Tag: airtags
Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirTags
Apple does not provide release notes for AirTag updates, so we do not know what’s new in this update.
It is not possible to force an AirTag update, as it’s something that’s done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your AirTag in range of your iPhone, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current AirTag firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.
Apple will provide this firmware on a rolling basis, seeding it out to AirTag owners starting today and through December 1. This staggered release timeline allows Apple to make sure the firmware update is working as intended before it is provided to all users.
This article, “Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirTags” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple’s AirTags for Your Checked Bags Are a Travel Essential – CNET
FAA says Apple AirTags are allowed in checked baggage
Don’t worry that you might not be allowed to slip an Apple AirTag into your luggage for your next flight. As The Points Guy notes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that AirTags are allowed on checked baggage. Any item tracker whose battery has under 0.3g of lithium is clear to fly. You can track your suitcase without fear of the airline taking action.
The clarification comes after worries Lufthansa might ban active AirTags in baggage. There were concerns the German carrier would interpret the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) guidance to forbid any lithium-powered tracker that can’t be turned off, including AirTags. There was speculation Lufthansa wanted to forbid the tags to mask problems with lost luggage and other air travel problems. However, ICAO can only issue guidelines — it’s up to officials to adopt and enforce rules, and there are none pertaining to these devices in Germany or the US.
Lufthansa issued its own statement clarifying that Apple’s devices are allowed on flights. Both the airline and German regulators have determined that item trackers with small batteries and low power “do not pose a safety risk.” The company added that it sought exemptions for AirTags and similar tags for checked luggage restrictions.
The FAA and Lufthansa statements theoretically settle the matter. While we wouldn’t completely rule out governments or airlines altering their stance, there haven’t been any reports of fires or other incidents that would prompt a change of heart. You can safely use AirTags, Tile trackers and similar find-my-stuff products to provide some reassurance during your next vacation.
Apple may face a DOJ antitrust complaint over AirTags
Apple may be facing a potential US Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit — but this time focused on AirTags and its other hardware. Sources toldPolitico that DOJ lawyers are in the nascent stages of drafting an antitrust complaint against the tech giant. While these sources indicated the DOJ has taken an interest in Apple’s hardware, there’s no guarantee the agency will follow through with a lawsuit at this time.
The DOJ began investigating the iPhone maker in 2019, as part of a larger government antitrust probe into Big Tech. So far, the agency has primarily focused on Apple’s tight hold of its App Store and payment system for developers. The new potential suit reportedly may go further and hone in on years of public complaints by tracking device maker Tile over Apple’s AirTags.
AirTags use ultra-wideband technology and Apple’s Find My network to locate devices, often much more precisely than Tile’s early-model Bluetooth-enabled trackers. In testimony before Congress, Tile has alleged that Apple purposely disadvantaged Tile on iOS devices by walling off its Find My network. The tech giant eventually opened its Find My network to third-party devices last year for location tracking, albeit with severe terms and restrictions which would likely result in companies like Tile having to give up their software ecosystems in favor of Apple’s. Incidentally, this was a bargain Tile opted not to take. Engadget has reached out to Apple and the DOJ for comment and will update if we hear back.