Tile is a tiny device that you can clip to your keychain to help you find your keys via your smartphone. Now Tile has received an update that adds a few new features to make it even more helpful than before.
The second-generation model can now work in the reverse. That means you can also use the Tile to find your smartphone.
The find-my-phone feature lets you trigger a ring on your smartphone when you double-tap it. It has a 100 foot range for Bluetooth-enabled devices. The phone will ring, even if it is on silent or vibrate.
If both your smartphone and your Tile are nowhere to be found, you can still find them using the Tile web-based app. Log in to the website to send a ring alert. Or, you can check out its last known location on a map.
You can also turn any nearby smartphones (both Android and iOS) into virtual Tiles without needing the actual dongle. Smartphones with the Tile app active will help find your missing device. Users can see it on a map or send out a ring from their smartphones as well.
Tile Gen 2 is also three times louder than its predecessor. It now beeps at 90 decibels, so even if your keys (or whatever your Tile is hooked to) are at the bottom of a backpack with a sweater stuffed on top, you will have a better chance of hearing the beeps than before.
Tile starts at $25 for a single unit, with increasing discounts when you purchase four or more. The compatible app for iOS and Android is free.
What is the cost to replace the tile when the battery fails in a year?
The company has a replacement program called reTile, in which you can replace the current Tile with a brand new one at about half off. https://support.thetileapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/200550678-Replace-and-Recycle-with-ReTile