Skechers lately began promoting a line of kids shoes which have a hidden compartment below the insole for inserting Apple’s AirTag merchandise tracker.
The concept right here is that folks can put an AirTag within the sneakers, after which observe the situation of these sneakers (and the kid sporting them) within the Discover My app, which is out there throughout the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and on the net at iCloud.com.
The sneakers can present dad and mom with peace of thoughts by permitting them to maintain observe of their kid’s location in public. If a baby will get misplaced in a busy shopping center, for instance, the father or mother might view their location within the Discover My app. Or, a father or mother might double verify that their youngster is the place they’re speculated to be at a sure time, akin to faculty.
In a YouTube ad shared this week, Skechers stated that youngsters can’t really feel the AirTag below their toes whereas sporting the sneakers, making it a discreet answer.
These sneakers might additionally show invaluable if a baby is kidnapped, however one caveat is that the kidnapper would obtain an alert on their iPhone or Android smartphone if an unknown AirTag has been following them for a short time. If the kidnapper is unable to search out the AirTag, it is going to ultimately begin taking part in a sound. It is a security function that’s designed to stop individuals from utilizing the AirTag for stalking functions.
One other factor to remember is that if the kid doesn’t have a tool on them, the AirTag will rely solely on the Discover My community to ship its medical updates location to iCloud. In different phrases, the kid will should be round different individuals with Apple, Android, or different Discover My community units, in an space the place there may be mobile or Wi-Fi connectivity. If the kid is one way or the other alone in an space with none web connectivity, the AirTag’s location wouldn’t replace.
On its web site, Apple says the AirTag shouldn’t be used to trace individuals, however a father or mother utilizing the accent to trace a younger youngster is justifiable.
Alternatively, dad and mom can give their child a cellular Apple Watch for location monitoring functions. The kid doesn’t must have an iPhone.
The sneakers can be found for girls and boys in the U.S., Canada, and choose different nations. Within the U.S., costs begin at $52 as of writing (an AirTag is just not included). They arrive in a wide range of kinds, and they’re mechanically cleanable, in response to Skechers.