Code in iOS 14.3 suggests that Apple is rolling out the groundwork to add support for third-party item trackers to the Find My app, as well as additional support for AirTags.
Apple alongside iOS 14 launched a Find My Network Accessory Program that's designed to allow third-party products and accessories to integrate with the Find My app. With these feature, users can track third-party lost items directly on their Apple devices using the Find My app.
It is, in fact, similar to the AirTags that Apple is working on, but for third-party products. It's not yet clear what manufacturers plan to implement this functionality, but it seems like it could be added to a range of different Bluetooth devices.
There are several strings of code in iOS 14.3 that hint at how it will work, with the info discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.
You are connecting to an item that is paired to someone else's Apple ID.
This item has been moving with you for a while.
The owner can see its location.
This item was seen nearby.
The owner of this item will be able to see its location.
Replace battery on [item] soon.
This item is not supported. Please try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, you may need to contact the manufacturer.
Change or charge the battery for this item and try again.
This device doesn't support Bluetooth. Bluetooth is required to connect your item.
Adding items is not supported on this device.
Contact the manufacturer of this device to learn if Find My is supported.
Make sure the item is nearby and ready to connect.
To add items to Find My, you'll need to first update your account security.
You have added the maximum number of items to your Apple ID. You can add another item once you remove one.
Turn on precise location to more accurately locate the distance between you and your friends, devices, and items.
Removing this item will allow it to be set up and used by another person and it will no longer be linked to your Apple ID.
You can learn more about lost items, or see if the owner has left a message, by connecting to it.
Select an emoji and name that best represents your item.
If this item is not familiar to you, learn how to disassemble it and stop sharing your location.
Keep track of your everyday items by adding Find My compatible accessories.
The beta also includes related icons (one of which may unveil the design of AirPods Studio) and some AirTags images that we've previously seen, all under the codename "Hawkeye."
It's not clear when we might see the first items that are able to integrate with the Find My app, but it appears that Apple is gearing up for support so we could perhaps be seeing some Find My-compatible Bluetooth items in the near future.
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle.
Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines.
According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option.
Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator.
The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far.
Size
Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce.
In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing."
TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch.
The key announcements include:
New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January.
"Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light.
The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users.
UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring
The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...
It's pretty clear they needed to get this out first to avoid anti-cometiticive lawsuits before releasing AirTags. Once 14.3 is out, I bet we'll see AirTags finally launch.
It's pretty clear they needed to get this out first to avoid anti-cometiticive lawsuits before releasing AirTags. Once 14.3 is out, I bet we'll see AirTags finally launch.
If anything for me it was Tile that was coming across anti competitive by crying about Apple potentially launching tags before they have even been released. Tile could always try making their own phone. Spotify is another one that just whinges. And state Apple has an unfair advantage then Spotify brags about how many users they have. These other companies do not appear to be that smart.
Apple dodging those anti-competitive lawsuits preemptively now ?
Tile can make as much noise as they want. I bought one of their trackers a couple of years back, and it was a horrible experience. You couldn’t pay me to use them ever again.
Is it anti-competitive when Apple has a legitimately superior product that threatens to marginalise your entire business model? Or is it just a sign that you are unfit to compete, like BlackBerry, Pebble, and numerous other competitors that Apple has laid waste to?
