Apple Introduces AirTag

Post by jtsiskin » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 2:13 AM UTC

mlindner wrote: post #129

WORMS_EAT_WORMS wrote: post #9

If I was evil and stuck these to ex-girlfriend/boyfriend car or something, illegal? Edit: Downvoters. I am not doing this obviously. Am asking as this is the clear abuse I see. Tracking people without permission. I see this as being a weird legal thing we hear about down the road.

>And even if users don’t have an iOS device, an AirTag separated from its owner for an extended period of time will play a sound when moved to draw attention to it. So even non-Apple users will get alerted if they're being tracked with it.

Post by jen20 » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 2:15 AM UTC

addicted wrote: post #289

serial_dev wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do think it couldn't have happened without Apple doing it first from the big manufacturers. Apple had (and still have) the status and prestige to do anything and make that a standard. If Huawei/Samsung/etc didn't include chargers, didn't use USB or USB C, changed from 3.5 to some proprietary audio jack first, they would have been ridiculed. But once Apple changed these things (except luckily the USB), these compani…

Apple has an ability to drive change that other computer manufacturers don’t. The simple reason is that Apple is the only manufacturer in a specific market. The market for MacOS (or in the case of iDevices, iOS) users. What that means is that Apple can introduce a pretty shitty change and not lose too many customers to other manufacturers because switching from Apple to another manufacturer is much harder than from D…

Post by valuearb » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 2:17 AM UTC

serial_dev wrote: post #236

llbeansandrice wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple successfully changed that I feel like this gives far too much credit to Apple. Any one company can "think differently" but Apple shouldn't get the blame for all of the other companies following suit. Remember the ads Samsung ran before axing the headphone jack a year later?

I do think it couldn't have happened without Apple doing it first from the big manufacturers. Apple had (and still have) the status and prestige to do anything and make that a standard. If Huawei/Samsung/etc didn't include chargers, didn't use USB or USB C, changed from 3.5 to some proprietary audio jack first, they would have been ridiculed. But once Apple changed these things (except luckily the USB), these compani…

Post by DanHulton » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 2:21 AM UTC

just-ok wrote: post #507

tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #483

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be able to hunt my own mammoth, and I know that I suck at making fire with primitive tools (I tried and failed). I've learned to appreciate the benefits of a modern society, and I'm ok being pretty screwed if it all magically disappeared without a trace. We adapt, and that's a good thing.

Eh, losing your sense of direction due to the crutch of GPS isn’t adaptation; it’s regression. Not all of us are okay with being screwed if the convenient floor of modern life fell out from underneath us. :)

Post by compiler-guy » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 2:23 AM UTC

pupdogg wrote: post #554

habibur wrote: post #16

> AirTag is designed for over a year’s worth of battery life with everyday use. The CR2032 battery is user-replaceable and widely available. Replacement batteries are sold separately. That's the piece of information I wanted to know first. Devices like this can be built, but those can't run on batteries for a reasonable time frame. Apple made it practical.

If you’re not intimidated by NDAs, devices like this can be built for approx. $15/ea. or less (based on your volume) with a battery option. A CR2032 will yield approx. 6-7 years of life for the tag as long as it’s setup to emit once every 30-60s. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple’s cost is in $1-2 per device with the battery.