If you told me 10 years ago that people would be falling over themselves to PAY to build Orwellian tracking network on behalf of corporations for no reason at all I'd have called you completely insane.
this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2024
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How are they doing it? Have you read the specs on how the tech works?
Pretty unlikely they're doing anything other than BTLE (bluetooth low energy) and mobile device tracking, like absolutely all other "tag" trackers. Anything else would require enormous batteries in the tags.
The reason is because people are too irresponsible and inept to keep track of their own property properly, but yes, unfortunately it is a sad reality.
Apple knows where my friend's cat hides in the woods.
I'll just stick with Tile. Tons of people already and it works. This article really didn't do a fine point of showcasing the pros and cons of different options.
Sadly, as long as the tracking network is opt-in, itβll never match an AirTag.
We need something decentralized and private by design. Open standards are a must
Cool idea. But Iβd love to hear how you would implement that.
That's the real kicker. I personally find Briar to be pretty cool I wonder if we could build something like Briar but for finding devices.
Participating in the network doesn't compromise your privacy.
If you need Google spyware it does
Main problem is that by default android devices are tracking lost tags only in crowded places like airports. Only the devices where their users changed the default are contributing to find the tag anywhere else.
Now, I made a game with my friend on how easy it would be to find an hidden airtag and I found out that in a crowded indoor place is almost impossible to find it. Because of no GPS and limited reception each phone reported a very different coordinate and it was jumping everywhere. I wasn't able to find it at all. Instead, when it was hidden in a park, I went exactly where it was shown in the map, waited for the iPhone to connect to it, make it sound and follow the directions: found!
So, a tracker that works only in crowded airports and malls is wasted money IMHO. Nobody is changing default settings and the notification that Google sent to change the default to everyone was even "scary" for a non-technical: dismissed/ignored by everyone
If the goal is to find your stuff, is better the airtag, if the goal is to stalk someone and just get some approximate location, then this stuff can be ok
"there are multiple standards! we should consolidate them into a new standard!"
there are now multiple+n standards
Wake me up when a foss implementation is created. These things are effectively e-waste at the blink of an eye.
They aren't even standards. They are totally proprietary and vendor linked
Hence the need for an actual alternative.
(also I was referencing an xkcd entry)
I can use my tag, which I put in my wallet or suitcase β¦ as a photo shutter? How is this groundbreaking?
I have never wanted to do anything with my airtags except attach them, and replace batteries when required
creating what doubles as a dedicated hardware shortcut button always available in your backpack or carry-on
at no point has my tag, in carry on or a backpack, ever been more accessible than my phone or watch.
Take phone out of my pocket and trigger shortcut
or
dig through an airplane overhead, get my carry on bag to find a tag to press a button to activate a shortcut on my phone? I really do not understand how this is functionality anyone would
When you press the button, itβll ping your phone so you can find it. The same button could also be a remote shutter button for your Android phone.
Sadly, this would be helpful.
This is for the tag on your keys or some other EDC item. If you're carrying it with you all the time anyway, why not add extra functionality? The ring tag I have on my keys allows me to ring my phone if I lost it, it's similar to that.
It's a tag, that works well as a tag.
Also, you can use it as a remote shutter should you wish to place your phone somewhere and take the photo from somewhere else - like standing in front of a famous landmark, or wanting to be in a group photo instead of being behind the camera.
Seems like a no brainer bit of useful add-on functionality to supplement its primary usage.
Mmm I'd probably be a bit irritated about inadvertent activation of whatever function it's set to do while the tag is getting bounced around doing its main job.
I've had Tile tags before where the "find my phone" function would be triggered just from eg sitting in the car with keys+tag in your pocket, or cramming just one more receipt into my wallet with the credit card sized tag they sold.
So, for me, 90 percent of the time this function would be firmly set to "off".
So, for me, 90 percent of the time this function would be firmly set to βoffβ.
I bought a car that has heated seats and a heated steering wheel that I've never used, and being in Australia will probably never use. It did not detract from the rest of the cars functionality including its main purpose which is to get me from A to B.
I suspect the optional functionality of this hardware button will be similar.
But you arenβt going to accidentally turn on your heated seats, unlike a tag that is meant to be attached or stuffed into places where accidental activation is much more likely.
It's basic functionality dressed up for marketing. It is silly, because you really don't need a shutter button that often. But the device can do it, so why not? It's not a selling feature, but it wouldn't make sense not to include some kind of button function.
It's like if a car manufacturer got really enthusiastic about how you can recline your seatbacks which lets you take a nap in your car. Like, OK, there are a lot of reasons to have reclining seats, but in practice you rarely need the feature. But to not have it would be even stupider.