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Exclusive: iOS 13's Hidden 'Items' Tab for 'Apple Tags' Revealed

"If users are unable to find an item, they can place the attached tag into a "Lost Mode." Then, if another iPhone user comes across the lost item, they will be able to view contact info for the item's owner and contact them by phone or text message"

So if the thief who stole your item gets a message that your "lost" item is nearby to him, he is supposed to contact you. I suspect instead he will find the tag and destroy it.

Lets hope he has a andriod phone.
 
Z3roFlaw said:
This seems like a good use! I’d probably get some for this too. Other then that, can’t say I regularly lose things or need to track so I’m having a hard time thinking of other times I’d use something like this. But that’s just me personally.
Click to expand...
Im going to hide one in my jeep.
 
Internet Enzyme said:
I really wonder why they seem to cut the Tags so last minute. The keynote ended 20 minutes early and on a kinda awkward note. I think it has something to do with iOS 13 being on fire internally and the tag getting demoted in development time since they needed all hands on deck to get a semi stable build out for the iPhones. Delaying the tags is pretty unfortunate because the U1 chip, an awesome innovation, didn’t even get stage time and the one feature they are talking about when it comes to uwb tech is a pretty uneventful enhancement to the airdrop interface. would be interesting to know what all happened behind the scenes.
Click to expand...
I guess that's a consequence of that image of Apple trying to take time to get it right rather than rushing to meet a deadline. They'd rather take a hit on the keynote, rather than advertise a maybe-upcoming product and fail to meet expectations. I doubt they want another AirPower
 
taxiapple said:
"If users are unable to find an item, they can place the attached tag into a "Lost Mode." Then, if another iPhone user comes across the lost item, they will be able to view contact info for the item's owner and contact them by phone or text message"

So if the thief who stole your item gets a message that your "lost" item is nearby to him, he is supposed to contact you. I suspect instead he will find the tag and destroy it.

Lets hope he has a andriod phone.
Click to expand...

why would the thief get a notification? These will be dumb tags - people will detect them anonymously with their phones which will pass the info to Apple, and then on you your authorised device.
 
Please build one of these into AirPods 3 case. hmmm -Will New Apple Watch 5 compass help with theses as well?
 
Pakaku said:
I guess that's a consequence of that image of Apple trying to take time to get it right rather than rushing to meet a deadline. They'd rather take a hit on the keynote, rather than advertise a maybe-upcoming product and fail to meet expectations. I doubt they want another AirPower
Click to expand...

The Find My Tags seem far more concrete then AirPower ever was. But yeah, they have no reason to rush it, they could release them whenever pretty much. it just would've prolly been a pretty beneficial boost to be revealed at the iPhone event
 
Internet Enzyme said:
I really wonder why they seem to cut the Tags so last minute. The keynote ended 20 minutes early and on a kinda awkward note. I think it has something to do with iOS 13 being on fire internally and the tag getting demoted in development time since they needed all hands on deck to get a semi stable build out for the iPhones. Delaying the tags is pretty unfortunate because the U1 chip, an awesome innovation, didn’t even get stage time and the one feature they are talking about when it comes to uwb tech is a pretty uneventful enhancement to the airdrop interface. would be interesting to know what all happened behind the scenes.
Click to expand...

Apple didn’t “cut,” “delay,” or ”demote“ tags because it never announced such a product. And not sure what you base “iOS 13 being on fire internally” on.

Lots of speculation on your part with zero facts to support any of it.

Internet rumors are not facts.
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FreeSpeech1st said:
Don't announce a new product if not very sure when it can be shipped on time ⏱
Click to expand...

Apple didn’t announce anything.
 
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Caliber26 said:
Okay but why the heck does my watch not notify me when I leave my phone behind? This is the one feature I can’t believe is still missing after all these years.
Click to expand...

Not that I disagree - but a half fix is simply just swipe up Control Centre and check the icon.
But again, I agree

FreeSpeech1st said:
Don't announce a new product if not very sure when it can be shipped on time ⏱
Click to expand...

az431 said:
Apple didn’t “cut,” “delay,” or ”demote“ tags because it never announced such a product.
Click to expand...
 
imola.zhp said:
Couldn't agree more, my better half almost left his phone in an airport waiting chair. WE WERE ON THE PLANE in our seats before he realized he didn't have his phone!
Click to expand...
OMG. I can totally relate to that panic, though. I left my phone at a Vegas casino slot. It wasn’t until I was up in my hotel room and took a glance at my watch that I noticed that red symbol letting me know the watch wasn’t connected to my phone. Spent the next 20 minutes in a state of panic. Fortunately, someone was decent enough to turn it into the security department and I got it back.

If only that red symbol were accompanied by a haptic alert (such as the one you get when the battery is at 10%) I would’ve noticed right away.
 
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az431 said:
Apple didn’t “cut,” “delay,” or ”demote“ tags because it never announced such a product. And not sure what you base “iOS 13 being on fire internally” on.

Lots of speculation on your part with zero facts to support any of it.

Internet rumors are not facts.
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Apple didn’t announce anything.
Click to expand...


This 👆
 
Caliber26 said:
Okay but why the heck does my watch not notify me when I leave my phone behind? This is the one feature I can’t believe is still missing after all these years.
Click to expand...
It KINDA does - when you notice this icon -
bFQKtav.png

...Unless you have the cellular watch.

But..I get it, you're right.
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Truckondo said:
probably not to repeat the AirPower situation a couple years back.
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Exactly my thought. NO WAY they were repeat the AirPower mess and announce - possible - items that may never come out.
 
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manu chao said:
Except of course that iOS12 was so stable because they pushed off a good number of features to next year, ie, iOS 13 (to explicitly focus on speed and stability). This time they didn't do so and implemented most if not all the features they put off last year plus additional new features.

It is hard to see putting off features to next year to focus on stability and getting a very stable OS, and implementing features from last year plus additional new features and getting a less stable OS to just be a coincidence.
Click to expand...
I understand your point, but if they needed to add that many features and were rushing to meet the deadline then why not to hire more developers. You’d expect it from a trillion dollars company (one of the 3-4 companies in the world).

iOS 13.1 beta was released before the official 13.0 release. iPads get iOS 13 later than iPhones. That’s just unprofessional and messy. It looks like Apple Tags were cut from the keynote the last minute. AirPower was never finished (although some other companies are making something similar). Apple is slipping not for the first time. I can understand some issues with the hardware, but not being able to finish in time the software powering your key product is lame.
 
az431 said:
Apple didn’t “cut,” “delay,” or ”demote“ tags because it never announced such a product. And not sure what you base “iOS 13 being on fire internally” on.

Lots of speculation on your part with zero facts to support any of it.

Internet rumors are not facts.
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Apple didn’t announce anything.
Click to expand...

i feel like you follow too close to the public image and arent reading inbetween the lines enougH. I think theres plenty of evidence for my conspiracy. As for iOS 13 being on fire, i think the amazingly quick turnaround for 13.1, the strange staggered release with ipados and anyone who’s actually used the betas all attest to my analysis on that front
 
PhillyGuy72 said:
It KINDA does - when you notice this icon -
bFQKtav.png

...Unless you have the cellular watch.

But..I get it, you're right.
Click to expand...

At the time I lost my iPhone I happened to have the non-LTE version of the watch. I did get that red icon on my watch but I didn’t notice it until long after I’d been separated from the phone. If a series of quick haptic alerts (similar to when the watch’s battery is running low) would accompany this icon as it comes on, the user would be alerted the instant the watch and phone disengage.

I think a similar workaround could be implemented even for the LTE watches.
 
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Have a look at the critical reviews of Tile and Chipolo on the App Store. Apple will need to address numerous technical issues to get a tag working reliably. I suppose they have the resources to do this (but not a good track record recently!)
 
Caliber26 said:
At the time I lost my iPhone I happened to have the non-LTE version of the watch. I did get that red icon on my watch but I didn’t notice it until long after I’d been separated from the phone. If a series of quick haptic alerts (similar to when the watch’s battery is running low) would accompany this icon as it comes on, the user would be alerted the instant the watch and phone disengage.

I think a similar workaround could be implemented even for the LTE watches.
Click to expand...
Has anyone tried Watchit?
Never lose your phone: WatchIt by GL SQUARED SRLS
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/never-lose-your-phone-watchit/id1450933233
Or
MOBELEASH by INQUIZIE
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/mobeleash/id1465806966
Or
Phone Buddy for Watch by FRE STUDIOS LLC
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/phone-buddy-for-watch/id1451559391
(Needs a subscription!)
 
Last edited:
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mpainesyd said:
Has anyone tried Watchit?
Never lose your phone: WatchIt by GL SQUARED SRLS
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/never-lose-your-phone-watchit/id1450933233
Or
MOBELEASH by INQUIZIE
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/mobeleash/id1465806966
Or
Phone Buddy for Watch by FRE STUDIOS LLC
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/phone-buddy-for-watch/id1451559391
(Needs a subscription!)
Click to expand...

Thanks! I didn’t even think to look at the App Store for a solution but I’m not surprised that there’s an app (or 3) for this. I’m gonna give Phone Buddy a try.
 
I've used Tiles for a few years. They are rarely used, but work flawlessly when they are.
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FreeSpeech1st said:
Don't announce a new product if not very sure when it can be shipped on time ⏱
Click to expand...

iOS 13 has been pretty buggy on my iPhone 8. CarPlay is really glitchy and slow.
 
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