In today’s fast-paced world, losing valuables such as wallets, keys or mobile phones can be commonplace. Losing such items can be frustrating, time-consuming and expensive, especially if they are valuable or contain sensitive information. Fortunately, modern technology has given us ways to track lost items, making it easier to get them back.
Find My by Apple and Amazon Sidewalk
The two most popular tracking services currently available are Apple’s Find My and Amazon’s Sidewalk. In this article, we’ll compare the features and functionality of these two services to help you decide which one is right for you.
Apple Find My is a built-in app on all Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It allows you to track lost Apple devices and AirPods, as well as other items with the Apple AirTag accessory. Find My uses Bluetooth technology to locate a lost item from a short distance away. If an object is out of Bluetooth range, Find My uses Apple’s extensive network of devices to locate it. The feature is called Find My Network and allows anyone with an Apple device to anonymously help find a lost item.
Amazon Sidewalk
Amazon Sidewalk, on the other hand, is a relatively new service that launched in 2021. It’s a low-bandwidth network that uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect Amazon devices, including Echo speakers and Ring doorbells, to help find lost items. Amazon Sidewalk isn’t limited to Amazon devices; it also supports third-party devices from Tile and Level.
One of the strengths of the Amazon Sidewalk is its long-range capabilities. It can locate lost items up to half a mile away, making it ideal for outdoor use. However, the service requires a compatible Amazon device to work, which may limit its usefulness for some users.
Apple Find My
Another difference between these two services is privacy. Apple’s Find My program is known for its strong privacy protections, which ensure that only the owner of the device can access their location data. Amazon Sidewalk also has privacy features, but some users may be hesitant to use the service due to Amazon’s history of privacy issues.
Summary of Apple Find My and Amazon Sidewalk
In summary, both Apple Find My and Amazon Sidewalk offer valuable features for tracking lost items. Although Apple’s Find My feature is limited to Apple devices and the AirTag accessory, it offers strong privacy protection and an extensive network of devices to find lost items. Amazon Sidewalk, on the other hand, is more versatile and offers long distance capabilities, but requires a compatible Amazon device to work. Ultimately, choosing between the two services will depend on your personal preferences, privacy, and the type of devices you own.
