Tag Archives: location

Pebblebee trackers can find items with the new Google Find My Device network

Posted on by

Although Bluetooth item trackers existed long before, Apple really took things up a notch with the AirTags. Of course, what made these small discs really valuable wasn’t just their minimalist design but their use of Apple’s crowd-sourced Find My network. This system basically utilized the large number of iOS devices spread throughout the world to pinpoint the tracker’s location accurately and quickly. It was a long time coming, but Google finally launched its own version of that network, unsurprisingly dubbed “Find My Device,” and soon Android phone owners will also be able to locate lost wallets, misplaced remote controls, stolen bags, or any other items with these upcoming “item finders” designed for every need and purpose.

Designer: Pebblebee

It’s almost a meme about how remote controls tend to get sucked into the black hole that is the living room couch, but having no way to control a TV or entertainment system is no laughing matter. The new Pebblebee Tag for Android makes that problem a thing of the past by letting you stick a thin 40mm x 26mm (1.57in x 1.02in) black rectangle on the remote so that you can easily locate it later, even if it’s buried under cushions and pillows. Given its small size, it’s also trivial to slip this tracker in pockets, bags, and suitcases so that you’ll never accidentally forget them in the coffee shop ever again.

That Tag might be a tad too thick for your wallet, but the Pebblebee Card has you covered on that front. No larger than a credit card, this 2.8mm (0.11in) super-thin tracker promises to save you from the stress and fear of losing one of the most important objects in your life. And just like the Tag, it can be easily used for bags, laptop sleeves, and other slim spaces to give you that same peace of mind.

Keys are also often misplaced even at home, turning late mornings into frantic searchers for the small objects that give access to the car or, worse, the door. With a whole that’s perfect for a keyring or carabiner, the Pebblebee Clip makes sure that no item will ever be permanently lost. That includes anything with a hook, a zipper, or a hole that this small circle can attach to without getting in your way, like suitcase zippers or handles, bag straps, and bicycle handlebars.

All three Pebblebee trackers can be charged wirelessly and their batteries can last from 8 to 18 months before you actually need to put it down on the magnetic wireless charger again. With a bright LED and a loud melody, you can easily pinpoint the tracker’s location if it’s nearby, while Google’s new Find My Device network gives you global coverage if it is out of the 300ft Bluetooth range. All trackers are IPX6 water resistant, so you don’t have worry to too much about exposing them to the weather, and their minimalist design makes them fit with almost any object. The trackers also work with Pebblebee’s own mobile app, though they aren’t compatible with Apple’s Find My system.

The post Pebblebee trackers can find items with the new Google Find My Device network first appeared on Yanko Design.

This emergency flashlight doubles as a desk lamp and has built-in sensors to indicate the safest evacuation routes!

Posted on by

Strix is an emergency flashlight that uses integrated sensors to provide building occupants with the safest and most efficient evacuation route during emergency situations.

Emergency situations have a way of testing our fight or flight responses. But then, some of us freeze. No matter the disaster, evacuations require quick thinking that panic tends to stifle and it’s no secret that emergencies bring out the panic.

High-rise offices and public buildings are especially vulnerable to emergency situations, requiring mass evacuations in the worst cases. Providing a means for building occupants to evacuate safely, Hanyoung Lee designed Strix, a desk lamp that transforms into an emergency flashlight that reveals the most efficient evacuation routes during disaster situations.

Given a modular build, the original form of Strix is a nondescript desk lamp with an attached light diffuser that offers a moody counterpart to Strix’s primary function.

Once disaster hits and an evacuation is required, Strix transforms into an emergency flashlight that reveals the quickest, safest way out of the building. Guiding users to safety, Lee linked Strix with the building’s programmed evacuation route systems that come alight via LED light indicators.

As opposed to following LED light strips, similar to those found in airplane aisles, Strix is handheld and portable, allowing users to bring it anywhere. While light strips are helpful in their own light, the portability feature of Strix might come in handy in the case that various evacuation routes are blocked.

During these situations, Strix adjusts the evacuation route the same way your GPS might when you take a wrong turn.

Describing the programmed evacuation light indicator, Lee notes, “The Strix sensor operates based on the beacon system to provide the user with the optimal evacuation route. It consists of a sensor that functions as a real-time location tracking [device,] as well as a sensor that shows an induction road on the floor.”

Designer: Hanyoung Lee

When there’s no emergency, Strix functions as a casual desk lamp with an attached light diffuser. 

The internal workings of Strix link up with each building’s programmed evacuation route systems. 

A charging station allows users to keep Strix full of battery for when disaster hits. 

Available in an array of different colors, Strix can match the tone of your office for use as a desk lamp. 

The light diffuser readily detaches from the flashlight for use during emergencies. 

The post This emergency flashlight doubles as a desk lamp and has built-in sensors to indicate the safest evacuation routes! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Minneapolis police used Google location data to find George Floyd protesters

Posted on by
Law enforcement has used Google location data to target suspects before, but that now includes people at large-scale protests. TechCrunch has learned that Minneapolis police used a search warrant to obtain geofenced location info in hopes of identify...

Demographic report on protests shows how much info our phones give away

Posted on by
If you marched in recent Black Lives Matter protests in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis or New York, there’s a chance the mobile analytics company Mobilewalla gleaned demographic data from your cellphone use. Last week, Mobilewalla released a repor...