Tile, StickR TrackR and LoccaIn a world with so much stuff, from phones and chargers to cameras and even the dog, it's hard to keep tabs on all of your valuables. There's hurried cab rides and so-called friends and family who like to "borrow" your stuff without asking, only to have said stuff go missing. Or maybe you're the forgetful type who's prone to "misplacing" your keys and wallet. Whatever the case, you have no idea where it might be, you need it now and you can't find it. Thankfully there are a slew of devices that can help to locate your lost items. These small gadgets and apps work by affixing a GPS-like tracker to objects like laptops, handbags and bikes, which makes it easy to find them if you ever lose track of where they are.We've rounded up seven great tracking gadgets with alternative options to help you monitor your essentials and prevent you from actually losing your mind.TileYou can't get back all of those lost keys, wallets and remote controllers that have mysteriously vanished over the years, but thanks to a new device called Tile, you may never lose anything else again. Tile can either be stuck to objects or affixed with a key ring and lets you track items you often misplace using a companion app for iOS.The slim and waterproof tracking device will show you the last known location of the item on a map as well as a radar style view of how far away you are from it, as long as you're within the 50-150 foot range. A tiny speaker inside each Tile emits a little beep, helping you zero-in for the find once you're close by, with a "warmer, warmer"-style direction to the object.One thing that sets this device apart from the many others on this list is that the Tile iPhone app works via crowd-sourcing. Tiles communicate with one another, effectively having other users helping you find what you've lost. For example, when someone else who uses the app walks past your lost Tile-touting object, the location of your Tile is updated for you, which makes it far more invaluable than a device on its own, especially if it's been stolen.Price: You can pre-order from the Tile website for shipment in June for $19.95/Tile.Phone Halo StickR TrackRBluetooth is nice for pairing your phone with your car, but for finding your lost keys? If an item goes missing, the StickR TrackR alerts users via a Bluetooth connection to map your items within 100 feet, using the TrackR iOS and Android app. As long as you can stick or hang the coin-sized device on your item, StickR TrackR can locate it and track up to 10 lost items.The best part? You can make the misplaced item ring and use proximity detection to locate it. The StickR TrackR will remind you before you leave your phone behind for the day with a two-way separation alert. And just in case you don't hear the alert, the app will display a map where you left your valuable items.If you're ever out of range of your item, Crowd Source Tracking allows it to be found on your mobile device if another person using TrackR gets close to it.Price: The StickR TrackR costs $24.95 and there are no additional GPS fees after the initial cost aside from battery replacement, which lasts around six months.LoccaWhat if you could locate anyone, anywhere, at anytime? That's exactly what the Austrian company, Locca, is trying to do with its two separate versions of the Locca device; the LoccaMini for tracking objects like bikes and handbags and the LoccaPhone for tracking children and cars.Unlike the other tracking devices we've covered so far, the Locca is equipped with a pre-installed SIM card inside its trackers and can monitor objects without needing your smartphone to be nearby. Once the tags are in place, users can consult the Locca mobile app to find out the location of each tracked object or person in real time.When an object moves away from a designated safety area, the LoccaMini alerts the user via a smartphone, tablet or computer, regardless of how far away they are (its service will initially cover the US, Canada and Europe and expand to more countries in late 2014). The LoccaPhone goes beyond simple tracking and has the added ability to perform two-way communication, which is perfect for children and the elderly. The device has an SOS feature that allows the wearer of the box to call an emergency contact of their choice simply by pressing a button.Price: LoccaMini packs prices range from $135 to $176 including a charger, cases for each tag, and a six-month service fee. The LoccaPhone is priced between $203 and $216. Details available on the Locca website.Gecko, WiseButton, Proximo and GuardianGeckoYou can track and secure everything from your home, to your pets and, heck, even your kids with the Gecko tracker, which has a motion sensor and GPS system built in. Gecko trackers are about the size of a quarter and can be adhered to any object to track its whereabouts via the iOS app.Once you tag an item with Gecko's detection feature, it remembers where you left your item and alerts you when it moves.Tag your window to get alerts when it's opened or closed. Tag a pillbox to get a notification when you or a loved one hasn't taken their medication at the scheduled time that day. You can even use Gecko as a smart leash for your pet and get an alert when it leaves a 100-foot radius.But there's more. Gecko can also be used as a camera trigger and can skip music tracks using gestures.Price: Gecko is only available for pre-order for $35 a device, but the company doesn't actually state when they expect them to ship.WiseButtonThe WiseButton is a great little addition to any household with plenty of gadgets to operate and devices to keep track of. This keychain-sized device is dubbed as a universal remote control and tracker and it is compatible with all operating systems, including as Android, iOS and Windows Phone, so you shouldn't encounter any interface issues when using it.The WiseButton has an alarm option that alerts you when your device is more than 20 feet away. This device-seeking device can be located using the gadget you hooked it up to in case one of them goes missing and until the battery runs out, of course. But that will take about a month before you need to charge it via USB.Price: WiseButton retails for $27Kensington ProximoKeys have a special ability to disappear right when you're looking for them. Proximo key fob and tab is a great solution for the forgetful, helping you track down lost items like electronics and keys and, best of all, preventing losses in the first place. The setup is easy and the system can track up to five items concurrently, with the iPhone and Galaxy S app showing their distance and pinging up a warning if you're leaving them behind.Price: The Proximo Starter Kit is priced at $59.99, while each additional Tag is $24.99.GuardianWith Guardian you'll never lose track of your kids again, until they get beyond 230 feet, in which case, you're on your own. The device can be worn like a wristband or belt buckle, and acts almost like a virtual leash. Guardian communicates with the parents' phone via Bluetooth, so if the child wanders (or is taken) away beyond a per-determined safety perimeter, an alert sounds and appears on the phone.Not only is Guardian a way to keep track of the most important people in your life, but it also offers some peace of mind on the side.Price: Guardian is available for $29.95.As for that other valuable thing...The idea behind most of these devices is that you tack them onto something important to you and register them with an app on your phone using Bluetooth, and you'll be able to track where it was and receive an alert with the last known location. So hopefully, your smartphone is not the lost item you're looking for. In that case, if you're not using something like Apple's 'Find My Phone' app, you could always resort to the fail-proof method of calling your own phone to see if it's nearby.Are we headed toward a wearable future? Matt Swider breaks it down
Click here to view full content
No comments:
Post a Comment