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Shouldn’t the focus be on building a UWB version of this Apple “Tag” into devices like iPads and MacBook Pros that don’t always have a WiFi connection.
I believe that’s why all new devices will likely have the U1 in it.
 
So, I put one of these on my wallet and lose it. What happens next?

Does the device tell me it's lost and send me its GPS? Unlikely.

Or does it broadcast (or respond) to any passer by who happens to be running the same software and notices the ping and is bothered to search for the source and is inclined enough to return it?

if you're talking about tile - the latter. that's why i never did get one. i have a hard time believing that there is an army of tile users out there. however, if this were an apple product - there is that army out there :)

also i remember reading that tile's app was supper buggy and drained the battery terribly.
 
I use Tile to find my keys DAILY! My only issue with Tile (and other similar trackers) is that for some reason I always thought that it could track it anywhere. I lost my keys in a park one time and it only had a 200ft radius so after someone picked them up and brought them to a close store, it would NOT show up on my phone because they were beyond the measly 200 ft. Is there not a tracker out there that can find my items/keys if they are on the other side of town or something (i.e. using GPS?). I mean otherwise, how is the Tile that came with my Away luggage useful at all?!
 
Apple's version of Tiles for the Apple ecosystem. Tile's Tiles for everyone else. There's enough room for everyone to eat at this table. Competition is good.
 
I still feel that Apple should be in the position of enabling the technology, not creating their own and competing. If the iOS experience with these tags is better than other platforms, it will sell iPhones/iPads/etc.
 
Sweet, more disposable e-waste. Practically all of these will end up in a landfill in 2-3 years.
You bring up a good point, although its certainly not limited to just this product. It will be interesting to see if Apple mentions any sort of recycling program alongside this announcement.
 
I wonder if Apple UWB will be able to match that 400ft range of the tile.

I think Apple will be using a combination of UWB and other technologies in order to locate. I believe the UWB technology kicks in when you get closer in order to pinpoint the location.

How is that?

A stalker can place a tracking device into their victim's purse, jacket, vehicle, etc. Then someone who you do not want to know your location can know it.
 
Tile might be good for most people that didn't have a ridiculous price tag
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I agree on Apple's prices, but I also don't like things being cheap, but making money off of tracking me and selling that information to insurance companies, advertisers, etc.


I still feel that Apple should be in the position of enabling the technology, not creating their own and competing. If the iOS experience with these tags is better than other platforms, it will sell iPhones/iPads/etc.

I would normally agree, but Apple has the ability to create the hardware on both ends, which allows for a low-overhead, more powerful system than Tile could do. Also, Apple needs to be careful about the privacy implications of helping Tile track locations of everything.
 
The tiles are too big to put on a remote control like that! Looks ridiculous. A key ring I can see, or placed inside my toddler's stuffed animal that he NEEDS to take in the car with him and takes us 10 minutes to find sometimes.

Agreed. Everyone knows remote controls have a tendency to migrate down the back of the sofa. I’d use one of these as a key fob provided it was tough enough.
 
If the range of these is only 200 feet and you can’t track a stolen item that goes beyond that, whats the point of these? Really. Why spend the money just to find a lost remote thats probably under the seat cushion? I don’t get it. Seems like a waste to me. If you could put these tiny devices in your car and track it anywhere if it was stolen...now THAT would be cool - and very much worth it to me.
 
Why not just buy out Tile instead of putting them out of business?

Well, we don't know the answer. Maybe Tile had nothing to offer - or other reasons. We can only speculate I'd say.
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Genuinely staggered these are even a thing, and at those prices.

The only things I can think I'd want to track are my wallet and my car keys. And even with the wallet, all my cards are either in my phone or on my watch. Car keys could easily incorporate this feature without me needing to pay 40 bucks for an attachment (assuming you ignore the idea that my watch should be able to open and start my car anyway).


TV remote.

Bicycle

Giant bank chequebook

Coat

Bag

Kids Toy
 
These things are just too expensive. For them to take off, they can’t retail for more than $10 each.

Yah, nobody wants to pay a premium price just because it has an Apple brand on it and zero innovation right?

Oh wait... :) Of course they will because it will be priced appropriately and will work well like all Apple stuff.
 
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Sweet, more disposable e-waste. Practically all of these will end up in a landfill in 2-3 years.

Oh wow.
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Keep telling yourself Apple doesn’t innovate and all their customers have been fooled.

I was being sarcastic at the same old comments and same old sentiment from the peanut gallery of negative ninnies here. Did you mistake me for one? :)
 
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You bring up a good point, although its certainly not limited to just this product. It will be interesting to see if Apple mentions any sort of recycling program alongside this announcement.
Of course they will, that’s what Apple does it these days. They are all about recycling👍
 
If the range of these is only 200 feet and you can’t track a stolen item that goes beyond that, whats the point of these? Really. Why spend the money just to find a lost remote thats probably under the seat cushion? I don’t get it. Seems like a waste to me. If you could put these tiny devices in your car and track it anywhere if it was stolen...now THAT would be cool - and very much worth it to me.

This is the potential power of Apple making similar devices. The rumors are that the Apple device will be able to send out a constant beacon signal that ANY Apple device within range will get and report back to the server. This beacon will not contain any identifying information but will be coded so that the server can report back to you. So, with all of the Apple devices in the world, especially in the United States, you will have a very good chance of having your "tag" in range of one at any given time. This will report to you the general location. Once you arrive at that location, the UWB chip kicks in and guides you to the precise location.
 
So, I put one of these on my wallet and lose it. What happens next?

Does the device tell me it's lost and send me its GPS? Unlikely.

Or does it broadcast (or respond) to any passer by who happens to be running the same software and notices the ping and is bothered to search for the source and is inclined enough to return it?

1) you realize you left it somewhere
2) you open phone app
3) you look at a map where it is

How #3 likely works:
the tag periodically broadcasts an encrypted signal
any nearby apple device (yours or otherwise) receives signal, that device relays the position to apple
apple shows you on your phone the last position for the tag it has received.

Apple has already published tech notes on how that beacon content does not allow people to track you, fancy crypto that randomizes the tag's id but still allows it to get to you.

Additional suspected fanciness, when you are nearby it your phone can us UWB to triangulate the exact location precisely. Presumably there also is a way to use the app to make the tag produce audible noises on demand.
 
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I can't wait for Apple's 'pin-point solution" if it lives up to the hype. I have several power tools (Festool) which are in similar looking boxes. If I could search for the "router" or the "planer" and see a red balloon point me to this end at one end of the garage or to the other end of the house, I would (hopefully) be able to find my tools faster and be more productive as opposed to spending so much time searching.
Yes, if I was disciplined to put things away, I wouldn't need Apple-Tiles but its hard to change a leopard's spots this late in the game! 😏
 
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I have been using Tile for months. One in my wallet, another in the back and one more in my key chain.

Use it often to find keys around the house. Once I left my wallet in the cafe and helped me.

They will have a market in multi platform users.

Yet myself self and family use Apple devices mainly. If Apple solution offers better tracking and improved software integration it’s a winner. For instance, warning me that I left something behind were or when I’m not suppose to ... would be ...
 
Okay I've imagined this........ now what?
Lol! This ^.

I'd love to know what comes next. These paranoid fears don't actually happen. Ever. Where are all the people who've died from Apple engineers listening to Siri recordings? Or Amazon?

Meanwhile these same people will publish every step of their day on Facebook complete with location tagging.
 
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