Google has released its Android Device Manager app, which is designed to replicate the functionality of Apple's Find My iPhone on the company's own Android smartphones to track down lost or stolen handsets - or even remotely erase a device to secure your privacy.
Third-party tools for tracking down stolen Android smartphones and tablets have proven popular on the Google Play store in the past, but Google itself has been slow to add the functionality as an official tool. An early build of Android Device Manager was released back in August but only for users willing to manually download the package file from a website and install it outside the Google Play store.
Now, Google has updated the software and made it available through the official Google Play channel - meaning a quick and easy installation for almost any Android device. Sadly, those on older hardware may find themselves unable to take advantage of the free package: the software requires that the device or devices being tracked run Android 2.3 or above.
Assuming that a user's device is supported, the Android Device Manager adds a wealth of security-related functionality. Users can activate a device's location tracking in order to pin-point it on a map, cause the device to ring in order to find a lost handset, and even reset the screen lock code or erase all data stored on the device - a last-ditch solution for a stolen handset that cannot be recovered.
Android Device Manager is available from Google Play now, free of charge.
Android Games and Apps
Third-party tools for tracking down stolen Android smartphones and tablets have proven popular on the Google Play store in the past, but Google itself has been slow to add the functionality as an official tool. An early build of Android Device Manager was released back in August but only for users willing to manually download the package file from a website and install it outside the Google Play store.
Now, Google has updated the software and made it available through the official Google Play channel - meaning a quick and easy installation for almost any Android device. Sadly, those on older hardware may find themselves unable to take advantage of the free package: the software requires that the device or devices being tracked run Android 2.3 or above.
Assuming that a user's device is supported, the Android Device Manager adds a wealth of security-related functionality. Users can activate a device's location tracking in order to pin-point it on a map, cause the device to ring in order to find a lost handset, and even reset the screen lock code or erase all data stored on the device - a last-ditch solution for a stolen handset that cannot be recovered.
Android Device Manager is available from Google Play now, free of charge.
Android Games and Apps
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