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?!

The post Motorola just debuted its AirTag Killer with Android-compatible tracking and a clever extra feature first appeared on Yanko Design.

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.

The post The AirTag that Apple should have built: Nomad’s GPS tracking card comes with Apple ‘Find My’ support first appeared on Yanko Design.

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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