It’s almost certain that Apple is working on small devices in the form of tiles to help find lost iPhones, Apple Watches, and iPads. Summarized the information known so far.
Latest Rumor: “Potential to be released in 2021” Ming Chi Guo
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in a recent report that AirTags will be released in 2021. However, it did not mention specific release dates or events.
In a video (below), Front Page Tech’s John Prosser unveiled an animation presumed to be the final version of AirTag. It was already very similar to what Proser worked with the concept designer in September, but the Proser estimated that the animation in the video would be what the AirTag was shown on iOS when connected to the device. The animation is similar to when AirPods are connected to the iPhone.
As for the processor, the air tag is about the size of a bottle cap and operates with UWB (Ulta-wideband) technology. This is well explained in’What is an air tag?’ below.
But how do you attach this little device? Proser said it will sell individual keychains and other attachment devices. It’s the same way Apple sells a stand for Pro Display XDR (Pro Display XDR) separately. Nothing has been said about the price, but you should remember that using the AirTag comes at an extra cost.
What is an air tag?
The Airtag is likely to be a tracker similar to popular Bluetooth tracking products from companies like Tile, Adero and Pixie. These trackers can be attached to objects such as key chains, suitcases or regular bags (or you can put them in your wallet). Then, you can find the tile and the object the tile is attached to through an app on your smartphone.
It is observed that the air tag is more accurate than the conventional Bluetooth tracking device. Each Air Tag seems to have a built-in U1 ultra-wideband chip found in the latest iPhones. This means that you can almost accurately know where the airtag is not just whether it is at home or not. In addition, the augmented reality function is expected to help in the process of finding objects.
The tracking device from the tile is square. Airtag, on the other hand, is round, white, and has an Apple logo in the middle, based on an asset discovered in the iOS 13 beta by 9to5Mac in June. However, there is a possibility that it is only a model, not a final design. (In addition, Airtag’s code name in Apple is estimated to be’B389′.)
In April 2020, a video appeared on Apple’s official YouTube page stating that AirTag can still work even if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular. (It was also a case where the name Air Tag was publicly confirmed by Apple to some extent). The video was released soon.
How does it work?
There is a high possibility that a proximity chip is embedded in the air tag. It’s a chip that lets you pair up an Air Tag just by holding it next to your iPhone. It’s the same as connecting to AirPods or HomePods.
The actual tracking work is likely to be done through the’Find My’ app. Rumor has it that there will be a new’Item’ tab within the app that allows you to track multiple airtags.
Many of the rumored features were announced after MacRumors approached the internal iOS 13 build in August 2019. For example, the ability to send notifications to your smartphone if you are too far away from the AirTag would be useful if you keep the AirTag attached to a key or in a wallet.
You can also add a’safe location’ that’s okay to stay away from the air tag. For example, if you have a gym locker, and you can add it to a’safe location’ and store your wallet, you can prevent the notification from constantly ringing on your smartphone while exercising.
It is also possible to put the tracking device in’lost mode’. In’Lost Mode’, the AirTag owner’s contact information is transferred to other Apple users who have acquired the AirTag. Thus, the learner can contact the owner. In addition, a notification is sent to the owner when the air tag is acquired.
Like the iPhone and Apple Watch, AirTag can be made to sound through the Find My app. This will make it easier to find the device. Also, if you use the camera when you are close to the air tag, you may be able to see that the direction of the air tag is displayed as a balloon through the augmented reality function. It’s similar to how the Pixie wireless tracking device works.
The AirTag may contain a button-type removable battery found in electronic devices similar to digital cameras. It is rumored that if the Airtag’s battery is running low, the final location will be transmitted before going offline.
When is it released?
The Airtag is still a rumored product, so there is no official announcement from Apple regarding its launch date.
In February 2020, TF Security analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple’s Air Tag mass production would begin in the second or third quarter of this year. In other words, there is a high likelihood that you have to wait until autumn, no matter how early, to meet at the store. However, it is possible that it will actually be announced at Apple’s WWDC this year.
Also, in April, Bloomberg also predicted the air tag’s release schedule to fall. Unusually, Bloomberg reported as’Apple Tag’ rather than’Air Tag’. In the video released in April, it was confirmed that it is called’Air Tag’ internally by Apple, but it still suggests that the product name may change.
At this time, it is not known how much Airtags will be priced, but it is generally agreed that Apple will set the price relatively cheaply because it is recommended that users purchase multiple Airtags. [email protected]