Samsung Electronics officially released the new upgraded Galaxy SmartTag+, a device that allows users to locate lost items with ease. During the CES 2021, Samsung unveiled Galaxy SmartTag+’s predecessor, the Galaxy SmartTag, alongside the much-awaited Galaxy S21 series and more.
Samsung equipped the Galaxy SmartTag+ with UWB (ultra-wideband) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technologies. Accordingly, the smart tracker uses the UWB and BLE tech to deliver improved location pinpointing and better accuracy. In addition to these features, Samsung also applied AR (augmented reality) technology to the tracking tag. With the AR tech, the Galaxy SmartTag+ guides users towards the misplaced item using smartphone cameras and the SmartThings Find.
SmartThings
Last year, the South Korean tech company introduced the SmartThings Find service as part of the SmartThings app. Essentially, the SmartThings Find provides visual solutions and directions that help users locate missing Galaxy devices, including earbuds and tablets. To start with, users need to connect the tracking tag to smartphones running on Android 8 or later mobile OSs. Moreover, users can attach the Galaxy SmartTag+ to various everyday items such as bags, keys, and other personal belongings.
Locating the Tag
The UWB and AR technologies enable the smart tracker to guide users with a straightforward smartphone interface. When users get closer to the tag’s location, they can opt to press a button that makes it produce beeping sounds.
“UWB is a true game-changer, making it possible to lock onto the position of an object with much greater precision,” stated KJ Kim, Executive VP of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile R&D Office. Kim also added that Samsung would continue applying UWB technologies to Galaxy products, discovering new methods to employ the tech. According to Samsung, the UWB tech could significantly improve people’s daily routines, making them more efficient and convenient.
Besides the UWB and AR tech, Samsung also applied SmartThings’ advanced detection abilities to the trackers. If the Galaxy SmartTag+ is not near the smartphone, it uses BLE technology and nearby Galaxy device network connections. Once the user marks the tag as lost, other SmartThings-connected Galaxy devices could detect the tag and alert the servers. Since the SmartThings data are encrypted and protected, only the missing tag’s owner would receive notifications regarding the tag’s location.
