13 points | by helsinkiandrew 5 days ago ago
8 comments
20 years ago I meant to write something like this, but so friends could find each other nearby in places like clubs.
I thought unless an android or iPhone is beaconing, it only broadcasts ble on device wake?
Maybe I'm misremembering, but for example my esphome proxies in HA will show nothing for ages at night while my phone isn't being interacted with.
If the phone is lost, it's probably not super awake lol
Post inspired by "Lost my phone at the office. Claude suggested tracking Bluetooth signal strength" 07.aug.2026 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49215786 215 comments ?
Weirdly Apple seems to have something like this built-in for finding an apple TV remote - but the same flow doesn't appear to be launchable for any other device
It works for newer AirTags as well, this isn't BLE based but Ultra Wideband.
That's an entirely different technology, and if you look at it from an RF lens, a highly impressive one.
Bluetooth now has something that does this more accurately on a protocol level: https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/feature-enha...
Seems to be macOS only.
Now turn it into a pervert-glasses detector and tracker
Make your phone alert when one walks into a room within several meters
20 years ago I meant to write something like this, but so friends could find each other nearby in places like clubs.
I thought unless an android or iPhone is beaconing, it only broadcasts ble on device wake?
Maybe I'm misremembering, but for example my esphome proxies in HA will show nothing for ages at night while my phone isn't being interacted with.
If the phone is lost, it's probably not super awake lol
Post inspired by "Lost my phone at the office. Claude suggested tracking Bluetooth signal strength" 07.aug.2026 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49215786 215 comments ?
Weirdly Apple seems to have something like this built-in for finding an apple TV remote - but the same flow doesn't appear to be launchable for any other device
It works for newer AirTags as well, this isn't BLE based but Ultra Wideband.
That's an entirely different technology, and if you look at it from an RF lens, a highly impressive one.
Bluetooth now has something that does this more accurately on a protocol level: https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/feature-enha...
Seems to be macOS only.
Now turn it into a pervert-glasses detector and tracker
Make your phone alert when one walks into a room within several meters