This is much better than just AirTags alone. Inclusion! Well done Apple.
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Apple Announces Find My Network With Support for Third-Party Devices
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I know right? I've lost my airpods a few times and the 'Find my' app is useless for those. I've even used it feet away from where I later found them letting me know that the feature just doesn't work for them .
Completely agree. Apple device network used to locate items is genius since the beginning and now it steps to the next level.
Not for nothing, but AirPods Max do have the ability to at least play a sound when you're trying to find them. I think that's why they omitted the power switch. (I'd prefer the power switch, myself, but at least we get something in return.)
This.
The fact that this leverages the entire iOS network to locate and report items is why it’s a lot better than others’ efforts to do the same. All while being private. Just fantastic.
or else, they can just open up this to tile — problem solved)))
How interesting! I see cars like Tesla and the Apple Car going in here too. "Hey Siri! Where is my car?"
ideally before they go missing...Or people putting them in/on their pets when they go missing.
yea, apple car wouldn't be very third-party
Am I paranoid, or this is how agencies have your location at any time? They are "third-party", right?
How could you possibly not link directly to the official announcement....?
Apple’s Find My network now offers new third-party finding experiences
The Find My network accessory program enables users to keep track of their belongings in the new Items tab within the Find My app
www.apple.com
@justinfreid totally agree with you, I even registered to write the same thing, super annoying!
Wow this is fantastic. Wish my bike had bluetooth in it in case it gets lifted...
That ship already sailed. Cell location from the modems in most cars, cell location from your cell phones, toll transponders, or they can straight up stash a lojack or something in your car. At least now we get a chance to use the surveillance network for finding our stuff
.
Eh... no. Just no. I’ll stick to Find My finding my Apple devices only. ?♂️
maybe those „AirTags“ where only meant to be used internally to test this software without spoiling this program to 3rd party companies in the beginning of the development
Eat it and weep haters!!![]()
Apple today announced the launch of its Find My network accessory program, which is designed to allow third-party Bluetooth devices to be tracked in the Find My app right alongside your Apple devices.
![apple-find-my-network.jpg]()
According to Apple, the first accessory companies to take advantage of the new Find My integration include Belkin, Chipolo, and VanMoof, with devices set to be available beginning next week.
VanMoof's newest S3 and X3 e-bikes will integrate with Find My, as will Belkin's Soundform Freedom True Wireless Earbuds and the Chipolo ONE Spot item finder. Apple says that additional third-party manufacturers will offer Find My-enabled products and accessories soon.Apple has a strict set of rules for devices that are part of the Find My Network accessory program, and all third-party products must adhere to all of the privacy protections of the Find My Network.
![find-my-app-items-tab.jpg]()
Participating Find My products will be able to be found in the "Items" tab and will have a "Works with Apple Find My" badge. You will be able to see Find My accessories in the Find My app under the Items tab, where they can be tracked like Apple products. Third-party accessories can be added to the Find My app on devices running iOS 14.3 and later or macOS Big Sur 11.1 and later.
Find My accessories will be able to be tracked on a map and there will be an option to play a sound to locate a lost device. Items can be put into a Lost Mode, which locks them to an Apple ID and prevents another person from pairing to it. Items can be associated with a phone number and message in case someone finds it, and users can get notifications when an item's location becomes available.
![find-my-lost-mode.jpg]()
Third-party Find My devices will be able to take advantage of the Find My network that uses crowdsourced data from millions of Apple devices to detect missing devices or items and report an approximate location back to the owner.
![works-with-apple-find-my.jpg]()
Apple today also announced a draft specification for chipset manufacturers that will be released later in the spring. It will allow third-party device manufacturers to take advantage of the Ultra Wideband technology in U1-equipped Apple devices, such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 lineups. U1 integration will allow for a more precise, directionally aware item location experience.
Article Link: Apple Announces Find My Network With Support for Third-Party Devices
I told you ALL that Apple would NOT make a Tile like device (what Samsung thought they’d jump ahead of Apple on and did), that U1 chip is the implementation that would be used and not making hardware under $40 with such minimum margins.
I told you all that AirTags is NOT a hardware product for or by Apple!
so many kept attacking or challenging me with leaked screenshot in iOS beta - which never reached other developers period, or leakers and their junk. Told you all. There is no decent margins in an AirTag product for Apple to waste their time on or improve upon all competitors in the market significantly with. It’s a service.
Lol - do you really think that Apple isn't about to trump all of these bluetooth offerings and drop AirTags with a U1 UWB device that will make the bluetooth devices look weak in comparison and then open up the UWB integration spec (https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/07/third-party-find-my-devices-u1-chip/) after Apple releases their UWB Airtag?
Come on, the writing on the wall for all of this is too easy if you've paid attention to how Apple operates.
Come on, the writing on the wall for all of this is too easy if you've paid attention to how Apple operates.
this really is not an advantage nor has anything really tangible in Apples ecosystem.
WideBand is also in Galazy S20 devices and upcoming smartphones as well - it’s not unique to Apple and anyone with a compatible phone will find the target product you’ve lost or searching for. This is simply a service.
honestly what would be game changing is not AirTags LMAO it would be collaboration with all companies implementing WideBand so that we the consumer does NOT have to rely on an iOS device ONLY to locate something lost or stolen it would be that Android and iOS devices and Macs and Windows devices COULD assist in finding the lost item. THAT is game changing.
