Here’s some potentially good news for Apple Watch owners who have Apple Watch Ultra screen envy: the Apple Watch Series 10 — may get the same size screen as the company’s 49mm outdoorsy watch. That’s in addition to other possible improvements, like a thinner case and a new chip that could “lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road,” according to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg.

The screen rumor seems to back up a CAD render from last month that showed a Series 10 watch with a two-inch display. Gurman says — and that render appears to show — that the watch won’t otherwise feature any major design changes. If that means no magnetic watch strap attachments or whatever, I’m putting that part of the rumor in the “good” column — like many, I’ve accumulated a number of watch straps over the years, and I’d like to keep using them if I decide to upgrade.

As for new sensors, that seems cloudier, as Gurman says Apple is struggling with two big health sensor updates it’s been planning. The company reportedly hasn’t been able to get its rumored blood pressure monitor’s reliability up to snuff, and he writes that not being able to use its banned blood oxygen sensor is hampering its efforts to add sleep apnea detection.

Apple is reportedly planning a cheaper version of the Apple Watch SE to bring pricing in line with Samsung’s $199 Galaxy Watch FE. One way it might do this, apparently, is with a rigid plastic case. That could make the watch cheaper, sure, and perhaps lighter — I can think of at least one other Apple product that could stand to benefit from a similar decision! (The Vision Pro. I’m talking about the Vision Pro.)

Finally, Gurman says that the company is planning to release a Watch Ultra 3, but don’t expect big visual changes. It will reportedly get the new chip that will power the Series 10, though.

Siri will finally get better in spring 2025 when Apple makes its Apple Intelligence AI system available to everyone via its iOS 18.4 update, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the latest Power On newsletter. That’s more specific than Apple has been — so far, it’s only said the flagship AI features will be available next year.

Apple regularly doles out its new features piecemeal, in point updates, across its operating systems. So it’s possible, for instance, that Siri will gain the ability (via Apple Intelligence) to do things on your behalf like dig your ID out of your 20,000-photo-deep library in Photos and copy your driver’s license number to enter into an online form, but perhaps the AI-powered emoji generation or writing assistance features won’t be ready yet. Gurman doesn’t speak directly to that, but it’s good to keep in mind.

What’s coming first should become clearer as beta versions of iOS 18 start incorporating the features later this year and the 18.4 release approaches. In the meantime, features like ChatGPT integration, a new Siri interface that ditches the old circle graphic for a pulsing rainbow around the inside of the screen bezel, and deeper product knowledge that lets Siri give you basic tech support are expected this fall.

Down the road, Apple’s AI plan apparently includes those AirPods with embedded cameras that pop up in rumors from time to time, such as in last week’s rumor from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, saying they would have infrared sensors and be used in concert with the Vision Pro, for hand gesture and motion detection. Gurman describes something akin to Meta’s Ray-ban glasses — for example, AI could process imagery from them to describe things in your environment or help you navigate while you’re walking. These new AirPods Pro, he writes, might be two generations away.

Creativity around AirTag usage has grown considerably since Apple introduced it in 2021. Along with this growth in creativity comes controversy around how AirTags are being used. It became common knowledge that stalkers place AirTags in their victims’ vehicles without their knowledge or consent and then use their phones to track their victims’ whereabouts.

While Apple has introduced new alert features with its most recent iOS updates to mitigate having an AirTag used against your will or without your consent, what if you could make AirTags work for you as an automotive security measure?  

Interestingly, even Android users can use AirTags for such purposes. Although AirTags are primarily designed for iPhones, Android users can use apps like Tracker Detect to scan for nearby AirTags.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a vehicle was stolen every 32 seconds in the U.S. in 2022 alone. Instead of allowing AirTags to be used against you, perhaps it is time to proactively use them to work for you.

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Reasons why Apple AirTags are the perfect solution for car theft tracking

At the time of publication, Apple AirTags retail at $29.99 for one or 4 for $99.99. Compared to a GPS or other navigation system, which can start at several hundred dollars, Apple AirTags, if used appropriately, can help you recover your vehicle if stolen. Below are the potential benefits and pitfalls of using Apple AirTags to track your car.

A thief breaking into a car  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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4 potential benefits of using an AirTag to track your vehicle

1. Size and weight: At .39 ounces and measuring 1.26 inches wide and .31 inches high, these tracking devices are very discreet. A car thief would have a hard time noticing or locating an AirTags visually, which would give you more time to track and locate your vehicle.

2. Battery life: AirTags are battery-operated, which means they do not require charging. According to Apple, an AirTag is supposed to last more than a year on a standard battery. These CR2032 coin-cell batteries are cheap to replace, too. This means you can leave it in your vehicle for long periods of time and don’t have to leave yourself or your car vulnerable by having to charge the AirTag. You’ll get plenty of warnings from your iPhone when it is time to replace the battery, too.

3. Private and secure: No tracking data is stored in your AirTag or by Apple, so your information is kept private. Because the signal and information being sent from your AirTag are anonymous and encrypted, you can rest assured that no unnecessary information regarding your whereabouts is floating around.

4. Wide reach and precision locating: Because your AirTag sends out a Bluetooth signal, it uses nearby devices in the Find My network. With the mass use of Apple devices, you have many devices that can send the location of your AirTag to iCloud so you can track it.

Because of the AirTag’s built-in Ultra Wideband technology, your iPhone can lead you to your AirTag with Precision Finding, which will show you the exact distance and direct you to it. 

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Understanding the limitations and privacy concerns of AirTags

AirTags are designed to leverage the Find My network for location tracking. However, this network’s effectiveness is contingent on the proximity to other Apple devices. In areas with a sparse Apple device population, the range and precision of AirTags can be significantly compromised. Consequently, their utility for tracking items like vehicles may be diminished in such regions.

Moreover, AirTags incorporate a double-edged privacy feature. Should a car thief possess an iPhone, he may receive an alert notifying him of an unrecognized AirTag moving with him. This mechanism, intended to prevent unwanted tracking, could inadvertently assist the thief in locating and removing the AirTag

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Find My Network on iPhone  (Apple)

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How to place AirTags for safe vehicle tracking

If you want to track your vehicle if it is stolen or even lost (have you ever forgotten where you parked your car?), it is best to place your AirTag somewhere it is not visible and safe from removal or obstruction. Possible locations include under car floor mats, glove compartment, spare tire well or between seat cushions.

Since car thieves may check for AirTags before taking off with your car, it is best (if possible) to place more than one AirTag in different locations in your vehicle. This way, even if a thief finds and removes one AirTag, the second one can still help you track your vehicle. Thieves often assume there is only one AirTag, so having a second one hidden can be a clever way to outsmart them.

If you discover that your car has been stolen or lost, you can use your iPhone’s Find My app to see it on a map. 

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Kurt’s key takeaways

While there is no replacement for a professional GPS tracking system, Apple AirTags can be a useful device to help you keep track of your vehicle, whether it is lost or stolen. Just like you can lose keys, you could definitely forget where you parked your car. With an AirTag in your car, you can open up your Find My app and just see where you last parked. 

In the worst-case scenario, if your car gets stolen, you can track it as long as it is within range of other Apple devices on the Find My network. Its discreet size, weight and wide-reaching Find My network make it a potentially good option for keeping track of your car. Of course, we caution against using it on other people’s cars or belongings without their consent.

Do you have a GPS tracking system installed in your car? Would you use AirTags to keep track of your car? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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