But it only works when you're in range of the tracker.Īs for battery life, the AirTags run on a coin cell battery that lasts up to a year. Precision Finding: This leverages the AirTag's built-in U1 chip and accelerometer, coupled with ARKit and the iPhone's gyroscope (iPhone 11 and 12 only), to physically guide you towards the AirTag using sound, haptic feedback, and graphics.
The AirTag also locks to your Apple ID, which prevents anyone from stealing it and connecting it to their own iPhone instead of returning it.
You'll have to register your phone number during the set-up process though, so that whoever finds it can contact you directly by tapping on the AirTag and following instructions (this feature works with any iPhone and Android device with NFC built in). Toggle on notifications: Use this to receive notifications on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch whenever your AirTag is found.Įnable Lost Mode: When the AirTag is out of range, an alert is sent out to the Bluetooth tracker so that other iPhone users nearby can detect it and notify you. Play Sound: This triggers a sound if the AirTag is lost and nearby.Īccess directions: Using Apple Maps, you can pull up directions to locate the AirTag. When you tap your iPhone on a specific AirTag, you'll have the following options: Then, whenever you open that tab, the AirTag's status will update to show you its current location. From there, your device will prompt you to specify what object (or person!) you're attaching the tracker to (e.g., backpacks, bikes, a wallet, keys, luggage, a roommate, etc.), register it to your Apple ID, and connect it to your Find My app where it lives under the Items tab. Then, hold the AirTag next to your phone and it should immediately recognize it. To get started, first make sure you have Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone. I'll give it to Apple though, the initial AirTags pairing experience is seamless out of the box. If you don't want to carry one in your backpack, purse, or luggage, you'll have to drop extra money on a key ring or loop, all of which ranges from $29 to $449 (for the bougie Hermès options). In this case, AirTags rely on Apple products and its Find My network.ĪirTags only pair with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, so Android users are out of luck. The concept behind them is simple: By emitting Bluetooth identifiers, other devices around them can identify and notify owners of their location. In case you're unfamiliar with these little, white plastic discs, they work much the same way as other Bluetooth trackers from the likes of Tile (opens in a new tab), Chipolo (opens in a new tab), and Orbit (opens in a new tab). We get it Apple, you create products with seamless connectivity. In fact, these little Bluetooth trackers are far more anxiety-inducing then they appear. Sure, that sounds ideal when you're trying to find a lost accessory, but it's scary when you think about the malicious way they can be used - like stalking people.Įven though Apple loves to emphasize the privacy features specific to its new AirTags, there are plenty of loopholes around them. Some publications have even gone so far as to claim AirTags are "stalker-proof."ĪirTags work by leveraging Apple's insanely extensive Find My network - its crowdsourced app that allows iOS users to find missing devices - comprised of "hundreds of millions of Apple devices" to keep users constantly updated on a tracker's exact location. The trackers have garnered near-universal praise since their debut. Thanks to AirTags, Apple's new $29 Bluetooth trackers, I had everything I needed to know about their whereabouts right on my iPhone's screen. The minute I heard the apartment door slam shut, I reached for my iPhone, opened the Find My app, and started tracking my roomies' weekend shenanigans around Manhattan. But, thrilling as that all sounds, that wasn't to be my night's main entertainment. Last Saturday, as my roommates were getting ready for their evenings out, I was curled up in bed, casting YouTube videos to my TV, and mindlessly eating through a bag of cheddar and sour cream Ruffles in attempt to distract myself from horrible period cramps.
0 kommentar(er)
