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Hands-On With Apple's New AirTags
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Going to order the 4 pack in case you lose 3 out of the 4?
There doesn't seem to be any instructions on the tag for those that find a lost item and you can't get Apple to engrave much on the back (might not be visible anyhow if in a case), does anyone produce a replacement for the metal part you can have engraved with say 'if found please call x' ?
You don't engrave with "if found" information. The information is shown digitally after the tag has been scanned by a compatible device.
I feel likewise. How many times have I lost my backpack? Oh yes, never. It's not like it's hard to spot. Smaller things though, like my keys, wallet, reading glasses case, all the damn time. AT's are too bulky for for me to bother strapping those to them though, so that's no use.
That leaves me therefore wanting them for security and as we all know, they fail at that (hence why they aren't marketed for it). Just as thieves do with cars they suspect have trackers fitted, they can leave them somewhere neutral and if then after 72hours no one locates them, game on.
For me personally there is no use case I can think of that they would satisfy, other than for pure gimmick value.
If someone steals a bicycle with an Air Tag on it, it will take 3 days before the tag begins to play a beeping sound. By that time you will have been able to identify the location of the bicycle, which is the main thing you would want to report to the police. Who cares if 3 days later it begins to beep? By that time the thief will have identified their exact location to you which makes it easier for police to recover and charge the person with theft.
I'm waiting for the report where the Hermes holder was stolen, leaving the airtag behind
Yeah I was wondering the same thing. I thought the bag was on the other side of the wall and he was walking towards a door, but then it was waiting for him at the end of the hall almost 40 degrees to the right of where there arrow was pointing the whole time.
This didn’t exactly impress me.
These people worry me. I’ve been flying for work for 15 years and I’ve never lost a single bag. The airlines has, but the chances of an air tag doing me any good in that situation is pretty slim.
Life will become much more pleasant when you realize that not EVERYTHING that Apple does has to be appropriate for your particular needs. It's OK (for you, for Apple, for the rest of us) for Apple to do something that is of ZERO interest to you...
I ordered an AirTag to find things misplaced in my house. Should be great for that. I did not get it to track luggage, cars, people, etc., etc.
I have a Garmin InReach that will report positions worldwide. The AirTag doesn't replace that.
I have a Garmin InReach that will report positions worldwide. The AirTag doesn't replace that.
Apple clearly cares about others privacy, but why am I forced to give up my phone number to get my item back?
Say, I’m on a train to the beach and I lose my keys with my airtag. I declare them lost. I’m forced to give up a phonenumber to do that. Someone finds my keys, sees my message and my number, looks up my adres (I have a business, you can google my number), drives to my place with a friend, knows I am not there because I was on a train to the beach, enters my house with my key, loads my own car with my stuff and drives away with my car because he has my keys.
they are offering an “anonymous email forwarding” system when registering for websites. Why can’t I use that not to give away my own personal information whenever I lose something.
Say, I’m on a train to the beach and I lose my keys with my airtag. I declare them lost. I’m forced to give up a phonenumber to do that. Someone finds my keys, sees my message and my number, looks up my adres (I have a business, you can google my number), drives to my place with a friend, knows I am not there because I was on a train to the beach, enters my house with my key, loads my own car with my stuff and drives away with my car because he has my keys.
they are offering an “anonymous email forwarding” system when registering for websites. Why can’t I use that not to give away my own personal information whenever I lose something.
Even though I knew the dimensions beforehand, these turned out to be smaller and thinner than I had expected. Perfect fit in my Waterfield wallets. Also put one on my keychain with a little neoprene pouch that was designed to hold SD cards, to hold until Monday’s delivery of my Apple and Belkin holders.
You don't have to provide your personal phone number. You can provide an email, a work number, or nothing at all.
Well, I am actually.
when I want to declare something lost, I can’t use the “next” button (in my case it’s called ‘volgende’) without entering a phone number.
Apparently I can just enter zero’s
in the phone field. But after that I can’t turn on the “notify me” switch. So I need a phone number.
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Why don't you think the tag would do any good if the airline loses your bag. All it needs is for someone with an iPhone to be near wherever the bag ends up for you to be able to identify it's location (or at least what airport it has ended up in).
I have purchased airtags specifically to put in my luggage. The airlines rarely actually lose the luggage, but it can end up in the wrong place, and that can cause delays before you discover this. Airtags should show them being at the wrong airport.
On the other hand, if your bags are delayed then at least you know they are in the airport, saving the situation where you are at the lost luggage desk when they finally appear.
I can think of at least half a dozen situations in the past few years where this would have saved us time or worry.
As long as they work properly that is. The review I have seen of travelling with them was encouraging for these purposes.