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Everything you need to know about Apple’s new AirTag, including how far it can work and how to attach it to your belongings.
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Introduction
Apple AirTag is a new product that allows users to keep track of their keys, wallets, and other valuable items. Although it is not yet available to the public, many people are wondering how far AirTag will work.
The short answer is that AirTag will work as long as it is within range of an iOS device. The longer answer is a bit more complicated.
AirTag uses Bluetooth technology to connect to an iOS device. The maximum range for Bluetooth is approximately 100 meters (330 feet). However, this range can be affected by obstacles such as walls and metal objects. Additionally, the strength of the signal can decline over distance. For these reasons, Apple does not guarantee that AirTag will work if it is more than 100 meters away from an iOS device.
In addition to using Bluetooth, AirTag also uses Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology. UWB is a newer form of wireless communication that has a much shorter range than Bluetooth but can provide more accurate location information. Apple has not provided any specific information about the range of UWB or how it will be used in AirTag, but it is likely that UWB will be used to supplement the Bluetooth connection and help determine the location of an AirTag when it is out ofrange of an iOS device.
Finally, Apple has also developed a new technology find My Network which uses a combination of bluetooth and UWB to allow AirTags to be located even when they are not in range of an iOS device. This technology relies on a network of Apple devices that are always connected to the internet (such as iPads, Macs, and HomePods). When an AirTag is lost, it sends out a signal that can be picked up by any Apple device that is in range. This signal then gets transmitted over the internet to the Find My network which locates the lost item and sends its location back to the original owner.
Find my Network is not yet operational, but Apple has said that it will be available “in the future.” It is unclear exactly when this future date will be, but it is likely that Find My Network will roll out around the same time as AirTag later this year.
How It Works
Apple AirTag is a small, circular device that you can attach to anything — like your keys, your wallet, or your bike. Once you have attached an AirTag, you can then track the location of that item using the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, ipod touch If you lose your keys, for example, you can open the Find My app and see where they are.
The Hardware
The new Apple AirTag is a small, circular device that can be placed on keychains, luggage, or any other belongings that you want to keep track of. The AirTag has a built-in “Find My” tracker that uses the location-tracking technology in Apple’s iPhone to help you locate your belongings if they become lost.
The AirTag itself is powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery, which should last for around a year with normal use. When the battery starts to run low, you’ll get a notification on your iPhone letting you know that it’s time to replace it.
If your AirTag gets lost and someone else finds it, they can hold their iPhone (or any NFC-enabled device) up to the AirTag to see if it’s been put into Lost Mode. If it has, they’ll be directed to a website where they can enter their contact information so you can get your AirTag back. If the AirTag hasn’t been put into Lost Mode, anyone can tap their iPhone to the AirTag and put it into Lost Mode themselves.
The App
In order use apple airtag you will need to have the “Find My” app installed on your iPhone or iPad. “Find My” is a free app that comes preinstalled on every Apple device. Once you have the app, open it Sign in with icloud account If you don’t have an iCloud account, you can create one for free.
Once you’re signed in, tap on the “Devices” tab at the bottom of the screen and then tap on the “AirTags” button. This is where you will be able to see all of the AirTags that are associated with your iCloud account. From here, you can add new tags, remove old tags, and keep track of your tag’s location.
When an AirTag is within range of one of your devices, it will show up on the map. You can then tap on the tag to get more information about its location. If the tag is not within range of any of your devices, you will see a message saying “Not In Range.”
If you think that your AirTag is lost, you can put it into Lost Mode. This will lock the tag so that only people who know the passcode can use it. It will also send notifications to any Apple devices that are in range of the AirTag so that they can help you find it.
Find My Integration
The new Apple AirTag is a small, round, white device that helps you keep track of your stuff. Attach it to anything you don’t want to lose—like your keys, wallet, or backpack—and then find it using the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. You can also ask Siri to help you find your AirTag.1
AirTag works with the Find My network2 — a vast, anonymous network of hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac devices3 — to help you find your lost item, even if it’s not near you. And when an AirTag is separated from its owner and out of Bluetooth range for an extended period of time, Find My network can anonymously detect its location and send the location to its owner. The owner will receive a notification on their device with the AirTag’s current location. If the AirTag remains separated from its owner and moves with someone else, they will receive a notification only if they have enabled “Notify me when found.”4
Since each AirTag is assigned a serial number that rotates frequently and only paired with the owner’s iCloud account5 — not their phone number or email address — Find My network provides a secure and private way for people to help each other find lost items. No personal information is exchanged between owners or between devices during this process.
AirTag vs. Tile
When it comes to Bluetooth trackers, there are really only two major players: Tile and Apple. But which one is better? We put them head-to-head to find out.
AirTag vs. Tile: Design
Both the Tile Mate and the AirTag are designed to be attached to things—keys, wallets, purses, backpacks, or anything else you might lose track of. The Tile Mate is a white square with a hole in the middle for looping a keychain or strap through, while the AirTag is a white circle with a glossy finish and an Apple logo in the center. Both devices are small enough that they shouldn’t get in the way, and both come with loops for attaching them to things.
AirTag vs. Tile: Features
The biggest difference between the AirTag and the Tile Mate is that the AirTag has built-in support for Apple’s Find My network, while the Tile Mate doesn’t. Find My is a crowdsourced network of iPhones and iPads that can anonymously relay location information for other Apple devices that might be lost. So if your AirTag falls out of your pocket somewhere, there’s a chance that another iPhone user who walks by will anonymously relay its location back to you through Find My. TheTile Mate doesn’t have this feature—if you lose it, you’re on your own.
Both tags do have built-in speakers so that you can make them play a loud tone when they’re nearby but out of sight—useful for finding keys buried under a pile of clothes, for example. Both tags also have replaceable batteries—Tile promises one year of battery life per charge, while Apple says its tags will last “over” a year on a single CR2032 button cell battery.
AirTag vs. Other Find My-Compatible Devices
While AirTag is designed to work with Apple devices, it isn’t the only device that can take advantage of theFind My network. In fact, any device with a Find My-compatible chip can be located using the network. That includes iPhones, iPads, Macs, iPod touches, Apple Watches, AirPods, and Beats headphones.
Third-party devices that include a Find My-compatible chip include the Belkin Soundform Freedom true wireless earbuds and the Chipolo ONE Spot item finder. Of course, these devices must be signed in to your iCloud account and have location turned on to be located by the Find My network.
Privacy and Security
While Apple says AirTag is “designed to be ultra-secure,” security researchers have already found ways to hack the device. And because AirTag doesn’t require an iPhone or iPad to set it up, someone could maliciously attach one to your belongings without your knowledge.
When it comes to privacy, Apple says it designed AirTag “with strong protections against unwanted tracking.” But because AirTag doesn’t have a display, and only vibrates when it’s out of range of its owner, it’s possible for someone to attach one to your belongings and track you without you ever knowing.
To prevent this, Apple has several built-in features to keep AirTag secure and private, including:
-A safe arrival feature that notifies you if an AirTag that wasn’t with you when you left home arrives at your current location
-An optional setting that alerts you when an unknown AirTag is traveling with you for an extended period of time
-The option to create a secret passcode that must be entered before anyone can pair their iPhone or iPad with your AirTag
If you’re concerned about someone tracking you with an AirTag, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself:
-Keep your iPhone or iPad nearby. If an AirTag is separated from its owner for more than three days, it start chirping and vibrating so the owner can find it. However, if the tag is within Bluetooth range of its owner’s iPhone or iPad, it won’t make any noise.
-Disable the “lost mode” feature. This will prevent anyone from finding your contact information if they find your lost AirTag. To do this, open the Find My app on your iOS device, tap on “Items,” then select theAirTag and tap on the “i” icon. From here, scroll down and toggle off “lost mode.”
Conclusion
To conclude, Apple AirTag does have a limited range when it comes to working. However, its range can be greatly improved by placing it in various convenient locations. Additionally, AirTag can also be used to monitor your luggage or other valuable items while you are away from home.
