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Show HN: Undetectag, track stolen items with AirTag

(undetectag.com)
114 points pompidoo | 5 comments | 15 May 25 15:46 UTC | HN request time: 0.736s | source

I developed a device that turns an Airtag on and off at specific intervals. Current Airtags are detectable right away and cannot be used to track stolen property. That device allows you to hide an Airtag in your car, for example, and someone that steals your car will not be able to use some app to detect it. The Airtag will also not warn the thief of its presence. After some hours, the Airtag turns on again and you can find out its location. It’s not foolproof, as the timing has to be right, but still useful.

What do you think?

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cmeacham98 ◴[15 May 25 17:34 UTC] No.43997346[source]▶
> Events outside our control, such as Apple updating the firmware in the future to prevent the device from working, will not qualify for a refund.

I fully understand why you would want to do this, but as a consumer I would never buy this product with this clause.

replies(2): >>43997456 #>>43997835 #
1. pompidoo ◴[15 May 25 18:26 UTC] No.43997835[source]▶
I understand your point. In this case the price point makes this a bearable risk, especially to protect much more valuable items. A refund is only useful if only a certain % of people have issue or the company is big. Since this is my only product, an Airtag update that bricks the devices would just bankrupt the company and make me unable to refund most people as my margin is very low anyway.
replies(2): >>43998200 #>>44000645 #
2. andygeorge ◴[15 May 25 19:01 UTC] No.43998200[source]▶
sure but you've acknowledged that your product is something that Apple considers bad and could shut it down. that can usually be overlooked for things like emulation, but you've developed a product that does something Apple specifically added protections against after they learned of its dangerous misuse
replies(2): >>43998975 #>>43999962 #
3. birdman3131 ◴[15 May 25 20:26 UTC] No.43998975[source]▶
That does not read as "something that Apple considers bad" but rather "something that Apple COULD consider bad"
4. outworlder ◴[15 May 25 22:22 UTC] No.43999962[source]▶
> sure but you've acknowledged that your product is something that Apple considers bad

No. Everyone that builds projects inside someone else's ecosystem is subject to this. Even companies that like what your are doing might break it if they aren't specifically testing against your product.

5. jonpurdy ◴[16 May 25 00:19 UTC] No.44000645[source]▶
I was thinking that the price must be high if folks are worried about it not working and getting a refund.

For 10EUR, not only would I not worry about a refund but now I’m buying one or two to use myself on my bicycle and car.