Apple updates Find My apps with new Items tab as part of Find My Network rollout
This week, Apple has updated the Find My app with a new feature – to track everyday items.
The items you’ll be able to track include Bikes, Keys, Wallets, Bags, and more.
The Find My network accessory program enables users to keep track of their belongings in the new Items tab within the Find My app.
The Find My network accessory program opens up the vast and global Find My network to third-party device manufacturers to build products utilizing the service, so their customers can use the Find My app to locate and keep track of the important items in their lives.
– Apple
What is it?
New products that will work with the Find My app from Belkin, Chipolo, and VanMoof will be available beginning next week.
Apple users have been able to find their lost Apple products for many years now.
This new capability allows third party companies to add the Find My capability into anything – and take advantage of their global, secure and trusted network.
VanMoof S3 and X3 e-bikes
All new VanMoof S3 and X3 e-bike models purchased from April 7 will be compatible with Apple’s Find My network – Apple
Belkin SOUNDFORM Freedom True Wireless Earbuds
The Find My-enabled SOUNDFORM Freedom True Wireless Earbuds from Belkin offer custom-built drivers designed to deliver speaker-size sound and will be available this spring – Apple
Shop for Belkin SOUNDFORM Models AUC002glBK and AUC002glWH (coming soon)
Chipolo ONE Spot
Not to be confused with the existing “Chipolo ONE”, the special-edition “Chipolo ONE Spot” will feature a water-resistant and lightweight design, with Find My-enabled, to easily attach to keys, luggage, backpacks, and more – Apple
Shop for Chipolo ONE Spot
(starts shipping in June)
Why is this important?
I’m not a person to lose things, ever.
But my friends do – either they are forgetful or things get stolen.
In fact, a quick search on Gumtree in Australia shows that there are more people advertising that their bike was stolen than people actually selling bikes. This is a game changer.
How does it work?
Apple has built a network using iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple TV and more to enable this feature.
A recently study showed that when someone buys a new Apple product, one of the first things it checks on the network and reports back to Apple servers is all of the Mac Addresses (Identifiers) of devices it finds nearby.
It’s likely that this information is being used as part of the Find My Network, and not for any sinister purpose.
The Find My network is a crowdsourced network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices that use Bluetooth wireless technology to detect missing devices or items nearby, and report their approximate location back to the owner.
The entire process is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous, so no one else, not even Apple or the third-party manufacturer, can view a device’s location or information.
– Apple
What’s next?
Still, one of the most important things in our lives are pets and children.
Can’t wait until we see Find My Enabled Cat and Dog collars, or wristbands for young children.