Apple AirTag Is Introduction Into the Future of Wireless Navigation
Its Ultrawideband technology could open the door for more innovative uses
In another move of tethering its array of devices together, Apple has introduced a new product: the AirTag, a tracking device that can be attached to keys, pets, luggage, or anything, really — so long as it connected via key chain.
The AirTag is another example of Apple taking an existing product and improving upon it. Tracking devices are not new whatsoever. What separates the AirTag from competitors, however, is the way in which it tracks lost items: Ultrawideband (UWB) technology.
Current tracking devices use Bluetooth — sending a signal from the device to your phone. Bluetooth is fine but cannot pinpoint an exact location of the lost item. It sends a continuous signal from the phone to the tracker. The signal strengthens as you get closer and weakens as you move further away. This gives you a general idea of where the lost item is (for example: in or around your couch). But it is not completely precise.
The Ultrawideband technology is similar to the sonar technology used to track items underwater. Your phone sends out a ping and the ping is sent back once it hits the tracker. The amount of time it takes for the ping to return to the phone determines its distance. This would allow you to determine just where in your couch or car your keys fell.
This Ultrawideband technology can only be used by newer iPhone models (the 11 and 12 series). Older iPhone’s would use Bluetooth as they are not enabled with UWB chips.
On its face, the AirTag is suitable for fewer people than Tile — which can be used by iPhone or Android users. Also, a Tile tracker can easily be attached to a keyring. In typical Apple fashion, you must buy a separate ring to attach the AirTag to a keyring.
A single Tile costs just $25 while an AirTag ($29) and leather keyring ($35) add up to be $64.
Apple fanatics with newer phones will surely pay the price in order to take advantage of the Ultrawideband technology. For regular users, though, Tile seems to make more sense.
The story isn’t about the products alone, though. It’s where Ultrawideband can take us from here.
Aside from being able to locate items within a closer range, Ultrawideband could also be used to “facilitate short-range data transfers, including file sharing and secure transactions,” according to VentureBeat.
Samsung has also implemented UWB chips into some of its phones that allow for similar tracking as the AirTag and short-distance file-sharing. Samsung has mentioned a few other ways the technology can be used, too:
a “digital key” solution, unlocking your car or building/house door as you approach
navigating large spaces such as parking lots, malls, or airports to find your car or a certain restaurant
making secure payments, and
locating missing remote controls
Adding to that last point, this technology could easily be placed into other wireless devices, such as gaming controllers or earphones, for tracking and connecting purposes.
For this to work as well as it could, the technology must be available to other organizations. Samsung plans to do so, and Apple supposedly does, too — though it is currently facing competition complaints from Tile for not sharing the technology.
Tile will have its own tracker using UWB out soon, however, which will offer cool augmented reality (AR) features to help locate items in larger spaces.
The AR potential is what excites some about AirTags and Ultrawideband. UWB is a technology vastly superior to GPS and Bluetooth as far as layering the real world in a digital platform. Games such as Pokemon Go gave us a look at what an AR world looks like now, but UWB could vastly improve how it looks in the future.
With large user bases already in hand, Apple, Samsung, and Tile will likely dominate this space and contribute mightily to whatever the UWB future looks like. Where things start to really get fun, though, is when other companies get involved.
Every single car company should get UWB chips implemented into their cars that allow for touch-free locking and unlocking. Smart homes are already in style; how about UWB-connected lights that turn on and off when you and your phone enter or leave the room?
The UWB future is exciting, and with Apple and its large, crazy fanbase now entered into the mix, tracking capabilities are going to improve that much more.