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Leaker Jon Prosser Claims AirTags and New iPad Pro to Be Announced Next Month

Every Apple leaker's strategy ever since discovering AirTags being a work in progress have been to predict its release at every upcoming Apple event possible until it's finally actually released.
 
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hybrid_x said:
Yes, that's exactly what I'm imagining.

I've been sitting on the fence with home automation and smart lighting, because I don't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on passive infrared "occupancy sensors" that are slow to respond and a pain in the butt to integrate because they need third-party hubs (Hue, Trädfri, Caséta, etc.).

Something radio-based makes much more sense. Throw a few of them around the home, and your whole network can then triangulate your precise location, so you could have music, lighting, or phone calls follow you from room to room.
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Well that’s pretty cool. Dunno that I’d go for it because I’d have to start from scratch with home automation and smart lighting (and I know the rest of my family wouldn’t use it), but the concept does sound good.
 
I hope the rumors are true. I’ve almost pulled the trigger on a few Tiles but keep holding off to see what Apple is able to deliver. Most of the time when I lose something I know the general vicinity of where it is but I’m hoping for something more exact. Something that can tell me in a precise manner when I’m closer to or further away from it.
 
mashdots said:
Since apple is using a form of triangulation (like with Find My for offline devices), I'm sure apple can leverage other apple devices to help track the location of tags. That is speculation of course, but i'd be surprised if they didn't do it.
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No need for speculation, they announced how the Find My network worked a long time ago. Every Apple device that participates uploads the location of every tagged product it encounters in a secure, private way, making it so only the owner can find the devices, without knowing whose device transmitted its location.
 
alexandr said:
great mock up - the airtags are quite different in size. besides, if they are anywhere near that big—gonna be a no.
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They're all the same size, but, yeah, they're about .4 inches wider than a Tile based on their size relative to the iPad.
 
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QCassidy352 said:
Can someone explain to me why AirTags are so significant? I assume there are lots of great uses beyond “finding my lost keys,” but I’ve not heard them (and am apparently not imaginative enough to figure them out on my own).
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I could be talking out of my ass but I’ll have a go.

First thing is that they’re not GPS trackers. At least probably not. They’re too small with too little power and have no ability to transmit over long distances.

They’re Bluetooth trackers. They stay in almost constant communication with your phone. It is your phone that adds the GPS info and transmits the location to the cloud. The moment the tag moves out of range of your phone, the location stops updating.

This is the part where I’ll try to answer your question. I expect AirTags to be able to communicate with any iPhone or iPad and have their location updated. So, say you drop your keys and somebody picks them up and moves them, any iPhone in range of the tracker will be able to update the location.

I believe this is how Tile works and it works well except that there are comparatively few Tile users out there. If I lose a tile, the chances are quite slim that another Tile owner will come into range. If AirTags work the same way, there is a much, much better chance it will come into range of an iPhone at some point. The density of connecting devices has the potential to make this “crowd-finding” more powerful than anything else out there.

I repeat - I could be talking out of my ass. I’m basing all of this on speculation and my basic understanding of how Bluetooth LE and similar products work.

Edit: I haven’t even mentioned the benefits of ultra-wide band, hyper-accurate location awareness and now that could be used to interact with smart home devices. I see it’s already been covered earlier in the thread.
 
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QCassidy352 said:
Can someone explain to me why AirTags are so significant? I assume there are lots of great uses beyond “finding my lost keys,” but I’ve not heard them (and am apparently not imaginative enough to figure them out on my own).
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My interest is for keeping track where various gear is. I have a house, an office, and two cars. It would be great if all the gear always got put back in the proper storage location, but since I live in reality, not Pleasantville, that does not happen. Being able to look at a map and see where each of my cameras, lights, drills, battery chargers, etc. is would be really nice.
 
I want something other than wifi so my HomePod knows I'm home. it doesn't detect me to trigger my home scene 1 out of 5 times.
 
As soon as I saw “YouTuber Jon Prosser” name mentioned, I refused to read the rest of the thread. He is a obnoxious individual without much credibility at all. I wish Mac rumor wouldn’t mention his name and stick with the names that has some clout and some credibility.
 
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Jon is streaky with predictions, but he may be accurate with this. Lately, it’s been an ‘April time release’ for Apple to usually release products, rather it be a digital event or silent release.

Either way, the Airtags have been rumored for like three years, but I would say 2021 we should finally see them at some point, rather Prosser is right or not.
 
QCassidy352 said:
Can someone explain to me why AirTags are so significant? I assume there are lots of great uses beyond “finding my lost keys,” but I’ve not heard them (and am apparently not imaginative enough to figure them out on my own).
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I'm pretty sure some people used to say the same thing about GPS and mobile phones. How many people still use paper street maps to find a pay phone?

Someday, the kids won't remember where they left their toys, shoes, etc., because Siri will tell them not only which closet, but where under the pile in the closet.
 
QCassidy352 said:
Can someone explain to me why AirTags are so significant? I assume there are lots of great uses beyond “finding my lost keys,” but I’ve not heard them (and am apparently not imaginative enough to figure them out on my own).
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I live rural. My dog mostly stays near home, but occasionally he wanders off. I would love to have an AirTag on his collar. I might as well throw one on the cat too.
 
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