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Have you ever wanted to unlock your car with your phone?
Sounds futuristic, doesn’t it? Well, the future is upon us, thanks to UWB.
Too: How to find out which apps are draining your Android phone’s battery
UWB stands for Ultra Wide Band and is used as a short range wireless communication protocol to track the location of objects. UWB measures how long it takes a short radio pulse to travel from one device to another by counting locations less than half an inch apart. The UWB was originally designed as a means of transferring data, but its ability to track very precise positions has made it quite useful for modern equipment.
One of the most widespread uses of UWB is apple airtags, And technology is catching up. Another exciting use of UWBs is unlocking cars and smart homes. Automakers such as BMW, Audi, Ford and Hyundai already claim that UWB-equipped devices will one day serve as digital keys to unlock cars. Other use cases include things like keyless entry for homes, manufacturing and logistics, sports, asset tracking and more.
Both iOS and Android devices are capable of using UWB. However, the list of phones that work with UWB is surprisingly small and includes the following phones:
- Apple iphone 11, 12, 13And 14
- apple watch Series 6, 7, 8, and Ultra.
- google pixel 6 pro And 7 pro,
- samsung galaxy note 20, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Fold 4,
- Xiaomi Mix 4.
If you have one of the above phones, you can use the UWB to unlock your car and do other important things. Of course, not every car works with UWB. For example, my Mini Cooper is too old and not supported. On the other hand, my wife’s car works. The good news is that UWB is taking off fast and you should expect more cars and more devices to support the technology. And because the UWB is so accurate at locating locations, you can be sure it’ll find even more use cases in the near future.
For example, with UWB enabled, cars will (eventually) be able to recognize your device as you get close enough to your phone and automatically unlock it for you. I imagine this feature would put a stop to too many thriller movies and TV series where the bad guys kidnap or attack someone struggling to unlock their car.
Also: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Android Phone’s Security Today
Comment: Even if your phone is listed above, the UWB may not be fully functional yet. For example, the Samsung S21 is listed and UWB is found in the Android settings. However, when you search for UWB in the Settings app, it will show up but take you to the Connections page, where there is no UWB listed. Even though the S21 is listed as supported, Samsung has only rolled it out for the S21+ and S21 Ultra. So, if you don’t find the UWB option available in a phone listed as supported, expect it to arrive eventually in an update.
The UWB range looks something like this:
- Range: 30-600 ft (10-200 m)
- Accuracy: 0.1−0.5 m (0.33−1.64 ft)
The UWB not only has good range, but is also very accurate.
Too: 7 things you didn’t know your phone could do
Although a small percentage of Android phones support UWB, you’ll want to know how to enable it (if your car supports the feature). Let me show you how it’s done.
how to enable uwb on android
what you’ll need: To enable UWB, you’ll need an Android device that supports the protocol. I’ll show it to you pixel 7 pro Running Android 13.
First of all you have to open the Settings app. To do so, open your app drawer and then find and tap Settings Launcher.
From within the Settings app, tap Connected devices, and then tap Connection preferences.
Access to the UWB feature is found within the Connections preferences in Android 13. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
At the bottom of the Connection Preferences page, you’ll see a UWB entry. To enable the feature, tap the On/Off slider until it is in the On position.
Enabling UWB on Pixel 7 Pro running Android 13. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
At this point, UWB is now enabled.
If your car supports the protocol, you should be able to set it to automatically unlock as soon as a car approaches.
Also read: Best home EV chargers compared
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you’ll probably need to install an app for your car or set up the feature through your auto’s system. The process for this will vary from car to car, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions on pairing your phone and car together.
