Making Your Favorite Items Trackable

We have covered using a “trackable” before, like our review of Tile, which keeps track of your belongings through a small Bluetooth device attached to your keys, purse, backpack, briefcase, dog, etc.  A trackable is a very handy piece of technology.

There are growing number of trackable devices on the market, we’ve seen about 6-8 different ones at CES the last couple of years.  We love Tile, but it has one main issue, the battery cannot be replaced (because it’s totally waterproof), so you need to buy a new Tile (at a discounted rate) once a year.  When you own a number of Tiles, that can be a bit costly.

The TrackR trackable, on the other hand, decided it could trade a waterproof trackable for one where you can replace the battery. With over 4.5 million devices shipped, TrackR is one of the most trackable devices available today.

TrackR comes in a nice silver metallic finish (as well as other metallic colors) and is a little bigger than a quarter, but only as thick as two quarters.  It has a small indentation at the bottom which is its button.  It includes a very small blue LED light that lights up when you call it from the app.

How the TrackR Trackable Works

After you buy the TrackR, you download the TrackR app and it walks you through the steps to connect to your TrackR device.  Name the item you put your TrackR on and choose an icon for it.  You can track all of your TrackR devices in this one app.

Put the TrackR on whatever device or items you’d like to keep track of.  Suggestions include:

• Laptops
• Tablets
• Backpacks
• Briefcases
• Purses
• Wallets
• Umbrellas
• Luggage
• Pets
• Canes
• Keys
• Under bicycle seats
• Skateboards
• Favorite toy/stuffed animal
• Glasses case
• Current book you’re reading
• Present you’re sending in the mail to a friend (to know when it will get there!)
• and so many more uses!

If you’ve lost your item with TrackR trackable on it, you can use the app to find out where the item was last tracked.  Retrace your steps back to that spot and then use your app to help you search that area.  The app will indicate if you are close to the location.  I found that I needed to be within 10 feet of the item in order to tell me I was close to the TrackR trackable item.

But the TrackR works both ways too.  If you know where your TrackR is, but you’ve misplaced your phone, click on your TrackR and it will have your phone ring so you can find it…even if it’s on vibrate.

I used TrackR when I was in Vegas for CES.  I put one TrackR trackable in my jacket pocket and the other in my backpack.  

As I attended many events throughout the day and night, I was afraid that my jacket of backpack would go missing.  Just having the TrackR’s on these items gave me some peace of mind.

Here’s a picture of all the TrackR users surrounding Griffith Park in Los Angeles.  If you lose your item in LA, TrackR’s crowd-finders will help you find it.

The thought of an item being lost forever is hard to take.  But with TrackR trackable, you have hope that you may actually be able to recover your item.  And really, that’s what trackable devices are all about.  

First, providing some peace of mind that you have a way of recovering your item should you forget it somewhere.  Second, that you can have some peace and built-in hope, that you have a way of recovering your lost item.

Integration with Alexa

TrackR recently announced its integration with Alexa.  After following these instructions, you can Alexa to help you find your phone by saying, “Alexa, ask TrackR to ring my phone.”  I’ve tried it numerous times, it works well.

Right now, Alexa can only hope you find your phone, not the item you placed your TrackR on.  It is our hope that you can track your TrackR items as well one day in the future.

• Includes a distance indicator that tells you when you are getting closer or further away from your TrackR device
• Click on the item you are trying to find in the TrackR app, and the TrackR device will ring to help you find it
• Pressing on the TrackR device will ring your phone
• Multiple people can track the same things by sharing a TrackR through the TrackR app
• TrackR’s growing crowd-sourced network will help you find your items if their TrackR app receives a signal
• Separation alerts tell you if you left your phone behind
• Comes with a two-sided sticky disc so you can stick the TrackR onto things like a tablet, bike, etc.
• Small and thin profile, can be placed in small areas, like a wallet

• Finding your phone is easier now by clicking on your TrackR device.  It will ring your phone, even if it’s on silent
• You can replace the battery when it dies – it’s a common battery that doesn’t cost much
• The CR1620 battery is not very inexpensive, in fact, TrackR will send you your first replacement battery for free + $1.50 for shipping.  Each extra battery you order is $.50
• It has a very thin profile so you can tuck it in a wallet or in clothing without much weight
• There are a large number of people using TrackR, which increases the likelihood that your item will be found
• You can add a Group to your TrackR item, so others can help you track the item too – helpful for shared keys or even your pet
• TrackR just added Alexa integration so you can ask Alexa to find your phone
• Will show location in your app the last time it tracked your TrackR item (helpful if your TrackR battery died)

Cons:

• TrackR is not waterproof, although they sell separately a waterproof case for it
• The sound is not too loud, you have to really listen for it
• I had to be within 10 feet of the TrackR to see it pop up on my app
• There is no indication of the battery in your TrackR dying

 

 

 

 TrackR trackable is available for $23.50 in Silver from Amazon, shipping extra.  Or on the TrackR website, you can buy 3 and get 2 free for $89.99 plus free shipping.

A Mom’s Perspective

After we reviewed Tile trackable a couple of years ago, I went out and bought a 12-pack to give away for presents.  I absolutely love the idea of using a trackable. Unfortunately, after less than a year, most of the four Tiles trackable devices I have (and the ones I gave to friends) died and were no longer usable.

The cost to replace my Tiles online was more pricey than I was hoping for, so I no longer use Tile.  Using TrackR has reminded me about the importance of tracking items that would be awful if I lost them.  You can think of trackable devices as an upfront insurance policy to help you not lose items important to you.

I love that TrackR devices are thin, have a small profile, and most of all, the battery can be changed out.  If you own a number of TrackR’s, it won’t cost you much to keep them running, as the batteries can be found at any drugstore, Target, or Walmart.

If you’re new to using a trackable, I suggest you start off with two of them.  Put one TrackR on your keys and the other sew in or clip firmly on your child’s favorite stuffed animal or blanket.  We put a trackable on my son’s favorite stuffed animal that he took everywhere.  Being able to find him (beneath blankets, dirty laundry, behind the bed, in the car, and more) saved us a lot of time searching…and tears!

TrackR allows you to stay connected to the things you couldn’t bear to lose.  How would you use TrackR?

* I was given two TrackR trackable devices in exchange for my honest opinion and review.  All thoughts are my own.