There are so many uses. Last year when I took a trip to Berlin, my bag didn't make the transfer and I knew immediately upon landing. I was told it would be sent to my hotel via courier, but after a couple days of waiting (thank goodness I had a change of clothes in my carry-on) I saw it arrive in Berlin and tracked it down to the unassuming building, hopped a taxi, and went there myself. The clerk insisted it wasn't in his system, and not his problem. Once I showed him I had a tracker, he let me in and I found the bag amongst the piles of luggage. My luggage will forever have trackers now. Along with my keys, purse, etc.
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Record Low Prices Hit Apple's AirTag and Anker's Bluetooth Trackers
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AirTags effectively have 2 forms of location, long distance and close distance. You can see that your AirTag is within say a 30m radius, once you’re within say a 4m distance the accurate location works. The problem is you can know generally where your tag is but if you don’t get within 4m you might not be able to find it. The next gen needs to fix this issue.I wonder what other features could be added to the AirTag?
thats because there are limitations to low power bluetooth (and the uwb radio). there isnt a 'fix'. you wont be able to track it in real time, from a longer distance without another radio technology. one that is much more costly, and power hungry, mind you.AirTags effectively have 2 forms of location, long distance and close distance. You can see that your AirTag is within say a 30m radius, once you’re within say a 4m distance the accurate location works. The problem is you can know generally where your tag is but if you don’t get within 4m you might not be able to find it. The next gen needs to fix this issue.
You forgot about the third method for locating a AirTag. The third method is whatever distance you can hear the AirTag beeping when you select “Play Sound”.AirTags effectively have 2 forms of location, long distance and close distance. You can see that your AirTag is within say a 30m radius, once you’re within say a 4m distance the accurate location works. The problem is you can know generally where your tag is but if you don’t get within 4m you might not be able to find it. The next gen needs to fix this issue.
That distance is, of course, different for everybody (not everybody hears equally as well) and also depends on any background noises. But that’s the third method to get the location. And it’s often the method I use when I know an AirTag is nearby.
that sound is triggered via bluetooth.You forgot about the third method for locating a AirTag. The third method is whatever distance you can hear the AirTag beeping when you select “Play Sound”.
That distance is, of course, different for everybody (not everybody hears equally as well) and also depends on any background noises. But that’s the third method to get the location. And it’s often the method I use when I know an AirTag is nearby.
Yes, as is everything with the AirTag.that sound is triggered via bluetooth.
wrong. it has two radios on completely different freqsYes, as is everything with the AirTag.
Ah, you’re right.wrong. it has two radios on completely different freqs
You still have to be close for that feature to activate, there’s a ‘no man’s land’ between the geolocation and the close location via the U1 or play sound.You forgot about the third method for locating a AirTag. The third method is whatever distance you can hear the AirTag beeping when you select “Play Sound”.
That distance is, of course, different for everybody (not everybody hears equally as well) and also depends on any background noises. But that’s the third method to get the location. And it’s often the method I use when I know an AirTag is nearby.
But it’s the middle distance method you were looking for (to go along with the long distance option and the close distance option).You still have to be close for that feature to activate, there’s a ‘no man’s land’ between the geolocation and the close location via the U1 or play sound.
The long distance option gets you with 30 meters. The ‘Play Sound’ option gets you within X meters (however good your hearing is — obviously different for each person). And the close distance options gets you within the last 3 or so meters).
I’ve had important instances where I can get to the general location of the AirTag but the play sound or close distance location wouldn’t kick in and the item was lost. It’s happened to me twice.But it’s the middle distance method you were looking for (to go along with the long distance option and the close distance option).
The long distance option gets you with 30 meters. The ‘Play Sound’ option gets you within X meters (however good your hearing is — obviously different for each person). And the close distance options gets you within the last 3 or so meters).
remember the 'location' of the airtag on the map shows where the device was that saw it last, not where the airtag was. the airtag does not have gps, so it cannot communicate its coordinates.I’ve had important instances where I can get to the general location of the AirTag but the play sound or close distance location wouldn’t kick in and the item was lost. It’s happened to me twice.
This isn’t the point, the point is that even if the item is stationary the gps location is not accurate enough to guarantee that the precise location or the play sound can be activated. For these to work you must me close to the item. There is a ‘no man’s land’ between gps and precise location. The next gen needs to close this gap so items can always be found.remember the 'location' of the airtag on the map shows where the device was that saw it last, not where the airtag was. the airtag does not have gps, so it cannot communicate its coordinates.
Also other users can be used as a relay for gps location, but not to play sound, if the item is placed in lost mode then relaying the instruction to play a sound periodically would be helpful.
unless v2 has wifi or a real gps (again, will require new radio tech, at cost of battery life) this 'dead zone' wont change.This isn’t the point, the point is that even if the item is stationary the gps location is not accurate enough to guarantee that the precise location or the play sound can be activated. For these to work you must me close to the item. There is a ‘no man’s land’ between gps and precise location. The next gen needs to close this gap so items can always be found.
Also other users can be used as a relay for gps location, but not to play sound, if the item is placed in lost mode then relaying the instruction to play a sound periodically would be helpful.
In practical attempts, I've always had much easier time finding my Apple Airtags versus the third party find my, because of the UWB radio for location. Third party only use Bluetooth.
Put in another way, even though they have 'gone missing' along with the item, I've never not recovered an Airtag (except the one that met a watery death!). Have you?
Is this a real problem? Or maybe you want a GPS locator with the same form factor and battery life? Good luck!
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Yeah, I’ve lost 2 items already (when I could see the general location) and am in the process of losing a third, I can see the general location and it’s updating and static, but I can’t get close enough to engage the play sound or precise location, this is a very real problem.unless v2 has wifi or a real gps (again, will require new radio tech, at cost of battery life) this 'dead zone' wont change.
In practical attempts, I've always had much easier time finding my Apple Airtags versus the third party find my, because of the UWB radio for location. Third party only use Bluetooth.
Put in another way, even though they have 'gone missing' along with the item, I've never not recovered an Airtag (except the one that met a watery death!). Have you?
Is this a real problem? Or maybe you want a GPS locator with the same form factor and battery life? Good luck!
I’m not saying I have the solution, the original question was something like “what new features would a second gen need” my point is that the ‘no man’s land’ needs to be removed, either by increasing the range of the UWB radio and / or triangulating the gps in a more precise manner.
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