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AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

ifixit.com

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Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#51

Post by dijit »

perryizgr8 wrote: post #43
selykg wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably not everyone. But for me, after spending $1400 I’m putting it in a case. My Xs Max is nearly two and a half years old now and I took it out of the case for it’s scheduled cleaning and after wiping it down and getting the built up pocket crud out of the crevices where the case and phone meet, its like brand new. I’m hoping I can get at least another year out of this thing. Battery is excellent. iOS doesn’t se…

The reason for putting it in a case is not the price tag. People buy 100k cars and don't cover the outer surfaces with protective plastic. The problem is Apple builds the phone in a fragile manner, prone to breaking and scratching. It's true of other phones too.

I distinctly remember people at Nokia laughing at how the first iPhone didn’t stand up to any of their robustness tests. Obviously they were wrong and people bought them (due to the fit and finish of the software, not robustness or battery life) and the first iPhone feels like it was much more durable than the latest generations with their protruding cameras, glass on two sides and edge to edge screen.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#52

Post by perryizgr8 »

dijit wrote: post #51
perryizgr8 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason for putting it in a case is not the price tag. People buy 100k cars and don't cover the outer surfaces with protective plastic. The problem is Apple builds the phone in a fragile manner, prone to breaking and scratching. It's true of other phones too.

I distinctly remember people at Nokia laughing at how the first iPhone didn’t stand up to any of their robustness tests. Obviously they were wrong and people bought them (due to the fit and finish of the software, not robustness or battery life) and the first iPhone feels like it was much more durable than the latest generations with their protruding cameras, glass on two sides and edge to edge screen.

Yeah the new phones are laughably non-robust. Use an iPhone without a case or protective film for a year and I guarantee you there will be micro scratches on the back glass.

They don't design the phone to be used without a case. People use cases because of that, not because of the price tag.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#53

Post by kemayo »

spoonjim wrote: post #36
caturopath wrote: post #18

The lack of loophole was disorienting, but then I went and looked up how they want you to attach it, and the hangtag accessories look so pretty https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-introduces-airt... -- things like the appearance and the sound quality really show a commitment to making polished products rather than practical ones. I've been fairly negative on Apple for a few years and they still need to pull…

The Tile is much more compact than the kitted out AirTag. Shame that Apple had to pander to the twin gods of accessories margin and fashion.

It... isn't, though? There's a side-by-side comparison photo of the naked devices in the linked article, and I'm fairly sure from eyeballing it that the AirTag + the smallest of the accessories (the Belkin one [1]) is still smaller than the Tile.

[1]: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HNPR2ZM/A/belkin-secure-h...

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#54

Post by dijit »

perryizgr8 wrote: post #52
dijit wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I distinctly remember people at Nokia laughing at how the first iPhone didn’t stand up to any of their robustness tests. Obviously they were wrong and people bought them (due to the fit and finish of the software, not robustness or battery life) and the first iPhone feels like it was much more durable than the latest generations with their protruding cameras, glass on two sides and edge to edge screen.

Yeah the new phones are laughably non-robust. Use an iPhone without a case or protective film for a year and I guarantee you there will be micro scratches on the back glass. They don't design the phone to be used without a case. People use cases because of that, not because of the price tag.

Speaking personally; I bought a iPhone 12 mini near launch, got a nice leather case for it because I dislike the camera bump but still managed to get a scratch (which I can feel) on the screen a mere week in.

I’m pretty careful with my phone too, has its own pocket doesn’t mix with anything. I’m actually quite displeased; especially as scratch resistance was a touted feature.

EDIT: never mind. It was drop resistance. Not scratch resistance.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#55

Post by ericlewis »

smiley1437 wrote: post #47

I wonder if an Airtag can still track if it's been swallowed? Or does a human body block too much RF? I can practically guarantee these things will be swallowed if the ridiculous people who eat Tide Pods are anything to go on...

that would be very very painful

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#56

Post by fastball »

spoonjim wrote: post #46
caturopath wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Shame that Apple had to pander to the twin gods of accessories margin and fashion I feel like that's...what Apple is? If you don't like it, that's fine, and they have lots of more-utilitarian competitors in every space they operate. I personally don't currently use any Apple products; I'm not really the target market either.

Well the Apple product is technologically superior since they browbeat their iPhone installed base into surveilling AirTags. This is what is so infuriating about Apple — they have excellent engineering and are often the best product in the market, but you then have to buy into their whole ethos as well.

Are you criticizing the fact that Apple brought a tracking device to market utilizing the best tracking network? Wat.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#57

Post by fastball »

spoonjim wrote: post #36
caturopath wrote: post #18

The lack of loophole was disorienting, but then I went and looked up how they want you to attach it, and the hangtag accessories look so pretty https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-introduces-airt... -- things like the appearance and the sound quality really show a commitment to making polished products rather than practical ones. I've been fairly negative on Apple for a few years and they still need to pull…

The Tile is much more compact than the kitted out AirTag. Shame that Apple had to pander to the twin gods of accessories margin and fashion.

Or, said another way: isn't it great that Apple gives you the choice of smaller with no loophole if you don't need it?

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#59

Post by fastball »

fnord123 wrote: post #42
rand_r wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple’s unique ethos is technology as a means for creative expression. That’s why they’ve excelled in font rendering, colour accuracy, sound fidelity, and input-lag. I think this value came from Steve Jobs, and I hope they never lose it because it imbues Apple with real human spirit. They’re more than just another profit-seeking company.

> That’s why they’ve excelled in font rendering, colour accuracy, sound fidelity, and input-lag. That'll be why mac laptops connect to bluetooth speakers using the worst default settings for sound fidelity so it sounds like a dying frog. And the input lag is quite terrible when the machine is under any load.

I'm sure that will be fixed once Apple inevitably starts building their own Bluetooth chipsets.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#60

Post by fastball »

fblp wrote: post #3

I wonder what the internal discussion at Apple was about whether or not to include a loophole in the product. The fact that fixit has gone out and shown how you can add a loophole rather than wasting $13 on an accessory is a bit of a facepalm moment.

It's really not though. I just bought a four pack, and I only want a loophole on one of them (so I bought the Belkin holder).
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