The search giant has teamed up with tracking company Tile to let you locate your misplaced things with the help of Google Assistant.
Tile users can now use Google Nest smart speakers to keep track of their phone, wallet, keys and more, Google has announced. Anyone with a Tile attached to their stuff can now use bring the tiny Bluetooth tracker to life by talking to Google’s virtual helper.
Nest Mini, Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max users can set off the tracker’s alarm with the words, “Hey Google, ring my laptop” or “Hey Google, make my backpack ring”.
Read our review of the Tile Mate
The voice assistant can also keep you updated with your items’ last known location. Simply ask, “Hey Google, where is my purse” or “Hey Google, find my passport”.
Rather than an alert, users will hear something along the lines of “Your keys were last seen today at 9pm near the kitchen speaker” or, if you’re not at home, the street address of where your Tile was last detected.
Here’s how to sync your Tile up with Google Assistant in the Google Home app:
- Open the Google Home app on your smartphone
- Tap ‘Add’
- Tap ‘Set up device’
- Scroll down ‘Works with Google’ and select ‘Have something already set up’
- Search for ‘Tile’
- Enter your Tile username and password
Read our review of the Tile Pro
Tile’s own Google collaboration announcement links directly to the Tile Premium page, though whether this means there are some extra Google Assistant perks in store for Tile Premium users – 30-day location tracking, perhaps? – or if Tile just really wants you to sign up to its monthly subscription service remains unclear.
Either way, Tile is a nifty addition to any Google Assistant-powered smart home, especially for those prone to forgetting their wallet or getting locked out of their home.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
