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AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

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Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#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.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#4
> But why bother putting a real driver in here at all? Magnets not only add weight, they take up a lot of space. Looks like one corner Apple refused to cut on this tiny disk is sound quality.

I find it fascinating what tradeoffs are decided upon. Apple is arguably the best luxury brand in the world - and this is why.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#7
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.

>add a loophole

Now, throw it in a glass of water for an hour.

I'd be amazed if it didn't trash the IPx7 rating, which is an AirTags differentiator over Tile.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#9
post #5
post #2

Do you think they modeled the design after the round Apple campus?

I don't think you need to be inspired by a particular circle-shaped object to decide to design another circle-shaped object.

I was thinking in terms of circuit layout. Trying to fit it into the floor plan of the building would be a very Apple thing to do.

Re: AirTag Teardown Part One: Yeah, This Tracks

#10
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.

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 practically possible and let people extend it if and how they want[1] to.

Saves a little bit of material, makes manufacturing a little less complicated, and makes the accessory ecosystem a whole lot more appealing.

1. I don’t carry a keychain, for example, but I’ll slip one in each of my bags.

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