'Apple Tags' tracking devices launching summer 2020, says Ming-Chi Kuo
The rumored "Apple Tags" tracking fobs will ship in the middle of 2020, Ming-Chi Kuo believes, with shipments of the Ultra Wideband-based tag anticipated to be in the order of "tens of millions" by the end of the year.
The iPhone 11, Pro, and Pro Max all include UWB support required for 'Apple Tag' location.
"Apple Tags," a piece of hardware that has surfaced in software leaks, is supposedly edging closer to launch and an eventual release. In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, Ming-Chi Kuo claims the ultra wideband-based location system will be arriving at some point in 2020.
In discussions about Apple supply cain firm USI, Kuo expects the firm to start shipping components for an "UWB tag" starting in the second or third quarter of 2020. Kuo doesn't directly mention "Apple Tag" by name, but the description given for the product lines up closely for the device.
"We believe that the ultra-wideband (UWB) tag will enhance the user experience of iOS's 'find' and augmented reality applications by offering measurement functions in the short distance," writes Kuo. Previous speculation pointed to the "Apple Tag" being closely linked to the "Find My" features offered by Apple, and would take advantage of UWB to locate the position of the tag for an iPhone 11 user more accurately than currently possible with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Earlier reports also pointed to an augmented reality view, which could show the expected location for the tag using a virtual red balloon and string as an overlay of the camera view.
Kuo believes USI will be a primary supplier for the tag's single in-line package (SIP), with the firm performing manufacturing for 60% of shipments.
Previous speculation from Kuo put the "Apple Tag" launch in the first six months of 2020. However, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak may cause some delays in manufacturing.
The iPhone 11, Pro, and Pro Max all include UWB support required for 'Apple Tag' location.
"Apple Tags," a piece of hardware that has surfaced in software leaks, is supposedly edging closer to launch and an eventual release. In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, Ming-Chi Kuo claims the ultra wideband-based location system will be arriving at some point in 2020.
In discussions about Apple supply cain firm USI, Kuo expects the firm to start shipping components for an "UWB tag" starting in the second or third quarter of 2020. Kuo doesn't directly mention "Apple Tag" by name, but the description given for the product lines up closely for the device.
"We believe that the ultra-wideband (UWB) tag will enhance the user experience of iOS's 'find' and augmented reality applications by offering measurement functions in the short distance," writes Kuo. Previous speculation pointed to the "Apple Tag" being closely linked to the "Find My" features offered by Apple, and would take advantage of UWB to locate the position of the tag for an iPhone 11 user more accurately than currently possible with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Earlier reports also pointed to an augmented reality view, which could show the expected location for the tag using a virtual red balloon and string as an overlay of the camera view.
Kuo believes USI will be a primary supplier for the tag's single in-line package (SIP), with the firm performing manufacturing for 60% of shipments.
Previous speculation from Kuo put the "Apple Tag" launch in the first six months of 2020. However, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak may cause some delays in manufacturing.
Comments
Not sure why Apple is going down this road, unless they figure the App Store is going to be spun off anyways.
Maybe Apple is just desperate for a product that makes AR useful, after getting little interest from developers...
Apple Tags sounds just like Tile, though hopefully much better. My one experience with a Tile Slim was terrible. I still see the Tile app in the App Store, so I have no idea what your cryptic post is referring to.
On the other hand, Google seems to focus their map developments on ways of driving new ad revenue, such as ads inside the maps, tracking the user or forcing businesses to outbid each other for eyeballs, or soon, outbidding each other for robot-phone calls. I find this a very limited way of thinking, and it largely reproduces features already available in the assistant AIs and 3rd party apps (OpenTable, etc). Google's priorities are also demonstrated by how lacklustre streetview has become, I imagine if it was tied to advertising I'd be greeted by something a little more recent than a 7 year old photo of my street that looks like it was taken with a Nokia 8110.
What Apple is actually up to...who knows until it’s released. I’m thinking Tiles + AR (mapping). I’m ‘hearing’ regular bad behavior from Apple with regards to the App Store, and assuming more of the same. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But, I think it’s just a matter of time before antitrust issues results in the App Store becoming independent.
” AirTags are small tracking tiles with Bluetooth connectivity that can be used to find lost items. There are several similar products on the market, such as Tile and Adero, but Apple's version will be more deeply integrated with Apple devices.Jan 29, 2020”
If he explains what on earth he's talking about, great. If not just more noise. Shrug.
Interesting how many people are criticizing it before we know what it is and what it can do...
What at all does anything about this product have anything to do with the App Store or your imaginary situation where it becomes “independent”, whatever that means or how it’d relate to a tracking device made by Apple?
Not sure why you’d make this connection. Walk Around is already used to explore locations, just as the name implies. Why would you need it to find an object on a map? If you dropped your keys in, say, a home, you’d go there then use the Find My app to locate it precisely when there using the UWB features. There’s no situation where Walk Around would factor into this unless you wanted to see what the street looks like where you lost your thing, which would be pretty random.
My SO searches for her keys on a nearly daily basis. Used to have an old Tile on it before the battery died on it, but it helped immensely. If these are done right, and they will be if they get released, you can bet I’ll be buying one for her immediately. And maybe one for each of the cats like RayZ.
Guessing you don’t want one for tinfoil hat reasons though, since you mentioned “anything that does tracking”.