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Submitted by David Goodwin=F0=9F=91=A8=E2=80=8D=F0=9F=A6=AF on Friday, =
April 30, 2021 - 14:39.
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After two years of rumour, speculation, and much hype, Apple's AirTag =
has finally arrived; and my early impressions and experience suggest =
that it might have been worth the wait if you are blind or low vision =
and have an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12.
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For those unfamiliar, AirTag is Apple's new Bluetooth tracker announced =
at its recent =
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/summary-apples-spring-loaded-product-launc=
h-event> =E2=80=9CSpring Loaded=E2=80=9D event. It's a button-shaped =
device intended to be attached to items that you might commonly misplace =
like keys; wallets; jackets; and backpacks, enabling their location to =
be tracked in the Find My app. Additionally, an AirTag can be set as =
lost, and any iPhone user who passes close to it will be alerted to its =
presence, and can optionally be sent a contact number and message that =
will help them reunite the lost AirTag with its owner. To further =
increase the likelihood of people being reunited with lost AirTags, =
anybody who doesn't have an iPhone but does have an NFC-capable phone is =
also able to identify a lost AirTag if they find it.
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So far, AirTags might be sounding rather dull. One of those things you =
buy, hoping that you will never actually have to use.
But, before you tune out, let me introduce you to another of the =
AirTag's features, Precision Finding. This is where things get a little =
more interesting. Perhaps even quite exciting, for Precision Finding =
combines augmented reality, sound, and haptic feedback to guide users of =
iPhones with a U1 chip to the precise location of an AirTag. Oh, and did =
I mention that Apple has stated that AirTag includes support for the =
accessibility features built into iOS, such as VoiceOver?
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Are you with me here in thinking of how Precision Finding could offer =
significant added value to somebody who is blind or has low vision?
Are you thinking of those occasions when you misplace something, and one =
or more of independence; pride; stubbornness; or nobody else being close =
by results in you spending minutes or more trying to locate your lost =
item?
Are you thinking of those times when you resort to asking a family =
member; housemate; friend; work colleague; or nearby stranger to be your =
eyes and find something for you?
Are you thinking about how nice it might be to instead simply grab your =
iPhone, and play a quick game of hot or cold - also known as Precision =
Finding in this case - to be guided towards the exact location of that =
misplaced item?
These thoughts and the relatively low price of US$29 for a single pack =
AirTag were enough to pique my interest and have me hit the pre-order =
button as soon as it became available.
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What follows are my early impressions and experience with an AirTag. =
Read on to discover how despite the operational range of Precision =
Finding not being as far as I had anticipated and there being a few =
other disappointments, AirTags are still likely to be a useful addition =
to the toolbox of gadgets and apps that help to empower me.
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Description
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The AirTag is button-shaped with a glossy white front and a silver back. =
It measures approximately 32mm in diameter and 8mm in height, and weighs =
in at 11 grams.
This has the AirTag larger than I would personally have desired, which =
is presumably due to Apples decision to fit it with a replaceable CR2032 =
battery. According to Apple, that battery should last for about a year =
in typical use. So, the trade-off for the AirTag's size is a battery =
that you can cheaply and easily replace. When its charge does become =
low, you will receive a notification. To swap out the battery, you press =
and twist on the AirTag's back panel.
The size of the AirTag rules out for me the option of keeping one in my =
wallet, but to be fair to Apple's inclusion of wallets on its list of =
things you might want to track with an AirTag, I do use one that's very =
small and slim.
I would recommend that you consider n AirTag's size if you are thinking =
of getting one to keep track of smaller items like AirPods or an Apple =
TV remote, as it will significantly change the size and feel in your =
hand of the item. Personally, having now held an AirTag, I can't imagine =
using one with my AirPods if there were to be a silicon or leather =
add-on case available that allowed you to do so.
However, AirTags are a great shape and size for a key ring fob.
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The AirTag has a built-in speaker to play a sound to help find it or =
alert you to its presence. It also features an IP67 water and dust =
resistance rating, which means it can withstand immersion in water up to =
one metre for 30 minutes in laboratory conditions. This means that it =
should stand up well to rain or accidental spills.
One additional thing that you need to be aware of, is that the AirTag =
doesn't come with any way of attaching it to an item - there's no hole =
punched in its body for attaching it to a key ring or lanyard, and not =
even some adhesive tabs in the box. Consequently, if you want to attach =
your AirTag to something, you will need to reach for a roll of =
double-sided adhesive tape or dive in to the rapidly expanding world of =
AirTag accessories.
Currently, Apple offers a small selection of its own branded AirTag =
accessories in a range of colours, which include a leather key ring =
(US$35), a leather loop (US$39), and a standard AirTag loop made of =
polyurethane for US$29. With these accessories costing at least as much =
as a single AirTag, you will likely be pleased to find that Amazon and =
eBay already have 3rd-party AirTag accessories for a wide range of use =
cases, and with most at much lower prices than Apple's offerings.
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Privacy and Security
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AirTag comes with a comprehensive suite of privacy and security features =
built in, including protection against tracking without your knowledge. =
Find My will notify you if an unknown AirTag is seen moving with you =
over time. An AirTag that isn't with the person who registered it for an =
extended period of time will also play a sound when moved so you can =
find it, even if you don=E2=80=99t use an iOS device.
As already mentioned, AirTags are linked to an Apple ID, meaning that no =
one else can track your AirTags.
Additionally, location data and location history are not stored on the =
AirTag, and devices that relay the location of a lost AirTag stay =
anonymous and location data is encrypted. You will see where your lost =
AirTag is in the Find My app if its location is detected by someone =
else's device, but you won't be told that person's identity. Apple also =
does not see where AirTags are located because of the end-to-end =
encryption used.
Finally, AirTags have unique Bluetooth identifiers that rotate =
frequently, which ensures that you're never tracked from place to place.
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Setup
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If you have experience of setting up AirPods or a HomePod mini, you will =
likely be pleased to learn that setting up an AirTag is very similar and =
just as quick and straightforward.
The first step is to remove the small plastic tab that you will find =
protruding from the side of a new AirTag. When you do this, the AirTag =
will play a short audible tone.
Next up is to bring the AirTag close to an unlocked iPhone, iPad, iPod =
touch, or Mac. A dialog box should then appear on the device, prompting =
you to give the AirTag a name.
There's one minor accessibility issue here, with VoiceOver saying that =
each of the names suggested for the AirTag is =E2=80=9C1 of 11=E2=80=9D =
in the name picker. It's not a major issue, and hopefully is one that =
Apple will quickly correct. (Note that you aren't required to use one of =
the provided names, as the final option in the picker is to use a custom =
name of your own choosing.)
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Finally you will be presented with a message alerting you to the fact =
that the AirTag is now associated with your Apple ID. This is an extra =
step to the setup of AirPods or an HomePod mini, and is essentially =
intended to warn you that you are identifiable if you use the AirTag =
illegally or maliciously.
After accepting this warning, your AirTag should be ready to be tracked =
from the Items tab that's new to the Find My app in iOS 14.5, iPadOS =
14.5, and macOS 11.3. On this tab you are also able to tell an AirTag =
to play a sound, mark an AirTag as lost, access Precision Finding, or =
use the Add Item button as an alternative method of accessing the setup =
process.
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Tracking and Finding an AirTag
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Finding lost AirTags relies on the Find My network, which is essentially =
every iPhone, iPad, and Mac device in the world that has bluetooth =
turned on and a network connection.
Inside of the Find My app, the locations of your AirTags are shown on =
the Items tab. The location is presented like it is for people and =
devices elsewhere in the app, so there are currently no notable =
accessibility issues here for VoiceOver users.
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In Lost Mode, an AirTag will automatically send out a notification when =
it's detected by someone in the Find My network, and you can optionally =
add your contact number along with a message so that they can get in =
touch with you.
So far so good, but also so far not so interesting or ground breaking.
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Let's then move on to Precision Finding, where things do indeed get a =
little more interesting. Dare I say even a little cool?
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Precision Finding uses the built-in U1 chip of the AirTag and supported =
iPhones - along with ARKit, the accelerometer, and the gyroscope on the =
iPhone - to direct you towards the exact location of the AirTag using =
graphics, haptic feedback, and sound.
I do not believe that Apple has yet publicly shared the operational =
range of Precision Finding, but the maximum range of Bluetooth is around =
100 metres, so an AirTag should potentially be trackable to that =
distance in perfect conditions. In my testing around our two storey =
house, of approximately 4000 square feet, Precision Finding has failed =
to come remotely close to hitting this range.
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If I'm on the same floor as the AirTag, I have consistently found that =
things become rather hit and miss at anything more than 30-35 feet. If =
on a different floor, this typically drops to 20-25 feet.
These distances might be due to the number of internal walls in my =
house, and the fact that most are block construction, so your own =
experience will likely vary.
Rather disappointingly, I haven't noticed any significant improvement in =
the operational range of Precision Finding when both my iPhone and =
AirTag are outside and have a clear line of sight between them.
This will be something to consider for =
<https://www.applevis.com/forum/hardware-accessories/so-who-else-has-orde=
red-airtag-their-guide-dog> those who are thinking of getting an AirTag =
to track their guide dog when exercising it off the leash. Also of note =
for this use case, is that I typically receive a message in the Find My =
app if the AirTag is moving, telling me that it is moving and that =
Precision Finding cannot therefore work.
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The volume of the AirTag speaker is, however, surprisingly loud =
considering its size, meaning that if I've triggered sound I typically =
hear the AirTag chirping away to itself quite some time ahead of it =
coming within the range of Precision Finding.
Once Precision Finding locates the AirTag, VoiceOver announces whether =
the AirTag is ahead of you; behind you; to your left; or to your right, =
along with its distance from you. When you get to within 3-4 foot of the =
AirTag the distance in feet will be replaced by =
=E2=80=9Cnearby=E2=80=9D, and then =E2=80=9CHere=E2=80=9D when you are =
within a foot or so. Your iPhone will also provide haptic feedback, =
which increases in intensity as you get closer to the AirTag.
I have found that constantly moving my iPhone gets better results from =
Precision Finding. If I hold the iPhone still as I move, Precision =
Finding's announcements become less frequent or even stop completely.
One thing that Precision Finding can't do, is tell you if the AirTag is =
on the same floor as you, so there is no =E2=80=9Cit's upstairs=E2=80=9D =
or =E2=80=9Cit's downstairs.=E2=80=9D Consequently, if you don't know =
yourself which floor the AirTag is on and Precision Finding is telling =
you that the AirTag is very close but you still can't physically locate =
it, pointing your iPhone towards either the ceiling or floor to see if =
Precision Finding says that this has brought the AirTag closer should =
confirm if it is indeed on the floor above or below.
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In addition to the Find My app, you can use Siri to find an AirTag. =
Simply say something like =E2=80=9CHey Siri, where are my keys,=E2=80=9D =
and the AirTag attached to your keys will play a sound and you will be =
asked if you wish to open the Find My app.
As well as operational range, there are a few other areas where =
Precision Finding disappoints. For instance, my own experience is that =
it can often take up to 30 seconds for Precision Finding to =
=E2=80=9Ccalibrate=E2=80=9D the initial location of an AirTag. The Find =
My app also often reports that there is a weak connection when using =
Precision Finding, even on occasions when my iPhone 12 and the AirTag =
are only a few feet apart.
One final area where Precision Finding could be improved for VoiceOver =
users, is that the spoken directions to an AirTag aren't currently as =
accurate as those provided by the augmented reality view that's visually =
displayed on the iPhone. This AR view is essentially a compass, with its =
pointer able to swing through all 360 degrees of a compass. This allows =
for far more accurate relative positioning than is offered by the =
=E2=80=98ahead, behind, left, and right given by VoiceOver. Even the =
addition of announcements like =E2=80=9Cslight left=E2=80=9D or =
=E2=80=9Cslight right=E2=80=9D would be an enhancement here.
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Conclusion
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My recent track record of predicting the likely impact and value of new =
technologies isn't great. Only last October I was excited by the =
prospect of the LiDAR Scanner on the then new iPhone 12 Pro. Six months =
on, and that has at best proved for me to be a proof of concept for the =
technology, with LiDAR on an iPhone in reality offering little of real =
value for my use case and circumstances.
This leaves me reluctant to make any bold predictions concerning the =
AirTag and just how groundbreaking it will prove to be for myself and =
fellow blind or low vision users.
However, it's still incredibly difficult to imagine AirTags not becoming =
a =E2=80=98must have=E2=80=99 for anybody who is blind or low vision, =
has items they want to be able to easily and independently locate if =
misplaced, and who use an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12.
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AirTags are simple to set up, tracking and finding one is easy and =
accessible, and the privacy and security of everything involved appears =
to be extremely well thought through by Apple.
That's not to say that AirTag, and Precision Finding in particular, are =
perfect. I would definitely like for Precision Finding to have a greater =
operational range than what I've experienced. I will also confidently =
predict that I'll use the AirTag's Play Sound feature much more than I =
use the full capabilities of Precision Finding.
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For those who don't have an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, things are a little =
less clearcut, and are likely to depend upon use case and personal =
circumstances. However, that Play Sound feature of airTag might on its =
own make them a tempting buy, and at only US$29 for a single AirTag, =
AirTag is likely to be something that at the very least is worth =
checking out.
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I would love to hear your own thoughts and experiences of AirTags, and =
am particularly keen to hear all the meaningful and imaginative uses =
that you have found for AirTag. Let me and others know by posting a =
comment below at.
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https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-airtag-not-perfect-close-being-must-h=
ave-anybody-who-blind-or-low-vision-and-uses-iphone
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