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Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

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Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#51

Post by jsheard »

ubercore wrote: post #37
port3000 wrote: post #27

Great to hear but it's still the same shape. I really want a 'credit card' shaped version I can slide into my wallet.

I bought a third party one to do just that, and it's worked fine for me: https://chipolo.net/en-us/products/chipolo-card-spot I think there are other options too

There's a newer version: https://chipolo.net/en-us/products/chipolo-card

Notably they now support both the Apple and Android ecosystems from a single hardware SKU, although only one at a time, and the formerly disposable battery can now be recharged with a standard Qi wireless charger.

Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#52

Post by ubercore »

542458 wrote: post #48
ubercore wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a third party one to do just that, and it's worked fine for me: https://chipolo.net/en-us/products/chipolo-card-spot I think there are other options too

Do the third party ones have UWB/"Precision Finding"?

Nope, but you can play sound. For my wallet it's enough to know I didn't leave it somewhere, then sound is enough. Sorry should have mentioned it's not a perfect replacement.

Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#55

Post by peddling-brink »

542458 wrote: post #26
jsheard wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Building an attachment point into the tag itself is still beyond current technology though. We just don't know how to do it.

Different people want different attachment types (or no attachment point at all), so it makes sense for that to be external. I've used other trackers with integrated attachment points, and because the attachment point has to be very compact it tends to be flimsy or hard to fit.. vs the Apple one where you can add a larger attachment point that makes sense to you.

Are you trying to say that the AirTag is so strictly utilitarian, that they couldn’t have found a spot for a lanyard hole?

I disagree, they could have, they didn’t want to. Beyond the look, this sure panders to their accessory partners.

How big of an industry is the phone case? Should it even exist? The audacity.

Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#56

Post by Someone »

mlajtos wrote: post #13

I was hoping for 6DoF sub-mm realtime tracking. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.

Would be great, but that, world-wide, for millions of objects, probably is a case of putting your expectations too high.

Has that ever been demonstrated for a single object, even if allowing the object to be a thousand times as large as this?

Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#58

Post by arghwhat »

542458 wrote: post #26
jsheard wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Building an attachment point into the tag itself is still beyond current technology though. We just don't know how to do it.

Different people want different attachment types (or no attachment point at all), so it makes sense for that to be external. I've used other trackers with integrated attachment points, and because the attachment point has to be very compact it tends to be flimsy or hard to fit.. vs the Apple one where you can add a larger attachment point that makes sense to you.

There are third-party tags out there compatible with both Google and Apple's network that is roughly the same size and use the same battery, yet have a giant lanyard opening in the design to fit anything.

Apple could trivially have fit a usable hole if they wanted to. They just don't want to because they get to sell accessories with that now. Also, looking cleaner on its own helps sell even if that is an entirely useless quality for a tag tha tneeds to go into a bloody case.

Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#59

Post by amenghra »

4fterd4rk wrote: post #35
port3000 wrote: post #27

Great to hear but it's still the same shape. I really want a 'credit card' shaped version I can slide into my wallet.

You can buy a third party wallet card that works with the Find My network just like an AirTag.

I could be wrong but third party tags bet a subset of the tracking capabilities? Ie less accurate/less likely to be found.

Re: Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

#60

Post by retired »

_verandaguy wrote: post #21
candiddevmike wrote: post #3

I hate that this eventual e-waste wasn't standardized across vendors. It makes perfect sense for every phone to be a potential node, but the network is bifurcated (and possibly more bifurcations within Android due to Google's privacy-first approach...).

Maybe a hot take, but I don't think this is as awful for e-waste as many other things. I've had a set of airtags for a good few years now (shortly before Covid, I think?) and they mostly just kinda work. They don't insist upon a need to upgrade, the only part that ever goes bad is the battery -- which is a standard, user-replaceable CR2032, and while batteries going into the garbage isn't fantastic, there's really on…

Please don't put your CR2032 in the garbage. Use battery disposal points for that.
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