6 ms·
AirTags only come in a single size and shape that only makes sense for larger container objects. Tile makes a flat credit-card sized variant that you can slide
by saurik 3y ago
AirTags only come in a single size and shape that only makes sense for larger container objects. Tile makes a flat credit-card sized variant that you can slide in your wallet, and the adapters required to put an AirTag on a keychain is pretty ridiculous in comparison to the tiny variants you can get from Tile with a built-in hole for this purpose.
(Also: AFAIK the "large"--not really, in comparison to the AirTag + adapter, lol--Tile Pro variants have a noticeably longer range than AirTags.) Honestly, the only thing, to me, missing from Tile is the direction arrow finder, which is certainly useful, and yet... the speakers on the Tile are much much better so it just doesn't matter so much?
(BTW: it is extremely stupid that that arrow only works in two directions. I waste so much time following the arrow only to realize I need to go upstairs -- I live in a two story apartment with a bedroom and an office above my kitchen and living room: it isn't larger than my friends's apartments, but it is really nice having two floors -- that I am only doing because the sound isn't loud enough on AirTags.)
Frankly, the whole argument for AirTags being inherently better is merely that they have a "bigger network", but for most of my objects I am not scavenging around town looking for then, nor am I ever going to be chasing some thief around the city in my car looking to steal it back, hoping to catch up to them before they disable or throw out the tracker... that vigilante justice idea associated with this product category is just a crazy pipe dream.
Instead, I am pretty much always just trying to figure out which pair of pants I left my wallet in today, or on which shelf I left my keys: I would actually be much happier with a purely local product that only responded to encrypted pings from my personal phone and only even did that when I actively ask it to (as despite using both Tile and AirTags for years now the "you left your item behind" notifications have only happened before I myself noticed once or twice in a way which was helpful... it just doesn't ping often enough, with either product, to be maximally useful).
And looking at the replies to this, I have learned AirTags are actually missing what is to me a glorious feature of Tile: that I can push a button on my keys and find my phone in reverse. I hadn't noticed this lack before as I am only using AirTags in large objects I don't keep on my person (which makes their notifications really annoying as the UI fails to eat old ones even when I walk back to my object... this seems very fixable), but I don't want to have to buy an Apple Watch just to have a way to find my phone :/.
- madeofpalk 3y agoKind of. Apple's Find My network is open to third party accessory makers. Here's a card-shaped one https://chipolo.net/en/products/chipolo-card-spot https://chipolo.net/en/products/chipolo-card-spot I don't believe third party accessories support the compass-style precision finding though.
- saurik 3y agoThanks! For the card-shaped one I might actually try that one out and switch. I actually was just adding a thing to my comment about how the location finding thing is certainly useful but not as good as a loud speaker as it doesn't support a Z axis for some silly reason, so I don't really care. But, honestly, the flat versions of the Tile have an issue where the speaker wires can get broken slightly by flexing in the wallet (I took one apart to diagnose this once) and so I could see trying a competitor, as this is the same thickness!!
- ianburrell 3y agoAirTags really should have a hole on the edge. Then could attach a lanyard for keychain or strap without needing an adapter.
- thebruce87m 3y agoWhile technically true, there are non-AirTag third-party devices you can buy that still work with Find My: https://www.macrumors.com/guide/find-my-network-accessory-program/ https://www.macrumors.com/guide/find-my-network-accessory-pr... Both variants you list are supported by Chipolo: https://chipolo.net/en/products/category/chipolo-spot https://chipolo.net/en/products/category/chipolo-spot
- saurik 3y agoThat's cool! I am looking at this and seeing another issue with AirTag: I actively use the feature on Tile where I can use the Tile on my keychain to find my phone by pushing the button, and I guess AirTags is entirely missing that feature.