Android Device Manager now live, helps you track a lost device

Following the announcement made by
Google, last week, Android Device
Manager has now been rolled out to
Android devices including smartphones
and tablets. The web interface to
locate and track the devices is also
now live on google.com/android/
devicemanager .
To verify if it's enabled, you can go to
the Settings menu on your device and
then tap on Security. You'll find the a
Device administrators setting and
after tapping on it, you should see the
'Android Device Manager.' You just
need to enable it by tapping on the
checkbox.
After enabling the feature, you'll be
able to see your device on the web
interface. You'll also be able to track
its location on Google maps, ring the
device at full volume for five minutes
and even erase all the data. The web
interface allows you to track multiple
Android devices through a drop-down
menu and you can also rename your
Android devices through it.
To enable the erase data option on
Nexus devices, you'll need to enable
factory reset on your device through
the 'Google Settings' app on your
device and clicking on the tick box
within Android Device Manager.
It's also worth noting that location
tracking might not work if Google
location settings have not been
enabled. You can enable these settings
through the 'Location' menu from the
Google Settings app to allow Google
services to track your location.
The service is available for all Android
2.2 and above devices so it will benefit
a large number of users. However, the
phone must be connected to the
Internet to benefit from it.
Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry have
been offering online utilities, namely
Find My iPhone, BlackBerry Protect,
and Find My Phone, respectively, that
let owners of phones track the location
of their handsets, lock them, trigger
an alarm and wipe data remotely, for
a long time.
Google is late to the party, however,
making the utility a part of Android
would benefit a large number of users.
Handset makers like Samsung and HTC
already offer similar tools with their
Android phones. Sony had also started
rolling out its remote security service
"my Xperia," in July.
While third-party services offered by
companies like McAfee, Norton,
Quickheal and Kaspersky, among others
also offer mobile security services,
they charge users a one time or
recurring fee.