Google’s Find Hub app is getting a button that’ll let you directly request your contacts’ locations. Find Hub already lets users share their real-time location with each other, but according to an APK teardown from Android Authority, it should soon be easier to get contacts who you’re sharing your own location with to share theirs with you as well.
Currently, when you’re sharing your location with a contact in Find Hub, that contact will see the option to share their own location with you in turn. But on your end, there’s only the option to end sharing your location — no way to directly request that the other party share their location as well. You can always text or call them to ask, but that could be a bit of a hassle.
But in the latest version of Find Hub, Android app whiz AssembleDebug managed to enable an interface that includes a prominent button labeled Request location. When the button is tapped, Find Hub will display a confirmation dialog asking whether you really want to request the other party’s location. If you proceed, your contact will be notified and given the opportunity to share their location with you.
It’s important to stress that this won’t let you unilaterally retrieve anyone’s location without their consent. Requesting a contact’s location will only prompt them to share it, and they’ll be presented the option to decline.
A big day for Find Hub updates-in-progress
This news comes on the heels of another Android Authority report that indicates Google is actively working to add satellite location sharing to Find Hub. It’s not evident from these APK teardowns when any of these features will roll out publicly.
We may hear more about Find Hub updates at the upcoming Made by Google event, which is scheduled for August 20.
