Can you assume your life without technology? Could you spend a single day or an hour without a mobile phone? Well the answer is “NO”. Honestly speaking, I cannot even think of spending a single moment without my cell phone. So lets check how to Find your Android device easily – If it is in Silent mode or Lost
In the present world where our lives have been fenced with the canopy of technology, we all have metamorphosed as “Tech-a-holic“. Life around us seems vacant if we do not have our cell phones. In the present scenario, it’s not just about having a cell phone in our pockets, but it’s about having the Smartphone endorsed with a large amount of functionality.
As a matter of fact, Smartphone are really playing a Protagonist in this “Hi-Tech” world. Among all the technology and the OS used in Smartphone, the most prominent and favored OS, Android ranks the highest. The main advantage of “Android-Apps” is the wide availability and the open source software tools which can be used for varied purposes such as downloading, editing and even creating the Android App.
Thus life seems impossible when we do not have android phones in our pockets. But, sometimes in this swift world, we happen to lose our android phones. A sudden throttle chokes our heart. In addition, there are so many times when we keep our phones in silent and forget where we did place it last. This increases the panic and the restlessness among us. But now, we have a solution to all these problems.
With an aim to provide relief from the mental agony inured by the loss of the phone or forgetting the place, Alienman Tech has created a stirring android app, ‘Where’s My Droid‘. As the name suggests, this app helps to identify the device by not only tracking the phone’s location, but also aids to find the misplaced phone. This, special feature provided by ‘Where’s my Droid’ ensures that even if the phone is in the silent mode, it can turn the ringer volume on and make your phone ring. It also tracks the GPS coordinates, thereby helping to provide the exact location of the phone, with the help of Google Maps.
It is one of the finest and simplest Android Apps which not only tracks your phone’s location but also helps you in finding the device when it is in silent mode just by sending a message from any other phone.Thus, user has the freedom to track his or her phone, from anywhere just with a text message “attention”.
Features at a glance |
Ring
The most complacent feature of the phone is the capability to ring at its maximum volume, irrespective of the Mode it is set to.
Setup
Being an Android application, it is easy to install without any additional requirements. The configuration of this app in your phone can be done by following these simple steps:
- Open the app.
- Click the “Ring Setup” button.
- Adjust these settings to your personal needs.
Setting Customizable Ringtone – for Pro or users who register: It offers various features. One of the features is the setting of customizable ringtone. Follow these steps to set up the customizable ringtone.
- Open the app.
- Click the “Ring Setup” button.
- Scroll down till you can click the “Custom Ringtone” button under the Advanced Options section.
- Follow the on screen prompts.
Using the ring feature
Via texting:
This also provides a texting feature in order to save your lost phone. You just need to borrow someone’s cell phone and text the word “attention” on your phone number. As soon as you send the message in your number from any other, the phone will start ringing at the maximum volume, even if it was on the silent mode.
Via Commander:
Another option to get your lost phone is by logging in to the commander option. If you are unable to find your device, then you just need to login to “commander”. After this, you’ll have to follow these steps in order to get your lost phone:
- Login to Commander.
- Click the “Find” link next to your lost device’s name.
- Select the Ring tab.
- Click the “Make device ring” button.
- The lose device will start ringing or the siren will sound, depending on your personal settings, even if your device was set on silent mode!
GPS Feature
The GPS feature will find the geographic location of your phone on a map. The added GPS feature is also helpful to find the lost phone. There may be times, when your lost phone is at a distance away from you and the ringtone cannot be heard. In those situations, the tracking of the phone can be done by the installing the GPS feature in the phone. This can be done by the following steps:
Setup
- Open the app.
- Click on GPS Setup
- Verify the “Enable GPS feature” is checked.
- Click the “Enable Location Services” button and make sure all location settings are enabled.
Using the GPS feature
There are various ways to use the GPS feature of the lost cellphone. It can either be done by texting through someone else’s phone or by logging in to the commander option.
Via texting: In order to use the GPS feature by texting you need to follow the undermentioned steps.
- Borrow someone else’s cell phone.
- Text your GPS attention word (say Find) to your lost device’s phone number.
- Then, you will receive up to four text messages. The first message will inform you the lost device received the message and the app is retrieving the GPS coordinates. When the app gets the lost device’s location it will send the latitude and longitude, a Google map link, and the nearest address back to you.
Via Commander: Another option to get your lost phone through GPS feature is via commander option.
- Login to Commander.
- Click the “Find” link next to your lost device’s name.
- Select the GPS tab.
- Use either the quick or accurate location buttons to get the location of the lost device.
- Quick location will get the location from the device quickly, but the accuracy may not be good.
- Accurate location will take longer to get the location, but it will be the most accurate it can.
- The map will show the location of the device. The red circle indicates the area the device may be in.
Camera Feature
A yet another advanced feature of this phone is the Camera feature. It allows clicking of the pictures of the location which can be useful to see the surroundings of your lost phone. The pictures can be taken by using both the front and the back facing camera. The app will save the image to the SD card and upload it to our servers where only you can view the image with the special link that is sent back to you. The camera feature can be useful to “see” the surroundings of your lost phone.
Setup
- Open the app.
- Click the “Camera” button.
- Verify the “Enable Camera Feature” is checked.
Using the camera feature:
Via texting
- Lose your device.
- Borrow someone else’s cell phone.
- Text your camera attention word to your lost device’s phone number.
- The lost device will take a picture with the chosen camera and save it to the SD card. The app will upload the picture to our servers and then text you back a link to view the picture.
Via Commander
- Lose your device.
- Login to Commander.
- Click the “Find” link next to your lost device’s name.
- Select the Camera tab.
- Use the buttons to take a picture with either the back or front camera.
- The lost device will take a picture with the chosen camera and save it to the SD card. The app will upload the picture to our servers.
- Click the link to view the picture.
Passcode Feature
The Passcode feature makes sure that the settings which have been preset in the app should not be changed by anyone else other than the user. A passcode is nothing but the 4 digit number which enhances the security feature of this application.
- Open the app.
- Click the “Passcode” button.
- Place a check mark next to “Enable Passcode”.
- Click the “Change Passcode” button.
- Type a four digit passcode using the on-screen keypad and click “Next”.
- Re-enter your passcode.
- Enter your email address in the box in case you forget your passcode.
Use passcode
In order to use the passcode feature you will have to enter the 4 digit number which is also known as the PIN number. The application will remain unlocked for ten minutes followed by which it would again go back to the locked state.
Note: The passcode locks the main menu of this app, but it won’t lock the device or prevent the app from being uninstalled.
Lock Feature
This feature will remotely set a screen lock. The screen lock enables the protection of your device from unknown hands. Thus, by enabling this feature you can automatically set up a screen lock from a remote location. Follow the following steps to unlock your phone.
Setup
- Open the app.
- Click the “Lock Setup” button.
- Click “Set Device Admin” (If not already set).
- Select “Activate” to allow ‘where’s My Droid’ to use remote lock and wipe.
- Select “Enable” so that a check mark appears.
Using the lock feature: Whenever you have lost your phone you can use the lock feature either via commander or by the texting.
Via texting
- Borrow someone else’s cell phone.
- Text your lock attention word to your lost device, followed by a 4-6 digit PIN. (Ex. “WMD Lock 1234”)
- Your device will text back confirming the lock or describing problems with the pin.
- To unlock your device, text your unlock attention word. No need for the PIN.
Via Commander
- Lose your device.
- Login to Commander.
- Click the “Find” link next to your lost device’s name.
- Select the Lock tab.
- Type in a 4-6 digit PIN to lock the device with.
- Press the lock button.
- To unlock the device, press the unlock button.
Wipe Feature
A mobile phone is an extremely important tool. It contains your personal information and intimate data. There may be times when even after trying all the things, you are unable to find your lost phone. In such situations your private and personal data, such as personal contacts, pictures and other things can be misused for a wrong reason. This app also provides you an efficient solution for the same.
Remote Wipe will erase the data permanently from your device. But you should use this feature only if you have no chances of finding your lost phone.
Setup
- Open the app.
- Click the “Wipe Setup” button.
- Click “Set Device Admin” (If not already set).
- Select “Activate” to allow ‘Where’s My Droid’ to use remote lock and wipe.
- Place a check mark where you want your information to be wiped: “Device” or “SD Card”
Using the wipe feature:
Via texting
- Lose your device.
- Borrow someone else’s cell phone.
- Text your wipe attention word to your lost device.
- Your device will text back asking you to confirm the wipe.
- Text back “Confirm Remote Wipe” to finalize the process or “No” to cancel it.
- Your device will text back one last time to confirm the remote wipe completed successfully.
Via Commander
- Lose your device.
- Login to Commander.
- Click the “Find” link next to your lost device’s name.
- Select the Wipe tab.
- Click either the “Wipe SD Card” or “Wipe Device” button.
- “Wipe SD Card” will wipe all data from your external and/or internal SD cards.
- “Wipe Device” will perform a factory reset of the device.
- Commander will ask you to confirm the wipe.
Call Feature
The call feature makes a phone on silent/vibrate mode ring at high volume when a call is missed from a special number. This feature works from landlines, while texting is the best way to use the app from a cell phone. These special numbers are fixed by the user themselves. Here are the steps for the same:
Setup
- Open the app on your phone.
- Click the “Call Setup” button.
- Enable the feature by clicking the checkbox.
- Type up to five phone numbers with area codes.
Use Call feature
- Call your phone from the phone number previously set.
- Let it ring a few times.
- Hang up.
- A few seconds later your lost phone will start to ring at full volume.
Note: The call function is activated when you receive a missed call from the preset phone numbers. You may send and receive calls from this number but the call feature will be activated anytime there is a missed call.
SIM Feature
This feature allows you to be notified if someone changes the phone number or SIM card in your device.
Setup
- Open the app on your device.
- Click the “SIM Setup” button.
- Check the “Enable” checkbox.
- Press the “Get Phone Data” button to retrieve data about the device.
- Enter a phone number or email address to get the notification about the change.
- You can test that the text or email gets sent by using the “Test Send” button.
White Black List
‘Where’s My Droid’ can be set up with access restrictions by phone number. The white list only allows the numbers on the list to activate the app. The black list blocks the numbers on the list from activating the app.
- Open the app.
- Click the “White/Black” button.
- Click “Enable” to turn this feature on.
- Select which mode you want to use: White or Black.
- Click how you want to enter the numbers: Manually or From Contacts
- Manually: Type the name and number in the correct boxes and click “OK”.
- From Contacts: Select a name from your contact list and then select the number.
Attention Words
The basic way to use ‘Where’s My Droid’ is to send the attention word via texting. Each attention word will activate a different feature of the app. You can change these attention words to make it easier to remember.
Setup
- Open the app on your device.
- Click the “Attention Words” button.
- You can now set all the attention words for each feature.
New Attention Word/Phrase Guidelines
- Words are not case sensitive.
- Cannot use symbols
- Can be a single word or multiple word phrase (We recommend a phrase.)
- Length must be at least 3 letter and no more than 160
- Can’t use the same attention word as any other feature
You can use the email link at the bottom to have the app email you all your attention words. This way you don’t forget them.
Commander
Commander is the web-based interface you can use to control the app on your device.
Setup
- Open the app on your phone.
- Click the “Commander” button.
- Either create an account, or login to an existing one.
- Create a friendly name for the device.
- You can now control the app via Commander.
Remote Install
If you have already lost your phone and didn’t have ‘Where’s My Droid’ installed, it still might be possible to find your phone.
Note: This version works only for Android 1.6 – 3.1. After version 3.1 Google made it so remote installs of apps like these won’t work.
Setup
- If you are not already logged in to Google you need to log-in in the top right corner of Google Play.
- Once logged in you can click ‘Install’ next to the app icon.
- Next, select your device and click install to accept the permissions.
- Give the app a few minutes to install.
- Text either “wmd ring” to make the device ring at maximum volume or “wmd gps” to get its current location.
Note: You won’t be able to use Commander or email for the lite version. These require advanced setups on the device which can’t be done if you have already lost the phone.
Advanced
In addition to the features listed above, there are many advanced options provided.
Re-Run Setup
This allows you to go through the initial setup of the app again.
Activity Log
This will show who has used the app and when.
Reset Settings
This will put the app back to all the default settings.
Custom Found Button
With Pro, allows you to change what the button shows when using the ring feature.
Stealth Mode
When checked will hide incoming texts that contain an attention word.
Debugging
It is only needed if you are having a problem and have contacted us. It is disabled by default.
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