Packaging Reveals Apple Was Preparing to Ship AirTags as Early as 2019
AirTags, until their official announcement earlier this month, had remained one of the most rumored Apple products of the last few years. Initial reports about an Apple item tracker began to surface in 2019, and in the entirety of the two years that followed, AirTags' release seemed to be constantly imminent.
Last week, FCC filings revealed that Apple began seeking regulatory approval and certification for AirTags in 2019, with testing taking place in the second half of the year. Now, as AirTags have begun to arrive to customers worldwide, new evidence is reaffirming that AirTags have been ready to launch for a considerable amount of time.
Images of paperwork included inside the box for Apple's Keyring AirTag accessory shared on Twitter by Apple YouTuber ZONEofTECH show the year "2019" listed for regulatory and trademark purposes. However, on the AirTags box itself, the year 2020 is listed. Both writings clearly indicate that Apple could have announced and shipped AirTags as early as possibly 2019, but it was inclined not to do so until two years later.
While not for certain, Apple's decision to delay AirTags release could have been related to the scrutiny the company faced and continues to face on accusations of anti-competitive behavior from competing item-tracker maker Tile. AirTags became available for pre-order last week and cost $29 each or $99 for a pack of four.
Top Stories
After years of waiting for the AirTags to debut, launch day is finally upon us and AirTags are now in the hands of customers. We got our AirTags in the mail today and thought we'd share a hands-on look for those who are still waiting for their orders or debating whether AirTags might be useful.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. As you probably know by now, AirTags...
A case accessory from Cyrill, a sub-brand of Spigen, for Apple's long-rumored AirTags has been listed online for pre-order with a shipping date of "late October."
The storefront listing, spotted by iMore, is for a case accessory titled "Basic Leather - Black" and said to be "for AirTag." Listings for the same product in alternate colors have also been added to Amazon. The accessory is...
Unlike a Tile or some other item trackers, Apple's new AirTag does not have any holes or openings for attaching it directly to a keychain, forcing customers to purchase accessories like a leather key ring for this purpose.
Interestingly, though, MacRumors forum member smythey has proven that it is possible to drill a hole into the AirTag without breaking it, allowing for a string or a thin...
ElevationLab today debuted the TagVault, which is the most protective AirTag holder that we've seen to date.
Priced at $12.95 for one or $29.95 for a pack of three, the TagVault is a two piece AirTag holder that screws together to offer total protection for an AirTag. The two halves come apart, the AirTag is situated in the middle, and then four screws hold the TagVault together....
FCC filings for Apple's newly released AirTags have revealed that the Cupertino tech giant began regulatory testing and preparing to seek regulatory approval for the product nearly two years before they were officially announced. A series of documents submitted to the Federal Communications Commission indicate that AirTag underwent testing for official certification between July and...
It's April 30, aka AirTags launch day, and customers who purchased AirTags or a purple iPhone 12 from Apple when orders went live last week are now beginning to receive their new devices.
Apple fans in Australia and New Zealand are always the first to get their hands on new devices due to time zone differences, and are now sharing photos and first impressions on social media networks. @Mac ...
Apple's new AirTag item trackers are ideal for attaching to things like bags and luggage cases, which makes it likely they'll become popular with travelers and backpackers who want to keep tabs on their personal possessions abroad. For this reason, it's worth remembering which AirTag features work wherever you are, which ones depend on you being nearby the AirTag, and which functions aren't...
Apple is enhancing AirTags security to prevent stalking using the Bluetooth devices, Apple told CNET today. Apple is already sending out over-the-air updates to AirTags that will shorten the amount of time before an unknown AirTag alerts you if it is in your possession.
At the current time, AirTags play a sound after three days of being away from their owner. After the update, AirTags will...
AirTag, announced this week and shipping on April 30, is Apple's long-rumored Tile-like tracker for locating and keeping a tab on items such as keys, wallets, and more. The iPhone accessory is a new product category for Apple, building on its Find My network. While AirTags won't be in the hands of customers until next week, we continue to learn more about Apple's latest gadget.
YouTuber Rene ...
Apple is now accepting orders for AirTags, the purple iPhone 12, and the purple iPhone 12 mini through its online storefront and the Apple Store app.
AirTags are priced at $29 each, with a pack of four available at a discounted price of $99. AirTags are eligible for free engraving, with the space available allowing for up to four letters or three to four emoji characters depending on the...
Top Rated Comments
Apple wanted a critical mass of UWB-equipped phones before launch...
You only get one chance to launch, and you need the general opinion at launch to be "this is magic" not "wake me in two years when it actually works".