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I'm sure they're frustrated that people keep using AirTags as tracking devices rather than local thing-finders, but I think there are good reasons for that. Lo

I'm sure they're frustrated that people keep using AirTags as tracking devices rather than local thing-finders, but I think there are good reasons for that. Local trackers have been around for a long time. I had a "TV remote finder" years ago that you'd stick to a TV remote (or keys), and it would beep when activated by a second device. More recently, Tiles work pretty well, assuming you don't need direction finding. Personally I don't regularly lose anything large enough to benefit from an AirTag. I need it for things like individual AirPods. But a small device with a worldwide range and no subscription fee that I can attach to a car or suitcase? That's a novel capability. I have one in both cars and my electric skateboard.

badwolf 5y ago
> "TV remote finder" I was sorely disappointed when they announced the new Apple TV remote, and it didn't have airtag built into it.
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  I want to see AirTags built into all mobile Apple devices. iPhone, iPad, remotes. With it's own rechargeable battery, it would be really useful when my silly kid forgets where he left his iPad.
  - kylehotchkiss 5y ago
    The find my network is supposed to be that already - Apple devices even ping when turned off. Try opening “find my” and clicking devices. If you all share a family account, their iPad should display its location.
    - rootusrootus 5y ago
      It only lasts as long as the battery does, plus 24 hours (as in, the location will be visible for 24 hours but won't update after the battery is dead; after 24 hours Apple hides the last known location). Even then, it is unreliable. The last time my son misplaced his iPad (a week ago), after I put it back on the charger it didn't start beeping (I had told it to make a sound via Find My) until about 12 hours after it was turned back on. Simultaneously I got the notification that it had been found. Not too impressive, IMO. An AirTag, though, would have its own rechargeable battery and would be able to locate the iPad for a year after it got lost. In my ideal implementation it would work just like a regular AirTag, the only difference being a circuit to keep the battery charged, and being embedded inside the case of the iPad.
    - ungoogled 5y ago
nomel 5y ago
I have an AirTag in my car. I can always find my parking spot. I use this more often than to find my keys.
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  That's a creative use I hadn't thought of before. I guess it probably wouldn't help me since I use CarPlay, which causes the phone to save the parking location automatically, but I can definitely see a use case there.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]

badwolf 5y ago

> "TV remote finder" I was sorely disappointed when they announced the new Apple TV remote, and it didn't have airtag built into it.

rootusrootus 5y ago
I want to see AirTags built into all mobile Apple devices. iPhone, iPad, remotes. With it's own rechargeable battery, it would be really useful when my silly kid forgets where he left his iPad.
- kylehotchkiss 5y ago
  The find my network is supposed to be that already - Apple devices even ping when turned off. Try opening “find my” and clicking devices. If you all share a family account, their iPad should display its location.
  - rootusrootus 5y ago
    It only lasts as long as the battery does, plus 24 hours (as in, the location will be visible for 24 hours but won't update after the battery is dead; after 24 hours Apple hides the last known location). Even then, it is unreliable. The last time my son misplaced his iPad (a week ago), after I put it back on the charger it didn't start beeping (I had told it to make a sound via Find My) until about 12 hours after it was turned back on. Simultaneously I got the notification that it had been found. Not too impressive, IMO. An AirTag, though, would have its own rechargeable battery and would be able to locate the iPad for a year after it got lost. In my ideal implementation it would work just like a regular AirTag, the only difference being a circuit to keep the battery charged, and being embedded inside the case of the iPad.
  - ungoogled 5y ago

nomel 5y ago

I have an AirTag in my car. I can always find my parking spot. I use this more often than to find my keys.

rootusrootus 5y ago
That's a creative use I hadn't thought of before. I guess it probably wouldn't help me since I use CarPlay, which causes the phone to save the parking location automatically, but I can definitely see a use case there.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]