Apple Introduces AirTag • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#721

Post by theshrike79 » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:03 AM UTC

dbg31415 wrote: post #592

How will I know if someone sticks an AirTag on my car? I know the tech exists other places, but making it so common place and cheap makes me nervous. Would love it if I could press a button and all the AirTags in range of my Bluetooth would make themselves known.

Do you people even read the linked articles?

Here, I'll paste the relevant part for you:

"AirTag is also designed with a set of proactive features that discourage unwanted tracking, an industry first. 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. 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. If a user detects an unknown AirTag, they can tap it with their iPhone or NFC-capable device and instructions will guide them to disable the unknown AirTag."

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#722

Post by gerash » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:04 AM UTC

rcpt wrote: post #475

Once I started using Tile it became impossible for me to remember where I put my keys. There just wasn't any pressure to stay organized since the beeping would always save me. But whenever the battery was out or the Bluetooth wasn't connecting oh boy. Same kind of thing happened with GPS. I used to pay more attention to maps and really learned streets but now I just expect the phone to solve everything for me. I'm lo…

Same experience here. I installed a key hook so where my keys are is now known but I'm gonna have a hard time finding my wallet when Tile's battery run out.

Same for street navigation. Whenever I drive somewhere I usually can't afford to waste time learning the roads but on my way back I close Google maps and try to find my way back home which helps.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#723

Post by theshrike79 » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:04 AM UTC

bosswipe wrote: post #428

Is it cross platform? Can't find the info.

No, why would it be? It requires Apple devices to detect and Apple's servers to coordinate the data.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#724

Post by sydd » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:04 AM UTC

dghlsakjg wrote: post #465

ehsankia wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As pointed out above, this is already the status quo (replacable battery, 1 year life, etc). Tile has had it for years. I'm curious if it would've been technically feasible to have wireless charging on these instead of replaceable battery. Or would that greatly increase the price?

A CR2032 (disposable) has 2x-4x (200 mah under ideal conditions, compared to 40 mah) the capacity of the same sized LR2032 (rechargeable), and is more stable over a long period of time. In addition there is the necessity of additional charging circuitry, and I'm not sure how small they can physically make the charging antenna. Lithium rechargeable would mean higher price, larger size for equivalent specs, with an add…

Instead now we get millions of CR2032 batteries thrown into the garbage each day :/

Anything with non-chargeable batteries is a no go from sustainability perspective

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#725

Post by sbuk » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:05 AM UTC

quangv wrote: post #645

natch wrote: post #610

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes now they do. For years they had only non-user-replaceable ones but they were happy to charge a large fee for a swap.

Tile sends me free replaceable batteries. Hopefully AirTag opens up their API so Tile can integrate. I’m just assuming AirTag would be slightly more integrated than Tile.

They do? They charge me an annual subscription for that.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#726

Post by theshrike79 » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:05 AM UTC

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #716

theshrike79 wrote: post #692

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read the linked page? "If AirTag is separated from its owner and out of Bluetooth range, the Find My network can help track it down. The Find My network is approaching a billion Apple devices and can detect Bluetooth signals from a lost AirTag and relay the location back to its owner, all in the background, anonymously and privately." And before you fly off the handle about privacy: yes it is secure, yes it i…

Thanks for the explanation, although I could have done without the condescending tone.

My pet peeve is people asking questions on internet forums and not spending even 60 seconds trying to find out the answer for themselves.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#727

Post by sumedh » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:06 AM UTC

Closi wrote: post #410

Hadriel wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

just wrap the airtag in something that reduces sound and now u can track android users. no one is gonna head something on the bottom of their car.

Or, you know, just buy a cheap mobile phone and use any one of the number of existing android tracking apps.

The phone will die in one day, Apple tracker will live for an year (I believe)

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#728

Post by harperlee » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:10 AM UTC

rcpt wrote: post #475

Once I started using Tile it became impossible for me to remember where I put my keys. There just wasn't any pressure to stay organized since the beeping would always save me. But whenever the battery was out or the Bluetooth wasn't connecting oh boy. Same kind of thing happened with GPS. I used to pay more attention to maps and really learned streets but now I just expect the phone to solve everything for me. I'm lo…

I still remember landline phone numbers from my primary school friends more than 20 years later. Yet I don't know their mobile phone numbers that I use now. It feels funny, but it is not an issue.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#729

Post by pulse7 » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:12 AM UTC

"The Find My network is approaching a billion Apple devices..." If I buy an iPhone, will Apple use my iPhone to provide their "Find My" service to other customers?

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#730

Post by SergeAx » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:15 AM UTC

crazygringo wrote: post #71

I thought one of the big use cases for this was to track stolen items, like a backpack or maybe even a bicycle. But the "anti-stalking" feature will notify someone if an AirTag they don't own appears to be traveling with them. Does this render it useless for anti-theft, then? Since it will just notify a thief that the bike they just stole is being tracked, and they can look for the AirTag and throw it in the nearest…

That's super-important, and also will dramatically raise sales of iPhones among petty thieves.