No stretch at all. Not every innovation has been due to unanticipated uses, but enough key innovations have been from such cases that it is unequivocal that the world as we know it would not exist if everyone lived by the “you can’t do that because that’s not the way you‘re supposed to use it“ rule.
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Apple Releases 'Tracker Detect' App to Prevent Android Users From Being Tracked by AirTags
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I am glad someone read the article.
I bought a four pack of these and haven’t really used them. This article prompted me to think about chucking one in the car to help me find it when I forget at the shopping centre….
I don’t expect that Apple would ever release this information, but I would love to know how many people have actually reported that they were being stalked using an AirTag. I understand they need to develop a solution to the stalking problem because it’s a big deal even if it only affects a handful of people, but I can’t help wondering if this is a solution to a problem that barely exists.
Yep, I was super keen to get AirTags for anti-theft. That idea went out the door pretty much from day 1. I can't really see the point of them now, as now, all they are is an indicator to thieves that something valuable is there.
Yep, I blame the cancel culture movement. This anti-tracking wouldn't even have been considered 20 years ago.
AirTags are for what I, the consumer, buy them for. If I buy them to track stolen items, then that's what they're for, but because of all of Apple's updates making them useless, then yes you just happen to be right, AirTags are not for tracking stolen items.
If someone really wanted to track you, there are cheaper and more effective solutions than an airtag. While this solution is definitely weak, it's better than nothing at all.
You think Apple (and every other company) should manufacture products that comply with your specifications?
If a thief is able to see the AirTag and knows what it does, all it has ever taken to render the AirTag useless is either removing the AirTag from the item and leaving it somewhere where its item isn’t (throwing it in a lake, metaphorically or otherwise) or, more simply, removing the battery.
That’s been the case ever since they were released in April. It never made sense to use AirTags as an anti-theft measure.
It's okay to be upset that you wasted your money, but I'd advise against blaming Apple for the quality of their anti-theft trackers or, comparably, Subway for the quality of their hamburgers.
As I explained above, it never made any sense to use AirTags as an anti-theft measure.
Which is why you hide it. I have one in my car (hidden), another sewing into my bag (hidden), the other in the lining of my luggage (hidden). Very much doubt people are just hot glueing these to the outside of their purses for everyone to see.
Except you can’t hide an AirTag on something like, for example, a bike.
You absolutely can, I know people who put them in the frame, or inside a reflector.
Whoops, I'll be sure to carefully hide my AirTag on my keyring, then. I must have been using it incorrectly this whole time.
Apple very specifically markets the AirTag — starting from their tagline of “Lose your knack for losing things” — as something to help find your belongings that you would like to be able to find quickly if accidentally lost (not stolen). If you buy it for another purpose and wind up disappointed, that's on you, not Apple.
It's just common sense that there are multiple failure modes that can keep you from tracking down stolen belongings with AirTags. While you might get lucky and have a thief who's unaware of what an AirTag is or how to disable it (or otherwise render it useless), that luck will inherently decrease over time, especially with the increased media attention AirTags have received lately. Even sewing AirTags into a bag isn't enough because a thief probably isn't interested in your bag (unless it's a very nice bag, I suppose) but rather what's inside, and your AirTag won't help with that. All they have to do in response to your sewing an AirTag into your bag is start grabbing your belongings out of your bag (which they might very well do regardless of whether they believe an AirTag to be present).
Seriously, the things make no sense whatsoever as a measure against theft.
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As opposed to the various tracker apps which can be purchased on Amazon as well as 'other' 'darker' web sites??? This to me a a MSM created problem.....