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Discover how Apple AirTags and their alternatives can transform the way you safeguard your photography gear. I explore the versatility of Apple AirTags, discussing their utility for tracking everything from luggage to camera bags. I also share the new rechargeable Eufy Smart Track Card, which integrates with Apple’s Find My ecosystem. Whether you're a seasoned photographer looking to secure your gear or just starting to curious, this episode has something for you.
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What is Photo Breakdown?
Photo Breakdown is a podcast in which we explore the world of photography with a trusted guide, host Scott Wyden Kivowitz. His expertise and passion bring the industry to life as we explore the stories, trends, and ideas shaping it today. Join us as we dissect everything from incredible photographs and creative techniques to the latest gear releases and hot topics in the photography community.
In each episode, we break down what’s happening behind the scenes - whether it’s making a powerful image, a candid discussion on industry trends, or a reflection on the tools and technology changing how we make photographs. You’ll get insights, expert opinions, and a fresh perspective on what’s top of mind for photographers right now.
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Rechargeable Trackers Can Save Your Camera Equipment
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[00:00:00] Scott Wyden Kivowitz: here's the thing my friends, Apple AirTags, extremely useful, extremely valuable for your own tracking of your products, of your equipment, whatever it might be. I throw an AirTag into my luggage when I travel, I throw it into my camera bag when I'm on the job, I am going to be adding it to my cameras itself once I can figure out how to do it where it's not dangling and like clicking around and making noise, right? I don't always use a neck strap, I often use my spider holsters, so I need to find a way where it's like secure, right? Not just dangly. but, you'd have to replace the battery, probably two or three times a year, I would say, in the AirTags. And the batteries are not terribly expensive, you can buy a six pack for the price of one AirTag, right? the batteries are not terribly expensive. However, I wish AirTags were, rechargeable. With either using, the Apple, watch charger, or [00:01:00] just it working with a Qi charger, or something like that. But they're not, so you have to replace the battery, and there's other companies who make similar devices, of course Apple wasn't the first to make an AirTag type device, there were others who were, came first, but those didn't work with the Apple Find My systems the AirTags were the first to actually work with AppleFindMy.
[00:01:25] Since Tagstex came out, Apple opened up the API for Find My to allow third party hardware to utilize the Find My feature, and one of the companies who made use of it is Eufy from the company Anchor. Anchor, I believe they were former Apple or Google engineers. I can't remember who started Anchor originally to make battery packs, and cables, and third party accessories for Apple products, and since Android products as well, that are extremely [00:02:00] high quality for very affordable.
[00:02:01] I love the Anchor brand and Eufy and Spelled U EUFY is another one of their brands, from Anchor. And by the way, anchor is A-N-K-E-R. And so Eufy has had a smart card, these little, trackers that are like an air tag. But again, they needed new batteries or they would just die and then you replace it which is very wasteful, so what they've done now is they just announced the eufy smart track card.
[00:02:31] It's the model is E30 only available in one packsfrom what I can tell which they had the nice thing about it is that is rechargeable so here's the differences, right? You've got the smart track link, which is like a little keychain dongle thing, the battery lasts for a year, okay, and it can be replaced.
[00:02:53] This is the same battery that the AirTag uses, so it's about the same size. Then there's a smart track card, which is a credit card [00:03:00] size device, and it's saying it is, actually the new one's the same exact dimension, so the dimensions didn't change, which is nice, but, size of a credit card, fits in a wallet.
[00:03:09] Passport wallet can whatever you need it to go. It can just go into pocket, right? and it has a little speaker built in just like the AirTags do not very loud, but just enough that you can hear it to find it. and the battery lasts for three years, but then you can't replace it. If you just throw the thing away and that's 30 so you got the one that's like the AirTag that's 20, about the same price as an AirTag you got the one that's a credit card type where the battery lasts for three years and then You have to throw it away.
[00:03:39] That is $30. And then you have the smart track, the new one, the E 30, which is a rechargeable battery, a charge less for a year, and then you can recharge it. Okay. and that of course the battery length depends on how much you need to find it and how much you need the sound to make that could be reduced, but again, rechargeable.
[00:03:58] So anyway, I wish [00:04:00] these were sold in bulk because I would buy 'em as gifts , for different people who often lose their wallets or whatever, but. Also, these are also perfect for throwing into camera equipment bags and stuff like that, so I'm gonna link in the show notes, I'm gonna link to the new E30 card, because that's the one I'm gonna recommend for you to check out, and the beautiful thing is, again, it works with the Apple Find My ecosystem, okay?
[00:04:23] Now if you're on Android, if you're on Android, then I believe it will work, I have to double check this, no, it is iOS only, so it will not work on Android devices at all. I thought that they made one that worked on Android devices. if you use their own app, but apparently these do not, And, the other interesting thing is, They do sell multi packs for their disposable ones.
[00:04:49] And the battery replaceable ones. They do not sell multi packs, at least yet, for the rechargeable. I'm gonna link to the Amazon link, description, the [00:05:00] Amazon, product listing for this, and it will be my affiliate link, so if you do purchase it, I do make a commission, however, even if you don't want to buy it right now, add it to your wishlist, because keep an eye on it, they often release products single Eufy that people want it. It will then make multipacs to save you some money. So keep an eye on it or purchase it if you're interested. I'm gonna be buying one right now to throw on my wallet and I'll be testing and testing it. And, yeah, but I recommend keep an eye on it for sure.