Google is rolling out an update to Android's Find Hub that includes the ability to share the location of your lost luggage with an airline. This feature is similar to the baggage tracking feature Apple introduced for the iPhone, allowing users to see the location of their Find Hub tag or accessory on a map and provide airlines with a link to track it.
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Several airlines already support the new Find Hub feature, including AJet, Air India, China Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and the Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines , and Swiss International Air Lines. Google has said that more airlines, such as Qantas, will accept Find Hub links in the future.
When asked about the possibility of this feature being adopted by US airlines, Google spokesperson Sofia Giovannellosaid that the company is “actively working with additional airline partners to integrate this feature into their baggage reclaim processes and we look forward to sharing more updates.”
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Users can stop sharing their bag's location at any time, and the links will expire after seven days. Google says it will encrypt the item's location and device location data, and tracking will be disabled once the phone detects that the item has been returned. The company is also working with luggage maker Samsonite to integrate Find Hub into new designs.
In addition to tracking luggage, Android users can now share their location with friends and family directly through Google Messages. This feature allows users to see each other's real-time location, which can be useful for meeting up in crowded places like airports or concerts.
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Other updates include the ability to create custom Calling Cards, similar to Contact Posters on iOS. Previously, only contacts could design a card for you, but now you can create your own and share it with everyone in your contact list or just your saved contacts. Google is also introducing a carousel of short videos to the Play Store to showcase different apps, along with a new games selection in Android Auto that includes “teacher-approved” games for kids to play while the car is parked.
