Inside this simple black and white packaging is your new little best friend. Tile is a little gadget that helps you electronically tag and find things that can get lost. It runs with an app that is free to install on your phone by either Android or iOS. It can also be used with the new Apple Watch.
Each Tile is $25 (less when you buy multiple Tiles) and can be used to track a ton of items – a camera, purse, keys, backpack, and much more.
There is an optional adhesive sticker on the back of the sheet from the image above for your Tile.
Once you have the Tile app installed on your phone, simply go through the provided onscreen instructions to sync the Tile to your phone via Bluetooth. I thought installation was simple to do.
You can have multiple Tiles running under the app. You can name each Tile and assign it a picture if you would like before activating.
Once the Tile has been activated, attach it to an item. If you need to locate the item, tap the green “find” button in the app. The green tracking circle around the Tile picture on your phone’s screen will fill it as you get closer and as the signal strength increases. A cute tune will play until your lost item is found and you hit the button that did say “find”, but says “done” when you are close in location to your Tile device. Having music on to help find your item is an optional feature.
You can also see if you are nearby on a map provided with the Tile app too. Tile remembers the last place you saw it, which is nice as a starting point when looking for the missing object.
If your Tile is out of range and lost, you can mark the Tile as lost in the app. Once it has been found by you or another Tile member, you will receive a push notification and e-mail notifying of the item’s location. None of your personal information is shared with other users.
Here are some of the items we often lose in our home that Tile has been great for –
We have a reclining couch and loveseat. They seem to like “eating” the remotes by falling inside or under them. Other times the remotes go missing when a family member leaves them in an unusual location. Tile has been great for relocating the remotes.
My children, the two girls especially, have a problem finding their hair brushes in the morning, often on days when they are in a rush to catch the bus (go figure!). We can always find their hair brushes now with Tile.
My spouse and I used to misplace keys often. We did resort to a wall hanging station so they are easily visualized on our way out the door, but Tile would be great for knowing where the keys are too.
With Tile being connected via Bluetooth, the most effective length of range is about 30 feet. The range can increase up to 100 feet when there is a clear line of sight from the device to the Tile. You can add any number of Tiles to your mobile device. The Tile App site did mention the following: 8 Tiles on iOS and 4 Tiles on Android can be connected at one time. This is a factor of Bluetooth 4.0 limitations.
Tile is water-resistant and has a sleek, but minimal look in design. This device is estimated to last a year with the non-replaceable battery it comes with. The Tiles can be recycled by the company that sells them. Return procedures will be made available in the expiration notice for your Tile(s).
I would have to say that Tile is “mom approved” by me. It helps find objects that are misplaced by me or other family members easily in and around the home. If you are on vacation, Tile could help you locate items in the hotel room or rental car with ease too. To learn more about The Tile App, please visit their website.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Tile currently has a #Tile4MomContest running on Facebook to honor special moms. They are giving away a Tile each day and on Mother’s Day, they will be announcing the winner of a $400 spa package (US only)!
One reader will win a Tile. Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below. This contest is open to residents of the USA only.
Disclosure: I received free product and financial compensation for this post. The thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.
