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AirTags Said to Be 'Completely Waterproof' and Use Magnetic Charging Like Apple Watch

cmaier said:
True, but given their small size might be real difficult to line them up properly on a typical qi charger.
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I think you may be right, we don't know how big they are but they'll keep them as tiny as possibile.
Besides, the most important thing is how often you need to charge them. I'd buy a similar product only if I needed to charge every 2-3 months, otherwise it would be too annoying to keep it charged even if it was Qi.
 
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If they are rechargeable, they will not last all that long or they will be very big. I am not a fan of replaceable batteries. This is one place where they would be needed.
 
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jeblis said:
What's the expected range? Don't Tiles work over only a few feet? Seems like at that range locating your bike should be easy.
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I don't know the expected range of the tag itself but I would guess it to be in the 30' to 100' range. The key is that it is expected to use ANY iPhone (or possibly even iPad or Apple Watch) within that range to locate your AirTag. That means if someone were to steal my bike, I could locate it anytime it was within 30-100' of anyone with an iPhone.

The existing Tile product works in a similar manner but 1) you can only locate a Tile if it is within range of someone who has the Tile app running on their portable device and 2) I do not like Tile's privacy standards - once you install the app they have the ability to track your mobile device anywhere. I trust Apple with my real time location and I know my wireless service provider has that information (nothing I can do about that) but I don't want to give access to that information to a 3rd party like Tile.
 
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Depending on how they work and how you purchase them, I’m definitely getting at least one. I tend to not misplace things to often, but I’m thinking they’d be great for leaving in the car, especially when you park in a massive car park and can’t remember where you parked.
 
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nikaru said:
It should have a range of a couple hundred feet at least, a battery duration of at least 3 months, it should be the size of Apple Watch charger coin or smaller, and it should cost no more than 39$.
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I hope you are right on all counts. If so, I will be purchasing several of them. I am still interested in seeing what Apple does to discourage people from using these devices for illicit purposes (i.e. slipping one in someone's backpack or car to stalk them).
 
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I would prefer Qi wireless charging instead of the magnetic charging like on the Apple Watch...
 
robinp said:
I hope they use the exact same charger. It would be incredibly annoying to add yet another charger to use these.
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Yah, it sounds so convenient to charge them one by one on the Apple Watch charger
 
Tile trackers have saved me a lot of stress in helping me find lost items, but it’s also frustrating as often times it can’t locate things right in front of it. When they work they are great. When they don’t or if I trigger the things in my pocket which I often do, then they are frustrating.
I am hoping the Apple trackers are significantly better than Tile
 
Westside guy said:
Hopefully they’ll only need to be charged every 6-12 months, along the lines of what’s already out there, though.
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Now this comment actually makes sense.
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bookcase said:
I honestly don't understand the hype with these trackers -- it's not something I'd ever need.
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And you do represent 100% of the market, so a fair comment.
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Screenslayr said:
"Where are my keys! I forgot to charge my AirTag!...." ... lol you gotta charge it? oh man.... fail
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if you can't find your keys, after 6 months or so that is a fail. Doesn't make sense that these are a charge ever day, every week or even every month item, but who knows?
 
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FightTheFuture said:
Good idea for pets too. I think this type of parking issue won’t be a problem when cars go electric though.
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Pets are a good idea, but they have to be really small though.

The only pet trackers that look reliable for pets tend to be big and fix on the collar which just isn’t practical or very nice for the pet too.

This is a really excited potential product launch. Hopefully they have production going on already.
 
MarkAtl said:
“Similar magnetic charging”

Ideally they should support Qi wireless charging, and hopefully not another magnetic charger.
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Satellites, we will all be blasted with wireless charging rays from space!
 
DoctorTech said:
I don't know the expected range of the tag itself but I would guess it to be in the 30' to 100' range. The key is that it is expected to use ANY iPhone (or possibly even iPad or Apple Watch) within that range to locate your AirTag. That means if someone were to steal my bike, I could locate it anytime it was within 30-100' of anyone with an iPhone.

The existing Tile product works in a similar manner but 1) you can only locate a Tile if it is within range of someone who has the Tile app running on their portable device and 2) I do not like Tile's privacy standards - once you install the app they have the ability to track your mobile device anywhere. I trust Apple with my real time location and I know my wireless service provider has that information (nothing I can do about that) but I don't want to give access to that information to a 3rd party like Tile.
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Exactly this, lots of people don't seem to understand how they work, as you said, if they are in reach of ANY iPhone it can be tracked, even if the lost item is on the other side of the globe.
Now, it would be even better if Apple makes this open to other Operating systems, like Android, that would be huge, lots of money to be made.
 
DoctorTech said:
I don't know the expected range of the tag itself but I would guess it to be in the 30' to 100' range. The key is that it is expected to use ANY iPhone (or possibly even iPad or Apple Watch) within that range to locate your AirTag. That means if someone were to steal my bike, I could locate it anytime it was within 30-100' of anyone with an iPhone.

The existing Tile product works in a similar manner but 1) you can only locate a Tile if it is within range of someone who has the Tile app running on their portable device and 2) I do not like Tile's privacy standards - once you install the app they have the ability to track your mobile device anywhere. I trust Apple with my real time location and I know my wireless service provider has that information (nothing I can do about that) but I don't want to give access to that information to a 3rd party like Tile.
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This is the key which it seems many people haven't understood. If (as the rumors say) it will work when within range of any modern iPhone (perhaps iPad and Apple watch too), then it will be a game changer because of the sheer ubiquity of the iPhone/Apple Watch/iPad. You won't need a cellular connection and thus subscription to track things like luggage, a kid's backpack, a pet, or whatever. (Heck, probably even a suspected cheating spouse will happen a lot.)

If it works well, and as rumored, they'll sell a lot.
 
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centauratlas said:
This is the key which it seems many people haven't understood. If (as the rumors say) it will work when within range of any modern iPhone (perhaps iPad and Apple watch too), then it will be a game changer because of the sheer ubiquity of the iPhone/Apple Watch/iPad. You won't need a cellular connection and thus subscription to track things like luggage, a kid's backpack, a pet, or whatever. (Heck, probably even a suspected cheating spouse will happen a lot.)

If it works well, and as rumored, they'll sell a lot.
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Exactly. Saved me some typing! Would be huge if it works. I'd instantly buy some for my father, who is notorious for losing items.
 
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centauratlas said:
This is the key which it seems many people haven't understood. If (as the rumors say) it will work when within range of any modern iPhone (perhaps iPad and Apple watch too), then it will be a game changer because of the sheer ubiquity of the iPhone/Apple Watch/iPad. You won't need a cellular connection and thus subscription to track things like luggage, a kid's backpack, a pet, or whatever. (Heck, probably even a suspected cheating spouse will happen a lot.)

If it works well, and as rumored, they'll sell a lot.
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Depends where you are, holds true for the states and Europe, anywhere else not so much.
 
RalfTheDog said:
If they are rechargeable, they will not last all that long or they will be very big. I am not a fan of replaceable batteries. This is one place where they would be needed.
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Other tracker products last 6-12 months on coin cell replaceable batteries, why would Apple's products with integrated custom batteries not last at least this long?
 
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nattK said:
I wish it would use the same wireless charger as the Apple Watch. One less charger to carry around and it will make the current watch charger more useful since it won't just be used to charge the watch.
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let's not forget about those of us who don't have an apple watch)
 
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