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It's nice of Apple to have iPhones alert you in cases like this, but it's a major issue that there's no easy way for an Android user to get the same notificatio

It's nice of Apple to have iPhones alert you in cases like this, but it's a major issue that there's no easy way for an Android user to get the same notification.

saturdaysaint 5y ago
Not sure when it's coming, but they announced an Android app when the AirTags were announced.
coob 5y ago
Android phones aren't being used to report the location of the AirTag so there's no point.
- cure 5y ago
  But any other nearby iPhone is...
- fervor 5y ago
  Lol
- rtkwe 5y ago
  Except the tag is still being tracked by any iPhones it drives/travels near so it still functions as a tracker just slightly more intermittently.
- zeroxfe 5y ago
  I don't understand this. Of course there's a point -- if there's an AirTag following me around, I'd like to know. Having an Android app just for that would be really useful (and not so hard to build.)
  - pwinnski 5y ago
    There are non-Apple-branded tracking devices available, have been for many years. Does each manufacturer of those also owe you an Android app?
    - mcphage 5y ago
      > Does each manufacturer of those also owe you an Android app? Yeah, probably.
      - skinnymuch 5y ago
        What about people who don’t have smartphones or people with old smart phone OSes like Symbian? Doesn’t seem feasible to maintain a dozen apps like WhatsApp used to have. Maybe still has? Across many platforms.
        mcphage 5y ago
        > What about people who don’t have smartphones or people with old smart phone OSes like Symbian? Doesn’t seem feasible to maintain a dozen apps like WhatsApp used to have. Well, if you're a company that manufactures a product that can be used for spying on people, and you want to make clear that the intended use isn't for spying on people, then I guess you need to ask how badly you want to make clear that it's not a technology for spying on people. In the case if your specific questions, if you don't have a phone with BTLE, then your phone probably can't detect it.
    - wongarsu 5y ago
      Before AirTags these devices were somewhat obscure, and without the ability to have their location broadcast by a network of smartphones either a lot bulkier or a lot less capable. Apple widely advertised theirs, turning them from something you see in Breaking Bad to something you buy in the mall. I think it's completely fair to single Apple out here.
      - skinnymuch 5y ago
        Wouldn’t this logic extend? So a person who wants to track you because they heard about this has a good chance of hearing of the beeping and alerts. So then they get a different tracker that doesn’t alert you.
- volta83 5y ago
  Wut. If you are an Android user, and I put an AirTag on you, your phone won't report the location on the tag. But every apple product that gets close to you will report your location.
  - mrweasel 5y ago
    Wow, I did not think of that. Owning an iPhone is the only way for Apple to alert you that you’re being tracked. The solution is correct, inform a user that they’re being followed by an AirTag. But if the platform isn’t opened you risk having to install half a dusin app from different tracking devices, to be informed that you’re being followed.
    - poglet 5y ago
      “Owning an iPhone is the only way for Apple to alert you that you’re being tracked.” Doesn’t it also beep?
      - cesarb 5y ago
        > Doesn’t it also beep? How hard is it to snip the speaker leads, or damage the speaker in some other way so that it produces no sound?
        beardyw 5y ago
        And this was taped to the back of her car.
      - mrweasel 5y ago
        Maybe, but that can be kinda hard to hear ifmounted outside your car.
redleader55 5y ago
I think Apple needs be forced to open their AirTag platform to non-Apple users, at least for the tracking notifications. I don't have an Apple phone, nor I plan to get one, and this is plainly creepy.
- havkd 5y ago
  Stop trying to get the government involved in everything. It’s not Apple’s fault someone is stalking you using their technology.
  - cj 5y ago
    I had a gut negative reaction to this comment (the government comment is irrelevant). But to play devil's advocate, can't someone buy any cheap old iPhone (or any smartphone), activate it with a cheap prepaid plan, and use the phone itself as a tracking device instead of an airtag? I guess the only thing special about the airtag is it's (slightly) cheaper than a cheap smartphone, longer battery life, and explicitly marketed for the purpose of tracking things. Even if a cheap prepaid smartphone can accomplish the same thing while going completed undetected.
    - scoopdewoop 5y ago
      How is it irrelevant? "Apple needs be forced" By whom if not the government?
      - lotsofpulp 5y ago
        Because the law should not be targeting a specific company. If the government wants to make tracking illegal, then make tracking illegal.
    - rwc 5y ago
      The practical difference being battery life of an iPhone versus an AirTag.
catlikesshrimp 5y ago
"but it's a major issue that there's no easy way for an Android user to get the same notification." Another evil reason to buy an iphone!
kgermino 5y ago
The tag will eventually start beeping, but I agree it'd be ideal for the phone to get an alert too. Not sure how you'd do that though, maybe a 'tracking device standard'?
darklion 5y ago
https://gizmodo.com/apple-lets-you-scan-for-evil-airtags-that-might-be-hove-1848036651 https://gizmodo.com/apple-lets-you-scan-for-evil-airtags-tha... "The company also announced that it was working on an app for Android users that would send them alerts about unwanted tracking devices similar to those iPhone users receive. The Android app is set to launch later this year." Apple may not hit the end of 2021, and they don't get full credit until they release the app, but they're aware of the issue and have stated they are working on a solution.
- mcphage 5y ago
  > but they're aware of the issue and have stated they are working on a solution I'd rather they work with Google to get those notifications automatically, rather than requiring someone to be aware of AirTags, and download an app, in order to be notified. Perhaps they can work with carriers to get the app pre-loaded?
- account-5 5y ago
  So I need to download an app so I know I'm not being tracked by apple tech? That's not a solution, that's part of the problem!
  - JasonFruit 5y ago
    And once I do, I'm being willingly tracked by Apple tech.
  - imwillofficial 5y ago
    No, that is literally a solution. Just one you may not like.
    - altcognito 5y ago
      Extortion is really unpopular. If I want to be safe from Apple trackers I have to engage with said company on their terms. It is at least unethical.
ehutch79 5y ago
An app was linked above: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.seemoo.at_tracking_detection.release https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.seemoo.at_t...

It's nice of Apple to have iPhones alert you in cases like this, but it's a major issue that there's no easy way for an Android user to get the same notification.

saturdaysaint 5y ago

Not sure when it's coming, but they announced an Android app when the AirTags were announced.

coob 5y ago

Android phones aren't being used to report the location of the AirTag so there's no point.

cure 5y ago
But any other nearby iPhone is...
fervor 5y ago
Lol
rtkwe 5y ago
Except the tag is still being tracked by any iPhones it drives/travels near so it still functions as a tracker just slightly more intermittently.
zeroxfe 5y ago
I don't understand this. Of course there's a point -- if there's an AirTag following me around, I'd like to know. Having an Android app just for that would be really useful (and not so hard to build.)
- pwinnski 5y ago
  There are non-Apple-branded tracking devices available, have been for many years. Does each manufacturer of those also owe you an Android app?
  - mcphage 5y ago
    > Does each manufacturer of those also owe you an Android app? Yeah, probably.
    - skinnymuch 5y ago
      What about people who don’t have smartphones or people with old smart phone OSes like Symbian? Doesn’t seem feasible to maintain a dozen apps like WhatsApp used to have. Maybe still has? Across many platforms.
      - mcphage 5y ago
        > What about people who don’t have smartphones or people with old smart phone OSes like Symbian? Doesn’t seem feasible to maintain a dozen apps like WhatsApp used to have. Well, if you're a company that manufactures a product that can be used for spying on people, and you want to make clear that the intended use isn't for spying on people, then I guess you need to ask how badly you want to make clear that it's not a technology for spying on people. In the case if your specific questions, if you don't have a phone with BTLE, then your phone probably can't detect it.
  - wongarsu 5y ago
    Before AirTags these devices were somewhat obscure, and without the ability to have their location broadcast by a network of smartphones either a lot bulkier or a lot less capable. Apple widely advertised theirs, turning them from something you see in Breaking Bad to something you buy in the mall. I think it's completely fair to single Apple out here.
    - skinnymuch 5y ago
      Wouldn’t this logic extend? So a person who wants to track you because they heard about this has a good chance of hearing of the beeping and alerts. So then they get a different tracker that doesn’t alert you.
volta83 5y ago
Wut. If you are an Android user, and I put an AirTag on you, your phone won't report the location on the tag. But every apple product that gets close to you will report your location.
- mrweasel 5y ago
  Wow, I did not think of that. Owning an iPhone is the only way for Apple to alert you that you’re being tracked. The solution is correct, inform a user that they’re being followed by an AirTag. But if the platform isn’t opened you risk having to install half a dusin app from different tracking devices, to be informed that you’re being followed.
  - poglet 5y ago
    “Owning an iPhone is the only way for Apple to alert you that you’re being tracked.” Doesn’t it also beep?
    - cesarb 5y ago
      > Doesn’t it also beep? How hard is it to snip the speaker leads, or damage the speaker in some other way so that it produces no sound?
      - beardyw 5y ago
        And this was taped to the back of her car.
    - mrweasel 5y ago
      Maybe, but that can be kinda hard to hear ifmounted outside your car.

redleader55 5y ago

I think Apple needs be forced to open their AirTag platform to non-Apple users, at least for the tracking notifications. I don't have an Apple phone, nor I plan to get one, and this is plainly creepy.

havkd 5y ago
Stop trying to get the government involved in everything. It’s not Apple’s fault someone is stalking you using their technology.
- cj 5y ago
  I had a gut negative reaction to this comment (the government comment is irrelevant). But to play devil's advocate, can't someone buy any cheap old iPhone (or any smartphone), activate it with a cheap prepaid plan, and use the phone itself as a tracking device instead of an airtag? I guess the only thing special about the airtag is it's (slightly) cheaper than a cheap smartphone, longer battery life, and explicitly marketed for the purpose of tracking things. Even if a cheap prepaid smartphone can accomplish the same thing while going completed undetected.
  - scoopdewoop 5y ago
    How is it irrelevant? "Apple needs be forced" By whom if not the government?
    - lotsofpulp 5y ago
      Because the law should not be targeting a specific company. If the government wants to make tracking illegal, then make tracking illegal.
  - rwc 5y ago
    The practical difference being battery life of an iPhone versus an AirTag.

catlikesshrimp 5y ago

"but it's a major issue that there's no easy way for an Android user to get the same notification." Another evil reason to buy an iphone!

kgermino 5y ago

The tag will eventually start beeping, but I agree it'd be ideal for the phone to get an alert too. Not sure how you'd do that though, maybe a 'tracking device standard'?

darklion 5y ago

https://gizmodo.com/apple-lets-you-scan-for-evil-airtags-that-might-be-hove-1848036651 https://gizmodo.com/apple-lets-you-scan-for-evil-airtags-tha... "The company also announced that it was working on an app for Android users that would send them alerts about unwanted tracking devices similar to those iPhone users receive. The Android app is set to launch later this year." Apple may not hit the end of 2021, and they don't get full credit until they release the app, but they're aware of the issue and have stated they are working on a solution.

mcphage 5y ago
> but they're aware of the issue and have stated they are working on a solution I'd rather they work with Google to get those notifications automatically, rather than requiring someone to be aware of AirTags, and download an app, in order to be notified. Perhaps they can work with carriers to get the app pre-loaded?
account-5 5y ago
So I need to download an app so I know I'm not being tracked by apple tech? That's not a solution, that's part of the problem!
- JasonFruit 5y ago
  And once I do, I'm being willingly tracked by Apple tech.
- imwillofficial 5y ago
  No, that is literally a solution. Just one you may not like.
  - altcognito 5y ago
    Extortion is really unpopular. If I want to be safe from Apple trackers I have to engage with said company on their terms. It is at least unethical.

ehutch79 5y ago

An app was linked above: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.seemoo.at_tracking_detection.release https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.seemoo.at_t...