We’ve previously written about Ping, a tiny Cellular GPS tracker that promised to last 3 months on a charge. The raising money part of the crowdfunding campaign itself was successfully with over one million dollars raised, but as with many such campaigns there have been delays, and some people still have to receive theirs, not to mention people complaining about poor battery life and other issues.
But there seems to be another option now with Tail It Technologies now offering four different “Tail it” cellular GPS trackers (with WiFi too) for things, pets, and even one designed specifically for bicycles. The company has already sold their devices to thousands of customers in Norway, so they should be working, and on-time delivery should hopefully not be an issue.
All four GPS trackers come with 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiFi connectivity, a 5-meter accuracy, and share the same electronics and firmware. Here’s a list of the four models and their main features:
- Tail it – Smallest and lighter version with 3 weeks battery life; splash-proof; wireless charging
- Tail it+ – Same as Tail It but with larger case holding a battery that should last for about 8 weeks
- Tail it Pet – Waterproof model with pet collar for dogs, cats, and other pets you may have. 3 weeks battery life
- Tail it Bike – Flexible waterproof cylindric shape to place inside a bike’s handlebar. Charging via waterproof USB type C port, 8 weeks battery life
The company claims there’s no subscription, nor monthly fees associated with the tracker, but does not clearly explain how the cellular connectivity is to be achieved in the description. This is however explained in comments:
In this case the units can use SIM-cards from most operators in the world. If you get a pre-paid card or any other type of extra card you will avoid monthly subscription. When we send out the units they will contain a optional SIM-card which you can activate, this will cost 4.99USD a month, when the tracker is in use, nothing if you dont use it.
So you’ll have the choice of using your own SIM card, or optionally activate a $5 per month SIM card included in the unit.
The trackers are managed through Tail It mobile that is already available for iOS and Android. I’ve linked to Android APK, since the app appears to have been taken down on Google Play at the time of writing.
There’s a three step setup for each tracker: 1. scan the device number, 2. add a photo, 3. monitor the device location on the map. Right now, the position is updated roughly every minute if the device moves, but the company will be working on a fast live tracking option. The latter should affect battery life however.
Tail it GPS tracker has launched on Kickstarter aiming to raise at least 100,000 NOK ($12,350 US), and they’ve done good so far with over $50,000 raised. I’ll use US dollars equivalent prices going forward. They’ve kept things simple as perks start at $86 for Tail it, Tail it+, Tail it Pet, or Tail it Bike. You can pay less per unit by selecting bundles of up to 10 GPS trackers. Shipping adds $18 to $37 depending on select reward. Delivery is planned for September 2018.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Seems like it offers the possibility of keeping track on your spouse, your children, your neighbors if the device can be surreptitiously applied to their vehicle or inserted into their personal belongings, and a boon for cambrioleurs who need to know when the occupants have driven off to some distant location by placing such a device on the home owner’s vehicle. No doubt Jihadists could also put these devices to use to be more effective on their missions.
You are pitifull, Richard. Here we are talking about objects and technology, not about what your damaged brain could make use of them. Have fun with your demons. Nothing to add.
“You are pitifull, Richard.”
When a rebuttal starts with an ad hominem attack, which some have described as “the last refuge of someone with nothing to say”, it yet agains highlights the times we live in where hard truths are to be swept under the carpet by feel good emotions.
“Here we are talking about objects and technology”
So you have no concerns about how these technological doodads will have a malevolent effect on society and your privacy. Just keep sticking your fingers in your ears and your head in the sand and pretend the bad things will just go away …
Try framing a cogent and logical argument once you have done some reading eg
“Ethical Issues arising from the Real Time Tracking and Monitoring of People Using GPS-based Location Services” A. Mcnamee, : Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences , University of Wollongong, December 2005
“The Emerging Ethics of Humancentric GPS Tracking and Monitoring”
K. Michael, A. McNamee, M. G. Michael,, Faculty of Informatics, University of Wollongong, 2006
“Society’s Most Vulnerable Under Surveillance: The Ethics of Tagging and Tracking Dementia Patients With GPS Technology: A Comparative View”
Karen Eltis, University of Oxford Comparative Law Forum, 2005
“Ethical Considerations in Electronic Monitoring of the Cognitively Impaired”
Y. Tony Yang, ScD, LLM, MPH and Charles G. Kels, J, Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (YTY); the Division of Legislative Counsel, American Medical Association, Washington, DC (CGK); and the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, US Air Force Reserve, Washington (CGK), 2016
Our mobile phones track everywhere we go just pinging cell masts
https://www.gpswox.com/en/gps-tracking-pricing
What else do you expect when you live in a authoritarian surveillance state where you can be arrested and detained for up to 24 hours even if you have committed no crime but a police officer “reasonably” believes that you have committed an offence, are in the process of committing an offence or are about to commit an offence (Serious Organised Crime Act 2005)?
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The Guardian . November 16, 2016
‘Extreme surveillance’ becomes UK law with barely a whimper
Investigatory Powers Act legalises range of tools for snooping and hacking by the security services
A bill giving the UK intelligence agencies and police the most sweeping surveillance powers in the western world has passed into law with barely a whimper, meeting only token resistance over the past 12 months from inside parliament and barely any from outside.
The Investigatory Powers Act, passed on Thursday, legalises a whole range of tools for snooping and hacking by the security services unmatched by any other country in western Europe or even the US.
US whistleblower Edward Snowden tweeted: “The UK has just legalised the most extreme surveillance in the history of western democracy. It goes further than many autocracies.”
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In the future will people complain “first they made it compulsory to chip our pets, then they made it compulsory to chip our children”?
I’m wondering how well the handlebar version will work when placed in a metal handlebar (and yeah the ends are open but still I fear the bar gives too much shielding
I think it would work better hidden in the saddle stem so that a length of the tube could stick up out of the tube; however, it would make it quite difficult to remove regularly for recharging.
“The company claims there’s no subscription, nor monthly fees associated with the tracker,”
4 years later its 2022 and the tracker is only available with the monthly sim subscription and on top of that theres no manual available on how to setup the device with your own sim.
I get that having a deal with a phone company for sim card deals is a great idea but they could at least keep the option open of at least have the possibility of buying the tracker without the subscription for $100 (current price on site says “
99.00 $19.00 $+ Subscription plan ” but as they now ONLY offer the subscription i feel like they should remove the 99$ price tag and have bold letters “subscription device only!”