This is a technically interesting project, but is there any situation at all where it's worth using? It seems like it just allows you to build airtag-like devices that sorta work on the Find-My network with some rough edges, but I can buy proper AirTag clones in various form factors for a couple bucks - far cheaper than I could ever make a custom bluetooth device using this project. Am I missing a use-case?
Okay yeah, that appears to be true. Looks like the broadcast part currently only runs on Linux (or microcontroller firmware), while the client only works on macOS, so you'd need to lose your Linux laptop and then find it with your Apple computer, but it does seem like that setup would work if you had it. Maybe it'll be ported to other OSs at some point, if that's even possible.
They've been perfect for me. I buy them on Temu for around $2.50 each and they work exactly like normal AirTags minus the ultra wideband precision finding. I pair and track them in the normal iOS FindMy app. Haven't been using them long enough to know how long the batteries last, but they advertise >1 year and they still all report pretty full batteries after a few months of usage, so I'm hopeful.
The credit card form factor ones for wallets are more expensive ($10) but can be wirelessly recharged on Qi chargers.
"Brand" is a somewhat nebulous concept for chinese knockoffs, but the particular ones I got are each branded as "RSH Smart Tag." Though I'm pretty sure all the different listings are the same device coming out of the same factory with different random brand names printed on them. I'd just compare all the ones that say they work with iOS Find My and have wireless recharging, then get the cheapest one, specific branding be damned.
Edit: I just checked, and actually only two of my cards (which came in a two-pack) are branded with RSH, and the other one has no branding on it at all. It's definitely an identical device though - the only difference is the lack of branding.
