Maybe you should ask Did anyone else get.... I did not.

I didn’t. What did it say?

It sounds like Apple’s ”Find my Phone”, very handy at times.

(Find My apps do allow your devices to be ’tracked’ . If that thought bothers you, investigate before you add it.)

What did it say?

It said that unless I opted out in 3 days I would automatically be joined into the network.

I got it, too, thanks for the prompt to actually read it! It would be handy to have, but the security. I don’t really want to do a security lock that I have to enter every time I use the phone, but it might be necessary.

I also got something about Play personalization. Hmm, I do pretty specific searches on Play so I may not need that.

This is for us Android users.

I didnt receive an email. Have these in my luggage and sewn into a quilt I have travelling around the US in quilt shows. Gives me peace of mind.

https://support.google.com/android/answer/14796936?visit_id=638601080165685215-1117883282&p=find_offline_devices&rd=1#finding_offline_devices

I did not get an email. Out of curiosity I checked and find it is already installed on my phone. I uninstalled it.

nhbaskets- I have heard of quilts being stolen at such shows. That is genius!

I think it takes a particular kind of evil to steal a quilt, with all the hard work that goes into making a beautiful handmade one.

I don't use the Find My feature because doing so requires having Location turned on. I've found no other feature/app sucks battery power more than Location. If I've misplaced the phone around the house, it's easy enough to simply call the number to have it ring. I keep Location off though a few apps require it on. For those, I can turn it on, use the app, then turn it off. For some reason, depositing a check using my phone and my bank's app is one like that.

Over decades of using them I've never lost a phone out in the world. It's either in my hand or in my pocket, I never set it down.

Just asked DH and he has had the email. Odd.

Well my son just called, got his 2 day old Mac stolen last night. He knows where it is but police dont seem interested in dealing with it beyond filling out a police report.

“Find my” has saved the day many times.

I’m a huge fan of this app! Sometimes my phone has been left in the car, so I can’t hear the ring I’ve used to try to find it- and often I have the phone on silent, anyway. On a recent trip to France, I mislaid it at a flea market! I was so grateful that I was able to track it down thanks to “Find My Device “- disaster narrowly averted. If it wasn’t free, I’d pay for it.

" got his 2 day old Mac stolen.."

I thought the conversation was about phones?

@pudgeder and @lucillle Just this past week 48 quilts went missing that were supposed to be displayed at a national show in Michigan. All the quilts were together in one box (small quilts, only 12“ square). In this case, the shipper could not locate them. Thankfully, they have been located and are on their way to another show. I had heard of horror stories, so decided to add an Airtag to my quilt. Have a feeling many more people will be doing the same.

“I thought the conversation was about phones?”

Nope, it was about devices. Says so right in the subject line. And while I’m talking about an Apple product while I assume google is referring to Android, it sounds like a similar feature so hopefully I wasn’t too far off topic for your liking to say I appreciate the feature.

From my email that Google sent to me:

You can use Find My Device today to locate devices when they’re connected to the internet. The new Find My Device network can help locate devices, even if they’re offline. It can also help find compatible Fast Pair accessories, earbuds and headphones, and trackers that are attached to items like wallets, keys, or bikes.

FOAS I hope that your son is able to retrieve his Mac. Perhaps his homeowners/renter's insurance will cover a replacement if not. It seems very frustrating to know where it is and yet not easily be able to get it back.

" Nope, it was about devices. "

Okay, I guess I'm guilty of too broad an assumption.

I'd bet most readers saw the heading and OP's comments referring to Google and thought only of their smartphones. Google makes phones, Google makes the Android smartphone operating system, and has nothing at all to do with personal PC device hardware.

Apple users might think of Find Me in the context of PCs but for the 80+% of PC users who are not Mac users, not at all.

I don't deny that Macs have a loyal following, small as it is. I'm not sure why though I do respect Apple for winning customers. But as I see it, with more sizzle than steak.

Thanks Lucillle, Sounds like amex will cover the first $1000, and while the list of things missing is continuing to grow, I don’t think it’ll amount to enough after deductibles to warrant insurance claims.

Elmer, and now you’ve wandered into a topic we definitely weren't discussing.

Same thing happened to my friend. Apple laptop stolen, tracked to the Apple store in the next town police did nothing. Presumably, an employee was in on some kind of ring. Find my might help find your phone between the sofa cushions, but might be worthless if it’s stolen. Your son should check with his credit card company. Some provide insurance on recent purchases.

Oly, AirTag helped us locate and retrieve a backpack a state away last fall. Just last week my daughter dropped her phone in a friend’s car. Neither noticed. Find my phone helped locate it in seconds rather than worry about it. Yes, it's good for sofa cushions, too. I know some of us lead perfectly organized lives, but for the rest of us who make occasional human mistakes, we can use a little help!

This has nothing to do with organization. Also nothing to do with Airtags, that's an obvious need for Where Is. Do you check you have your credit card (and pat your pocket for wallet, phone and keys) when you leave a restaurant? The pouch of the seat in front of you on a plane when you deplane? How about double-checking you have your passport when you leave for the airport for a trip abroad?

Being prudent versus being hyper-neurotic or hyper-organized are very different things. No need for snark, I get it that your kids could be a tad bit more careful sometimes with things of value.

Snark? Funny, that was neither intended as snark nor directed at anyone, just an admission that my family can be forgetful. But if you found a shoe in there and found that it fit, far be it for me to stop you from wearing it!

Food, I consider your examples of how find my could work and be helpful, but my comment was specifically addressing recovering stolen property. You might find it, but shouldn’t expect any help from law enforcement to actually recover it. Tho maybe in some places they would.

Thanks for the heads-up. I saw the email but didn't read it. Not a service I am interested in.

" if you found a shoe in there and found that it fit.. "

Nope, not the case.

There's a saying of multiple and uncertain possible origins something like this: "no one in the history of the world has ever washed a rented car". Another way to say the same thing - people take better care of things they own and feel responsible for, than what they do with other things. Each of my kids (more than 2) had cell phones in HS. I told each that I would buy them one, and would replace it if no longer working. Lost or damaged phones, they had to buy.

All are adults now. Not one ever lost or damaged a phone. A lesson in responsibility, not in being perfectly organized.

^^ 🙄

@ Elmer J Fudd said -- "I don't use the Find My feature because doing so requires having Location turned on. I've found no other feature/app sucks battery power more than Location. If I've misplaced the phone around the house, it's easy enough to simply call the number to have it ring. I keep Location off though a few apps require it on. For those, I can turn it on, use the app, then turn it off. For some reason, depositing a check using my phone and my bank's app is one like that.

Over decades of using them I've never lost a phone out in the world. It's either in my hand or in my pocket, I never set it down."

Elmer, the Find My feature is useful when your family needs to find YOU, not just when you need to locate your own device. For example, my 80-year-old brother-in-law has vascular dementia as a result of his diabetes. He has a tendency to get lost when he is somewhere where he is not familiar with the surroundings. For example, if he goes to a major league baseball game and leaves his seat to go to the restroom or to a concession stand, he might have difficulty finding his way back to his seat. If he calls his son who went to the game with him (but didn't accompany him to the restroom or concession stand) to say he's lost, his son can use the FindMy app to find out where his father is and either go get him, or guide him back to his seat. And several years ago my husband had gone to the Sonoma Valley to pick up some wine club allocations from a couple different wineries when a wildfire suddenly changed directions and roads were suddenly closed. Detour signs were not fully in place, nor were road closure signs. My husband called me because he needed to know how to get the heck out of there (as you know, not all wineries are on main roads). I was able to use the FindMy app to guide him out and to safety.

My kids got their first phones in 5th grade. Knock on wood we've never had to replace a lost phone.

My goodness, lindsey. Are the people your brother-in-law knows and goes places with lacking the smidgen of common sense needed to realize that as person with a tendency to get lost in unfamiliar surroundings, he should ABSOLUTELY NOT, NOT EVER be given free rein to go off unaccompanied at a crowded ballpark? That's shocking.

With your husband, why wasn't he able to get directions from his smartphone himself? Google Maps (and its related cousin, Waze) are usually up to the minute with road closures and congestion problems in emergency situations. Both have the ability to reroute people with current information using routes that are open. If you're using Apple Maps on your phone, switch away from the dark side. It's inferior to Google Maps and has been since forever.

My family and friends can always find me instantly, no prearranged settings (or having Location turned on) required. All they have to do is call me and I will tell them. Except when I'm tied up with another person for some moments, I can almost always glance at the identify of an incoming call and answer if I'm expecting it or return it when it's convenient. I hope most people know that when the phonemail greeting is heard after fewer than 5 or so rings, the intended recipient has declined answering it immediately.

" My kids got their first phones in 5th grade "

My eldest started college just before 2 and 0 were the first two digits of the year, phones were relatively more expensive then than they are now. I'm not sure why it would be necessary for elementary/middle school kids to have phones anyway.

Elmer, people with dementia manage to wander off from their own homes and nursing homes as well as in public places. Unless you put them on leashes, it's impossible to keep your eye on them 24/7. And I can understand that Lindsey's BIL might still feel independent enough that he doesn't feel the need to check in with his son to take him to the rest room, and while his son was watching the game they had gone to watch, simply got up and went away without disturbing his son in the process. A similar thing could happen if they were purchasing food or drinks at a concession counter, and while the son's attention was on ordering, paying or collecting their purchases Dad could wander off.

As to Mac PCs not needing to be found, FindMe also applies to iPads, which are more easily left behind (on planes, for instance) or stolen.

Oly, I can't understand why you don't think law enforcement should get involved in recovering stolen property if its owner can electronically track it to a location. If someone is bold enough to steal your stuff, if you just knock on the door and ask for it back, at a minimum they could just close the door and tell you to ---- off, and it could go all the way up to a fatal assault.

Colleen I think you misunderstood. I DO think LE should help recover stolen property when it's located. It's just that they don't, or oftentimes won't. Lack of resources I would guess, but very frustrating for people who know where the thieves have their stuff. Too dangerous for non cops to deal with.

Good grief, Elmer, I didn't think you were that dense. I was wrong. My brother-in-law doesn't get lost every time he goes anywhere by himself. I can say that as someone without dementia, there have been times that I've gotten turned around and disoriented when in a stadium or arena. Nice to know that you are so perfect that the world revolves around you and you are invincible. You remind us of that often enough. Sorry I momentarily forgot.

And, yeah, I can "find" my husband by calling him on the phone, and my brother-in-law can find his son or friends by calling them. But that doesn't help to guide someone in the direction in which they need to drive/walk/travel if you don't know where they are. Sheesh.

" My brother-in-law doesn't get lost every time he goes anywhere by himself. "

How many times does it have to happen before common sense steps in to prevent it ever happening again? Is one more time enough? Two? Does his son get so involved watching the game that he can't spend a few unselfish minutes taking him to the restroom, to insure his father's safety?

Not getting lost at a stadium or arena for those with normal awareness is not difficult. Take your ticket, do you go up or down the aisle to exit, look at the seating sign and other identifying things when you're walking out into the corridor or walkway, then remember the general steps and turns you take and what you pass along the way to your destination. Repeat in reverse order to return to your seat.

Sorry. This is really not hard.

The family wanted the older relative with dementia to enjoy as much of his former life as possible, including sports. He, often able to carry on normally, merely wanted to visit the toilet and was unwilling to interrupt the young man's enjoyment of the game by having to squire him around ... and things didn't work out as he'd hoped.

I hope that I don't have to cope with dementia.

Do you think that it might have helped had he, having brought a clipboard in a bag, drawn a map for himself, Elmer?

o j

.

Try reading my comment again, you've not correctly understood what I said.