I think a short video (less than a minute) would be more effective.

Personally I haven't misplaced my wallet since I was a teenager but I guess this might be useful to some. It's not clear why they're limiting the IPhone/IPad hardware requirements to just the newest ones.

Note that this use-case is handled specifically in the spec:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth_low_energy#Electronic...

You're welcome to that opinion. However it clearly isn't universally shared.

Guess who will remember the product now? This guy.

Also, I would recommend removing the "TrackR" text from the device. Otherwise, it will be the first thing a thief gets rid of once they have your wallet. On the other hand, if you try to make it look as inconspicuous as possible, it is less likely to attract unwanted attention.

Another crazy idea: offer an option to have it sewn into the wallet so that it A) is hidden and B) cannot slide off by accident.

I think this is more of a branding/marketing issue. In the video they make note that you could use it for more than just wallets. And there's a hole on there for keys...

Google is also apparently launching a virtual physical card. It's great since you don't need to carry multiple cards. If it gets lost you can probably just disable Google's virtual card rather than having to call your bank and having your card killed/changed.

I'm not sure I want to have separate apps for these. Things like gift cards to restaurants (which I also carry around) could easily be replaced w/ an app, but there's something mildly compelling about a non-smart identifier for things like insurance / ID.

Edit: I guess the product works both ways (wallet will beep your phone if the app is running), so that's more useful than I thought, but when I do misplace my cellphone I can always find it by calling it via my google voice on a laptop or whatever, so I'm still going to skip this.

What happens if you leave your wallet in the bus, etc...?

"When the Wallet TrackR gets separated from your iPhone or iPad, the Wallet TrackR app gently alerts you that you may be leaving your wallet behind.

The app also takes a GPS snapshot of where your wallet was at the moment of separation in case you didn't hear the alert."

In answer to your question about the bus, I assume the idea is that your phone will alert you before you get too far (i.e., before you leave the bus). If you managed to leave the bus without catching the alert, the app could tell you where you left the wallet, but not where it's been since then. At least you will know to contact the bus company to see if anything was turned into their lost-and-found.

Still, the idea and implementation seem to be excellent. I would be much more likely to attach a tracker to my luggage while traveling or in my laptop bag. With a smaller device I might even put it on my keyring. If I had one in my car I wouldn't have to think about remembering my parking spot. The GPS tag will mark it for me as soon as I leave my car.

The most useful thing was that you could go through the house and eliminate rooms where the thing you were looking for wasn't. As my kitchen is centrally located I could stand in it hold up the loc8tor unit like a tri-corder, and ascertain both which direction and which floor (we've got two) that the item is.

If people were really concerned about misplacing wallets, designs like these (http://i.imgur.com/FnOtD.jpg) would have taken off.

Assuming this would work just as well for non-wallets, I think this is pretty cool.

So it's a an odd time to be making a product that makes it bigger. This seems like making something to rewind your VHS tape the year before everyone bought a DVD player.

Until every little shop and flea market is accepting square for everything (I've yet to see anyone using square in the UK yet).

Not to mention having somewhere to put credit cards, business cards, discount cards, receipts and all that other stuff.

Plus a wallet is still a fashion item.

I agree that this does look kinda big though.

It might also be better to have this somehow sown into the wallet itself, if your wallet is stolen the first thing the thief would do is throw this away.

Once I can pay for things with my phone at most places, I'll simply not go anywhere where I can't, or if I do, I'll plan in advance and toss some coinage in my pocket.

Wallets are used for more than just cash ...

NZ law for example requires you to carry your drivers licence at all times. Most (but not all!) people keep it it their wallet - sure you can attach it to your key chain or put it in the glovebox, but then if you're driving a work/friends car, you need to make sure you also have your keys with you (or remembered to grab your licence)

I keep receipts in there - normally for up to a few weeks until I sort them and keep the important ones. Without a wallet, these will just go in a random pocket and probably be lost (though maybe you could have electronic receipts...)

I keep business cards in there (both mine and others). Sure, some of the time you may be able to send a contact to the other persons phone, but if you're meeting a client etc for the first time, fumbling around trying to get phones to sync is probably not a good look. (Assuming the person has a phone that's compatible with yours). This ignores all the other advantages of business cards such as being able to scrawl a message on the back before leaving it with a receptionist, or tucked into a door.

I keep one time keys on a bit of paper tucked in there - both gmail and for financial accounts. These are bits of data I specifically never want to ever be found anywhere on my phone or online =)

And if you are young, where else are you going to keep that emergency condom? =)

Lots of shops are run by older people who will resist adopting any kind of technology unless absolutely necessary (and it won't be necessary until people stop carrying cash, kind of catch 22).

Not to mention weed dealers and "cash in hand" types. Plus making sure everyone has NFC phones (including people coming from overseas).

I suppose if you have a problem losing your wallet you may be willing to use this but since I've never lost mine or had it stolen it's not worth it to me.

If someone takes my wallet or I left my wallet in a moving vehicle (ie: taxi) - there's zero chance to track it since it's on the move?

Is this for real or is it a parody of the douchey vacuity iPhone apps for people with too much money?

Also, how much do you think they paid for the rights to use "Tarzan boy" by Baltimora? It was released on EMI. They're now part of Universal.