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AirTag Includes U1 Chip for 'Precision Finding' Feature

So Apple releases the Find My network for third parties...

...then immediately abuses its competitive advantage by including proprietary chip technology that makes it far better and more useful than every other product that can use the Find My network.

And for what? To scrape up $29 sales? I feel really bad for anyone in the tracker tag business.

This has anti-trust law suits written all over it.
 
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I'm excited about these but then I pause... what will I really use them for? Ok, keys I get that but they will require a pretty significant addition to the keyring. What else? Let's get off the hype train from Apple and shout out some examples of how to use them... I think I'll get a 4 pack and see how they fit in my life, but I'm not sure just how useful they will be to me.
 
Pirate! said:
how well should I expect this to work in a parking garage if I leave one in my car? Is that realistic? What’s the max distance without another phone nearby?

also trying to think of how I can attach one to my wife’s sunglasses without it being too goofy 🙃
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I don’t think people are understanding how these work. If you are near you can use them to find items. If they are lost of stolen, the find my encrypted network of iPhones kicks in and they will relay where your item is.. It has basically two use cases. Each work in different ways, but both work off any nearby iphone
 
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jmh600cbr said:
Does the new Apple TV remote have u1?
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the apple.com spec page says nothing about it at all. I'd imagine it would have been called out somewhere if it did... crazy. apple should be putting the tech in every small object from AirPods cases to Siri remotes and more...
 
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adrianlondon said:
Unfortunately they won't work as an anti-theft device. Let's say you have it on your bike and someone steals it.

Shortly after they ride off, if they own an iPhone, the anti-tracking feature will turn on and their phone will alert them to the fact they're with a tracker that isn't theirs. If they ignore the phone alert., the tracker then starts to emit a noise.

So it's useless as a theft deterrent, unless the person who steals your stuff has an android phone :)
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Did I miss something in the presentation where it shows OTHER PEOPLE's tags??

Edit: Yep, this is what I get for working (napping?) instead of reading up before commenting. :p
 
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Geckotek said:
Doesn't work that way at all. Tracking items you don't own does not alert you.
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apple Website:
AirTag is designed to discourage unwanted tracking. If someone else’s AirTag finds its way into your stuff, your iPhone will notice it’s traveling with you and send you an alert. After a while, if you still haven’t found it, the AirTag will start playing a sound to let you know it’s there.

Of course, if you happen to be with a friend who has an AirTag, or on a train with a whole bunch of people with AirTag, don’t worry. These alerts are triggered only when an AirTag is separated from its owner.
 
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Geckotek said:
Doesn't work that way at all. Tracking items you don't own does not alert you.
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yes, it kinda does. to preserve privacy if a tag you DON'T own moves with you for a period of time your iPhone will alert you AND the tag will emit a sound. the idea is to prevent someone from slipping a tag into your pocket or bag and stalking you without your knowledge. now he is saying if the thief STEALS your item with the tag it could in theory alert him he is being tracked to preserve his privacy... at which time he will dump your item or tag...
 
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canyonblue737 said:
the apple.com spec page says nothing about it at all. I'd imagine it would have been called out somewhere if it did... crazy. apple should be putting the tech in every small object from AirPods cases to Siri remotes and more...
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Odd since that's been the rumor all along. Wonder if it's there but not activated at launch? Or perhaps the rumors were just wrong. :(
 
canyonblue737 said:
yes, it kinda does. to preserve privacy if a tag you DON'T own moves with you for a period of time your iPhone will alert you AND the tag will emit a sound. the idea is to prevent someone from slipping a tag into your pocket or bag and stalking you without your knowledge. now he is saying if the thief STEALS your item with the tag it could in theory alert him he is being tracked to preserve his privacy... at which time he will dump your item or tag...
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Ok, I've somehow missed this. Missed the beginning of the presentation. Gotta go back and watch it now. Sucks if true as one of my goals was to track my camera bag if stolen.
 
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PhoenixDown said:
Ive been wanting to see if I can add this to my snowboard. Thefts are up a lot.
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A snowboard??? Pretty sure a thief would see an airtag stuck to a snowboard and discard it pretty promptly. Can't see how that would deter or catch a thief.
 
Geckotek said:
Did I miss something in the presentation where it shows OTHER PEOPLE's tags??
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Not show other peoples tags but alert you if a tag that you have not associated with you traveling in the same path as you over time. So, if someone planted one in your car for example, it should tell you or at least stop telling it about you. It was covered quickly so time will tell but earlier today seems Samsung made the same announcement.
 
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SBlue1 said:
That's my problem as well. I would like to use them to protect something like my bicycle. A thief will be notified there is a tracker inside and will just find it and discard it. Wtf??
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I agree with all of this. there may be ways to deal with this using software though, at least in part. so alert that your device is moving, and maybe a change in the logic if you then notify that your device is missing or stolen, and then the delay in how long it takes in the possession of the thief before it notifies the thief (which could be a day or two, and not 5 minutes).
 
Although it still allows abuse in tracking, do you think a tag would act differently if the owner marks it as "stolen"? Perhaps then alerting the thief (via anti-tracking) is suppressed or altered?
 
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canyonblue737 said:
I'm excited about these but then I pause... what will I really use them for? Ok, keys I get that but they will require a pretty significant addition to the keyring. What else? Let's get off the hype train from Apple and shout out some examples of how to use them... I think I'll get a 4 pack and see how they fit in my life, but I'm not sure just how useful they will be to me.
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I was thinking these would be cool to include with or attach to luggage while flying. It would be really helpful should your luggage get lost. While not all of us travel often, it could be especially useful for business travels who fly regularly.

Also, I wonder if you could attach one to the collar of a pet?

It could also be handy for those that consistently set down backpacks or purses, and forget.
 
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