We've heard rumors that Apple may be working on its own Tile-like tracking device, and today a new report has spilled some details on it.
An image of the Apple device tracker has been discovered inside an internal build of iOS 13. In the image shared by MacRumors, we can see that it's a round, white device with an Apple logo stamped onto it. This could be a placeholder, so it's possible that the final device will look a bit different. These tags are codenamed "B389".
There's also a sentence inside the Find My app included in this iOS 13 build that reads "Unscrew the back of the item and remove the battery", hinting that Apple's tracker will have a removable battery. Because of its small, round size, it's possible that the device will use a button cell battery like many watches use.
This tracking device will be integrated with Apple's Find My app, which also bundles Find My iPhone and Find My Friends features into a single app. The "Items" tab in the app will help you keep tabs on your trackers.
When you get separated from your tagged item, you'll get a notification from the Find My app. You can then tap a button to make the tag emit a chime to help you find it. If you're missing an item, you'll reportedly be able to put it into "Lost Mode", which will allow other iPhone owners to view your contact info from the tag and then contact you via phone call or text message.
It's also expected that the Find My app will use augmented reality and Apple's ARKit. The internal iOS 13 build includes a 3D red balloon that could help you find your lost item after scanning a room.
Small device trackers can be helpful for helping you keep track of important items like keys, a wallet, or a bag. There are already some popular tracking devices on the market, like the Tile, but Apple may be hoping that integration with the Find My app can help its tracker stand out on the market. What we're looking forward to learning is how much Apple charges for its tracker. For reference, a single Tile tracker is $20.
Do you use any tracking devices? Does this Apple model interest you at all?