New Tile tag makes it easier to locate lost items

Kickstarter sensation Tile has released a new smart keyring that will help you find your lost valuables.

The first-generation Tile was a crowdfunding smash just over two years ago, and now it’s back with an enhanced version.

The new Tile looks much like the last – a stylish plastic square tag with rounded corners that can be attached to keys, computers, bags, and more. As before, once you’ve paired it with your iPhone or Android handset through the dedicated app, you’ll be able to make the tag beep remotely – and that beep is now apparently three times louder than before.

It also works the other way now. Double-tap the “e” on the Tile and your phone will start playing a tune.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the previous Tile also makes a return. Tile’s search function extends beyond the aforementioned local application.

If your Tile-equipped item gets itself properly lost – as in, not in your local vicinity – you can mark it as such in the Tile app. It will then use the entire network of Tile-paired phones to search for your lost item.

This process is anonymous, so none of those random Tile users will know where your phone is, or even that they’re being used to locate it. You’ll receive a notification if any Tile user ever gets within range of your missing item.

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Of course, the catch is that there aren’t very many Tile users out there at present, especially here in the UK. Indeed, that’s unlikely to change in the near future, as bringing it to this country remains an expensive prospect.

You can opt to ship the new Tile into the UK from the Tile website. However, this will virtually double the final cost of a single Tile device through the associated charges, bringing the cost to $46/£29 rather than $25/£16.