Apple Executive Says AirTags Designed to Track Items, Not Children or Pets

[jMc]

It raises a question about use in a plane. with KLM I could chug it in my carry-on camera bag. (Cargo hold not allowed, you’re not allowed to put anything with a battery in there). Will a quarter or half the 777 then get a “a tag is traveling with you” message? Bluetooth 5.0 does have a range to make that funny or annoying.

IDK, but I hope it’s clever enough to only do this if it doesn’t detect your iPhone close by. If not, public transport just got a lot more annoying. ☺️

 

[nholm]

So iPhone users get notified if being stalked. However Android users, well I guess they are fair game!

It will still beep.

 

[michael31986]

I needed something to track my pets

You still can. I’d you lose your pet put it on lost mode and it should start pinging from other iPhones.

 

[ignatius345]

Thief steals item. Thief turns off tracker. Great idea.

If the thing just quietly kept tracking forever, how would you suggest a safeguard against it not being used to plant on someone to stalk them?

 

[dannys1]

Thief steals item. Thief turns off tracker. Great idea.

It's not an anti theft device though...

 

[Captain Trips]

I needed something to track my pets

Vets have been able to put tracking microchips in pets for some time. Wouldn't that be a better solution?

 

[ignatius345]

You still can. I’d you lose your pet put it on lost mode and it should start pinging from other iPhones.

Better yet: train your cat to expect a treat when the pinging sound plays, so he comes running home every time he hears it.

 

[Dappledan]

Ha ha sad they have to say it’s not designed to track kids

 

[dannys1]

I was thinking the same thing. This could have worked wonders to put on a necklace or wristband or something for a kid at an amusement park.

You can do that if you want it isn't going to work very well as it's not what it's designed for. They're not trying to upsell you something else it's just an Apple watch is a hell of a lot more equip at the job.

 

[jMc]

It will still beep.

Will it though? Does that mean, for example, if I have one in a bag I leave in a locker at work it’s just going to start beeping annoyingly if I’m not near it?

 

[ignatius345]

Vets have been able to put tracking microchips in pets for some time. Wouldn't that be a better solution?

Those don't let you actively locate the animal though -- they just link to your info if someone happens to find the animal and have it scanned by a vet or animal control.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Ha ha sad they have to say it’s not designed to track kids

But is it really such a bad idea?

I mean despite what they said, I still kind of think it's a good idea, if you don't want to spend $$$ on an Apple Watch.

 

[dannys1]

I have never lost anything that I cared about getting back. Have had bags stolen. If the tracker can’t track, it is just junk. For me.

The point is, you don't know where the keys have gone in the house so you can find them with this - it's not primarily an anti-theft device it's a "where the hell is my X" device. It's not a tracker - you're calling it a tracker, it's not and has never been called a tracker, neither has Tile.

 

[Captain Trips]

So iPhone users get notified if being stalked. However Android users, well I guess they are fair game!

Or the Android users can tags made by other companies that will likely work well with Android. Regardless of how often it seems to get repeated on these forums (and elsewhere), Apple does not have a monopoly on phones, app stores, or even tag devices.

 

[jlocker]

Remember every Appletag will have a serial number, so if some finds it and try to use it again, it will show up on the network. Just like a bike lock it might not completely protect your bike but at least you can tell your insurance agent that you had security on it. Maybe insurance companies will start giving discounts for things protected and easier to find.

 

[Dappledan]

brb...buying an Apple Watch for my 5 year old daughter.

If you have so many issues locating your children then an air tag is the least of your problems

 

[Red Oak]

The stupidity on the MR forums never fails to surprise me

 

[ksec]

Both executives also spoke about AirTags to YouTuber Rene Ritchie.

Wow I had to double check. Didn't know Rene Ritchie became a full time Youtuber. I know he made Youtube Videos but I thought he was still with iMore.

 

[infinitejest]

If you have so many issues locating your children then an air tag is the least of your problems

it's called a joke, dappledan......
My daughter already has an Appel Watch.

 

[fishkorp]

Apple is really stretching this policy. Every product I’ve submitted to the MFi application for Find My has been rejected, simply for being a pet product. Even products that do not physically attach to a pet (like my collar I submitted, that I understand). It’s a generic “not intended for people or pets” message. Basically unless they think it’s something someone can actually use that has limited liability to them, it’ll get rejected.

 

[centauratlas]

Thief steals item. Thief turns off tracker. Great idea.

Perhaps worse is, someone steals or finds item, takes airtag off, places it in someone else's car, backpack, bag. Said person is notified and calls the cops. They get a warrant for the info, it leads back to you. "Hilarity" then ensues with cops showing up at your door wanting to know why you are stalking this person.

 

[icanhazapple]

I was thinking the same thing. This could have worked wonders to put on a necklace or wristband or something for a kid at an amusement park.

People are still going to do that, no matter what Apple says. People are going to find ways to disable the chime for when it gets out of proximity.

People will find a way to turn this into a 'dumb' tracker, without the liability restrictions Apple is trying to protect itself against.

 

[The Chosen One]

It's logical its not meant for it. From legal and moral standpoints. However if you really want to you still can. But don't use it on something you would be upset when the airtag gets lost/destroyed (too).
I might still put one on/under my electric bike (an old one but still). If its get stolen I'll know quite quickly, and maybe before they find out its there I can find the location.

 

[centauratlas]

People are still going to do that, no matter what Apple says. People are going to find ways to disable the chime for when it gets out of proximity.

People will find a way to turn this into a 'dumb' tracker, without the liability restrictions Apple is trying to protect itself against.

I wonder about this too if that description is accurate. Say I have the tags on my keys and my spouse's keys. I leave the house to get groceries, will her tag beep as long as I am not there? Or will it have to be tied to her phone? What about the kid's backpacks for if they leave them at school or swim practice. Will they start beeping as soon as they aren't near one of us who has the phone? They are too young for phones, but not for school. Will air tags not be useful for their backpacks?

 

[matrix07]

It raises a question about use in a plane. with KLM I could chug it in my carry-on camera bag. (Cargo hold not allowed, you’re not allowed to put anything with a battery in there). Will a quarter or half the 777 then get a “a tag is traveling with you” message? Bluetooth 5.0 does have a range to make that funny or annoying.

No. Because you also travel with it.