If you have either the Echo from Amazon or the Google Home device, you likely already use it to play music, get news updates, and ask for information about the weather, but thanks to integration with the If This Then That (IFTTT) platform, you can do much more—including finding your phone when it’s lost.
Setting up either device to ring your phone when it’s fallen into the Bermuda Triangle of devices takes a few steps, but they’re fairly straightforward and once complete, will make getting your iPhone or Android back in your hands as simple as speaking a short phrase out loud.
First, a bit about IFTTT.
IFTTT is a free online platform that lets you take advantage of applets you either create yourself, or select from pre-made offerings. Applets are basically short sets of instructions that tie different Internet-connected devices or services together. So, for example, you could get WiFi-enabled lights in your home to turn on when your WiFi-connected front door lock is opened. For either Google Home or Amazon Echo to be able to find a lost phone, you’ll need to create different applets. Here’s how.
Google Home
You’ll first need to sign up for an account (or log into an existing account) at IFTTT. Once that’s taken care of, click on “Search” at the top of the screen and enter “Google Assistant.” Google Assistant is Google’s answer to Siri, a voice-activated responsive search feature.
Advertisement
Once you get to the screen showing a range Google services, click on Google Assistant. You’ll then be asked to choose which Google account you’d like to use with this service. Be sure to pick the same account you have already linked to your Google Home device.
Next, go back to the search feature and look for “Phone Call.” On the resultant screen, click on “Phone Call (US Only)“ (yes, this feature only works for US residents). You’ll then need to go through a verification process in which you’ll enter your phone number and receive a call back with a PIN number. Enter that number where prompted, and you’ll be good to go with the Phone Call service.
Advertisement
Normally, you’d have to now link the two services together to create an applet, but that’s already been taken care of you by Google, so all you need to do is visit that applet page and click “turn on.” You can then leave the applet as is, or you can customize it by clicking the gear icon in the upper right corner of the black box. Do so, and you’ll see three different phrases you can speak to find your phone. You can leave those as they are, or you can customize them in any way you’d like by changing the text. You can also enter in the phrase you’d like your Home device to speak back to you after it has recognized your command, as well as the message you’ll hear should you choose to answer your phone when it rings.
Amazon Echo
The setup for Echo is much the same as for Google Home. You’ll need to also enable the Phone Call service, so follow the instructions above to make that happen.
Then, simply click here to access the applet and click the “turn on” button. You’ll then be able to enter the phrase that will initiate the applet that will, again, ring your phone if it is lost. Unlike Google home, you will have to use the Echo phrase “trigger” before any chosen phrase. So for example, if you want the phrase to be “I lost it again,” you’ll need to say: “Alexa, trigger I lost it again.” You can also customize the message you’ll hear if you answer your phone when it rings.
Advertisement
With both applets, you can check to see if they are working by clicking the “Check now” button and watching for the results in a band that will flash across the top of the screen.
Also, it’s important to remember that these will only work providing your phone still has power left, has its ringer turned on, and is not in “do not disturb” mode.
from Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com
via IFTTT