[renzo88]

I got rid of all of my tile devices a while ago due to privacy concerns. Airtags are a vast improvement, and it's sad that google hasn't shipped an equivalent.

[tyingq]

The tiles do have that audible ding feature that's nice for keys, like stuck in the couch, for example.

[hazebooth]

AirTags also have an audible sound that can be played, I use this feature for when I lose my keys

[tyingq]

Ah, thanks. I had assumed they didn't based since there weren't any visible holes for a speaker.

[dag11]

It's actually a really cool design, the entire white half of the shell _is_ the speaker diaphragm!

[sixothree]

You mention privacy concerns and wanting to use Google in the same paragraph.

[notRobot]

Google is definitely no champion of privacy. But at least they don't sell your precise location data.

[Tempest1981]

Do they use it to target ads directly?

Also check your cellular carrier's privacy settings, like CPNI. https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/verizon-is-tracking-iphone-us...

[judge2020]

The privacy tradeoffs someone is willing to make will vary person-to-person. For many, Google only using precise location data for Ads and (probably) not shipping it off to random data brokers is a good tradeoff for powering and using the many products they offer - eg. YouTube, Maps, email/calendar, etc. Even for life360, it's very likely more than 50% of their userbase is fine with this given the features Tile and Life360 provide them.

[HPsquared]

Also, if Google already knows where I am at all times, then having them also handle some location tags would entail no further loss of privacy.

[pueblito]

Because they purchase it

[blacksmith_tb]

But they don't need to purchase it, they've already got it. I think the idea is they aren't willing to sell it as it's key to their business, and they'd rather not make a little more off selling it and risk their competitors leveraging it.

[sixothree]

First sentence says it all.

[renzo88]

I didn't mention wanting to use google. I do think it's unfortunate that android users don't have a privacy protecting item tracking solution. Airtags are a wonderful product.