Last June, we discovered hidden in the code of the iOS 13 beta, an image which would be a connected tracker signed Apple. It is named by Apple, “Apple Tag”, which could be translated as Apple tracker.
This new product would be an object tracking tracker, similar to the “Tile” type Bluetooth trackers already available on the market. And similarly, Apple's solution would allow you to attach this little spy to your iCloud account.
Such a product and its Bluetooth connection would offer the possibility of finding an object lost in nature such as a wallet, bag, bicycle, key ring or other that does not have an internet connection, as soon as an iPhone or other product Apple passes close to the latter.
A new image representing an ARKit “star” found in the Find My app under iOS 13 suggests that it would be possible to use augmented reality to find lost objects equipped with this famous tracker. It is similar to whatproposed the Pixie tracker, two years ago.
It seems that iOS 13 would also add a virtual “leash” between an Apple tracker and an iOS or watchOS device, in order to warn the user when the tag moves out of range of an iPhone or a Apple Watch.
How the Apple tag works
At the WWDC 2019 conference, Apple unveiled the new iPhone app “Find My” which replaces the two apps “Find My iPhone” and “My Friends”. This new app converts all Apple devices with iOS 13 into Bluetooth beacons, allowing you to locate a lost Apple device that is not connected to the internet, whether via WiFi or cellular.
As part of Apple's demo, an offline MacBook (or other Apple product) periodically emits a Bluetooth signal which can be picked up by any other nearby Apple product such as an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or even a macbook.
The Apple product that has captured the Bluetooth signal will transmit the position of the device online with an encryption key. This key is then transmitted online to the owner of the lost device.
However, the latter needs to have at least 2 Apple products to be able to obtain the position of an Apple device that he has lost. In fact, only the 2nd Apple device in its possession will be able to decrypt this key and obtain the position of the offline device that has been lost or stolen.
Note that the Bluetooth signal does not consume energy for nearby Apple devices which receive it, and protects the identity of the latter which transmit the position of the lost device.
The object tracker that Apple could unveil next month at the iPhone keynote would most likely work this way.
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By : Keleops AG
Deputy editor-in-chief, also known under the pseudonym Teza. Former video games journalist, who has been immersed in tech and Apple products since his very first iPhone 3GS in 2009. He has since worked for several American tech sites and now for iPhon.fr. Incidentally YouTuber and Apple product specialist on the MobileAddict channel. To contact me: maxime[a]iphon.fr
