It's Possible to Drill a Hole Through an AirTag

[LeadingHeat]

It could be that too, but I just don't get that about apple design philosophy, designing products that basically HAVE to be kept in cases to be useable.

I still use an iPhone X, and I think it is practically unseable without a case. Why? The thing is so damn slippery, it will easily slip out of any pocket or fall off any surface and I just find it very annoying whenever it's not in a case. Sure it looks beautiful, but I just wish they'd design their products more so they're great to use 'naked' if you want to use them that way.

I totally agree with you on the iPhone X haha. That thing is like a wet bar of soap. 😂 the newer ones though, with the 11 Pro that I have for instance, have a different texture of glass on the back that makes it much less slippery. It’s more like a matte/frosted finish on the glass. Plus the squared edges of the 12 series makes it easier to hold on to as well!

I haven’t had a case on my 11 Pro for about a year now. I have a screen protector on it of course, but with the ceramic glass being 4x more resistant to drops on the 12 (and fingers crossed they bring it to the back as well on the 13 series…) maybe you don’t even need that anymore!

 

[Rogifan]

Of course they did

And then they weighed up how much the new industry surrounding Airtag's would lose if they did not require a third-party means to attach them.

They literally created thousands of Jobs overnight for lack of a hole.

And how does that square with being more environmentally friendly?

 

[deevey]

And how does that square with being more environmentally friendly?

Does it have to ?

 

[4487549]

Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.

They did. And then the marketing department saw what they call a "third party opportunity".

 

[masteroflondon]

This the dumbest product Apple has made in quite some time, why would I buy an accessory to a tag? That's just ridiculous. Tile beats Apple in design here.

People buy cases for their AirPods case. It’s a case case.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

People buy cases for their AirPods case. It’s a case case.

APPLE INTENTIONALLY MADE THE AIRPODS CASE WITH AN OUTSIDE SURFACE TO FORCE PEOPLE TO BUY ACCESSORIES FOR THE CASE. Wait, Apple doesn’t make accessories to go outside the case? LOGIC DOESN’T MATTER APPLE BAAAAAAD!

 

[mi7chy]

This the dumbest product Apple has made in quite some time, why would I buy an accessory to a tag? That's just ridiculous. Tile beats Apple in design here.

Only dumb from the consumer point of view but smart for a company to squeeze as much profit as possible.

 

[GSWForever8]

They didn’t put a hole so you have to buy a equally or more expensive accessories to hold it in place. Just put a hole Apple, you have 2 trillion dollars.

 

[LeeW]

Pretty sure I could drill a hole in my iPhone or iPad Pro, not going to do it though.

 

[BuddyTronic]

I just 3D printed my own holders. Cost me less than 10cents and 10 mins.

I’m waiting for the 5 cent model.

 

[stevefeinstein]

Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.

I’m willing to bet they did think of it. And choose not to. It does align with their desire to sell lots of accessories.

 

[cmaier]

It could be that too, but I just don't get that about apple design philosophy, designing products that basically HAVE to be kept in cases to be useable.

I still use an iPhone X, and I think it is practically unseable without a case. Why? The thing is so damn slippery, it will easily slip out of any pocket or fall off any surface and I just find it very annoying whenever it's not in a case. Sure it looks beautiful, but I just wish they'd design their products more so they're great to use 'naked' if you want to use them that way.

Other than last year, I’ve bought at least one new model of iphone every year since the first iphone. I have a shoebox full of them. I’ve never used a case other than a battery case when travelling. They are perfectly usable without a case.

 

[cmaier]

I’m willing to bet they did think of it. And choose not to. It does align with their desire to sell lots of accessories.

If that’s all they cared about they could have added a hole and charged $10 extra per airtag, and made more or less the same amount of money. A lot of conspiracy theorists around here.

 

[LeeW]

I’m willing to bet they did think of it. And choose not to. It does align with their desire to sell lots of accessories.

Exactly this, anyone who suggested a hole probably got fired for not thinking of revenue first.

 

[LeeW]

A lot of conspiracy theorists around here.

And delusion.

 

[Tozovac]

Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.

Apple pre-2013: We must design it to work across various obvious ways the customer is likely use it, and look fantastic to by the way.

Apple post-2013: We must design it to look clean and simple as possible for while the customer is using it.

 

[MartyvH]

Thos fobs make it look like some kind of vile seaside souvenir

True but I don't think the top one does. A better colour would be just fine.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Apple pre-2013: We must design it to work across various obvious ways the customer is likely use it, and look fantastic to by the way.

Apple post-2013: We must design it to look clean and simple as possible for while the customer is using it.

The Puck Mouse was 1998, though.

 

[gene731]

All it needs now is a button you can press to help you find your iPhone, it will be as useful as a Tile then.

Then maybe perhaps the Tile is what you need for your use case?

 

[falainber]

Pretty sure I could drill a hole in my iPhone or iPad Pro, not going to do it though.

Unlike iPhone and iPad, to be useful, airtag has to be attached to something hence the need for a hole.

 

[Tozovac]

The Puck Mouse was 1998, though.

I’d say before around 2013, form-first’s like the puck mouse weren’t as much the norm they seem to be after.

 

[Abazigal]

Unlike iPhone and iPad, to be useful, airtag has to be attached to something hence the need for a hole.

You could also just toss it into your bag.

I see it the same way I see the XDR display being sold without a stand, or the ipad coming without a kickstand. These products are not about having the most features or being the “most useful”, but about being the purest mix of form and function possible.

If you want to prop up your ipad, or to attach your airtag to something, there’s an optional accessory for that. A hole would probably sacrifice the integrity and the beauty of the device. Thin, light, uncompromising simplicity is what makes a product good. Not a huge feature list. Not a hole in the airtag for you to string a metal keyring or a piece of string through.

And I find that’s really how Apple approaches product design.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I’d say before around 2013, form-first’s like the puck mouse weren’t as much the norm they seem to be after.

The G4 Cube was in 2000. The 20th anniversary Mac was 1997. The original Mac (that came out in the days when computers had slots… but with no slots) was in 1984. The iMac G4, another epitome of form over function, was released in 2002. Remove all those exceptions, then sure. But you also remove a LOT of years of Mac production.

 

[Xak444]

I can't find a 3D printer for 10 cents. I looked for more than 10 minutes.

I’d be willing to bet he already had the

I aways have to love how people complain about a $12 holder for a airtag and they will spend $2000 on a MacBook M1 that will now only last a couple of years.

couple year? Maybe if you wake up and throw it at a wall every morning.

 

[garylapointe]

I aways have to love how people complain about a $12 holder for a airtag and they will spend $2000 on a MacBook M1 that will now only last a couple of years.

A $12 holder that makes it larger.