By When Google launched the Android Device Manager, many users rejoiced. Finally, a built-in solution for finding, locking and securing lost devices. It was great, but the fact that you had to head to a web browser to do anything with it was a bit of a turn-off. A simple bookmark to the device manager site had us techies on our way, but your average Joe probably didn’t care to find and remember the URL.
That should all change with the release of a new app today. Google has released an Android Device Manager app in the Play Store, giving folks a clean, fast and easy interface for locating, wiping, and locking their device from afar. This will likely only be useful to those who use multiple devices (such as the typical smartphone + tablet combo), but we’re glad to have the option.
Simply login with the account associated with the lost device, and you’ll be able to perform the following actions:
- Locate Android devices associated with your Google account
- Reset your device’s screen lock PIN
- Erase all data on the phone
Sold yet? Hit the Google Play Store for the download, and hope that you’ll never have reason to use the app for as long as you have your devices.
still prefer got ya.. it takes pics XD
So does Lookout.
This app is awesome.
I prefer Cerberus myself, a lot more functions.
Love Cerberus. Hope I never have to use it.
Same..
I use mine when I misplace my phone while it’s on silent. Now I use it by default instead of as a last resort because it turns out to be SO much faster than hunting.
Would be nice if I could add another Google account, to locate my wife’s phone, for instance.
Wow..
Wow what?
There are much easier ways of “stalking” your wife.
Yep. The only option now is to add your Google account to her device, with all the security implications that come along with that.
Android lost works fine for me
I still remember when Chris pulled that trick on his sister, I was sold at that point
Security on this thing is next to none. If u don’t setup a lock screen pin anyone can wipe ur device if they get ahold of ur phone/tablet by downloading this app the locating it and wiping.
Indeed. Which reminds me: Wasn’t KitKat supposed to have a feature where it automatically increased/decreased your lockscreen security based on location? Asofnow, we still have to use Tasker + securesettings to, for example, switch off the Pattern/PIN lock when on WiFi (and viceversa)
If the device is off at the time you send a “screen lock” command, it doesn’t lock at all!
This app would be perfect if it also reported the current battery status and IP address of the device.
This is awesome, my friend dropped his phone at a movie theater and we were able to locate the girl who had picked it up from my phone, but it took forever because i had to use an incognito tab in a different browser so it would let me log in with his google account instead of auto logging in with my credentials. this will make it so much easier.