3 ms·

> Also seems to hard code a MacBook device agent in order to associate the generated keys with a device. Hold short, so you don't need an iOS device technicall

> Also seems to hard code a MacBook device agent in order to associate the generated keys with a device. Hold short, so you don't need an iOS device technically to onboard AirTags, any Apple device is sufficient? Why in the name of everything that is holy does Apple not support this officially, just to push sales for iOS devices or what? (Angry rant of someone who bought an extra used iPhone despite owning like 5k in Apple desktop/mobile gear, just to be able to onboard some AirTags)

xyst 2y ago
> why in the name of everything that is holy does Apple not support this officially, just to push sales for iOS devices or what? You answered your own question ;). My best guess (assuming it wasn’t malice/greed): not many people have access to an NFC/RFID reader and it’s Apple. So it has to be soft locked somehow behind the Apple Wall. So, in order to provide that “just works” experience. It’s better to advertise iPhone method as a way to get the tags registered. Other methods exist, but your mileage varies. Also, Apple may change the APIs at any time and break that process. Thus, no support provided.
some_random 2y ago
I think Apple just doesn't think about use cases outside their ecosystem as a general rule, in the same way that SF engineers don't think about uses outside the Bay. It's not malicious when things stop breaking because they lose mobile connectivity, or when your rideshare app demands you wait outside in the middle of winter in Minnesota, these issues just aren't thought of as an organization.
- rfoo 2y ago
  > I think Apple just doesn't think about use cases outside their ecosystem as a general rule No. They deliberately do this for gatekeeping. That's what I'd expect from a company forcing you to own a Mac in order to develop for iOS, by license terms. If it's just technical issues Apple usually do have more helpful alternatives, for example you can only request password reset for your Apple ID on an Apple device (because they can throttle and potentially ban a threat actor trying to stuffing, I guess?), but they invite you to go to an Apple Store and use iPad in the store to do it if you happen to not have one.

xyst 2y ago

> why in the name of everything that is holy does Apple not support this officially, just to push sales for iOS devices or what? You answered your own question ;). My best guess (assuming it wasn’t malice/greed): not many people have access to an NFC/RFID reader and it’s Apple. So it has to be soft locked somehow behind the Apple Wall. So, in order to provide that “just works” experience. It’s better to advertise iPhone method as a way to get the tags registered. Other methods exist, but your mileage varies. Also, Apple may change the APIs at any time and break that process. Thus, no support provided.

some_random 2y ago

I think Apple just doesn't think about use cases outside their ecosystem as a general rule, in the same way that SF engineers don't think about uses outside the Bay. It's not malicious when things stop breaking because they lose mobile connectivity, or when your rideshare app demands you wait outside in the middle of winter in Minnesota, these issues just aren't thought of as an organization.

rfoo 2y ago
> I think Apple just doesn't think about use cases outside their ecosystem as a general rule No. They deliberately do this for gatekeeping. That's what I'd expect from a company forcing you to own a Mac in order to develop for iOS, by license terms. If it's just technical issues Apple usually do have more helpful alternatives, for example you can only request password reset for your Apple ID on an Apple device (because they can throttle and potentially ban a threat actor trying to stuffing, I guess?), but they invite you to go to an Apple Store and use iPad in the store to do it if you happen to not have one.