TheHomePodminihasa U1chip.
or whether it’s decided the ship has
sailed on the technology.
TAG, YOU’RE IT
With ultra-wideband’s focus on
locating and directing you to objects,
the killer product for the U1 is one that
Apple still hasn’t released, though its
existence is well attested.
There have been plenty of rumours
and leaks about what’s been dubbed
‘AirTags’, Apple’s competitor to
tracking fobs like the kind sold by
Tile. Existing models of these fobs
have often relied on other radio
technology, such as a low-power
Bluetooth variant. Ultra-wideband
promises to make finding devices
more precise; it can also operate at
faster speeds than
Bluetooth, work
through walls and
doesn’t interfere
with Wi-Fi, or
vice versa. Plus,
Apple’s variants- and possibly
compatible third-
party versions –
will also probably
be able to take
advantage of
Apple’s expansive
Find My network,
which uses Apple devices to
anonymously locate any nearby lost
objects and report their location.
In short, AirTags are exactly what U1
was designed for. From all indications,
the launch is getting closer and closer - it would seem surprising if it didn’t
launch in 2021, but then again, that’s
what we said about 2020.
U1’S EDGE
Apple has explored one or two other
features that could take advantage of
the proximity sensing capabilities of
the U1; for example, it’s supported by
car key feature that lets newer iPhones
work as a way to open your vehicle,
letting your car automatically unlock
when you get close enough.