Latest news with #BluetoothTrackers
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Use Tile's Bluetooth trackers? Don't be surprised if you're soon pushed to this app
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Tile was acquired by Life360 back in 2021. So far, the Life360 app has supported Tile tracking, but not full device setup. Life360 has now updated its app with full Tile support, raising questions about how long the old Tile app will stick around. Bluetooth trackers are one of those fantastic modern conveniences whose value you may never properly appreciate until you invite them into your life — and then quickly find yourself unwilling to go without them ever again. Trackers are getting even better on Android with growing UWB support, but when it comes to the classic approach, there are few brands better known than Tile. Its trackers have been around for over a decade, but a few years back we learned about a controversial acquisition that was in the works, as oft-maligned family tracking app Life360 bought up Tile. While the relationship between the two has so far allowed for a little breathing room, it's starting to feel like that's finally changing. Today, Life360 shares that Tile trackers are now fully supported within the Life360 app. You've already been able to track Tile hardware in Life360, but the Tile app itself was still required for critical setup and configuration steps. Going forward, that's no longer necessary, and owners can take full advantage of Tile devices without needing anything but the Life360 app. If you're already a Life360 fan, this is good news, but the app has more than its fair share of detractors. Beyond just disgruntled users strong-armed by their families into sharing personal location data in the name of 'safety,' Life360 has faced some well-deserved criticism for its policies regarding selling user data for profit. Right now, even following the Life360 app's absorption of all functionality needed to support Tile trackers, you still have the option to just stick with the old Tile app. But with Life360 using language like 'One App to Track It All' and 'No more switching back and forth' in its announcement of today's news, you'd forgive us for feeling a little paranoid that the company is leaning increasingly on its primary app, in what could very soon be to the Tile app's detriment. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
TechCrunch
3 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Family safety app Life360 adds Tile's lost-item trackers, years after its acquisition
Over three and a half years after family locator app Life360 acquired lost item tracker Tile for $205 million, the two services are finally fully integrated. On Wednesday, Life360 announced that the item-finding capabilities of Tile, a competitor to Apple's AirTag and other Bluetooth-based trackers, are now available from inside its main app. The update means users will now be able to see where family members are in real-time, as well as their valuables, like their wallet, keys, bags, and other items. The change will also help to centralize the separate user bases for the two apps by pushing Tile's users to adopt the Life360 app as their main tracking tool. A company representative told TechCrunch that the integrated services will begin rolling out Wednesday and will reach all users over the next few weeks. As the rollout progresses, Tile users will soon see a message in their app directing them to Life360, while Life360 users will see a new section for tracking their items below the people and pets section on the Location tab of the app. Tiles that are with a Life360 family member will also appear on the in-app map in real-time. If an item is lost, users can view up to two days of location history for free. Subscription plan users can access longer periods of location history, with Gold and Platinum users able to see 30 days, while Silver members can access the past 7 days. Silver members also now have access to emergency dispatch services through the Tile SOS button or the Life360 app. (This works with the 2024 Tile devices only, however.) In addition, Life360 users will soon be able to receive automatic push notifications when their items attached to Tile devices are left behind. The company says to expect this functionality to arrive in the weeks ahead. Just ahead of this update, Life360 redirected the domain to Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW The company hasn't yet given an indication if or when it plans to wind down the standalone Tile app — and it likely won't want to make that move until it's able to migrate users over to its flagship product. But after Tile functionality is fully replicated in Life360's app, it may no longer make sense to continue to run both applications. Life360 had said back in 2022 that it would integrate Tile into its main app, noting at the time that if all its Life360 users joined Tile, it would become the largest finding network. But that opportunity may have passed, given the delay in integrating the services. Plus, competitors like Chipolo have since launched their own lost-item trackers that work directly with both Apple and Google's own built-in finding networks out of the box.
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
Memorial Day Deal: Don't Miss Your Chance to Secure a 4-Pack of Apple AirTags for Just $75
Memorial Day is just about over but this Apple AirTags deal is hanging on, for now. Not being able to find something can be a real nightmare, especially when it's an essential item, like your keys or wallet. That's why Bluetooth trackers are such a worthwhile investment. If you have an iPhone, Apple's AirTag trackers are the go-to option for most people. You can put them just about anywhere, and you can even throw an AirTag in your luggage to help you find it in case (or likely, when) it gets lost during your summer travels. Unfortunately, they aren't super affordable for everyone. But right now, you can grab a four-pack of Apple AirTags for $75 at Amazon's Memorial Day sale. This saves you $24 and brings each AirTag to around $19. Since one AirTag normally sells for $29, this deal is hard to beat. AirTags are some of our favorite Bluetooth trackers. They work seamlessly with your iPhone and its Find My app with a simple one-tap pairing process. You can then throw a tracker in a pocket or luggage as is or grab an AirTag accessory to attach it to keys, a bag, a pet collar, a bike or anything else you want to keep track of. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Once set up, the AirTags will appear in the Find My app and display your items on a map so you can quickly locate them. If an item is in your vicinity, you can play a sound from the AirTag's tiny speaker with the Find My app and use the Precision Finding feature to be guided to your lost possession. This is handy if you're looking for your keys or wallet in a hotel or Airbnb as you won't be as familiar with the property yet. Simply follow the sound to your missing item. If you lose an item outside where you're staying, you can put your AirTag in Lost mode, which enables notifications for when the AirTag is detected on the Find My network and allows you to add a message, including your phone number or email address. Each AirTag is powered by a CR2032 coin battery, four of which are included with your purchase. The batteries last around a year before you need to replace them. AirTags are rated IP67, making them water- and dust-resistant, so you don't have to worry about damage if they're exposed to the elements, which let's face it, is a higher chance when you're on vacation. Read more: Traveling Soon? 5 Unique AirTag Locations for Peace of Mind More Amazon Travel Deals Why this deal matters AirTags are an efficient, simple way to keep track of your belongings, whether you're about to travel or you know someone who constantly loses their wallet or keys. Since the Memorial Day weekend is almost over, these AirTags might not stay on sale after holiday ends. In fact, it could even expire or sell out at any moment, so grab yours now if you're interested.
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
Memorial Day Deal: Track Your Valuables With a 4-Pack of Apple AirTags for Just $75
Not being able to find something can be a real nightmare, especially when it's an essential item, like your keys or wallet. That's why Bluetooth trackers are such a worthwhile investment. If you have an iPhone, Apple's AirTag trackers are the go-to option for most people. You can put them just about anywhere, and you can even throw an AirTag in your luggage to help you find it in case (or likely, when) it gets lost during your Memorial Day travels this weekend. Unfortunately, they aren't super affordable for everyone. But right now, you can grab a four-pack of Apple AirTags for $75 at Amazon's Memorial Day sale. This saves you $24 and brings each AirTag to around $19. Since one AirTag normally sells for $29, this deal is hard to beat. AirTags are some of our favorite Bluetooth trackers. They work seamlessly with your iPhone and its Find My app with a simple one-tap pairing process. You can then throw a tracker in a pocket or luggage as-is or grab an AirTag accessory to attach it to keys, a bag, a pet collar, a bike or anything else you want to keep track of. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Once set up, the AirTags will appear in the Find My app and display your items on a map so you can quickly locate them. If an item is in your vicinity, you can play a sound from the AirTag's tiny speaker with the Find My app and use the Precision Finding feature to be guided to your lost possession. This is handy if you're looking for your keys or wallet in a hotel or AirBnB as you won't be as familiar with the property yet. Simply follow the sound to your missing item. If you lose an item outside where you're staying, you can put your AirTag in Lost mode, which enables notifications for when the AirTag is detected on the Find My network and allows you to add a message, including your phone number or email address. Each AirTag is powered by a CR2032 coin battery, four of which are included with your purchase. The batteries last around a year before you need to replace them. AirTags are rated IP67, making them water- and dust-resistant, so you don't have to worry about damage if they're exposed to the elements, which let's face it, is a higher chance when you're on vacation. Read more: Traveling Soon? 5 Unique AirTag Locations for Peace of Mind More Amazon Travel Deals Why this deal matters AirTags are an efficient, simple way to keep track of your belongings, whether you're about to travel or you know someone who constantly loses their wallet or keys. Since the Memorial Day weekend is here, these AirTags might not stay on sale after holiday ends. In fact, it could even expire or sell out before then, so grab yours now if you're interested.
