plus it has a number of additional options
You possibly can observe the Supply hyperlink to an informative publish by uTag’s developer, which covers all of the options and why issues work the best way they do. And in case you have been questioning whether or not AirTag assist will be added, the reply is not any – AirTags aren’t supported on Android in any respect. There are methods round this, however they’re much more sophisticated than a modded model of the official app (which doesn’t even exist).
