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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

#661
post #610
post #596

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, that’s how it is sadly, happens every day in Barcelona. Once it’s inside a building they can’t do anything.

As opposed to the UK police, who can't do anything once it's... anywhere.

Yeah, or the police in my state capital, who, when I got confirmation that my stolen phone was being sold on eBay, by a seller who lived near me, whose eBay profile contained nearly 100 phones, and 50-60 laptops, all 'without chargers/accessories", some "activation locked", etc., as well as the strong implication of theft on eBay (I was actually contacted by someone who'd bought my phone from him, and when he discovered it was locked, with my info on the screen, contacted the seller who initially refused a return/refund on it, until the buyer said "So you know, if you don't, the phone is actually telling me who the real owner was, and how to contact them, and I can send them and/or the police your info..."), the police said:

Police: "Well, he probably didn't steal it himself."

Me: "Isn't selling known stolen property a crime in itself?"

Police: ...

Me: ...

Police: "We're not going to pursue this further."

Thank you for your service?

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

#663

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Saying "i am getting my gun and going to retrieve my stuff" guarantees that 6-8 police cars will converge on the location within minutes. Once there, they will apprehend the thief since they are there already.

I love getting diverted from the violent domestic call to turn up to a theoretical firearms call and find out it was just someone trying to be clever.

What? As someone who has worked in emergency services, with a brother-in-law who was a 911 dispatcher in a capital city for 10 years, what dispatching prioritization system puts "violence in progress" lower than "threat of violence", unless the cops are bored and just want to roll their SWAT team at the slightest provocation?

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

#664

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can nitpick and be pedantic about the wording I used, but if you equate artificial flavors or ingredients with natural ones…

Could you describe the difference between the artificial flavour vanilin made in a lab, and the natural flavour vanilin extracted from a vanilla bean?

OK for vanilla, however most of the fruit artificial flavors are compound that have nothing to do with the elements from the natural fruit but at some point, someone in the food industry decided it tasted "similar" to the natural fruit.

For some of them, like cherry or coconuts, the artificial flavor tastes nothing like the natural flavor.

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

#665
post #597
post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's an inherent conflict between use as a theft tracking device, and use as a stalking device. Both situations are pretty indistinguishable. Apple is prioritizing reducing the AirTag's utility to stalkers.

> Apple is prioritizing reducing the AirTag's utility to stalkers. No, Apple is prioritizing good publicity. A motivated stalker will just be using another product, which is a net financial negative for Apple. They just don’t want the possibility of the news talking about how someone got assaulted thanks to an Apple device.

That seems a little extreme. Another device won't have the advantage of Apple's "Find My Network". Competitors like Tile have a much smaller network. Or devices that rely on cellular are much larger and don't have a battery that lasts for years. Or even if there is an AirTag alternative that's just as functional, it's less well known and would-be stalkers will have a harder time finding it and using it. So by not supporting the stalking use case Apple is genuinely making it a little harder for stalkers.

But also, I agree that this is about reputational liability more than some higher desire to do good. But IMHO it's also doing some actual good.

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

#666
post #588

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not fully onboard with the logic that we just have to live with a certain type of criminal behavior because the technology that could prevent it can be misused to enable another type of criminal behavior. We should aim to stop any kind of criminal behavior.

> I'm not fully onboard with the logic that we just have to live with a certain type of criminal behavior because the technology that could prevent it can be misused to enable another type of criminal behavior. We should aim to stop any kind of criminal behavior. I don’t think anyone is making a claim that we should live with this according to first principles. I think people are saying this trade-off currently exist…

Even in most first world countries the police won't help for the theft of an item of small value like a bag or even a bike.

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

#667
post #582
post #318

Unfortunately the anti-stalking features have made Airtag mostly useless for theft prevention. You have less than an hour to retrieve your item before the tag alerts the thief they are being tracked. I've seen it trigger as quickly as 30 minutes.

In addition to this, AirTag also makes a sound when on the move. This is also quite ridiculous, as it literally gives away that there is an AirTag there. I have seen people removing the speaker to eliminate this flaw.

That's not a flaw, that's an anti-stalking feature

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

#668
post #533

It sounds like the external dimensions are going to be exactly the same or nearly so. I'm hoping the battery compartment is also identical so that third-party mounting and extended battery packs continue to work. I recently picked up a few of these extended battery packs and it would be nice to eventually upgrade the AirTag if the extended range turns out to be meaningful. They're pretty neat, you remove the battery…

Are there any wallet-shaped Airtags yet? That's the one thing keeping me from ditching my Tiles.

A bit pricey but works well. https://ridge.com/products/tracker-card

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

#669

> The new AirTag is designed with the environment in mind, with 85 percent recycled plastic in the enclosure, 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100 percent recycled gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled. I'm no material scientist, but this seems pretty impressive to me that Apple's economy of scal…

Apple have pretty good recycling processes. I think they also partner with mobile carriers on trade ins too

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/04/apple-expands-global-...

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

#670
post #650
post #626

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(outside an abortion facility)

Yes, the place she thought needed her prayers. How is that important?

What are your views on abortion?

I believe in free access. I also believe those going to get an abortion shouldn’t be impeded by protesters in the immediate vicinity when getting their healthcare.

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