Tag Archives: tracking device

Motorola just debuted its AirTag Killer with Android-compatible tracking and a clever extra feature

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Motorola just announced its Android-based device tracker, and I’m sure if you saw it too, you’d have the same thoughts as I did. It looks very familiar… Almost too familiar. Modeled precisely on Apple’s AirTag, the Moto Tag is a tiny tracking device that works within the Android OS, allowing you to effectively and accurately track your belongings. When I first saw the Moto Tag, I found myself feeling a familiar sense of smugness at the fact that an Android company copied Apple (they did with the removal of the headphone jack, with the camera notch)… but then I remembered that the inverse is also true. The WWDC event was pretty much Apple announcing Android-like features for the iPhone, and rebranding Artificial Intelligence to Apple Intelligence. The catch there was that Apple took its sweet time to implement these features, but also did a better job. If you extend that benefit of doubt the other way, it becomes a lot easier to appreciate the Moto Tag for what it brings to the table.

Designer: Motorola

Like the AirTag, the Moto Tag is a small, circular disc slightly larger than a quarter. It boasts a user-replaceable CR2032 battery that Motorola claims will last a full year on a single charge. While it lacks a built-in keyring loop (there’s a clever reason why it copies the AirTag so shamelessly), it integrates seamlessly with the revamped Google Find My Device network. This ensures easy pairing with countless Android smartphones, allowing users to locate and even make the Moto Tag play a sound for easier retrieval.

Looking towards the future, Motorola has equipped the Moto Tag with ultrawideband (UWB) technology. This paves the way for “precision tracking,” a feature that will provide detailed on-screen instructions for finding the tracker when you’re in close proximity. While similar to Apple’s Precision Finding with AirTags, this functionality currently awaits an update to Google’s Find My Device network.

However, the Moto Tag boasts a unique feature that sets it apart: a built-in button. This button, cleverly placed where the “M” of the Motorola logo sits, can be pressed to make your paired smartphone ring. This comes in handy in those moments when you’ve misplaced your phone but have the Moto Tag within reach.

The multi-functionality doesn’t stop there. The button can also be used to trigger the camera shutter or recording button on Motorola phones, or any Android phone for that matter, making capturing content on the go a breeze. Finally, the Moto Tag is IP67 rated for dust, water, and dirt resistance, ensuring it can withstand everyday bumps and spills without compromising its tracking abilities.

But before you bash Motorola for being unimaginative or blatantly copying a product’s shape and size, there truly IS a clever reason why Motorola probably chose to make their tracking device look almost exactly like their competitor. Apple’s AirTag already has a flourishing accessory ecosystem. From holders and hangers to carabiners and even stickers that let you attach your AirTag to the inner lining of suitcases and laptop bags, the AirTag has no shortage of accessories to accompany it… and by copying the AirTag’s form factor, Motorola’s ensured absolute compatibility of every one of these accessories with the Moto Tag too. It’s genius, to leverage your competitor’s success to boost your own product. Isn’t it?!

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The AirTag that Apple should have built: Nomad’s GPS tracking card comes with Apple ‘Find My’ support

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It’s the size of a credit card, fits in your wallet, works with Apple’s Find My network, and most importantly, charges wirelessly so you don’t need to worry about batteries or ditching the entire device altogether after a year of use. Meet the Nomad Tracking Card, a slick tracking device that makes you wonder why Apple made something as bulky as the AirTag. At just 2mm thin, it’s about as thick as 2 credit cards together, making it discreet enough to slip in anywhere, whether it’s your wallet, your backpack, or even your jacket pocket, giving you the ability to track your belongings through Apple’s global device tracking network.

Designer: Nomad

Anyone who knows me knows how much I think the AirTag needs a redesign. Apple made the tracking device back in 2019 to be used with bags and keys, but didn’t think of the potential of having a card-shaped tracker for your wallet and pockets. It’s been 5 years since the AirTag made its first appearance and rumors about an AirTag 2.0 are so few and far apart, it’s almost as if Apple’s left it up to third party creators to make better trackers that work with its devices.

That’s where Nomad’s Tracking Card comes in. It’s slim, compact, and manages to fit an impressive amount of tech inside its design. The card sports a polycarbonate body, known for its toughness and impact resistance, and comes with a GPS tracker, an NFC for pairing, a battery that runs for 5 months on a full charge, and a MagSafe-compatible wireless charging coil that lets you charge your card when its battery runs out. A graphic on the card tells you where the wireless coil is located, so you can simply attach the Tracking Card onto a MagSafe charger or place it on a wireless charging mat and it begins recharging. No replaceable batteries, no single-use design, no wastage.

Nomad’s website doesn’t mention the presence of a built-in speaker like you would have with the AirTag. Useful for being able to ‘hear’ where your tracking device is, or for alerting you if stolen or left behind, the speaker can be quite a nifty feature. The Tracking Card is, however, IPX7 water and dust-proof, and starts at $40.

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Chipolo announces “Perfectly Imperfect” trackers at CES 2024 that are as visually unique as you are

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Automation almost always means the death of imperfection. The reason we have robots manufacturing products is because not only is it faster, robots are much more precise than humans, resulting in the kind of consistency we’ve come to expect from the Industrial Age. In a world hyper-focused on sheer perfection, Chipolo is embracing the flawed with its latest release at CES 2024, the limited edition “Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo CARD Spot, exclusively compatible with the Apple Find My network.

Designer: Chipolo

The brand has launched 10,000 of these unique item trackers, each with its own minor cosmetic imperfection, a bold move that’s more than just a marketing strategy — it’s a statement. Chipolo is challenging the pervasive societal norms dictating that perfection is paramount, suggesting instead that these so-called “defects” are often barely noticeable to others and might be unduly magnified in our own eyes.

Primož Zelenšek, Co-founder, and CEO of Chipolo, expressed his excitement about the launch, stating, “Through the ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ series, we aim to ease lives not just physically through functionality but also mentally, by promoting peace of mind.” This initiative isn’t just about producing unique trackers; it’s about inspiring a change in how people view themselves and their imperfections.

What sets these Chipolo CARD Spot trackers apart is not just their philosophy but also their design. Each tracker features a distinctive blemish on one side and the campaign’s motto, “Perfectly Imperfect,” engraved on the other in a marker-like font developed in collaboration with a female-owned type design studio in Slovenia. This choice in typography reflects the brand’s core values of friendliness and openness and supports the campaign’s message that our imperfections contribute to our uniqueness.

To ensure that this ‘imperfection’ isn’t just a gimmick but is more of a well-rounded message on sustainability, Chipolo has chosen to use plastic with minor imperfections that would typically be discarded, thereby reducing waste and avoiding the creation of additional pollution. This choice underlines Chipolo’s commitment to the environment, ensuring that each tracker is fully functional, with only its exterior bearing the marks of its sustainable journey. It also isn’t the first time Chipolo’s relied on recycled plastic, as the company debuted a series of trackers made from repurposed ocean plastic back in 2020.

Keeping in line with the campaign’s overall message, the company has partnered with The Global Mental Health Peer Network, Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs, and VDC Zasavje, promising to donate $1 for every “Perfectly Imperfect” Chipolo sold. This partnership aims to support the missions of these non-profits, focusing on mental health, support for the blind and visually impaired, and social welfare, respectively.

As these limited edition trackers make their way into pockets and purses worldwide, they carry with them a message of acceptance, sustainability, and community support. Sometimes, it’s about discovering a sense of acceptance and peace within ourselves — and that’s something worth searching for.

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Apple Should Be VERY Afraid of How Shockingly Brilliant the AirCard Tracking Device Is

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Apple unveiled the AirTag in 2021, leaving a lot of people confused why it wasn’t designed like conventional existing device trackers. Most trackers from Chipolo and Tile have one thing in common – they’re designed to be slim enough to fit right in your wallet. Apple’s AirTag, on the other hand, was like a bulbous disc that was too thick to slip into your wallet or attach to your passport. While the AirTag still remains a crowd-favorite, its design does leave something to be desired – quite like how iPhone users sorely missed the 3.5mm jack for years after it was unceremoniously snatched from us.

Meet the AirCard, the tracking device that Apple wishes it made. At 2.2mm slim, the AirCard is about as thick as your credit card, and fits right in your wallet. It’s compatible with Apple’s Find My network, works globally, and has a stunning 2.5-year battery life, outshining the AirTag significantly. Moreover, its built-in alarm is almost 2x louder than the AirTag, it has built-in anti-stalking features, and if that wasn’t enough, the AirCard also doubles as an NFC business card that you can tap on other devices to share your contact details (extremely handy if the person who finds your wallet needs to contact you)… and even works as an RFID blocker while in your wallet, protecting you from digital theft. Let’s just say, the AirTag has a LOT of catching up to do.

Designer: Rolling Square

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What’s immediately striking about the AirCard’s design (aside from that perfect name), is exactly how much it crams into a device that’s just 2.2mm (0.09 inches) thick. About as thick as 1.5 credit cards, it’s pretty impressive that the AirCard has a tracking device, battery, speaker, NFC module, and an aluminum RFID-blocking enclosure. The card comes with transparent detailing on one side, revealing the impressive architecture underneath (maybe a hat-tip to Nothing), along with a QR code that lets you personalize your AirCard and leave your contact details just in case someone needs to return your lost wallet to you.

Its slim design makes the AirCard perfect for all applications where a tracking device would prove handy. You could slide it into your wallet, pockets in your clothing, attach it to your gadgets, slip one into your backpack, your passport, or even in the glove box of your car. The AirCard is IPX6 waterproof, which means it can withstand splashes without any problems, making it great for even using it outdoors with your camping or swimming equipment.

Pairing the card is fairly traditional. Given its compatibility with Apple’s Find My network, the AirCard can easily be configured within the Find My app on your phone. Once paired, you can track the real-time location of your AirCard right on any Apple device through Find My, and even summon it by ‘ringing’ it. A 105dB tweeter emits a loud alert sound when you ring the AirCard, helping you easily locate it when you’re in its vicinity. You can set a perimeter for your AirCard too, allowing it to alert you if it gets too far from your phone… and if someone is maliciously using an AirCard to stalk you, the AirCard sends you a notification, letting you know you’re being tracked.

The AirCard’s makers also operate a proprietary platform called sherr.it, where you can set your own custom message using the QR code on the card. If you ever lose your wallet or your AirCard, anyone who finds it can simply scan the code to receive your details, which they can then use to contact you – marking a novel lost-and-found feature that’s missing from the AirTag as well as from most other tracking devices.

Things get a little more interesting when you go beyond simply the AirCard’s tracking features. Given its business card-like proportions, the AirCard also functions like a business card too, with an NFC module that lets you tap to share contact details with anyone. Working sort of like Apple’s newly announced NameDrop feature, you can just bring your AirCard close to any smartphone and it instantly sends your virtual business card to them. When the card’s sitting in your wallet, however, it works as an RFID blocker to protect you from digital theft. Simply place the AirCard in front of all your other credit/debit cards and it prevents them from being scanned without your permission.

If there’s one, singular caveat with the AirCard, it’s the fact that it doesn’t come with a replaceable battery. The AirCard’s slim design means its lithium battery is fused in place, offering a commendable 2.5-year (30-month) lifespan, as opposed to the AirTag’s 1-year lifespan. However, when the AirTag’s battery finally gives out, you can still use its NFC business card and RFID-blocking features forever. It stops being a tracking device, but it still retains two core features, ensuring it never becomes obsolete. If the tracking feature IS important to you, the makers at Rolling Square will offer you a 50% discount on your next AirTag if you ship the old one back (after 30 months since your purchase).

This exhaustive laundry list of features really sets the AirCard on a completely new level, elevating it way above Apple’s own AirTag. The AirCard outperforms Apple’s tracking device both in design (with its slim, wallet-friendly form), as well as function (with its QR code, NFC business card, and RFID-blocking features), while boasting the same $30 price tag as its competitor (while it’s on early bird discount). You can grab your own AirCard (or a set of 2 or 4 AirCards) on its Kickstarter page, where it’s gathered almost $1 million in funding from nearly 15,000 backers, with shipping in August. Like I said… Apple better be really afraid!

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This Fabric AirTag ‘sticker’ lets you securely attach your tracking device to jackets, suitcases, camera bags, and more

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For years, sci-fi movies have popularized the ability to ‘attach’ tracking devices onto objects… but not a single tracking device comes with any ability to be attached to anything. Whether it’s trackers from Apple, Chipolo, Tile, or any other company, they’re all devices that can be inserted or casually dropped into pockets, slots, and pouches, or fastened onto keys and rings using fixtures. However, the TagVault: Fabric is changing that by being the first fabric-based and fabric-friendly AirTag mount. With a flexible sticker that holds your AirTag to a multitude of surfaces, the TagVault: Fabric truly lets you ‘attach’ your tracking device to any object, be it the inside of your travel case, camera bag, backpack, jacket, or any other valuable item worth attaching your AirTag to. The fabric sticker simply slaps onto any surface, working with rigid materials like a hard-shell briefcase or flexible materials like the inner fabric lining of your camera bag. Rather than chucking your AirTag into a bag and having it rattling around and possibly getting mixed up with your other stuff, the TagVault: Fabric cleverly holds your AirTag in one place – while being all-black so it discreetly blends right into the background.

Designer: Elevation Lab

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The TagVault: Fabric consists of a hard-plastic shell that holds the AirTag, and a soft sticker material that lets you stick the TagVault onto surfaces. The adhesive base securely adheres to nylon, polyester, vinyl, rubberized fabrics, and GORE-TEX, offering a strong, secure fit that can withstand knocks and bumps. The TagVault installs in seconds, but takes 24 hours for the adhesive to completely stick onto any fabric. However, the makers at Elevation Lab mention that the TagVault: Fabric won’t stick on damage-prone surfaces like leather, fuzzy fabrics like microfibers, or even stretchy materials.

The TagVault: Fabric’s flexible surface makes it great for attaching to items like the insides of bags. Just slap the TagVault onto the inner lining of your laptop bag, purse, suitcase, camera bag, or even spectacle case, and you can instantly track the item without worrying about the AirTag falling off or falling out. The black color makes the TagVault: Fabric perfect for the inside of black bags, allowing it to blend right in without anyone noticing, and a plastic cap on top lets you access the AirTag, giving you the option to remove it if you want to change the batteries or just put the same tracker in another bag. The TagVault, however, can’t be reused or re-stuck on any other surface. Once stuck on a surface, it stays there till you peel it off, so it’s best if you buy a 2-pack or a 4-pack.

To add your AirTag, simply lift the plastic cover and place the AirTag in. You can easily take the AirTag out if you want to swap out batteries.

Secure your valuables by adding a discreet AirTag to your bag.

Click Here to Buy Now

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Airtag-inspired Google tracking device has literally the most unfortunate name ever

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“Can’t find the G Spot? There’s an app for that…”
The jokes practically write themselves with this hilariously audacious fan-made concept.

It’s true that Google is the undisputed king of search, and it’s also true that Apple and Samsung have both beaten Google to the punch when it’s come to searching for actual objects in the real world… so one designer decided to take matters into his own hands. Designed less as a serious concept and more as a way to really scratch a specific itch, Italy-based Obi Fidler created the G Spot – a mildly raunchy conceptual tracker with a name so wild I’d pay good money to watch Sundar Pichai give an entire keynote on it. The G Spot (I’m glad this isn’t YouTube or I’d probably be demonetized) is a simple GPS smart tracker designed in the vein of Apple’s own AirTag. It comes with the same portable, tiny design, and can be tracked through Google’s own Find My Device and Google Maps services. Unlike the AirTag, however, this particular product comes in a variety of colors to match your sense of style…

Designer: Obi Fidler

The idea for creating a Google-made tracker started with Obi asking himself the most obvious question ever – Google’s got everything in place. The ecosystem, the map network, the hardware chops, even a highly capable Tensor chip… so why hasn’t Google built a tracking device yet? Heck, it even has the market penetration needed! (Pun intended)

The G Spot device looks almost entirely like the AirTag, with a UI that carries forward rather seamlessly to the Android ecosystem. Strap the device to your keys or put it in your backpack and you can track it through your phone the way you would a Chipolo tracker. The trackers are small, have a battery life that lasts years, and are designed with the Tensor chip on the inside to provide security. The only real problem is that they’re conceptual, although I do hope Google comes around to creating their own tracking device.

What’s hilarious yet equally amazing about this concept is just the brilliant humor behind it. Designed to be as clever as an April Fool’s prank from Google, the G Spot’s promo images are just filled with puns galore, like the one below, or the fact that the tracker cases are referenced as ‘protection’. The entire project is filled with laughs and if you got this far, I’m sure you enjoyed reading about the G Spot as much as I did writing about it. I had a few more jokes that I didn’t end up adding to my article, like this being the one true G Spot men can easily locate!

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Pebblebee Clip and Card smart trackers come with rechargeable batteries

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Pebblebee Clip Demo

Apple’s AirTag is perhaps one of the most popular mini trackers in the market today. It is being honored with related accessories that allow the small device to be attached to different objects.

The AirTag is one convenient tracker so expect it to have rivals. Pebblebee wants to join the game by introducing new tracking products. The Pebblebee Clip and Pebblebee Card can be worthy alternatives to the AirTag by Apple as they are rechargeable and are also affordable.

Designer: Pebble

Pebblebee Clip Launch

Pebblebee Card Advantage

This little thing can help you locate missing items. You see, misplacing things is a common occurrence even among young people. But, admit it, you often forget when you placed your phone, car keys, or the remote control. Don’t worry, Pebblebee is here to help not only with one product but two.

The AirTag alternative works with Find My, which means it will work with most Apple products like the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and even the Apple Watch. Like most trackers, Pebblebee products make use of Bluetooth wireless connectivity. As a result, both devices are ideal for locating nearby items by reporting to you the approximate location.

Pebblebee Card How to Use

Pebblebee Card Benefits

The Pebblebee Card and Clip include end-to-end encryption technology for the security and protection of the users. The process is also anonymous, which makes it very secure. The Pebblebee app also works on Android and is part of the CrowdGPS network.

Pebblebee Card and Pebblebee Clip are rechargeable, but their battery already lasts longer than usual. In addition, they feature a loud buzzer, so they are really helpful in keeping track of your items. Pebblebee’s Founder and Chief Technology Officer Daniel Daoura had this to say about the products: “Pebblebee Clip and Card are designed to put minds at ease the second they are attached to or slipped into something of value to a customer.”

Pebblebee Clip 4-Pack

Pebblebee Card Pebblebee Clip Features

The next-gen Pebblebee devices’ batteries can last up to six months on a single charge. They can reach up to 500 feet for tracking. Aside from the loud buzzer, they also come with LED indicator lights to help you locate an item. They are also easy to find and connect as made possible by the industrial metal frame.

The two work with the Find My network, but the Pebblebee App may be enough on its own. The mobile app allows you to track lost objects through light and sound precisely. It uses a location service based on the geolocation data of an item. The app can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store.

Pebblebee Clip 4-Pack

So that security standards are always high and met, Pebblebee regularly checks for critical privacy updates. The Pebblebee Clip and Pebblebee Card come in two different forms. The clip is simply a small device that easily connects keys, luggage, bicycle, golf clubs, camera cases, etc. The Pebblebee Card is also rechargeable, but the battery can last up to up 12 months. It’s very thin and comes with an intuitive magnetic contact charging design. It boasts a loud leave-behind alert so you can know where you left it.

Pebblebee Card How to Use

You can use both the card and the clip every day. You don’t have to lose stuff now because these Pebblebee products will help you locate those items even if you forget. Each tracking device costs $29.99. You can get four clips for only $99.99. Check out pebblebee.com and Amazon to purchase.

Pebblebee Clip Price

Pebblebee Clip 4-Pack

Pebblebee Card Features

Pebblebee Clip Where to Buy

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$29 AirTags get confirmed in Apple’s Spring Loaded Livestream Event

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The long-rumored tracking device finally dropped today and became the latest of Apple‘s roster of product offerings. It bolsters and expands on Apple’s ‘Find My’ feature, allowing you to now find daily objects in real-time, even while offline. The device is coin-sized, and can be tracked with real-time feedback and even a live indicator on your smartphone’s display, allowing you to know exactly where your objects are in relation to you.

The AirTags come at a price of $29, with $99 for a 4-tag bundle. They can be customized with initials or emojis, are IP67 water and dust resistant, and can last for an entire year on a full battery. In fact, they even come with user-replaceable batteries too, extending the product’s usage cycle (unlike Tile trackers that need to be ditched after their battery depletes). The tags come paired with a carrying case that lets you strap them to your belongings like your wallet, purse, or your keys. Hermès has even designed its own carrying cases for the AirTags that let you track your objects in style!

Designer: Apple

The Must-have Auto Accessory

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ZUS_SHOT1

You need a phone charger in your car, right? Well… why shouldn’t it do more than just charge considering that it’s always there?! That’s precisely the idea behind the ZUS Car Charger. The unit is designed (like most car chargers) to be a permanent fixture in your auto, but it also doubles as a GPS tracking system that works in tandem with your smartphone so you never lose your car in crowded parking lots or on confusing streets. It always stays charged and automatically pinpoints the location of the vehicle each time the car is turned off. Just pull up the app on your device and walk toward the waypoint!

Designer: Junik Design

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