Photo: Motorola
Motorola is already a famous company, but its presence in the automotive space received a major boost two years ago when it launched the MA1.
This device converts a wired Android Auto connection to wireless, using an approach pioneered by AAWireless. It connects to a mobile phone using Bluetooth and to the vehicle with a direct connection to the USB port. The device receives the wireless signal from the phone and transmits it to the car, allowing Android Auto to run without a wired connection between the phone and the vehicle.
Motorola has recently launched another device that is likely to catch the attention of drivers whose phones run Android.
The Moto Tag is a Bluetooth tracker with UWB support, meaning it's an AirTag alternative that supports precision tracking.
It's an Apple competitor on multiple fronts, as it uses a CR2032 battery (like Apple's device), a pill-shaped form factor (like Apple's device), and is based on a similar concept with its location displayed on Android phones via the Find My Device network (like Apple's device, which uses the company's Find My network).
AirTags have become a must-have device for car owners. They can be planted virtually anywhere thanks to their small form factor, and they can communicate with the owner via a nearby iPhone. AirTags don't have a built-in Internet connection, so they use iPhones in proximity to share their locations with their owners. The location appears in the Find My app on the owner's iPhone.
Motorola is an identical device, but everything runs in the Android ecosystem. The Moto Tag displays its location on devices connected to Google's Find My Device app, and thanks to the CR2032 battery support, it doesn't need to be recharged. Theoretically, these trackers are supposed to help us never lose our keys and wallets, but you can plant the Moto Tag in your cabin and forget it's there for about six months until you need to replace its battery.
Motorola's new tracker is even priced similarly to the Apple AirTag, as a single device costs $29, but customers can also get the four-unit pack at $99. Motorola says the tracker will hit the shelves in early August in the United States and Canada, and it's unclear if and when the tracker could become available in Europe.
Meanwhile, the AirTag is already available everywhere, albeit it only works with an iPhone. Android users have multiple other alternatives to choose from, including Tile, a device that offers cross-platform support and comes with even more advanced capabilities, including solid anti-stalking protection.
Apple is also working on a second-generation AirTag, with the launch expected to take place in 2025. Improved precision and possibly a subtly refined design are among the headlights of the new model.
Motorola has recently launched another device that is likely to catch the attention of drivers whose phones run Android.
The Moto Tag is a Bluetooth tracker with UWB support, meaning it's an AirTag alternative that supports precision tracking.
It's an Apple competitor on multiple fronts, as it uses a CR2032 battery (like Apple's device), a pill-shaped form factor (like Apple's device), and is based on a similar concept with its location displayed on Android phones via the Find My Device network (like Apple's device, which uses the company's Find My network).
AirTags have become a must-have device for car owners. They can be planted virtually anywhere thanks to their small form factor, and they can communicate with the owner via a nearby iPhone. AirTags don't have a built-in Internet connection, so they use iPhones in proximity to share their locations with their owners. The location appears in the Find My app on the owner's iPhone.
Motorola is an identical device, but everything runs in the Android ecosystem. The Moto Tag displays its location on devices connected to Google's Find My Device app, and thanks to the CR2032 battery support, it doesn't need to be recharged. Theoretically, these trackers are supposed to help us never lose our keys and wallets, but you can plant the Moto Tag in your cabin and forget it's there for about six months until you need to replace its battery.
Motorola's new tracker is even priced similarly to the Apple AirTag, as a single device costs $29, but customers can also get the four-unit pack at $99. Motorola says the tracker will hit the shelves in early August in the United States and Canada, and it's unclear if and when the tracker could become available in Europe.
Meanwhile, the AirTag is already available everywhere, albeit it only works with an iPhone. Android users have multiple other alternatives to choose from, including Tile, a device that offers cross-platform support and comes with even more advanced capabilities, including solid anti-stalking protection.
Apple is also working on a second-generation AirTag, with the launch expected to take place in 2025. Improved precision and possibly a subtly refined design are among the headlights of the new model.
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