Apple has a new project in mind: a new app to track Apple and Android devices. Here’s how it will work and when it will be launched
Of the various apps developed by Apple for its users, one stands out for its usefulness: its name is Find My iPhone and, if you’re a loyal customer of the company, you’ve certainly used it at least once in your life. Thanks to this app, in fact, you can track down lost or stolen iPhones and iPads and, in the worst cases, lock them and make them unusable.
Now the Cupertino company is thinking of integrating it with another successful application: Find My Friends. The news was revealed by 9to5Mac magazine, which also stated that Apple wants to be able to track Android smartphones as well. The goal is to find more and more devices, considering also that today more and more people own – and therefore lose – numerous wearables. At this rate, the Cupertino company could then compete with Tile, one of the largest American companies specializing in the development of hardware designed to find electronic objects.
GreenTorch: Apple’s new project
The new Apple project will probably take the name of “Greentorch” (some identify it as B389) and aims to merge the famous Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps. It is currently in the works, but some sources promise that it will be released soon.
The software, developed on the Marzipan platform, will be able to track electronic devices more easily. Despite being based on already known apps, the project incorporates some novelties, for example it will be able to find devices that are not connected to either Wi-Fi or the cellular network. Unfortunately, it is not yet known how it will succeed in this feat. You’ll also be able to put cell phones and more in Lost Mode and have them make sounds so they can be found more easily. This will make it easier to find all those particularly small and hard-to-find products, such as AirPods.
Users, through geolocation, will be able to meet friends nearby or share the location. This will allow you to track all the devices apartments to your group of friends or family. You’ll also get notifications when a friend leaves a particular location.
The Apple app will also find Android devices
The most interesting new feature is this: GreenTorch (the name is not final) will also find Android phones. Just associate it with your iCloud account and you’re done. You’ll also receive notifications if the device gets too far away. The tool, used for Android devices will include the same features offered to Apple: from lost mode, to the ability to find your contacts nearby.
When will this application be released?
It is not yet known when the app will be made available to users, but according to WWDC it will be unveiled in June. On the contrary, the 9toMac platform speculates that the new app may be announced along with the new iPhone range in September 2019.