CES 2022: Targus Debuts Backpack That Supports 'Find My' App Without an AirTag

[WeatherWeasel]

I can see one of those traveling. I hope to feel safe enough with this pandemic, but having that in the overhead bin on a plane and someone snags it, you could track it. When i was teaching, that would have been great as when I was moving through the building, I would have been able to deposit it somewhere with my mac in it and feel confident to go elsewhere. Well then, good stuff is coming down the pike

 

[sirozha]

I’m curious do you like them (chipolo one)?

I love them. They don’t require a case because they have a hole that you can use with a key ring to attach it to anything. They don’t support precision location when the iPhone guides you within an inch of the tag, but I don’t need this feature. I can locate the Chipolo tag by its sound, which is very loud. Additionally, neither my I iPhone SE second generation nor my wife’s iPhone XS supports precision tracking, so the AirTag’s precision tracking feature wouldn’t work with our phones anyway.

The other day the Chipolo One Tag attached to my dog’s collar fell off her collar (my fault) in the grass half a mile from my house. I realized it was missing a few hours later when it was already dark outside. I was able to find its location via the Find My Item on my iPhone and the location of the Chipolo One Tag shown on the map turned out to be very accurate (maybe to a couple yards). Additionally, the latest location update was 3 minutes before I attempted to locate it, so I know its location was updated by someone else’s iPhone that came in its Bluetooth proximity.

I walked to the location shown on the map, issued a sound to the tag, and heard it loud and clear. I found it by its sound at 10:30 PM in pitch dark with no lights other than the flashlight from my phone. I’d say it passed the unintended test with flying colors.

 

[imagineadam]

Quick question.

Are all iPhones scanning for airtags and these tracking things by default now?

If so I’d like to turn it off and save battery. How do I do this?

 

[Macintosh TV]

Quick question.

Are all iPhones scanning for airtags and these tracking things by default now?

If so I’d like to turn it off and save battery. How do I do this?

If you have Bluetooth on, they do.

The reality is that there is no noticeable battery impact to the user. Your phone already scans all type of things frequently (wifi, LTE/5G, etc). The addition of noticing nearby Bluetooth devices is beyond minimal, especially with Bluetooth 5.0. Bluetooth 4 and earlier use 1 watt of power at medium consumption. BT 5.0 uses 0.01-0.25W doing the same.

A single-cell battery can deliver 10 years of service from a single cell battery with Bluetooth 5.0.

Look at it this way, the AirTag lasts over 1-year from just a single watch battery. Your iPhone doesn't even notice it.

 

[azmscle]

That would be interesting to know. I assume though that any thief with half a brain would scan for the airtag and disable immediately, before it has been labeled as lost. I also am concerned about pranksters in public places (coffee shops, buses, whatever) just disabling any FindMy devices they detect near them for fun. Unless there are some measures to prevent this, I can't imagine wanting to use an AirTag outside the home now. I guess it's still useful for finding a lost remote or whatever, but the new "Unknown Items" feature seems to be begging for abuse and really limits the functionality of the FindMy service.

It has warned of unknown items with you since launch though…

I think focusing on the 1% of situations is futile. Ultimately, instead of spending the time disabling an AirTag they’re just going to remove it from the item…

 

[jazz1]

Sounds cool. But given the new update to the FindMy app in iOS 15.2, it sounds like anyone who was close to you could just disable the tracking feature in your backpack, rendering it utterly useless. No thanks.

"With the iOS 15.2 beta that was released today, Apple has added enhancements to the Find Myapp. There's a new feature that's designed to let users scan for AirTags or Find My-enabled items that might be tracking them.​

​

When opening the ‌Find My‌ app after installing the beta and going to the "Items" tab, there's an option for "Items That Can Track Me." Tapping on this allows users to search for nearby items that might be used to track their location.​

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When activated, the Unknown Items feature scans for anything that's nearby, and will let users know either way if there's a device that belongs to someone else nearby. If an item is detected, Apple offers instructions on how to disable the device so that it can no longer be used for tracking purposes."​

So a stranger can detect my AirTag on my keyring in my pocket and decide to disable it?

 

[foobarbaz]

I can understand the lack of MagSafe accessories, because Apple is probably charging an arm and a leg for the MagSafe name. But what I haven't seen, which is kind of upsetting, is a lack of magnetic wireless chargers. In my case, because I'd consider it a bonus that it doesn't charge as fast, and produces less heat than the official charger.

What do you mean? There are plenty of options with "MagSafe-compatible" magnets.

I just picked this one from Anker for my desk: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Wireless-PowerWave-Magnetic-Charging/dp/B08NVF5TM2
and I put this one next to my bed: https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Wireless-Charger-Charging-Station/dp/B092K7VBWB/

I must say it's really nice to "plop" them into place.

There are several "flat" chargers and powerbanks as well.

 

[chaospet]

So a stranger can detect my AirTag on my keyring in my pocket and decide to disable it?

That was my initial reading, but others are saying it only provides you with instructions for removing the battery. Still very helpful for thieves who want to know if the bag they stole is being tracked, but at least random pranksters cannot just disable the airtag in your pocket from their phone.

 

[kingtj1971]

The problem I see with this laptop bag offering "Find My" support is that it seems like the wrong device to contain a tracker? I mean, as soon as would-be laptop thieves realize this is becoming a thing? The first thing they'll do is pull the gear out of the bag and toss the laptop bag in the nearest trash can!

Might even help them get away with your laptop easier if it causes wasted time hunting down the empty bag that's been discarded in an inconvenient place to access it.

Trust me... no matter how nice your laptop bag is, the used resale value for it is awful. I've had really high-end leather bags before that I couldn't even get $10 for on eBay or Craigslist. Everyone wants shiny new ones, when they're ready for one for a shiny new computer.

 

[coolfactor]

Does anything that supports "Find My" also support "Left Behind"? I find that "Left Behind" works, except that I never hear the alert (if you consider a message ding an alert) and wish Apple would allow different "alarm sounds" for the Left Behind feature or constant haptic buzzing from the Apple Watch to alert you that you left something behind -- something that actually gets your attention.

Do you have an Apple Watch? Does wearing it improve the notification experience?

 

[AdriftAtlas]

My first laptop compatible backpack was from Targus. It lasted me seven years of going to class and later to work. Eventually the zipper broke and it was replaced with a newer model under its lifetime warranty. That replacement lasted me less than a year before the shoulder straps self destructed, which according to Amazon reviewers is a common issue. Targus used to be a trusted brand, not so much anymore.

I replaced it with an Osprey Quasar that so far has held up quite nicely for the last three years.

 

[SoN1NjA]

Just buy the bag you want and put an AirTag inside it

Other bags are probably cheaper, better looking, have more features, more durable, etc

Not sure if it’s a good bag or not, but don’t settle on this just because of the “functionality”

 

[thejadedmonkey]

What do you mean? There are plenty of options with "MagSafe-compatible" magnets.

I just picked this one from Anker for my desk: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Wireless-PowerWave-Magnetic-Charging/dp/B08NVF5TM2
and I put this one next to my bed: https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Wireless-Charger-Charging-Station/dp/B092K7VBWB/

I must say it's really nice to "plop" them into place.

There are several "flat" chargers and powerbanks as well.

The anker one is literally more expensive than a magsafe puck and the stand I bought.

The other one is larger than I need.

I tried looking for a USB-A to USB-C adapter too, but if it pulls too much power it could fry the USB-A port.

I'm not saying that the ecosystem isn't there, but it's not where I'd like it to be so that I can find exactly what I'm looking for. Not yet at least.

 

[msackey]

Presumably, the backpack is not long-lasting, so no need to change the battery.

Hahaha!

I can see it now: “Newly designed battery lasts the lifetime of the backpack!”
Fine print will say in 0.5pt size: “Seams are not expected to last past 6 months with normal use; will deteriorate even quicker in the sun and rain.”

 

[sirozha]

Deleted

 

[TinyMito]

Wouldn't that be cheaper and easier to hide an AirTag in my current bags?

 

[TinyMito]

Next up, this brand new car now supports Find My Car - in case you lost it in the giant Walmart's parking lot.

 

[sirozha]

Next up, this brand new car now supports Find My Car - in case you lost it in the giant Walmart's parking lot.

It already exists.

 

[incoherent_1]

Can its tracking abilities be disabled by anyone with the Find My app or is that “feature” reserved only for AirTags?

After the hot mess of nerfing some AirTag features and dragging their feet implementing others, I don’t know I’ll ever buy another Find My product.

 

[msackey]

I 100% agree, its a gimmick to get attention to the brand (or person wearing it).

Also try lending this tracking backpack to other people.
It will start sending messages to the borrowers phone 'you are being followed by an unknown device'.
An AirTag would be easy to take out with a sewed in pocket before you lend your backpack to someone.

Indeed!

This type of bag reminds me a little of those luggages with the built-in batteries that is intended to charge mobile devices. Have those fallen out of favour? They seem to be a silly idea. Why not buy a separate battery pack/charging device? No one wants to be lugging around a luggage just to charge something. Besides, weren't those batteries required to be removed from the baggage before it could be put in the cargo hold? Ok...I'm getting off on a tangent

 

[GlenK]

Amazon has these for $100 and reviews are pretty good. I don't need a computer bag but was thinking about this for a Pickleball bag. Just not sure about how much it would hold and probably need to get one to find out.

 

[FindingAvalon]

I don’t know. I find this to be a stupid product. A backpack that at some point you need to change out the battery for the tracker? Just create a sewed in pocket in which an Air Tag can be inserted and be done. ?

Are you under the impression that the batteries in AirTags are immortal and don’t also have to be changed?

 

[msackey]

Are you under the impression that the batteries in AirTags are immortal and don’t also have to be changed?

No, not under that impression at all. I'm wondering why one has to make a bag have the "burden", if you will, of needing to worry about battery issues. One might expect that a bag should be able to take some beating including water, spills etc. I'm saying why complicate a bag?

 

[return2sendai]

“Where are my glasses‽”
”On your head.”
”And my backpack! Where’s my backpack?”
”The answer is in the question.”

 

[return2sendai]

It's a good buy at $65. But I'd expect it to be more like $165 though, which is just too high IMO.

Someone hereabouts should set up a poll on the price.

$165 is way too low for this market place.

$300+, if they cunningly brand it as a backpack which doubles for an AirPods Max case.