Find My

Apple AirTags are really a great idea. They build on the popularity of iPhones. Periodically broadcasting tiny Bluetooth Low Energy beacons they last for a year or more on a coin cell. And any iPhone acts as a message relaying / geotagging repeater station. Physically being tiny buttons, they can be attached to almost anything - car keys, luggage, any item than can potentially be lost.

What is even more exciting (but still not as ubiquitous as it could be), a Find My beacon is a very simple piece of software running on any Bluetooth chip. It can run together with other functions. One great example is the Insta360 GO 3S action camera. The one I actually lost on my way down from Mt Aorai.

It was raining on the way down and the clay path quickly became quite slippery. I slid down on my butt a good couple of times (it has some quite steep sections). Upon reaching the shelter at 1400m I realized the zipper in my backpack's pocket was open and the contents (including the GO3S) was missing. But considering the rainy conditions and also the fact I was quite tired (started the hike from Pirae, so effectively at sea level), I decided not to go back looking for it.

Interestingly it is still there, magically giving signs of life every couple of days. Which means there are people with iPhones passing by it regularly. I'm not sure how long the battery will last - it will be interesting to watch. The camera is waterproof and it was in a protective case, so should easily survive any atmospheric conditions.

If anyone is interested in picking it up - I can share the exact location, so just go and grab it. It is about 5 hour hike / climb from Pirae and then a bit less going down.