I was a huge fan of these things when they first came out, I bought a total of 12 for me and my partner to attach to all kinds of things, keys, wallets, inside the cars, on our dogs collars etc.. They were amazing the first few months and really came in handy in finding our dogs that escaped the yard a couple times. However, now a year later these things have become just an annoyance after all the changes Apple has been making in the name of "stalking". I went out of town for a weekend last month and my family called complaining that half a dozen tags were beeping all over the house and there was no way to stop them without doing the whole disabling thing to them which kinda defeats the purpose of having them. The same thing happened when I dropped my car off at the dealer for a single day for it to be worked on, the tag on my keychain and inside the car were beeping and they called me about it. These things have become utterly worthless and I really hope Apple gets hit with a class action lawsuit about it. They have materially changed how these function and drastically decreased their use after purchase.
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Latest AirTags Firmware Update Tunes the Unwanted Tracking Sound for Easier Detection
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Obviously they don't prevent theft (a strong bike lock might help hinder theft though.) The likelihood of tracking the theft is lower now that AirTags are easier to discover.
Hopefully Apple updates the tones that Left Behind plays when you've left something behind. A nice, loud alarm or siren sound that plays continually (sort of like when you accidentally trigger the SOS on your iPhone) instead of either nothing (does it make any sound?) or the normal "ding" sound I already hear a 100 times a day. It's pretty useless when you don't hear the alert.
I wish there was a way to disable the noise for family members Airtags. I drive my wife's car sometimes, and her keys have an airtag on them. It beeps fairly consistently, which I know is annoying but also is a concern because it gets people used to ignoring the warning. We also have them on some other items and when she goes to work, they start beeping because its not tied to my phone.
We've used it a few times to help out, but it really seems like no one truly thought through these scenarios before releasing it.
We've used it a few times to help out, but it really seems like no one truly thought through these scenarios before releasing it.
The purpose of them is exactly that, to be discovered. Tracking an item after theft is a use-case they aren't designed for.
Unlikely, Apple would rather you use a phone or watch to have this functionality.
Profit!
Family sharing is a must have feature. We have these on suitcases that are shared between a couple family members. It’s a pain to have to flip out well concealed tags just because a different person is taking the bag with them.
Maybe it's not the AirTag that's making the dog go nuts but rather the absence of the dog's owner. Separation anxiety?
Have had four AirTags since Day One, and they work great. I’m forever misplacing my keys, and thanks to the AirTag I have attached, I’m able to find them. Plus, no issues at all. Batteries still holding up just fine.
I have 8 active airtags with 4 bought on day 1 and 4 a month later. None have needed their batteries replaced yet. I really like mine.
I would guess they do an SQL select for tags that have not been updated without a sort, and a limit of around 20k or so. They take the return from the search, update the tags, mark them as updated. Then they do the next select for the next 20k until the select returns a list of zero length. (I am sure they are not actually using SQL but a database that plays nicer when it comes to distributed databases, but you get what I am saying.)
I've had nothing but positive experiences with them so far. We bought a bunch on launch day and they're all still using their initial batteries. It's just setup and forget about them until they notify you you've left a bag or keys or some case of equipment behind. They're a bit of a game-changer for my company really. Except for the android types who don't get all the fuss.
I would LOVE to be able to acknowledge in some secure way other airtags as "safe" though, something like family sharing would be just fantastic in our scenario.
About a year ago or so, we wrapped and packed up a location, started to drive away and one crew member's phone alerted them that they left behind some gear, we were like, no way, the case is in the back of one of the trucks, we turn around, go back to the location and find the expensive gear which some idiot thought they could steal, by hiding it somewhere in the location we never were. (With that particular gear we actually hide an airtag inside it's enclosure) We grabbed our gear and left them a fun "surprise" in it's place. Pro Tip: remind the crew to actually lay eyes on things before they close up cases.
I would LOVE to be able to acknowledge in some secure way other airtags as "safe" though, something like family sharing would be just fantastic in our scenario.
About a year ago or so, we wrapped and packed up a location, started to drive away and one crew member's phone alerted them that they left behind some gear, we were like, no way, the case is in the back of one of the trucks, we turn around, go back to the location and find the expensive gear which some idiot thought they could steal, by hiding it somewhere in the location we never were. (With that particular gear we actually hide an airtag inside it's enclosure) We grabbed our gear and left them a fun "surprise" in it's place. Pro Tip: remind the crew to actually lay eyes on things before they close up cases.
I've never had any of these issues? Why don't you add your BF to your family sharing so that your AirTags don't notify each other. You don't need to share the location it'll just be added as a "known" AirTag.
You can do this - we have Apple ID's added to family sharing and then any FindMy devices are all known to each other. My car keys never alert my girlfriend.
It has zero use with Airtags, otherwise there would be no people complaining about family sharing, I have family sharing enabled on icloud, some weeks ago I lended my keys (airtagged) to my sister since she didn't want to search for hers (no airtags) just for a quick walk wth the dog, she forgot to return it to me and I to ask it back, next day I was stuck inside home with no keys when leaving for work, and she texted me soon after that she forgot to give me it back yesterday and it was beeping on her work and her phone was displaying a prompt that a unnintendified airtag was with her.
I have one on my bike and often we I go get my bike, it starts beeping at me as if My phone is not connect to it. The Find My actually says the bike is with me. I don’t know why it beeps, when I’m just going to my bike and not when I’m on the move.
And yes, family sharing is a must!
Im thinking about Tile because of these issues. I have one Tile but I would miss the tracking part as not a lot of Tile users here. However if I’m just using it to locate something in my home (spare keys) then Tile is more than enough.
I have two AirTags that I haven’t used and I don’t know where to use them. Would love to have it on my key but no family sharing and therefor a constant reminder for my SO.
And yes, family sharing is a must!
Im thinking about Tile because of these issues. I have one Tile but I would miss the tracking part as not a lot of Tile users here. However if I’m just using it to locate something in my home (spare keys) then Tile is more than enough.
I have two AirTags that I haven’t used and I don’t know where to use them. Would love to have it on my key but no family sharing and therefor a constant reminder for my SO.
Not sure I do. I didn't mean how they are managing it. Is it by serial number, location, maybe "left behind" notification? Nobody's noted any pattern.
I used to have tiles but the location wasnt that great as you described. The only Tile I have left is the wallet one.
They didn't kill that functionality, your expectations were incorrect.