AirTag - page 2

Google promised that Android users will soon be alerted if they’re being followed by a location tracker like AirTag or Tile.

It’s part of a collaboration between Apple, Google and other companies to keep item trackers from being used by criminals, stalkers and creeps in general.

For this week’s giveaway, we teamed up with SwitchEasy, maker of one of the finest MacBook cases around. Two lucky winners will bag a SwitchEasy Urban MacBook Sleeve.

Made of water-resistant threaded polyester material, these laptop cases will protect a MacBook from scuffs and scrapes. And they look good while doing so!

Apple and Google jointly proposed an industry specification Tuesday to help fight the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices. Their proposal would make it easier for both iPhone and Android users to detect that they are being surreptitiously followed by a tracking device.

The proposal enjoys support from other makers of location trackers, too.

Car thefts are on the rise in New York City, and Gotham’s finest are turning to Apple’s AirTag trackers for help. On Sunday, Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD said 500 free AirTags would go to residents by request in the police precinct hardest hit by car thieves.

“This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device,” Adams said. “It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located.”

Apple has shared its annual Mother’s Day gift guide to help you celebrate your mom on May 14 in the United States and many other countries. Dozens of gift ideas, from AirTags to iPhones to various accessories, cover a range of prices from $15 to about $1,000.

And you can “make it mom’s” with free engraving of emojis and messages on a range of gifts, too.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency put an AirTag into an item that was suspected to be on its way to illegal drug dealers. The hope was that Apple’s item tracker would enable DEA agents to discover the location of the criminals.

This may be the first time this has happened, and it also may be the last. We don’t know how useful the AirTag was in the investigation, but Apple deliberately makes the device very hard to use for surveillance of any type.

Apple’s four-pack AirTag bundle is available for $89.99 after a sweet $10 discount. While not the lowest, this is the best deal on the AirTags bundle in quite a while.

If you don’t need 4 AirTags, Amazon is offering a modest $2 discount on just one unit of its tracker.

Seamus the Australian Shepherd was swept away in floodwaters in San Bernardino, California, after recent storms. He was carried downstream almost a mile, but was rescued with the assistance of the Apple AirTag attached to his collar.

Cult of Mac interviewed Emilie Brill, Seamus’ owner. Here are the details of the pup’s rescue in her own words.

If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for an Apple fan in your life, there’s one surprisingly simple answer: Get them an AirTag. Or a bunch of them.

For a variety of reasons, AirTags — Apple’s Mentos-shaped tracking tags that help users quickly locate lost items — make the ultimate stocking stuffer for anybody in the Apple ecosystem.

Looking for some sweet holiday gifts that won’t break the bank? The Cult of Mac Store has a massive collection of affordable stocking stuffers, sure to put a smile on the face of any Apple fan, for less than $20 each.

You’ll find cases, screen protectors, bands, stands and more from our most popular vendors. And every product has been used and approved by us, so you can be confident you’re spending your hard-earned cash on great products.

Apple’s AirTags just dropped to a pre-Black Friday low of $74.98 for a four-pack on Amazon. If you’ve been waiting for your chance to snag some of the remarkably handy tracking tags, this is it!

But, as with all Amazon deals, there’s no way of predicting how long this deal will last. If you want to get in on the AirTag action, you’d better grab this deal ASAP.

German airline Lufthansa is not banning Apple’s AirTags and similar tracking tags from checked luggage, the company said Wednesday.

“The German Aviation Authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) confirmed today, that they share our risk assessment, that tracking devices with very low battery and transmission power in checked luggage do not pose a safety risk,” a Lufthansa representative told Cult of Mac in an email Wednesday. “With that, these devices are allowed on Lufthansa flights.”

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest benchmarks make Apple’s M2 chip sound better than we thought. In fact, the new MacBook Air that the processor powers might be the perfect laptop for almost everyone.

Also on The CultCast:

• The iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on screen looks sweeeeet.
• How does Apple keep pulling off earnings miracles?!?
• What not to do when a creep steals your AirTag-equipped scooter.
• Somebody built an Apple Store time machine.
• And a truffle tangent to end all tangents.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.

Our sponsor: Squarespace

Special thanks to this week’s sponsor, Squarespace. Get all the tools you need to set up your very own website and commence selling anything online. Start your free website trial today at squarespace.com/cultcast (no credit card required). Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code cultcast at checkout.

A New York City man had his scooter stolen. But he’d put one of Apple’s AirTag item trackers on the bike, so he was able to track down the thieves … who beat the $%#@ out of him.

Stephen Herbert said he feels lucky he got out of the unfortunate encounter alive.

Olpr’s awesome AirTag accessories are all beautifully made from genuine leather. The company sells a bag charm, a luggage tag and a keyring, all of which come with a side helping of class. And you can bag yours at up to 33% off the usual price in the Cult of Mac Store for a limited time.

During the sale, prices start at just $25 for these luxe AirTag accessories that let you securely attach one of Apple’s trackers to your precious belongings.

Yesterday’s iOS 15.6 update and the newest iOS 16 beta show a surprising move on Apple’s part. It took away the Find My app’s AirTag battery indicator.

Previously, when you opened an AirTag card in Find My, you’d see a small battery icon showing remaining power below the tracking device’s name and location, Now you don’t, or at least not until remaining power is critically low.

Apple’s launch into item trackers has been a success, according to an analyst. The company has sold millions of AirTags, and the number is expected to grow 75% this year.

Still, the Bluetooth tracker has generated controversy since it came on the market in 2021.

Apple’s AirTag item tracker is available at 17% off the usual price. This is a rare opportunity to get a discount on a single one rather than a bundle of them. But if you prefer a 4-pack, that’s available at 10% off.

It’s good timing: Father’s Day is coming up fast and AirTag makes a nice present.

Item tracking company Pebblebee launched two new trackers Thursday — the Clip and the Card — that integrate with Apple’s Find My network so you can easily keep tabs on them via iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Now is an especially great time to get AirTag item trackers. For one thing, a pack of four is on sale at the biggest discount we’ve seen. Plus, Mother’s Day is coming up fast, and AirTag makes a nice last-minute present.

This Sunday, you can give mom the gift of never misplacing stuff.

A year ago today, I reviewed the AirTag on launch day. I was unimpressed. Now that I’ve used Apple’s item tracker for 12 months, I can say it’s better than it seemed in my first impressions.

That said, there’s still room for improvement when Apple releases an AirTag 2 or AirTag Pro.

Think of the Chipolo Card Spot as a very flat AirTag. Put either device into something valuable and you’ll be able to locate it with your iPhone, whether it’s lost in your home or out in the world. But the Card Spot is slim enough to go into your wallet — don’t attempt that with an AirTag.

I tried out Chipolo’s latest item tracker with support for the Find My network to see how well it survives daily use. And it came through with flying colors.

Many companies just can’t resist April Fools’ Day jokes. Some people find these exasperating, but others enjoy the lighthearted humor. This year, we got a ridiculous new Apple TV accessory, what’s perhaps the most tasteless way to wear an AirTag, and more.

Read on for our favorite gags to celebrate this unusual holiday.

I’ve misplaced my AirPods case. It’s in my house … somewhere. Fortunately, I can use the Find My app to locate it, as though it were a lost AirPod or AirTag.

Ha, ha, ha! No, I can’t. AirPods cases don’t offer Find My support. Just as the feature is missing from far too many other Apple accessories.

This needs to change. Find My is amazing, but limited by not being on devices that need it.

Update: In autumn 2022, Apple built Find My support into AirPods Pro 2, a sign that the tracking system might be coming to more peripherals.

Make your AirTag infinitely more useful by slipping it inside Laut’s excellent Huex case.

Made from soft yet sturdy silicone and combined with a useful keychain, the Huex allows you to attach AirTag to almost anything, keeps your tracker protected, and comes in colorful designs to suit your look.