Key Takeaways
1. Samsung’s SmartTag 2 is compatible only with Galaxy devices, limiting its use for other Android phones and iPhones.
2. The uTag app, developed by Kieron Quinn, allows Samsung SmartTags to work with any Android device.
3. uTag replicates features of the SmartThings app, enabling efficient tracking of SmartTags on non-Galaxy phones.
4. Unique features of uTag include location history, biometric access, offline support, and widgets, which are not available in the SmartThings app.
5. There are concerns about Samsung potentially disabling uTag’s functionality, but the app may help attract more users to the SmartTag 2 tracker.
In 2021, Samsung introduced its first tracker, the Galaxy SmartTag and SmartTag Plus. However, these trackers were designed to work exclusively with Samsung’s Galaxy devices. When the SmartTag 2 was unveiled in October 2023, it continued this trend of limited compatibility, only supporting Galaxy devices and leaving out other Android phones and iPhones. Recently, a developer has created an app that enables Samsung SmartTags to function with any Android device.
Introducing uTag
This new app, developed by Kieron Quinn, is called uTag, which stands for Universal Tag. The purpose of uTag is to mimic the SmartThings Find app that is used to track SmartTags. If you try to use a SmartTag on a phone that isn’t a Galaxy device, you’ll see an error message stating that the tracker is only compatible with Galaxy devices running Android 9 or higher.
Once you install the uTag app, it also installs a patch for the SmartThings app that bypasses the device check, allowing users to add and set up a SmartTag. However, this addresses just one part of the issue.
The Functionality of uTag
As per Quinn, the user interface (UI) for tracking a SmartTag in the SmartThings app relies on various OneUI-specific packages and frameworks. Therefore, it’s not surprising that it wouldn’t work on a non-Galaxy phone. This is where uTag steps in, replacing the SmartThings app for tracking a connected SmartTag effectively.
Quinn mentions that uTag replicates nearly all the features available to Samsung devices using SmartTags, including precise tracking for phones equipped with ultra-wide band (UWB) technology, such as the Pixel 9 Pro.
Unique Features of uTag
The uTag app comes with a variety of capabilities, including viewing tag locations and details, ringing a tag, setting a tag’s ringtone and volume, and searching for nearby tags. It also allows users to contribute to the Find my Everything network.
Several features are present in uTag that are missing from the SmartThings app. These include widgets that show tag locations and location history, biometric access for the app, the ability to export location history, and offline location support, enabling users to see their tag’s last known position and search nearby even when not connected to the internet.
uTag can be downloaded from GitHub and is open-source, allowing users to verify its authenticity. Since users need to log into their Samsung account to utilize it, this raises some privacy concerns. The app is compatible with devices running Android 11 and up, but doesn’t necessitate rooting.
Future Considerations
There are worries that Samsung might disable the API supporting uTag’s functionality. However, since this development also benefits Samsung by attracting more users to their SmartTag 2 tracker (currently priced at $22.80 on Amazon), it’s hoped that the app will continue to function without interruption.
Source:
Link