When Apple came out with the AirTag on April 30,2021, it tried to solve the problem of some group of people who can be late to an event simply because they can’t find their keys.
In addition to serving as a key finder, the AirTag can be attached to a person or car and even placed on an animal’s collar.
A single Apple AirTag is 1.26 inches in diameter, which is about twice the size of a quarter. It can be attached to your chain of keys.
For a starting price of $29, the water-resistant device connects your phone to the tag using Apple’s Find My network and Bluetooth signals, allowing you to locate your forgotten item more quickly.
It works with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch that can run iOS 14.5 or later. If you’re used to Bluetooth trackers like Tile or Chipolo, the Apple ones work pretty much the same way, as well.
The AirTag may be customised in the same way that most other Apple devices can. Engraving is the only modification you may make to the product itself, and you can acquire them separately or in a 4-pack for free. Putting an AirTag on your keys or pet’s collar will require an attachment. In its most basic form, an AirTag can only be used to slip into your wallet or purse.
Leather key rings are available in seven various colors, five different colors of a leather loop, and four different colors of the basic loop.
Aside from Apple, there are a slew of third-party vendors selling AirTag accessories, including Belkin, Otterbox, Amazon, and Neiman Marcus. People who want to spend some money can also get some Hermès goods from Apple.
The Way it works
By following the steps in the Find My section of your Apple device, you can connect your AirTag to your device. Once you’ve completed your setup, attach the AirTag to anything you tend to misplace the most (keys, wallet, TV remote).
You can now go to your Find My app or, if you use voice-activated features, say “Hey Siri, find my keys” if you’ve misplaced something important. The AirTag will make a sound, and you can follow it to find your missing item by hearing it. Your phone can also help you find it with “precision finding,” which will show you where your AirTag is by giving you an arrow that looks like a compass.
Lost mode can be used if your item isn’t nearby, like if you left it in an Uber or your keys at a friend’s house. That way, when it’s found by a device in the network, you’ll get a notification about where it is.
Is it Safe to use?
There are a lot of privacy issues that come up when you use AirTags or other digital trackers. Anonymous and encrypted internet transactions are possible using AirTags, according to Apple. Neither Apple nor anyone else can see where you’ve placed your AirTag, and no information about your past or present locations is kept on the AirTag itself.
That raises the issue of unwanted tracking. In theory, you could put an AirTag in someone’s backpack or put it on someone’s car to track them and see where they are.
But there are some safety measures in place that could keep people from being tracked. Your phone will alert you if someone else’s AirTag is near you and moving around with you. To help you find it, the AirTag will make a noise. In order for those alerts to be sent, the device needs to be away from its owner.
