Apple secretly building ‘AirTags’ that let you track ANY object using an iPhone, insider claims
APPLE may be working on a top-secret new “tracker tag” that lets you locate any object using an iPhone.
That’s according to a top industry insider who says the new “Apple AirTags” will be available later this year.
For months, rumours have pointed to Apple working on smart trackers.
The gadget is supposed to work like the tags offered by tech firm Tile, which let you locate objects using a smartphone app.
A Tile tracker could be attached to your keychain, for example, to help you avoid losing them.
Now respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is nearly ready to launch its own version, in an investor note seen by .
The tech expert is famed for his Apple predictions, and has correctly guessed almost every major launch by the firm to date.
In his note, he talks about a so-called “UWB tag” set for imminent release.
“We forecast that Apple’s major new hardware products in 1H20 include the 4.7-inch LCD iPhone, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro/Air, smaller wireless charging mat, UWB tag, and a high-end Bluetooth headphone,” wrote Kuo in a research note with TF International Securities, a copy of which was seen by MacRumors.
The “UWB” bit stands for ultra-wideband, which is a type of radio technology used for short-range, high-volume communications.
Basically, it’s better than Bluetooth or WiFi for locating objects over short distances.
This sort of technology would be ideal for a tracker-tag, as finding an object at close-range is often the biggest hurdle when it comes to lost objects.
It’s likely, however, that the tags would also track objects at distance too, including their last-known position.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
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- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
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- Check if you’re due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you’re down to 80% capacity. If you’re below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
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Kuo also clues us in to a possible release window too.
He says the gadgets will land in “1H20”, which is corporate lingo for the first half of 2020.
Apple typically hosts two major events in the first half of a year. One generally falls in March, while the other is the developer expo WWDC, in June.
New gadgets are generally more likely to launch at the March event, so the rumoured AirTags could be just a few weeks away.
Sadly, Apple hasn’t confirmed plans to release a UWB tag, so take this leak with a pinch of salt.
Even if Kuo is correct, Apple can (and has) scrapped products very shortly before launch.
So even if the Apple AirTags do exist, they might never see the light of day.
In other news, old iPhones are set to get a new lease of life thanks to a rumoured Apple update.
We’ve revealed the best iPhone XR deals on offer right now.
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 is set to be even bigger than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Apple could change the Lightning port for a USB-C connector on future iPhone models.
And the iPhone 12 could be the thinnest ever thanks to new screen technology.
What do you think of AirTags? Let us know in the comments!
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