After many leaks and much anticipation, Apple officially announced AirTag in its Spring event on 20th April 2021. Finally!
AirTag is Apple’s answer to Bluetooth trackers like Tile and Chipolo. You can snap the device on your keys, wallet, luggage, backpack, and almost anything and ensure never to lose them again.
Let me tell you more about how to set up AirTags and use it to locate your belonging.
What is an Apple AirTag?
Apple AirTag is a tiny tracker that you can attach to your valuable items like keys, bag, pet, etc., and find them if misplaced using its Precision Finding feature (more about it later).
AirTags are small and light, weighing just 11 grams. These tiny trackers are splash, water, and dust-resistant. With the IP67 rating, they can withstand a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. An inexpensive, conveniently found anywhere, and user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery powers them for up to one year.
Here is more about how AirTag works and how to use it.
How AirTag works?
There are two scenarios:
1. When the missing item is nearby
If you misplaced your item nearby, which is within the Bluetooth range, open the Find My app and go to the Items tab. From here, you can view the current or last known location.
Since AirTag is in the Bluetooth range, you can play a sound using the Find My app. Alternatively, you can also summon Siri and ask it something like ‘Find my keys.’ The inbuilt speaker on AirTag will make a sound. Just follow it to locate the missing item.
If you have an iPhone with Apple’s U1 chip, namely iPhone 11 series and 12 series, Precision Finding makes things even more accessible.
It can show you the distance and direction you must move in to find the misplaced item. This is because an AirTag also has the U1 chip that uses the Ultra-wideband technology, which helps in pointing the location more accurately and precisely.
With inputs from the camera, ARKit, accelerometer, and gyroscope, you get exact directions to the AirTag via sound, haptics, and visual feedback.
Note: AirTag supports accessibility features like VoiceOver. This is helpful for blind or visually impaired people as they can get direction to the misplaced item with voice. The iPhone can announce directions like “AirTag is 3 feet away on your left.”
2. When the missing item is far
If you left your bag, wallet, or anything attached to an AirTag far behind at a public place, the Find My network helps locate it. iPhones, iPads, and Macs nearby detect the Bluetooth signal sent by the AirTag. This location data is then securely sent to iCloud, which you can see on the map inside your Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
The entire process is anonymous, private, encrypted, and even Apple cannot read it. Only the right AirTag owner can see the location. Additionally, the location data and history are not stored on the AirTag.
How to set up and use AirTags
Settings up AirTags is almost similar to setting up your AirPods – it is effortless. The first step is to update your iPhone or iPad to iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5. Next, a one-tap setup effortlessly connects the AirTag with your device.
After this, you can give it a name, like keys, bag, wallet, or anything. Now, keep or attach the AirTag to the valuable item, and you are ready to track it.
If you ever lose the item, open the Find My app and put your AirTag in Lost Mode. You will be automatically notified when it is found with the help of Find My Network.
In Lost Mode, you can also configure it to show your contact, etc. This will enable any other iPhone or Android user with NFC to tap the white part of your AirTag, which will take them to found.apple.com. From here, they can see your contact details and reach you.
I hope this quick AirTag guide was helpful. In the coming days, we will be actively updating it. And like you, we, too, are waiting for a hands-on experience.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Apple’s AirTag. Share them in the comments below.
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