The Tile Bluetooth Tracker is a smart idea, nicely executed. The Tile is a small device that you can attach to your keys or slip into your briefcase, so you can quickly find your stuff -- or your smartphone -- when they go missing.
The basic Tile Mate product's design is quite small and light at 1.34 x 1.34 x 0.18 inches and 0.22 ounces (34 x 34 x 4.65 mm, 6.1 g). And it has a keyring hole to easily attach to keys, remotes, and backpacks.
And now there's the new Tile Slim, with a larger profile but ridiculously flat, at 2.13 x 2.13 x 0.09 inches and 0.33 ounces (54 x 54 x 2.4 mm, 9.3 g).
It's as thin as two credit cards, so you can slip it in your wallet or attach it to the surface of your laptop.
The Tile works with your smartphone in both directions:
- You can use the Smartphone app (iOS or Android) to Ring the Tile -- it will then play a loud tune so you can find your things.
- Or you can double-press the button on the Tile to Ring Your Phone, so you can find it even when it is silenced.
If you leave a Tile behind, you can use Last Place Seen in the app to view its last location on a map to go back and find it.
And if you lose a Tile, you can set Notify When Found, and have the whole Tile community look for it -- You will receive an alert if anyone else running the Tile app comes near it.
You also can easily share stuff tagged with Tiles. And you also can connect the Tile app across multiple devices, to ring one from another.
The Tile app on your smartphone also is accessible from the Tile website. After you log in, you can see the location of your phone, ring your phone remotely, and set a lock-screen message for anyone who finds it.
Tile uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), so it has a range of 100 feet, but is most effective within a range of 30 feet.
The Tiles are durable and water-resistant to the IP5 standard. The Tile's battery runs for about a year, and is not rechargeable. Tile then offers a reTile program to replace and upgrade your Tile, currently at 50% off. You also can send back your old Tile for recycling.
The Tile Mate is available for $25 each, or $70 for a 4-pack, and the Tile Slim is available for $30 each, or $100 for a 4-pack.
See Holiday Tech 2016 for more fun holiday ideas from the mobile digital revolution.