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Tile Unveils New QR Code-Based 'Lost and Found' Feature and Upcoming 'Tile Ultra' With Ultra Wideband Support

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Tile, a company that makes Bluetooth-based item trackers that compete with Apple's AirTags, today introduced a refreshed lineup of devices and new features that make it easier for users to locate lost items.

tile-new-slim-mate-pro.jpg

The Tile Pro, Tile's most robust tracker with a 400 foot Bluetooth range, has been updated with a new key fob look. Tile says that the Pro is designed to attach to keys right out of the box, and that with the included keychain, it can also be used with bags and purses.

Tile's Mate, Sticker, and Slim trackers have all been refreshed and now have a 250 foot Bluetooth range, a louder ring, and upgraded IP67 water-resistance. The Mate has also received a design update and it now features a three-year battery life.

For locating lost devices, Tile is updating its "Lost and Found" network with support for QR codes that will be included on the back of every item tracker. If a lost item with a Tile tracker is found, the person who found it can scan the QR code to get contact details for the owner. All of Tile's refreshed trackers include the QR code with the exception of the Sticker.

tile-lost-and-found.jpg

Apple has a similar system that allows a lost AirTag to be identified by someone who finds it, but Apple's solution uses NFC functionality. A lost AirTag can be scanned by an NFC-enabled smartphone to bring up details.

To address unwanted tracking, Tile is introducing a "Scan and Secure" feature is designed to let anyone with the Tile app scan for and detect nearby Tile devices and determine if an unknown device is near them. Scan and Secure is coming to Android and iOS users in early 2022.

To better compete with AirTags, Tile next year plans to debut the Tile Ultra, a new tracker that's able to leverage Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technology for more precise tracking. Tile Ultra uses "Point and Locate" finding, which lets users locate their items using an augmented reality interface, similar to how AirTags work.

tile-ultrawide-band.jpg

When paired with iPhones with a U1 chip, AirTags will enter into a Precision Finding mode when close to a lost device. Tile Ultra will work in the same general way with visual finding, and it will be compatible with both iPhones and Android smartphones.

Tile's new Tile Pro, Mate, Slim, and Sticker are priced starting at $24.99 and can be purchased from the Tile website or from sites like Amazon.

Article Link: Tile Unveils New QR Code-Based 'Lost and Found' Feature and Upcoming 'Tile Ultra' With Ultra Wideband Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/12/tile-qr-code-ultrawide-band/
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Interesting that they’re using the OG UI for finding them that Apple was supposedly going to use with the balloon and stuff. The slim tracker is the only unique product in their lineup right now.
 
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I actually prefer Tile for its feature of clicking the tile rings your phone which is an immensely useful feature that Apple should not have left out on their product. Tile’s future may be bleak, but it’s not dead yet.
 
Too little too late. I had tile devices. I lost my keys with a tile attached. The person that found them had zero way to contact me. It took me weeks to get my keys back.

They could have printed SNs on the back and had a site to allow people to contact the owner years ago, but they only did it because apple developed a better product.

I'm glad they're finally starting to catch up, but they should have innovated instead of screaming "monopoly" to anyone that would listen.
 
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its good to have competition. we all benefit in the end. Tile is massive and has saved me countless times over the years, so i have both now. I think having both, considering how relatively cheap they are, helps us all to keep our valuables safe. i just wish they made spectacle frames!
 
Nice to see them making updates. I only have an AirTag but definitely want more than one option in the marketplace.

The market is harder on iOS now, but Tile will still get customers there and it has Android as well, they should be okay if their products work well enough.
Take Flight said:
Are they too stubborn to make their devices FindMy compatible so they can actually be nearly feature parity with AirTags?
Click to expand...
The article did say they're working on a new version that uses ultra wideband for location tracking, however iOS users are probably only 1/2 or less of their user base so they probably want to do things that will work on both platforms.
 
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MacRumors said:
If a lost item with a Tile tracker is found, the person who found it can scan the QR code to get contact details for the owner. All of Tile's refreshed trackers include the QR code with the exception of the Sticker.
Click to expand...
Everyone, I’m gonna drop some SECURITY SCIENCE ON YOU RIGHT NOW!

IF someone drops one of these with an altered QR code that goes to a page that ask you to enter your bank details, AND YOU DO… you MIGHT be what we in the industry call, a LIVING SECURITY VECTOR! We here at UnregisteredOnSecurity suggest that you never interact with anything else ever again… ever.

Even though this isn’t an Apple product or a service even related to Apple, look for my 5 hour YouTube infoseries:
“Where Apple Went Wrong With Tile”
“Some More of Apple’s Greatest Tile Mistakes”
“Who Does Apple Think They Are Anyway? You Know Related To Tile I Mean”
and, the critically facetious
“Well, That About Wraps It Up For Apple… something something Tile”
 
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WiseAJ said:
Oh look competition forced Tile to get somewhat off their lazy butts and somewhat improve their product. Imagine that.
Click to expand...
I quite agree. There’s nothing in the improvements for THIS year that could not have been done within the last 12 months. And, I’d wager that the plans for next year only materialized after Apple indicated they were thinking about planning to come out with AirTags.

To all Tile users from Apple… you’re welcome!
 
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I doubt Tile are THAT worried seeing as Android dominates the global mobile market.
 
I thought I would like AirTags more than my tiles, but I don’t. Just bought more Tiles a couple of weeks ago and they continue to work great and I can share anyone of them w/ the fam.
 
silver25u said:
For something that's going to never happen, my family sure has a lot of them. Appreciate the louder alerts, not having to buy a case just to attach them to something, and various v1.0 kinks of the Airtags.
Click to expand...

I transitioned from a SmartKey with Tile to the Apple AirTags. As much as I love my Elevation Lab AirTag holders, it's a bit obscene that I cannot even attach the AirTag without some holder. This is akin to BMW giving me a car key that only lets you attach to the key that separates from the rest of the fob. Here's to hoping my key never comes out of the fob on accident :-( I am interested in this slim card though from Tile if that works in my wallet I'll be a happy camper :)
 
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I recently went from Tile to AirTags for two reasons:

1. I keep setting off the find my iPhone/iPad via my keychain Pro square Tile while in my pocket. The same happened using the Pro square Tile in my wallet. But that is on me I should have been using the wallet Tile.

2. I have to assume the user support base will/is much greater (increasing the chances of a find outside of my house)

I also plan to gift my Tiles to a friend. But, the transfer cannot be done easily. I have to apply to Tile with my friend's information before the transfer of service can be completed. They admit they are working on an easier way, according to a notice on their website.

I do feel a bit guilty jumping ship as Tile has worked well for me, as far as find my keys and devices in my house. But, I think the true test really is how well Tile/Airtags find lost devices outside the home. It seems to me that AirTags will probably do that better due to the number of Apple devices out in the world.
 
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Sasparilla said:
Nice to see them making updates. I only have an AirTag but definitely want more than one option in the marketplace.

The market is harder on iOS now, but Tile will still get customers there and it has Android as well, they should be okay if their products work well enough.

The article did say they're working on a new version that uses ultra wideband for location tracking, however iOS users are probably only 1/2 or less of their user base so they probably want to do things that will work on both platforms.
Click to expand...
UWB does not automatically mean FindMy support. Just means that finding the Tile when you are closer is a lot easier.
 
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