When Samsung announced the Galaxy S21, it also launched the SmartTag, a Bluetooth object-finding tag, probably because of its general appearance, not a new technology, and not as loud as a mobile phone. However, there have been rumors that Apple will also launch such a find tag, and it still has certain practicality. Here, let everyone know about this thing through trial. Use what you get to see the experience, and use what you don't use as a shortcut to supplement knowledge.

What is SmartTag?

How to set it?

How to know where something is? How to find it?

What can you do other than find something?

Is it really possible to find something? How is it different from Tile?

what is this?

We all know that Google has a "find my device" function. You can view the location of the mobile phone that is logged in to the Google account and has a connection on the browser. Mobile phone manufacturers will also do similar functions, such as Samsung mobile phone settings→ In biometrics and security, you can turn on the search function, and SmartTag is also a similar object-finding device.

SmartTag is a bluetooth tag. BC237C uses bluetooth to connect with a mobile phone, and with its dedicated App (SmartThings), you can check the location of the tag. If you bind the tag to any device without bluetooth, it is an anti-lost device that can find the location. . For example, tied to pets, key rings or bags, luggage...etc. A similar product that we all know is Tile.

By attaching the tag to the unconnected small object, you can track and find the location of the small object on the mobile phone/App.

SmartTag is paired with Samsung's "SmartThings" App. After the connection is completed, you can see in the program whether the tag and the phone are connected (whether the icon is bright or gray), and which address is near and last connected. Location.

This feature is called SmartThings Find, not only the label, but also the Bluetooth connection of the mobile phone, or a device that has a Samsung account logged in and the "Find My Phone" function enabled.

The Bluetooth version is currently on the market, and Samsung will launch a SmartTag that supports UWB/UWB in the future.

The former can only know how far the object is from you indoors, and you are getting further or closer to the object, while the latter can know exactly where the object is in the room. In terms of intelligence, using UWB technology to find things is a more practical SmartTag.

There have been rumors that Apple will also launch a tag "AirTag" that uses UWB technology to locate objects, and it may be released in March, so we will wait and see.

How to set it?

First, connect the SmartTag to the mobile phone. The mobile phone here is limited to Samsung's mobile phone or tablet.

The basic steps are:

1.) Update the SmartThings App on your phone to the latest version.

2.) Open the SmartThings App and Bluetooth, then long press the button in the middle of the SmartTag.

3.) Normally, a window will pop up, saying that SmartTag can be added when detected. If it does not pop out of the window, add it manually.

Click the + sign in the upper right corner, select the tracker in the home appliances, or scan the QR Code on the SmartTag.

After that, let it set automatically. After completion, you can see the label in the SmartThings App. You can name it yourself, or put the label of each small object on the desktop for easy search at any time.

SmartTag uses low-power Bluetooth, which consumes very little power. A button battery can be used for a long time. The specification is marked as 300 days, which can be used for a long time. In the SmartThings App, you can still view the battery information. You can check it after using it for a long time, lest the Tag will fail completely without power...

How to know where something is? How to find it?

Use the connection status to detect if something is dropped? Where is it?

The app shows that something is nearby, and the location has just been updated, and it is in the same location as the phone on the map, which means that the phone and the Tag are not disconnected, and the thing is still nearby, but I don't know where it is.

Because there is no disconnection, no loss notification will be issued, so it is usually found only after you can't find it.

If you find that the thing is still at home, at this time, you can click "Search Nearby Areas" on the map screen, and such a bluetooth signal strength indicator will appear. You can walk around and see where the signal is strong, the thing is there There.

If the signal is strong and you know it's nearby, but you just can't see where it's placed, click the ringtone again and let the SmartTag emit a high-pitched ringtone to summon you.

SmartTag uses Bluetooth 5.0. The specification indicates that the effective connection range is 120 meters, and the connection can be maintained during normal activities on the same floor. But when you go upstairs or downstairs, or where you turn a few walls, the line will be disconnected.

If the phone and the Tag are disconnected, it means that the small object is not nearby and is lost somewhere. (Unless the phone disappears with the Tag package...)

At this time, the App will show that it is not nearby, the map will also show that it was updated a few minutes ago, and the icon will also turn gray.

Even so, a last-connected address is displayed on the map, letting you know where things are left.

At this time, you go to that place first, to the range of activity in your memory, and then click "Search Nearby Area" to open the signal meter, although when the connection is not restored, it will display the time countdown and keep searching for tags. Signal, once approached, the phone and the Tag will automatically restore the connection, and then you can find the actual location of the object by checking the signal strength and letting the Tag ring.

However, at present, after the mobile phone and the Tag are disconnected, the reminder notification will not pop up, and the reminder function of the lost warning and the proximity notification will be updated after April.

But there may be a situation where things are dropped on the vehicle, or taken away by someone. In short, for various reasons, it is not the first scene of your loss.

So what should we do? It depends on everyone's strength.

Like Tile, SmartTag also has a function to help you find the location of the Tag through passers-by using Galaxy mobile phones and tablets. Samsung calls it "offline search".

The basic operation is that when the Tag is forgotten by you and disconnected from you, every 15 minutes, it will send out a BLE signal every time, if there is also a person using a Galaxy phone nearby, the Tag can be located through that person's mobile phone, and then An encrypted notification can be sent to you through the person's mobile phone, telling you that the Tag is here, and you need to enter the password to see the search information.

Of course, to complete this perfect search, several conditions must be met at the same time:

1.) There is a Galaxy phone user nearby and the phone is turned on.

2.) This user has enabled Allow Offline Search. On the Tag map screen → three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Allow devices to be searched → Enable offline search. This step means that you agree to be one of the members of the Bluetooth network for offline search.

What can you do other than find something?

You can also find a mobile phone in turn to control smart home appliances.

In the Tag's settings screen, after enabling "Open Tracking Tag to Find Your Device", you can use this Tag to find your mobile phone that you put around. When you want to find it, press the Tag twice, and the phone will call you with a loud ringtone.

Not only can you find the phone connected to Tag, but you can also set up to find other devices that are logged in with the same Samsung account.... (Let me rename all devices to God of Fortune!!)

In addition, because SmartTag is connected to the SmartThings App, it can also be used to remotely control home appliances or sensors that are also managed by SmartThings. It can be a control switch, activate a situational mode, or let the smart speaker play any message.

So is it really possible to find something? How is it different from Tile?

Back to the title question, can Tag really help you find your lost property?

Whether it can actually be found, I think it depends on where it fell (well... the Tag has power).

Dropped near the surroundings, there are two very useful tools for signal strength and ringing. You should be able to find them. They are very useful for people who have poor memory and often put them at random.

If it falls outside, it depends on the accuracy of the final positioning. If the displayed address is indeed the place where you haunted, and the label has not been removed, it will take time, but the chances of finding it are not small.

But how will positioning accuracy be affected?

What is the positioning capability of the mobile phone? Was it located indoors or outdoors? After the final positioning, did it go to a place with no signal in the basement? Or are there other Galaxy users nearby to help you search?...etc. Factors affecting the last address.

Overall, although not 100%, this kind of label is still helpful for retrieving things.

A few years ago, I lost my Apple Watch at a conference. Although I started searching and made the watch ring, the venue was very loud and noisy. I still couldn't hear the Apple Watch's call for help. Now that I think about it, if there was a similar situation at that time. With a signal strength dashboard like SmartTag, maybe I can know which direction I should look for without hearing the bell.

So I personally think the intensity meter is really a good tool.

Tile can also be strapped to a Galaxy phone, so is there any functional difference between the two?

Yes, there are many differences in functional details. For example, Tile has location history records, reminders for forgetting to take away from the set location, integration with voice assistants, etc., but I also feel that it is necessary to remind that compared with Samsung, which regards SmartTag as a member of smart accessories, Tile is designed for defense. The company that lost the plan, and the service is charged for subscription, of course, it needs to do more and more perfect.

However, I personally think that SmartTag can optimize the method of obtaining the correct address and make this tool more practical. (This is actually a challenge for all mobile phone manufacturers to obtain accurate addresses)

Sometimes, the location address displayed by SmartTag is different from that of Google Maps (Google location is more accurate). And more often, what is displayed on the map is a nearby address, which is not 100% the address you are staying, and it is still a problem to really find something.

Google Maps has a timeline function. The captured activity track addresses and stores are usually very accurate. If you can borrow this technology when displaying the Tag address, it will be more practical.

Or there is a "Manage Location" setting on Tile, which allows you to enter the addresses you often stay at, such as the addresses of your company and your home. See exactly where.

Our daily haunts may be quite fixed in those few places. Sometimes we don’t lose them, but just forget to bring them out. If we can accurately show whether the things are still in these common places, it may be more reassuring (there is no need to rush to report the loss). credit card...)

Well, some simple sharing, but in the end I still think that UWB, which can display the tag of where and where things are indoors, is the ideal tag for finding objects in my mind.

Wait for the UWB version of SmartTag~ By the way, the Galaxy phones that currently support UWB are Note20 Ultra, S21 Ultra, S21+ and Z Fold 2.