AirTags

Batman Likes The Sox

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Curious if anyone is going to jump in on AirTags or has already ordered. Orders started today: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/23/airtags-orders-now-available/

If I was traveling a lot like pre-Covid, I'd probably jump in immediately and grab the 4 for $99 package. I like the replaceable battery and that you only have to replace about once a year. I do wonder about losing items in places with no cell service and how well they'll work. I'd probably think about two keychains for me and my wife and two in our suitcases. Kids' backpacks are a possibility too I guess, though they've never lost them.

I was also thinking about whether these would survive the temperatures of sitting in the car in New England year round. I'm not really worried about theft, but using the app to remember exactly where I parked after a week at the airport or in other massively large parking situations seems useful.
 

DJnVa

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I was also thinking about whether these would survive the temperatures of sitting in the car in New England year round. I'm not really worried about theft, but using the app to remember exactly where I parked after a week at the airport or in other massively large parking situations seems useful.
Unless I'm missing something obvious and should have more coffee--why would they be sitting in your car year-round though? I get maybe, at the airport, for convenience, but won't they usually be on your keys or something?
 

kenneycb

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Dec 2, 2006
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Curious if anyone is going to jump in on AirTags or has already ordered. Orders started today: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/23/airtags-orders-now-available/

If I was traveling a lot like pre-Covid, I'd probably jump in immediately and grab the 4 for $99 package. I like the replaceable battery and that you only have to replace about once a year. I do wonder about losing items in places with no cell service and how well they'll work. I'd probably think about two keychains for me and my wife and two in our suitcases. Kids' backpacks are a possibility too I guess, though they've never lost them.

I was also thinking about whether these would survive the temperatures of sitting in the car in New England year round. I'm not really worried about theft, but using the app to remember exactly where I parked after a week at the airport or in other massively large parking situations seems useful.
Regarding the no cell service, I believe they use bluetooth and the global iPhone / iPad / Mac universe to determine your location. So long as you're within close distance to someone with an Apple product, the AirTags should work.
 

Batman Likes The Sox

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More coffee is always a good idea!

I'm not sure - I guess I'm more wondering about the temperature tolerance of the things long term (and the batteries).

For $25 or so each, I don't think I'd be as inclined to want to move them around a lot. I'm just thinking: What are the things I ever have to look for to remember where they are or think might get lost (keys, bags, car, kids' stuff that they carry around) and is it worth it to throw one of these things in there?

I was reading a bit more and seeing people wanting to use them on dog collars which makes a lot of sense too, though we don't have any pets.
 

rmurph3

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I've been using Tile for a few years for this purpose, this looks like a direct competitor (ripoff, even) of their product. It is a great thing to have though... I have them in my keys, wallet, sunglasses case. Haven't traveled in forever, but slipping one in a checked bag is also a great use case (that I think I saw in Apple's demo).
 

Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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I'll buy these.

Things I love:
  • The "Precision Finding" experience is great. If you have a compatible phone (iPhone 11 or newer), getting visual and haptic feedback is a very nice complement to the typical "Hey Siri, find my phone" ping.
  • If you place a device in "Lost Mode," nearby iPhones and Androids will continue to update its location. What I don't know yet: whether location is updated passively, or whether strangers would have to scan the AirTag to update the location. If it's the latter, this feature might not be altogether useful.
But they don't have the form factors I need. I'd like a credit-card shaped one to place in my wallet and my passport holder. It seems like a missed opportunity that the physical Apple Card is not also an AirTag. That would seem inevitable for a new physical Apple Card. The thing I lose most often is my AirPods -- still in the case, with the lids closed. "Find My" doesn't help with that. So I'd need to check if the AirTag can be affixed to the AirPods case... but first I'd need to find my AirPods.
 

canderson

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I've been using Tile for a few years for this purpose, this looks like a direct competitor (ripoff, even) of their product. It is a great thing to have though... I have them in my keys, wallet, sunglasses case. Haven't traveled in forever, but slipping one in a checked bag is also a great use case (that I think I saw in Apple's demo).
I imagine this puts Tile out of business within a few years. The ecosystem is not even remotely comparable for the tracking side - iOS devices vs those who are actively, specifically running the Tile app would be a fun numbers game to look at (probably higher than 5,000:1 right?). The iOS tracking is from any iPhone or cellular iPad or iWatch. It's pretty wild.
 

rmurph3

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I imagine this puts Tile out of business within a few years. The ecosystem is not even remotely comparable for the tracking side - iOS devices vs those who are actively, specifically running the Tile app would be a fun numbers game to look at (probably higher than 5,000:1 right?). The iOS tracking is from any iPhone or cellular iPad or iWatch. It's pretty wild.
Yeah, that's the killer for Tile. They have the same "lost mode"/community search thing, but having the scope of the entire iOS universe as your search device net is just a massive advantage to Apple. I agree that Tile is doomed here.
 

kenneycb

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Not knowing too much about the industry, there could be enough room for multiple players. For instance, if you don't have an iPhone, I imagine AirTags are a lot less useful. They may not dominate the market like they do today but Apple only have 50% of the smartphone market, so there's still a market out there.
 

uncannymanny

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Jan 12, 2007
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Apple isn't putting Tile out of business with 15% market share.

Edit: looks like they are up to ~25% globally.
 

gtmtnbiker

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I wish this existed when we had our previous cat. She would go outside and hide somewhere. It would be cool to know where she is and where she went.
 

ColdSoxPack

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Jul 14, 2005
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I just got an apple watch to go with my iphone 12. Air tags are interesting. I lose my glasses 6 times a day but I don't think these would help.
 

swiftaw

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Jan 31, 2009
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It's effective range is likely going to be about 500 feet so probably not.
If you put them in lost mode then they utilize any Apple or Android phone as a detector I think, so it’s location would be noted by anyone passing the car with a smart phone.
 

gtmtnbiker

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I did order the 4 pack which will come in a few weeks. Will put them on the car keys for now.
 

jtn46

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I just got an apple watch to go with my iphone 12. Air tags are interesting. I lose my glasses 6 times a day but I don't think these would help.
These are too big to fit onto glasses but same, if Warby Parker made this a $30 option they would make a decent amount of money off of me.
 

gtmtnbiker

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My AirTags came today but not the holders so I really can’t use them for the keys yet. I did try one. Very simple to setup. Pull the battery tab and put it next to your phone then follow instructions.

you can see your tags under FindMy app. I’ll probably get another four pack soon
 

VORP Speed

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I ordered a 4 pack last week. It’s supposed to arrive in early June. In addition to the car keys, I’m planning to attach them to the dogs’ collars.