AirTags Archives - Tech Research Online Knowledge Base for IT Pros Mon, 04 Sep 2023 10:37:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.5 https://techresearchonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/full-black-d_favicon-70-70.png AirTags Archives - Tech Research Online 32 32 Google’s ‘Find My Device’ Update Gets Delayed, as It Plays Safe https://techresearchonline.com/news/google-find-my-device-update-gets-delayed/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:42:56 +0000 https://techresearchonline.com/?p=402462 Google has been working on deploying some industry-leading Android features. The company was emphasizing this in its 2023 I/O event by announcing changes to its ecosystem for new security improvements. Google said it is delaying the broad expansion of its Find My Device function out of concern for personal safety. This is because the feature doesn’t live up to the industry standards Google and Apple have set. “User safety and the prevention of unwanted location tracking is a top priority for Android,” said Google’s Erik Kay in a blog post today. “At this time, we’ve decided to delay the Find My Device network rollout until Apple has implemented protections for iOS,” Google’s Commitment to Security Features Since the 2023 Google I/O Event Back at its Google I/O 2023 keynote, Google disclosed plans to use millions of existing Android devices, compatible peripherals, and a new generation of Bluetooth item trackers to assist in finding your lost electronics. That’s because the implementation sounds quite like Apple’s Find My Network. Initially, this more extensive Find My Device network was supposed to be introduced over the summer. Google has now chosen to hold off until Apple also implements unknown tracker alerts. This is something …

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Google has been working on deploying some industry-leading Android features. The company was emphasizing this in its 2023 I/O event by announcing changes to its ecosystem for new security improvements. Google said it is delaying the broad expansion of its Find My Device function out of concern for personal safety. This is because the feature doesn’t live up to the industry standards Google and Apple have set.

“User safety and the prevention of unwanted location tracking is a top priority for Android,” said Google’s Erik Kay in a blog post today. “At this time, we’ve decided to delay the Find My Device network rollout until Apple has implemented protections for iOS,”

Google’s Commitment to Security Features Since the 2023 Google I/O Event

Back at its Google I/O 2023 keynote, Google disclosed plans to use millions of existing Android devices, compatible peripherals, and a new generation of Bluetooth item trackers to assist in finding your lost electronics. That’s because the implementation sounds quite like Apple’s Find My Network. Initially, this more extensive Find My Device network was supposed to be introduced over the summer.

Google has now chosen to hold off until Apple also implements unknown tracker alerts. This is something Apple already does for its own AirTags, and ultimately those alerts will also be able to distinguish between trackers that use Google’s Find My Device network. But we’re not there yet, and it appears like Google wants to delay the release of new trackers until both significant mobile platforms can find them.

The goal of Apple and Google’s initial joint news release was to “release a production implementation of the specification for unwanted tracking alerts by the end of 2023 that will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android.” So, Google’s early summer estimate for the larger Find My Device network was too ambitious.

Speaking of unidentified tracker notifications, Google has announced a new security feature starting this month. Android phones will now start alerting users when an unidentified AirTag is found to be traveling with them. This comes as a clear intention to separate it from the owner. In other words, you will be given a helpful heads-up if someone is attempting to covertly follow your location without your consent. This is a built-in, system-level prompt and won’t call for the download of any other apps.

New Date for Update

The fact that this new privacy and safety feature will be widely accessible for phones running Android 6 and later, is possibly its best feature. This is due to Google Play Services receiving a software upgrade that adds alerts for unknown trackers. Therefore, you should be able to benefit from this new security measure even if your phone isn’t receiving significant Android updates anymore.

Google prioritizing users’ safety and delaying its update is a good sign for Android users in the market. Because you can always see the iOS advertisements making fun of the Andriod security features. Let’s see how Google makes of the extra time it’s seeking for the update. So far, Google has not given a new launch date for the robust tracking network.

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Apple Airtag: A New Way to Track Your Stuff https://techresearchonline.com/blog/apple-airtag-a-new-way-to-track-your-stuff/ https://techresearchonline.com/blog/apple-airtag-a-new-way-to-track-your-stuff/#respond Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:08:28 +0000 https://techresearchonline.com/?p=39831 Introduction You have a date and you are already 10 minutes late. You grab your jacket, keys, and wallet and rush out.    Lucky for you, you reach the park just before your date decides to leave.    The date goes well and after spending most of the afternoon, you happily drive back home.    You drop your keys in the key bowl and start taking off your jacket, but then you realize something is missing. You check all your pockets and…   Oh crap! You justify your wallet in the park!   You suddenly start recalling all the places you’ve been to the park bench, the fountain, that ice-cream stall……   Now, you have only two options: search the whole place or wait for someone to find it and call you.     Sounds familiar?   Losing thing is a concept we are all familiar with and we can proudly say “been there, done that.”   But the noteworthy thing is that: you and I are not the only people losing stuff around here, everyone is!   Let me show you the gravity of this situation with a few stats:   An average American spends 2.5 days each year looking for lost items collectively costing U.S. households $2.7 billion annually in replacement costs.   On …

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Introduction

You have a date and you are already 10 minutes late. You grab your jacket, keys, and wallet and rush out.   

Lucky for you, you reach the park just before your date decides to leave.   

The date goes well and after spending most of the afternoon, you happily drive back home.   

You drop your keys in the key bowl and start taking off your jacket, but then you realize something is missing. You check all your pockets and…  

Oh crap! You justify your wallet in the park!  

You suddenly start recalling all the places you’ve been to the park bench, the fountain, that ice-cream stall……  

Now, you have only two options: search the whole place or wait for someone to find it and call you.    

Sounds familiar?  

Losing thing is a concept we are all familiar with and we can proudly say “been there, done that.”  

But the noteworthy thing is that: you and I are not the only people losing stuff around here, everyone is!  

Let me show you the gravity of this situation with a few stats:  

  • An average American spends 2.5 days each year looking for lost items collectively costing U.S. households $2.7 billion annually in replacement costs.  
  • On average you spend 10 minutes a day looking for your phone, keys, or other misplaced items which are 2.5 days per year.  
  • People spent 4.5 hours searching for the TV controller every week!  

To solve this major crisis, in April 2021, Apple introduced Airtags at an event.  

 

The small, circular discs hold ultra-wideband tech as Apple’s iPhone 12.  

Wait! Wait! Wait! 

Let’s take a pause and start from the beginning:   

Q1. What is Apple AirTag?   

Apple’s Airtag is a simple way to stay connected with your things in this digitally connected world. An iPhone accessory provides a private and secure way to locate items that matter to you.  

But we should not forget that Apple is not the pioneer of trackers. It’s just trying to expand its Find My ecosystem with AirTag. 

Apple’s AirTag is a product to rival Tile and other companies including Locca, Hum, Whistle, TrackR, and Pebblebee Finder who are already in the game.  

Q2. How Does the AirTag work?  

Apple says Airtags works the same as pairing AirPods. You can see it in the new items tab of the Find My app and name the items it is connected with.  

Assume that you are at your home and you’ve lost your keys. Then you’ll probably still be within the Bluetooth range of your AirTag.   

In this case, you can go to Find my and it will detect Bluetooth signals from your Airtags. After that, you’ll be able to use the built-in speaker that will guide you to their location.   

 How Does the AirTag work.

To add the cherry on top, AirTags have Siri-support, so you can command your iOS assistant to help you locate the lost item.   

This part of the equation is simple. But, once we step outside the house, then things get a lot more interesting.   

Q3. So, What Happens if you are Out of Bluetooth Range?   

Now, if you’ve justified something far behind with Airtag attached to it, for instance on a park bench, you can open Find My network and see its last known location.   

Your devices will send the location of your AirTag to iCloud and then you can see it on a map.   

If you leave something behind then you can at least return to the same spot and collect it.   

Q4. What Happens if Something is Really Lost?  

In that case, you can put your AirTag into Lost mode.   

In lost mode, your phones will notify you when your tag is within the range of the Find My network.   

Or, if someone else happens to stumble on your AirTag, she or he can simply use an iPhone or any NFC-capable device to view your contact number (if it’s listed).  

If you are still wondering!  

Tags and the Find My app leverage Apple’s U1 chip with Ultra-Wideband technology to use Precision Finding.  

This feature relies on camera input, ARKit, accelerometer, and gyroscope to guide you to your AirTag. It also uses sound, haptic, and visual feedback to help you find your item.   

On top of the U1 chip, AirTag uses Bluetooth, so that anyone with an iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 device will be able to use them.   

To help you easily navigate, the Find My app will give you helpful notes, for instance, how many feet away your AirTag is and in which direction.   

 Apple airtag

                                                                     Credit: Tech Advisor 

Apple’s Airtags are for everyone, hence their Precision Finding also has a voice-over option to help low-vision or blind users.  

All that sounds great!  

But, if you are a skeptical person like me, then you must have some security and privacy concerns.   

Am I right or am I right?  

Indeed, Apple’s Airtag leverages the Find My network. To ensures that you can locate AirTags in most situations, nearly a billion iOS devices around the world participate in it.   

But this also means they can be tracked very closely, which opens the possibility of them being abused.  

Q5. Is Apple Airtag Secure?  

Apple’s name has been synonymous with ‘Privacy and Security for many. And, even with their new product, they have eliminated the problem of security as much as possible.  

AirTag is designed to track items, not people,” Wolfman-Estrada said during the Apple spring event.  

airbags are tiny, lightweight discs so they won’t weigh down keyrings or backpacks. This makes them easy to slip into someone’s bag.   

So, what happens if someone tries to use Airtag to stalk you from their own Apple device.  

To address this, if the Find My app in your phone detects an AirTag not attached to your Apple ID it will immediately alert you.  

 apple air tag secure

                                                                   Credit: Apple 

Q6. But What Happens When you don’t own an iPhone?  

In that case, the Airtag itself will raise an audible alert to let you know it’s there.  

Apple says “Bluetooth signal identifiers transmitted by AirTag rotate frequently to prevent unwanted location tracking. iOS devices can also detect an AirTag that isn’t with its owner, and notify the user if an unknown AirTag is seen to be traveling with them from place to place over time.”  

Besides, to stop someone slipping an AirTag into your pocket, you will be able to detect if an unknown AirTag appears to be moving with you.   

Q7. Will you be able to see Devices Near your AirTag?  

AirTags use Apple’s network to locate missing devices, but Apple says, “no location data or location history is physically stored inside AirTag.”  

Despite, Apple’s several claims Forbes shared the risk Airtag users will still face.  

Now, let’s get real.  

Q8. How Much Does an AirTag Cost?  

In the US, Apple AirTag is prices at $29 for on or $99 for a pack of four.  

You can carry your Airtags with style with a range of extra accessories available to buy separately, including Parisian fashion brand Hermes accessories.  

 Apple airtag cost

Credit: Apple 

And, to add the final Apple touch, you will be able to customize it with your initials or a sweet emoji. That is for free.    

You can always find rival alternatives to Apple products, in this case, its Tile. While Airtags are relatively new, Tile has been around for quite some time.  

This raises an obvious question: 

Q9. Which is Better Airtag or Tile?  

While we can tell you which one’s better, but we can share their similarities and difference. This will help you judge them on your own.  

AirTag and Tile’s trackers share many important features, such as:  

  • Close-range Bluetooth tracking  
  • Location tracking 
  • Built-in speaker for audio alerts  
  • Replaceable batteries
  • Water-resistance 

But the differences are more pronounced when it comes to other features. 

   airtag vs tile

Credit: think different 

AirTag 

 

Tile 

 

  • Ultra-Wideband and Bluetooth tracking 
  • Bluetooth tracking (150ft to 400ft range) 
  • Precision Finding and ‌Find My‌ network integration for tracking from any in-range 
  • “Community Find” for tracking from any in-range with the Tile app 
  • Lost Mode notification when found by a nearby Apple device. 
  • Lost Mode notification when found by a nearby device with the Tile app 
  • Unwanted tracking alerts 
  • Phone tracking 
  • One-tap setup process 
  • Tile app 
  • Find My‌ app and Siri integration 
  • Range of designs and do not require accessories 
  • One design and accessories are required 
  • Color options for Tile Pro and Tile Slim 
  • Compatible with the only iOS 
  • Compatible with iOS and Android. 

 

  • Replaceable CR2032 battery 
  • Replaceable CR2032 battery in the Tile Mate or Pro. 
  • One-year battery life 
  • Non-replaceable or rechargeable battery in Tile Slim and Sticker 
  • IP67 water-resistance 
  • Tile Mate and Tile Pro: “water-resistant,” Tile Slim and Tile Sticker: “waterproof.” 
  • $29 for one, $99 for four 
  • Costs $24.99 for one, $61.75 for four 
  • NFC in Lost Mode for information about the AirTag’s owner on iOS and Android devices. 
  • Requires Premium subscription for $2.99 per month for Smart Alerts, Unlimited Sharing, and Location History. 

Now, let me tell you a secret!

While it’s a no-brainer that both the tracker are great, AirTags tends to be more accurate than a Tile tracker with standard tracking on a map.  

Also, as we know Apple’s Find my network is made up of all the iPhones, iPads, Macs, and iPad the total number is approaching a billion. Its network is a more extensive network over Tile’s, which accounts for millions. 

Before, we wrap us, here are few things you should know about Airtags usage.  

Q10. Which iPhones Work Best with AirTags?  

Precision Finding is compatible with iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.  

Q11. Do I Need to Charge My AirTag?  

No. AirTag’s battery lasts for about one year before it needs to be replaced.   

Q12. Can you Share your AirTags?  

Absolutely, yes!  

To share your AirTag with a person in your Family Sharing group, simply disable safety alerts.  

And, if they’re not a part of your family, then the person can temporarily disable alerts.  

In case that person losses something attached to your Airtag then only you can track an AirTag linked to your ‌Apple ID‌ with the Find My‌ app.  

No, you cannot provide tracking access to other people.  

 Airtag

Credit: Slash Gear 

Q13. Can I Travel Anywhere with AirTags?  

If you want to travel with Airtag, there are certain limitations that you should be aware of.   

For instance, Precision Finding will not work in certain countries such as Russia, Indonesia, and Argentina.  

Q14. Can I Track my Pets and Children?  

AirTags are designed to track items and not people.  

Apple does not recommend tracking you to track pets or children.   

Instead, the company recommends an Apple Watch that uses Family Setup to keeping tabs on children.  

Q15. Can I Connect Unlimited Airtags to my Apple ID?  

Unfortunately, no!  

Apple ID will only allow you to associate up to 16 AirTags at one time.  

Author Bio:

Shreeya Chourasia is an experienced B2B marketing/tech content writer, who is diligently committed for growing your online presence. Her writing doesn’t merely direct the audience to take action, rather it explains how to take action for promising outcomes.

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AirTags Leakers Suggests Apple’s Device is Coming in Two Different Sizes https://techresearchonline.com/news/airtags-leakers-suggests-apples-device-is-coming-in-two-different-sizes/ https://techresearchonline.com/news/airtags-leakers-suggests-apples-device-is-coming-in-two-different-sizes/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:12:43 +0000 https://techresearchonline.com/?p=14269 Recently, there have been some leaks of Apple’s AirTags, a Bluetooth tracking device, before its launch. According to tweets from cryptic-but-reliable leaker L0vetodream, it will be available in two different sizes.   On their Twitter handle, they wrote that it has a typical enigmatic style. Today morning, the leaker first tweeted that a big one and a small one are coming soon. However, they withheld what they were referring to.    An hour later, they followed up their previous tweet with a new tweet “tag TAG.” It was a reference to Apple’s upcoming Tile-like tracking pucks in two different sizes.   While this is the first time, we’ve heard that ‌AirTags will be available‌ in more than one size. However, it is unclear what purpose the two different sizes would serve.   Whatsoever, in the past, L0vetodream has always provided accurate clues to upcoming Apple products. These all-new tracking devices are for attaching them to different items such as keys and wallets for tracking purposes. You can use the Find My app to trach them.   ‌AirTags‌ are small and circular white tags with an Apple logo on the front based on images in an internal build of iOS 13. They will be multiple ways to use them with different items.   Last month, Jon Prosser, shared renders that he says …

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Recently, there have been some leaks of Apple’s AirTags, a Bluetooth tracking device, before its launch. According to tweets from cryptic-but-reliable leaker L0vetodream, it will be available in two different sizes.  

On their Twitter handle, they wrote that it has a typical enigmatic style. Today morning, the leaker first tweeted that a big one and a small one are coming soon. However, they withheld what they were referring to.   

An hour later, they followed up their previous tweet with a new tweet “tag TAG.” It was a reference to Apple’s upcoming Tile-like tracking pucks in two different sizes.  

While this is the first time, we’ve heard that ‌AirTags will be available‌ in more than one size. However, it is unclear what purpose the two different sizes would serve.  

Whatsoever, in the past, L0vetodream has always provided accurate clues to upcoming Apple products. These all-new tracking devices are for attaching them to different items such as keys and wallets for tracking purposes. You can use the Find My app to trach them.  

AirTags‌ are small and circular white tags with an Apple logo on the front based on images in an internal build of iOS 13. They will be multiple ways to use them with different items.  

Last month, Jon Prosser, shared renders that he says are based on the actual design of the AirPods. They featured a flat white disc with a silver backing with an Apple logo.   

He said that the ‌AirTags‌ are a “tad larger than a bottle cap.” 

Also Read: Apple Inc Announces New Beats Flex Wireless Headphones

Rumors suggest that ‌AirTags‌ feature a replaceable battery, others suggest a rechargeable battery, which can potentially be charged on a MagSafe charger.  

Conflicting rumors suggest that Apple has been testing multiple ‌AirTags‌ prototypes.  

AirTags‌ are more accurate than an average Bluetooth because they take advantage of Ultra-wideband technology, which offers accurate indoor positioning.  

There now are all the details that we have, if you want to know more you have to wait for the launch which is rumored to be held on a third fall event on November 17. 

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