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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

#91

Post by noelherrick »

pentae wrote: post #86
asdff wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the thinnest iphone ever that hasn't sat flat on a table for years. Touch the screen and it wobbles like a bar table needing some coasters under a leg. Apple purposely designs their cases to be flush with the camera bump, knowing that for most users, the phone will just live in a case. It's kind of ridiculous to build that baked in expectation for more accessory buying directly into your device, but I guess that…

I have an 11 pro without a case on it and just tried replicating what you're describing and I can't do it. It pivots at most 1-2mm laterally to the left when i'm tapping hard on the left side of the screen which is barely noticeable. When I tap normally (a bit softer) or swipe it doesn't even move. I'm no fanboy but i'm amazed that out of all the things you could critique about Apple it would be this one.

I can't believe you're serious. Since the iPhone X, a screen replacement has been such a significant percentage of the cost it's not worth it. And if you damage the back glass, Apple will just replace the phone. Before the X, I was a bare phone user. After that, there is no way I would leave my phone exposed. The only way I could justify that danger would be if I could swallow a $1500 expense every other week. Why? Fully glass phones slide off of everything. I'm sure there are HNers who can do that but I can't.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#92

Post by vizzah »

pentae wrote: post #86
asdff wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the thinnest iphone ever that hasn't sat flat on a table for years. Touch the screen and it wobbles like a bar table needing some coasters under a leg. Apple purposely designs their cases to be flush with the camera bump, knowing that for most users, the phone will just live in a case. It's kind of ridiculous to build that baked in expectation for more accessory buying directly into your device, but I guess that…

I have an 11 pro without a case on it and just tried replicating what you're describing and I can't do it. It pivots at most 1-2mm laterally to the left when i'm tapping hard on the left side of the screen which is barely noticeable. When I tap normally (a bit softer) or swipe it doesn't even move. I'm no fanboy but i'm amazed that out of all the things you could critique about Apple it would be this one.

My iPhone 12 mini laying on the back side wobbles as hell when touching the screen even with a minor force. Not usable to type that way. Has anyone produced some kind of a sticker for the backside to make it even?

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#93

Post by dan1234 »

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.

While ifixit did drill a hole, we have no way of knowing how durable that hole will be. The drill point looked pretty close to the edge, simple fatigue may snap the hole quite quickly.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#94

Post by snotrockets »

caturopath wrote: post #31
Exmoor wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's hilarious to a certain extent that they built the thing smaller than all the competition and bulk it up with a wad of leather anyhow. That's essentially how I feel when I see the "Our thinnest iPhone ever" slide knowing that 95% of iPhone owners put it in a bulky case. That said, that's not unique to Apple and the phone is at least usable without a case.

It's not like the choice is "thick and doesn't need a case or thin and needs a case". Even if the phone was thicker, people would be using cases if they bought it, right?

Some comments below suggests cases are for protection. I'd argue most cases are bought first & foremost a fashion accessory, then a safety device. Think wallets or watches.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#95

Post by teekert »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #88
dijit wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I upgraded from an iPhone SE (5 body) to an iPhone 12 mini. Here’s the thing: the 12 mini has the same dimensions as the iPhone 6 that I deemed too big originally. I picked up my old phone the other day and holy shit did it feel nice in comparison. If you were holding out for an iPhone 5 sized phone then this wasn’t it; no wonder it didn’t sell so good in that demographic. I only bought it because I wanted to support…

No, you're right. The screen makes it a LOT bigger than the iPhone SE (what I had used, previously). But it's just at the upper limit at what I can do one-handed. I traded in an XS Max for it. I don't miss that big honker, one bit. I use it as a test device, nowadays.

To easily do everything with one hand, swipe down from the bottom (as if unlocking but down), then you pull the upper part of the screen down. Works everywhere. (I also have the 12 mini btw, really like it)

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#96

Post by teekert »

jrobn wrote: post #26
elliekelly wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’ll go out on a limb here and guess that their guiding principle with this was as it is with every other portable device they have now - make it as small as possible and let people extend it if they want Here I am, desperately clutching my nearly-obsolete iPhone in my small hands, waiting for Apple to return to this principle and make an iPhone that I can comfortably use one-handed again.

The iPhone 12 Mini is great. I will never go back to a bigger phone again. The lack of all day battery life is a feature in my opinion. I use it more like a fancy tool.

“Lack of all day battery” depends on how you use it. I have 2 day battery (about 2-3 hr screen time/day). Since I got a second sim it decreased somewhat though, negated again to a agree by setting WLAN call.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#97

Post by FDSGSG »

noelherrick wrote: post #91
pentae wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have an 11 pro without a case on it and just tried replicating what you're describing and I can't do it. It pivots at most 1-2mm laterally to the left when i'm tapping hard on the left side of the screen which is barely noticeable. When I tap normally (a bit softer) or swipe it doesn't even move. I'm no fanboy but i'm amazed that out of all the things you could critique about Apple it would be this one.

I can't believe you're serious. Since the iPhone X, a screen replacement has been such a significant percentage of the cost it's not worth it. And if you damage the back glass, Apple will just replace the phone. Before the X, I was a bare phone user. After that, there is no way I would leave my phone exposed. The only way I could justify that danger would be if I could swallow a $1500 expense every other week. Why? F…

Why don't you just get applecare plus? Getting a case has never even crossed my mind, I can just go replace my phone for free whenever I want.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#98

Post by dagmx »

jayd16 wrote: post #71
kemayo wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

The latest tile is thinner and more flat. You could probably fit it in a wallet but the round shape of the airtag makes it a bit more awkward. Still, I'm sure people will make it work.

You're talking about a very specific tile product. It's also not got a user replaceable battery and has other concessions to meet that size constraint

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#99

Post by threepio »

knolan wrote: post #35
threepio wrote: post #25

What are the practical ramifications of Apple harnessing every existing iPhone as an AirTag discovery device in the Find My network? (I think it's awful from a privacy and device-ownership standpoint, but let's leave that aside.) For instance, because physics is real, it must take some amount of battery power & data transfer to collect information about nearby AirTags. Suppose I walk into Disneyland on a summer weeke…

I would say those AirTags will be with the iPhones of their respective owners. Mine report as “With you” so perhaps they don’t advertise themselves in this state. The phone will be frequently updating its own location to Find My anyway so no extra power draw. However if you’re walking by a set of left luggage lockers or through some similar environment where lots of AirTags not with their owner then there would indee…

> Mine report as “With you” so perhaps they don’t advertise themselves in this state.

So you know for certain that AirTags have multiple broadcast states (e.g., "with me" vs. not)? Apple's description makes it sound like they only have one state:

"Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network." [1]

[1] https://www.apple.com/airtag/

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#100

Post by agumonkey »

Exmoor wrote: post #27
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…

> It's hilarious to a certain extent that they built the thing smaller than all the competition and bulk it up with a wad of leather anyhow. That's essentially how I feel when I see the "Our thinnest iPhone ever" slide knowing that 95% of iPhone owners put it in a bulky case. That said, that's not unique to Apple and the phone is at least usable without a case.

yesterday i was holding my phone with protective glass, rubber case, all wired to an external battery and laughed at larger than a nokia 3310 monstrosity. Modern times.
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