Apple could finally launch 'AirTags' in October

Apple's long-rumored "AirTags" may finally launch before the end of 2020, with a report claiming Apple will be launching the item-tracking accessories during an event in late October.

Apple is preparing to launch the "iPhone 12" in an online event in the coming weeks, and as is typical for the event, Apple is anticipated to also launch other products at the same time. According to one report, one of the products in question could be "AirTags."

An unknown Chinese supplier provided information to Mac Otakara that Apple was getting ready to publicly announce the product during the "iPhone 12" event, alongside a new "Apple Watch Series 6."

The same source also alleged the usual September event would take place later than planned, with it predicted to happen in the second half of October. Other rumors have suggested similar October timing for the "iPhone 12" launch, though others have also put forward the idea that the event will continue in September as usual.

"AirTags" were originally believed to be prepared for launch earlier in 2020, but that was pulled due to circumstances beyond Apple's control, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaks such as details buried inside iOS 14 also suggest a launch is happening soon.

The accessory is intended to help users find lost items, and is thought to resemble a small disc that can attach to objects, such as a keychain. Using the Find My app, users will be able to take advantage of the built-in U1 chip and ultra-wideband signals to find where the tag and connected item are located, in a similar manner to how a misplaced iPhone or iPad could be relocated.

Rumors have pointed to the use of an augmented reality-style interface, where users can view an icon on a real-time view of the room to see where the tag should be in physical space.

The system would also work out in the world without needing a cellular connection or GPS in the tag itself, by silently pinging iPhones with U1 chips passing nearby the tag without notifying the tag or iPhone owners. Secured with encryption, the pings would help determine the AirTag's location for the owner when they check the Find My app.

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21 Comments

mobird 20 Years · 758 comments

About 4 years ago

"Find My" app needs a different name.

dewme 10 Years · 5775 comments

I'm very curious to see where Apple sees this product fitting into its customer's lives. For people who seriously need this capability, say a dairy farmer with 185 cows (Find My Cow), or a construction equipment rental company (Find My Chainsaw), there are already multiple solutions available. It's obviously not intended for security or theft protection because the tag could be easily removed. Sure, putting one on your car keys or your dog (Find My Doodledog) makes sense, but again, there are already solutions on the market that have not compelled me to buy any of them. This begs the question: What exactly does Apple bring to this party that we've all been missing, you know, that little something that only exists at the intersection of Technology and Liberal Arts? This is one current Apple rumor that elicits so little excitement from me, so I'm very ready to be surprised. C'mon Apple, let's see what you've got.

WarrenBuffduckh 5 Years · 158 comments

@dewme
Unlike other solutions, AirTags supposedly would benefit from the virtual network of billions of idevices around the globe to exactly (YET privately) relocate your tagged items

Japhey 6 Years · 1772 comments

Yawn. Another day, another AirTags rumor. I went from being intrigued, to being excited, too convincing myself that I had to own these. Now, I’m mostly just bored by them.

WTH 4 Years · 26 comments

dewme said:

It's obviously not intended for security or theft protection because the tag could be easily removed.

Not if it is hidden in the vehicle. People already use Tiles for this very purpose, but they don't work that well because there are relatively few people running the Tile app on their phones, so you rarely get a "hit" even if you're tracking the Tile in an urban area.

The Airtag will be a Tile on steroids, pinging every iPhone within range through the "Find My" framework. It'll be nearly as effective as a GPS tracker, but without subscription fees, cellular access, or a battery that needs recharging every two weeks.

Once people get an idea what Airtags are capable of, I expect that they'll be hidden in just about any object that is worth protecting. I further expect that the functionality of an Airtag will eventually be incorporated into the electronics of trucks, automobiles, motorcycles, etc. Sure, you could rip out the electronics of a car and render it untrackable (and non-functional), but that isn't something that a car thief is going to do if he wants a working vehicle. You can also expect a lot of companies to sell products to assist you in securely hiding an Airtag on / in a vehicle.

Where I live, we have an ongoing epidemic of gang members stealing cars, driving them while committing more crimes, then abandoning each vehicle for another stolen car. Airtags are going to upend that cycle. When your average car owner is able to immediately share the latest location update of his or her stolen vehicle with the police, it's going to be a whole lot tougher for the criminals to move around the city.

I always assumed that Amazon would do this first, by tying in some sort of tracker with their Ring doorbell system. But despite rumors of a Ring tracker, it has never happened. Now Apple is going to dominate this market, thanks to the popularity of the iPhone.