Apple's wireless Tile-like tracking technology exposed in iOS 13 build
More details relating to the rumored Tile-style 'tag' tracker accessory Apple is developing, with an allegedly leaked image from an internal build of iOS 13 suggesting the device will be circular, while its usage via the "Find My" app could include limiting notifications of misplacement to occasions where the user isn't at home.
Rumors of an Apple-produced tracker that works with the refreshed Find My app suggested Apple would move from just tracking lost Apple hardware, and into other items. "Apple Tag" (see "AirTags") hardware references found in June were the first major indication of the item being real, and the prospect of adding Tile-like functionality to the app.
A leak of images published by MacRumors on Friday from what is believed to be an internal build of iOS 13 depicts the tag as a circle, with a central Apple logo. While it is plausible that this could be placeholder art ahead of the official launch of the accessory, there is a chance that it could genuinely be a circular badge-style item, possibly with a keyring element not shown in the image.
Other text snippets advise of the presence of a removable battery, which could be removed by unscrewing the back. Since the size of the tracker isn't revealed in the image, it is plausible it could be quite small, accepting a thin circular battery rather than a larger rechargeable unit.
The tag is believed to have the codename "B389," MacRumors reported on Friday afternoon, with text strings in the code indicating the nature of the accessory, such as "tag your everyday items with B389 and never lose them again."
The image of the 'tag' accessory within an internal build of iOS 13
It will work with the "Find My" app, which will have an "Items" tab, meant for tracking things that the tag is attached to.
Notifications will be provided to users if their iPhone is separated from the tagged item by an unspecified distance. In the case of nearby misplaced items, the app could be triggered to make the tag chime, allowing it to be found by sound.
A user can also designate "safe locations" that won't set off the notifications if the tagged device is left there, allowing it to be separated from the iPhone. For example, a gym bag could be left at home most of the time, but would need to be guarded when taken out of the house, so the tag would only be required for that limited situation.
Items like the "tag" could be put into a "Lost Mode," allowing other iPhone users to acquire contact details for its owner, in order to help getting the lost item back. When discovered by an iPhone, the owner will be notified it has been found.
Along with simple tracking, there also seems to be an augmented reality-style element to the app. When lost nearby, the app could give a view of the object's location, highlighting it with a red balloon on the screen.
The concept has been raised in patent applications, with the use of an indicator showing where something is within a room or a local environment.
While "Find My" is believed to be arriving as part of iOS 13's launch this fall, it is unclear when Apple will announce the "tag" product. It is possible, however, that Apple could be waiting until its September 10 iPhone event to unveil the unannounced product for the first time.
Rumors of an Apple-produced tracker that works with the refreshed Find My app suggested Apple would move from just tracking lost Apple hardware, and into other items. "Apple Tag" (see "AirTags") hardware references found in June were the first major indication of the item being real, and the prospect of adding Tile-like functionality to the app.
A leak of images published by MacRumors on Friday from what is believed to be an internal build of iOS 13 depicts the tag as a circle, with a central Apple logo. While it is plausible that this could be placeholder art ahead of the official launch of the accessory, there is a chance that it could genuinely be a circular badge-style item, possibly with a keyring element not shown in the image.
Other text snippets advise of the presence of a removable battery, which could be removed by unscrewing the back. Since the size of the tracker isn't revealed in the image, it is plausible it could be quite small, accepting a thin circular battery rather than a larger rechargeable unit.
The tag is believed to have the codename "B389," MacRumors reported on Friday afternoon, with text strings in the code indicating the nature of the accessory, such as "tag your everyday items with B389 and never lose them again."
The image of the 'tag' accessory within an internal build of iOS 13
It will work with the "Find My" app, which will have an "Items" tab, meant for tracking things that the tag is attached to.
Notifications will be provided to users if their iPhone is separated from the tagged item by an unspecified distance. In the case of nearby misplaced items, the app could be triggered to make the tag chime, allowing it to be found by sound.
A user can also designate "safe locations" that won't set off the notifications if the tagged device is left there, allowing it to be separated from the iPhone. For example, a gym bag could be left at home most of the time, but would need to be guarded when taken out of the house, so the tag would only be required for that limited situation.
Items like the "tag" could be put into a "Lost Mode," allowing other iPhone users to acquire contact details for its owner, in order to help getting the lost item back. When discovered by an iPhone, the owner will be notified it has been found.
Along with simple tracking, there also seems to be an augmented reality-style element to the app. When lost nearby, the app could give a view of the object's location, highlighting it with a red balloon on the screen.
The concept has been raised in patent applications, with the use of an indicator showing where something is within a room or a local environment.
While "Find My" is believed to be arriving as part of iOS 13's launch this fall, it is unclear when Apple will announce the "tag" product. It is possible, however, that Apple could be waiting until its September 10 iPhone event to unveil the unannounced product for the first time.
Comments
battery replaceable units (since resolved but in the Pro version) so have no hands on experience with them.
If the product is real, I'm betting it will be cheaper than Tiles and more attractive proposition.
PS: Has anyone running the betas been able to get the new BT-based Find My devices to work? I still can only get it to work when online even with testing through multiple devices using macOS Catalina and iOS 13.
Incorrect!
They removed the “Always Allow” option in the permission dialog box, but the option still exists in location settings.
Now that they’ve devised a fairly safe and secure method to track and report, makes me wonder if Apple will release an API for 3rd party tracking devices to use?
It is basically a crowd-sourced iBeacon.
/s
Personally, I’m hoping that Apple Glasses integrate with HomeKit to flip the calculus here — instead of sensors deducing where you are in your house and controlling lights/etc., you (via your glasses) determine if/what devices need to be turned on.
Walk into a room that’s dark because it’s a cloudy day? Glasses figure out which room and turn on lights.
Need to turn on a light? Look at it and say, “Hey Siri, turn that light on” ... and glasses figure out which light you’re referring to
While initially impressed I ended up disenchanted with the original ones for two reasons: Had to replace them roughly once a year, and I didn't find I needed them as often as I would have thought. That still didn't prevent me from buying four of the Pro version with replaceable batteries when they came out. Don't know why I thought I'd be any more impressed because I still didn't put them to use more than a handful of times. In fact I accidently activated them and sent a finder signal to my phone more often than I needed to find a misplaced Tile'd item.
Time to replace the batteries now but not sure I'll bother. They're smallish but not small enough, kinda get in the way on the keyring, and too large to play well on a remote or earbud charging case. Great idea but....