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We've closely covered the emerging class of Bluetooth Smart (4.0) low energy devices that have been slowly coming to market.
Hippih was showing off Hipkey at CES 2013. Hipkey is their version of the digital leash application that allows you to keep your iPhone from getting left behind. The device was already put on sale in the European Online Apple Store in December and quickly sold out. The device will make its debut in the U.S. Apple Online store on January 15th.
Hipkey comes as a small aluminum device that you are meant to attach to your keychain or other personal item. The device will pair up with your iPhone and then provide a digital leash for your device. You can set it to detect between small (2-5m), medium (15-20m) and long (30-50m) distances between the devices and then trigger a sound and vibration alarm. The primary intent is to avoid leaving your iPhone behind. The free to download software seems very well designed and also offers other related functionality.
- Alarm Mode: Warns you if you forget your iPhone or iPad or if someone attempts to steal it.
- Child mode: Alerts you if your child wanders too far away from you.
- Motion Mode: Put hipKey in your bag and you are alerted if someone moves it.
- Find Me Mode: Quickly find your iPhone, iPad or your keys at any time.
Additionally, a "Safe Zone" can be established at any location which prevents the device from triggering automatically at any of the shorter proximities. The device will still trigger if you exceed the longest range. Hipkey incorporates a rechargeable battery that lasts 2-4 weeks and recharges in 4 hours. It will be available on the Online Apple Store on January 15th for $89.99.
Top Rated Comments
Great idea...too many $s
If I understand this correctly, the device uses low consumption bluetooth tech, correct? But it would still rely on the iPhone's traditional bluetooth tech, which still uses quite a lot of juice, right?
So the trade off is between smaller time between charges and not forgetting your phone (or being alerted it's being robbed).
Can someone confirm/dispute this? How much less battery time are we talking about if bluetooth is permanently on?
The iPhone 5 uses 4.0, the same low power operation.
I dig the child walking away thing, but why the hell would a child young enough you'd be worried have an iPhone?
I believe that you clip the device onto the child, and the App on the phone would alert you.
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Could this be left in the car or under a motorbike seat (in close proximity to the house/office) as a suppliment to an alarm? So if someone tries to pick my bike up to load it into a van my phone will alert me? If so, I'll need to look into this more closely.
In "Motion Mode" You'd be alerted if there were motion, so yes, the bike scenario would work, but leaving it in a car, you'd probably not be notified until the car has already started moving, in which case, too late. lol
Now if only I could remember where I left my keys ...