AirTag Precision Finding Interface Includes Hidden 'Developer Mode'

[MacRumors]

A frustrated AirTag owner has inadvertently discovered the existence of a hidden "developer mode" in the on-screen interface that Find My displays when the Precision Finding feature is activated to help locate one of Apple's item trackers.

Precision Finding is a feature that provides users with specific on-screen directions for finding a nearby AirTag. iPhones with a U1 chip, which includes the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 models, can take advantage of the feature, which combines camera input, AR, sound, Ultra Wideband radio technology, and haptic feedback to help locate the item tracker.

The hidden mode's overlay, which appears after tapping the item's name four times in the Precision Finding interface, displays real-time diagnostic and technical information about the feature's operation, including accelerometer and gyroscope coordinates, haptic feedback, screen resolution, tracking animations, and more.

Reddit user "cyem" stumbled upon the hidden mode after becoming frustrated with the performance of their AirTag, particularly when Precision Finding is activated. The user has also posted a video showing it in action.

My experience of AirTags thus far has been underwhelming - the first one out of the box failed to pair four times in a row when it was sitting on top of the phone. Now that it is finally connected, anything outside of 0.8m/2.6ft away shows as a weak signal and when I can get a signal, there is never an arrow. Funnily enough, I tapped on my name about five times in frustration, and found what appears to be a hidden developer mode. Even more interesting, the arrow appears to actually be working underneath - just not in the normal mode.

The hidden mode in iOS 14.5 is unlikely to be particularly useful to the average user, and the sliders and buttons that it throws up probably shouldn't be manipulated unless you know what you're doing. Still, the discovery provides an intriguing peek under the hood at the hardware and calibration involved every time an AirTag's Precision Finding is enabled.

Apple sells individual AirTags for $29, while a pack of four AirTags can be purchased for $99. Single AirTags ordered directly from Apple currently ship in five to seven days, while engraved AirTags and multipacks are currently on a five- to six-week lead time.

Article Link: AirTag Precision Finding Interface Includes Hidden 'Developer Mode'

 

[haruhiko]

Wow it really works, amazing!

 

[bttrdg]

And now I've messed with the sliders, I can't reset it. At least I get a nice purple instead of green.

 

[_Spinn_]

What are the odds of finding that? It’s a pretty cool find though. I wonder how long before Apple removes it?

 

[OS X Dude]

iOS 14.5.2 coming in 3, 2, 1...

 

[ipearx]

Please please apple leave it in. Let us have a little behind the scenes 'whimsy' just once. Bet they won't...

 

[BulkSlash]

I'm curious about what that Eco mode is used for, maybe the developers ran their devices at half-res to save battery life while testing?

 

[FatMax]

Did it ever cross the frustrated user's mind that the battery might be low?

 

[HerbertDerb]

Please please apple leave it in. Let us have a little behind the scenes 'whimsy' just once. Bet they won't...

Let me have look at my crystal ball what it says....... Ah yes, there is 350% chance that Apple will fix this asap. Thanks again ball!

 

[laszlo182]

Did it ever cross the frustrated user's mind that the battery might be low?

airtag would notify him about that

 

[jdavid_rp]

I'm curious about what that Eco mode is used for, maybe the developers ran their devices at half-res to save battery life while testing?

Or maybe just for when you have low power mode turned on

 

[carrrrrlos]

Your tapping it wrong.

 

[cosmichobo]

Did it ever cross the frustrated user's mind that the battery might be low?

Wouldn't have occurred to me in a product new out of the box.

 

[SigurTom]

Alright, somebody mess with the sliders and tell us what they do. Can’t possibly make precision finding less reliable!

 

[biffuz]

So, to save power the UI is rendered at 1280x720, eh? I wonder how often this Eco mode is enabled and people don't even notice it. So long to all those claiming 4k screens are a necessity...

 

[MrCrowbar]

Well, looks like I'll be

Alright, somebody mess with the sliders and tell us what they do. Can’t possibly make precision finding less reliable!

they only affect the blurry camera vision in the background, which I personally would like to disable completely as it's totally unnecessary.

 

[Izarul Adam]

To those who used the sliders, you can tap on the numbers at the side to reset them.

 

[jdavid_rp]

So, to save power the UI is rendered at 1280x720, eh? I wonder how often this Eco mode is enabled and people don't even notice it. So long to all those claiming 4k screens are a necessity...

not the ui, the camera view

 

[matthewadams]

And now I've messed with the sliders, I can't reset it. At least I get a nice purple instead of green.

Tap the labels to reset to default

 

[SweetPeaRevenge]

Alright, somebody mess with the sliders and tell us what they do. Can’t possibly make precision finding less reliable!

You can change the transparency of the overlay and the colors!

 

[SkimPappa]

Now we must race to see what other iOS features allow you to tap 4 times to enable special features…. Ready.. Set..GO!

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Now we must race to see what other iOS features allow you to tap 4 times to enable special features…. Ready.. Set..GO!

I do remember before the iOS 11/12-esque App Store updates (when the Updates tab was a separate tab on the right), tapping the Update button 10 times would force through an update/refresh of the whole App Store application.

 

[m4mario]

Alright. Whose gonna get fired?

 

[imran5720]

Looks like the video is removed

 

[thejadedmonkey]

airtag would notify him about that

It might not. Battery levels are notoriously difficult to determine, especially if the device was first started up with a low battery, then it would calabrate to the new, lower, voltage, and that might cause problems getting the necessary amperage out of the battery.