6 Things We’re Excited to Track with iOS 14’s New Find My App
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Apple has announced exciting new features for the Find My app, including alerts for when a friend doesn’t show up on time. But one of the latest announcements shows that Find My is now opening up to compatibility with third-party devices. That means as long as third-party developers are willing to adhere to Apple’s security and encryption requirements for data privacy, they can have their own products show up on Find My, too.
This type of expanded compatibility isn’t a surprise, especially as Apple is widely assumed to be releasing AirTags in the near future for a greater focus on tracking objects. But which third-party devices will find a home on Find My? Continue reading to browse several options we’re looking forward to tracking when we need to.
Fitness Trackers
Not everyone likes to use an Apple Watch for fitness. Many stick with more affordable fitness trackers like smart bands that they only put on for workouts…but that creates a new problem when those fitness watches and other devices get lost. With Find My compatibility, there’s no need to dig through sweaty clothes looking for your fitness devices again (well, at least not more than once). We expect Fitbit, Garmin, Coros, and other major fitness band makers are taking a close look at Find My compatibility right now.
Keychains
Keychains have a habit of getting lost, so it’s no surprise that a lot of fobs already target the keychain market with various tracking chips. With Apple’s integration, we expect that a lot of keys and keychains are going to start advertising their newfound compatibility with Find My. It’s a particularly good look for a car company to be able to offer both CarPlay inside a vehicle and a keyfob that you can find at a moment’s notice as part of the same package. This sort of natural integration seems like a great first step for expanding Find My.
Lost Backpacks
Today’s backpacks, luggage, and laptop cases are already filled with tech. They have USB attachments and battery packs for charging, sealed compartments that block wireless hacking, solar panels for eco-friendly battery rechargers, and even programmable LED lights and speakers. But who hasn't, at some point, lost a pack on a bus, in a classroom, under a desk, or at a friend’s house? We aren’t as sure that backpack companies are going to jump at the chance to qualify for Find My, but we really hope they do – it’s the perfect pairing for commuters and students.
Tile Devices
Tile, a
popular tracking tag company, may be more important to Apple’s overall Find My
plans than it first seems. Tile is a direct competitor to AirTags, but at the
same time it wants as much integration as possible. This “have your cake” approach
led Tile to file an official complaint against Apple with the EU, claiming that
Apple was treating Tile unfairly by not making Find My compatible with Tile
devices.
Apple is also under heat in the EU and other areas for the way it treats third-party app developers. Extending Find My compatibility to third parties is a way to defuse potential political problems on that front.
It also makes it a lot more likely that older devices, like Tile tags, will work in the future with Find My without anyone needing to buy brand new tags….as long as Tile is serious about wanting to work with the Find My app.
Mobile Game Devices
Ever forgot where your Switch was? Expect devices like these – designed to be portable but easy to lose track of because of how they’re used – to jump on third party compatibility with Find My. It’s an elegant solution to a problem that devices like the Switch haven’t really addressed before. Plus, gaming companies already have a vested interest in making sure device data is as private as possible, so there should be no trouble meeting Apple’s encryption requirements.
And, of Course, Remotes
Your universal remote, your Apple TV remote, even the console controller you may use as a remote are all prime targets for Find My support. Not only are these devices notorious for getting lost around the living room, there’s also a lot of marketing value in being able to say “Never lose your remote again with built-in Find My compatibility!” Expect universal and smart remotes to jump on this compatibility early (looking at you, Logitech) with others following later.