So Apple has released air tags to find lost keys and other things, however it only utilizes

[JohnSJ]

Bluetooth, which in my view limits its usability because if one is out of Bluetooth range, it seems pretty useless

[hlthe2b]

1. Doesn't it have a GPS chip?

I have one made by Orbit that continuously updates the last location for keys.

[JohnSJ]

3. When I read the specs it didn't indicate that

[Effete Snob]

5. The airtag system uses the GPS in every IOS device within bluetooth range

It won't find the tag out in the boonies. It will find the tag if it is in an environment where it will occasionally be within range of anyone ELSE's iPhone or Mac.

[JohnSJ]

7. Ah, that's the trick. It uses the volume of iPhones out there. Thanks for the methodology

[Effete Snob]

8. That's also the anti-trust problem

There are competitive tracking devices on the market. None of them can leverage access to the installed base of Apple iphones the way this device can.

So it becomes a question whether this is unfairly competitive with other tracking tags.

[JohnSJ]

9. Interesting

[Effete Snob]

4. No

For that, it would need a much more robust power supply.

The way it works is that it pings nearby ios bluetooth devices and THOSE devices report the location to Apple.

In other words, whether you use Airtags or not, if you use a mac or iphone, then you have become part of the network that locates Airtags.

It will not find your device lost out in the middle of the desert.

It will certainly find your device in any population center. You can't be in, say, New York City, without being within two meters of an IOS device.

[Renew Deal]

2. I'm sure that a large percentage of the time where something is lost, it is close.

Under the couch, in the car, under mail, etc. Would something that works globally be good? Yes, but that is more complex and intrusive. You could use it to track cars miles away.

[Effete Snob]

6. It does work globally

It will be located within bluetooth range of your phone.

But it will also be located within bluetooth range of ANYONE ELSE's iphones.

In other words, yes, you can track that car if that car has an iphone user in it, or if that car passes nearby iphones.