Wow, feels like nearly every day (certainly every week!) we get new rumors about Apple’s upcoming AirTags. Today, we get something a bit different – a verifiable rumor. Those are fun. So what’s new?
Well, it looks like iOS 14.3 (which was just released to beta testers two days ago) includes code to support third-party tracking devices from within the Find My app. What does this mean? It means that Apple (is probably trying to get ahead of any potential antitrust litigation and…) is considering opening up its integrated Find My tracking platform to AirTags competitors (third-party tracking devices), like Tile, as opposed to restricting Find My to just its upcoming AirTags.
This is great news for consumers – particularly those of you who have already invested in Tile or other competitors, and don’t want to have to up-end your tracking system when AirTags come out. Because, really, who wants to stick an AirTag and a Tile to one set of keys? No one. I mean, we’ll probably do it here at AirTagReviews.com to help compare and test them once AirTags are finally released, but no one else will.
So this is amazing news – it:
- Creates a lot of new value for exiting users of Tile and other tracking devices, as they’ll suddenly be much easier to find / potentially bring to bear the full force of the billions-strong iPhone & iOS user base to help you find missing items
- Hopefully means that AirTags are coming out when iOS 14.3 is released (in other words… very soon)!
- It creates choice and competition for the customer – people can choose to use Apple AirTags or Tile or other tracking devices and still track them easily with native iPhone/iOS integration via the Find My app. That’s good for everyone.
One does question how this will impact the suite of unique AirTags features / their competitive advantages over Tile – the network effect and built-in iOS integration were set to be huge differentiators. But, Apple is Apple, and if they know anything it is how to make something old seem new, make something that was hard to use / understand into something easy, and to make it look good in the process. I’m sure AirTags will be compelling, and even if its just ease-of-use and industrial design, I already know I want them. Plus you know, the magic of precision location from the U1 ultra-wideband chip. For now, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more AirTags news and rumors, so you don’t have too. Fingers crossed we get a confirmed release-date soon. Could it see Apple AirTags before Christmas?! We”ll have to see.
