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macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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hipkey-keys.jpg
We've closely covered the emerging class of Bluetooth Smart (4.0) low energy devices that have been slowly coming to market.

Hippih was showing off Hipkey at CES 2013. Hipkey is their version of the digital leash application that allows you to keep your iPhone from getting left behind. The device was already put on sale in the European Online Apple Store in December and quickly sold out. The device will make its debut in the U.S. Apple Online store on January 15th.

Hipkey comes as a small aluminum device that you are meant to attach to your keychain or other personal item. The device will pair up with your iPhone and then provide a digital leash for your device. You can set it to detect between small (2-5m), medium (15-20m) and long (30-50m) distances between the devices and then trigger a sound and vibration alarm. The primary intent is to avoid leaving your iPhone behind. The free to download software seems very well designed and also offers other related functionality.

- Alarm Mode: Warns you if you forget your iPhone or iPad or if someone attempts to steal it.
- Child mode: Alerts you if your child wanders too far away from you.
- Motion Mode: Put hipKey in your bag and you are alerted if someone moves it.
- Find Me Mode: Quickly find your iPhone, iPad or your keys at any time.

Additionally, a "Safe Zone" can be established at any location which prevents the device from triggering automatically at any of the shorter proximities. The device will still trigger if you exceed the longest range. Hipkey incorporates a rechargeable battery that lasts 2-4 weeks and recharges in 4 hours. It will be available on the Online Apple Store on January 15th for $89.99.

Article Link: CES 2013: Hipkey - a 'Bluetooth Smart' Proximity Sensor for iOS Devices
 

iforbes

macrumors 6502
Dec 21, 2011
327
1
Can't wait till these devices are a bit more affordable!

Great idea...too many $s
 

polterbyte

macrumors 6502
Sep 24, 2012
353
538
Brazil
If I understand this correctly, the device uses low consumption bluetooth tech, correct? But it would still rely on the iPhone's traditional bluetooth tech, which still uses quite a lot of juice, right?

So the trade off is between smaller time between charges and not forgetting your phone (or being alerted it's being robbed).

Can someone confirm/dispute this? How much less battery time are we talking about if bluetooth is permanently on?
 

gatearray

macrumors 65816
Apr 24, 2010
1,130
232
Finally, a new product that allows me to shirk my parental duties and rely and "Child Mode" BT to watch my 4 year old at the mall.

Question: In this usage case, which end is my child holding, my iPhone 5 or my car and house keys???

_____

Brilliant idea building this into a keychain, thank god people never misplace and/or lose those things! :)
 

tomegun

macrumors 6502
Sep 29, 2007
347
36
Las Vegas
This is a device that isn't for me.

1. I hate keys...that I have to remove from my pocket. It is 2013, I have two cars that allow me to keep my keys in my pocket and one that doesn't. I have garage door openers, keypads and an alarm for my house.
2. I take my keys out of my pocket and put them in a location in my house. How would this work when I'm moving around the house with my phone?

My wife could use this though. She could put it in her purse and she would be set - when she leaves the house with her purse, she can be sure she has her phone.
 

spillproof

macrumors 68020
Jun 4, 2009
2,028
2
USA
If I understand this correctly, the device uses low consumption bluetooth tech, correct? But it would still rely on the iPhone's traditional bluetooth tech, which still uses quite a lot of juice, right?

So the trade off is between smaller time between charges and not forgetting your phone (or being alerted it's being robbed).

Can someone confirm/dispute this? How much less battery time are we talking about if bluetooth is permanently on?

The iPhone 5 uses 4.0, the same low power operation.
 

OldSchoolMacGuy

Suspended
Jul 10, 2008
4,197
9,050
4 hours to charge? That's a really long time for something that has such a small battery and draws so little power.
 

bid2ask77

macrumors regular
Jun 29, 2010
139
0
New York
added feature

would be nice if it could lock your phone if it moves to far away or puts an alert on the phone.
 

xraydoc

Contributor
Oct 9, 2005
10,740
5,168
192.168.1.1
This is a device that isn't for me.

1. I hate keys...that I have to remove from my pocket. It is 2013, I have two cars that allow me to keep my keys in my pocket and one that doesn't. I have garage door openers, keypads and an alarm for my house.
2. I take my keys out of my pocket and put them in a location in my house. How would this work when I'm moving around the house with my phone?

My wife could use this though. She could put it in her purse and she would be set - when she leaves the house with her purse, she can be sure she has her phone.

The description said that it can be automatically disabled at a specific location (like home) where your keys and phone may be separated.

But, yes, this is something my wife could use as well.
 

r00fus

macrumors regular
May 23, 2009
128
8
Cuckoo Keyfob has better features

Although this hipkey looks nicer, I must admit.
http://www.connectedevice.com/cookoo-keyfob/

Pros for Cookoo:
1) remote camera trigger feature
2) standard replaceable battery, 1 year standby
3) $40 - half the price

Pros for HipKey
1) looks hipper
2) geofencing capabilities sound more mature
3) rechargeable battery
 

tod

macrumors regular
Oct 3, 2009
162
100
Ohio
Apple R&D needs to buy a few of these... might prevent any more prototypes from getting lost in bars!
 

mabhatter

macrumors 65816
Jan 3, 2009
1,022
388
The description said that it can be automatically disabled at a specific location (like home) where your keys and phone may be separated.

But, yes, this is something my wife could use as well.

HOME is where I lose my keys most often!
 

biggrim

macrumors member
Jan 11, 2009
65
7
Glasgow, Scotland
Could this be left in the car or under a motorbike seat (in close proximity to the house/office) as a suppliment to an alarm? So if someone tries to pick my bike up to load it into a van my phone will alert me? If so, I'll need to look into this more closely.
 

needfx

Suspended
Aug 10, 2010
3,931
4,247
macrumors apparently
Finally, a new product that allows me to shirk my parental duties and rely and "Child Mode" BT to watch my 4 year old at the mall.

Question: In this usage case, which end is my child holding, my iPhone 5 or my car and house keys???

_____

Brilliant idea building this into a keychain, thank god people never misplace and/or lose those things! :)

This is a device that isn't for me.

1. I hate keys...that I have to remove from my pocket. It is 2013, I have two cars that allow me to keep my keys in my pocket and one that doesn't. I have garage door openers, keypads and an alarm for my house.
2. I take my keys out of my pocket and put them in a location in my house. How would this work when I'm moving around the house with my phone?

My wife could use this though. She could put it in her purse and she would be set - when she leaves the house with her purse, she can be sure she has her phone.

you can NOT use it as a keychain I suppose.

Kensington's Proximo looks better.

nope

Although this hipkey looks nicer, I must admit.
http://www.connectedevice.com/cookoo-keyfob/

nope again

--
they should make a tv/dvd/apple tv/whatever remote version
 

TrentS

macrumors 6502
Sep 24, 2011
491
238
Overland Park, Kansas
Wait, Where's My iPhone!?

This will be a mandatory device for all those Apple techs carrying around iPhone prototypes to restaurants and such!

:D :D :D :D




This product would be much better if it could be molded into your house key.
 
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