Bluetooth trackers like Tile are nothing new, but where most such products beep, blink, or nudge you in the right direction, the freshly launched Pixie tag/app combo turns the whole affair into something of a scavenger hunt. The app works with multiple Pixie tags, and the more you have around your house the better the app gets at telling you where things are.
For example, if you have a tag on your wallet and also your TV remote, the app can tell you how far you are from both of them, but also how far they are from each other. Then, using your smartphone’s camera, the app actually provides an augmented reality overlay to show you where your various items are. Pixie calls it “Pokemon Go for your keys,” and that’s a pretty accurate description of how the app looks in action.
Pixie has a handful of possible use cases, including commonly lost items like wallets, keys, and remotes, but one of the more interesting suggested applications is for pets. I hadn’t considered this for other Bluetooth tracking tags, but with the augmented reality feature of Pixie, the company shows how easy it is to find where your cat or dog is hiding in your home. That could be especially useful if you have an indoor/outdoor pet that comes and goes as they please.
You can buy Pixie tags in packs of either two (including the Pixie iPhone case) for $49.99 or four for $99.99. The kits will begin shipping on January 25th, and the phone cases work with the iPhone 6, 6s, and 7.
