Apple is good at introducing and popularizing new technologies. The original iMac wasn't the first to use USB, but it led to the adoption of the USB standard. Although there was a multi-touch display before, it was the first product that the iPhone actually commercialized. But sometimes these techniques take some time to conceive. There's no better example than Apple's Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology when looking for it in recent years.
Like other technologies, UWB isn't a new concept, but it hasn't really taken a place in the consumer market. In 2019, Apple launched the iPhone 11 series and featured a custom chip called U1. During the introduction of the new product, Apple explained the amazing characteristics of the U1, the incredible precision of tracking the location of objects, and how to guide users in the right direction.
However, after almost a year and a half, there are few U1-related applications. Built-in AirDrop, it finds and shows other devices closest to you, but it only works on other iPhones that support U1, and it's more of a proof of concept than the actual features that can be presented. Other than that, there is not much else yet. With several U1-enabled technologies waiting to be released, it is noteworthy whether 2021 will finally be the first year of U1 technology becoming popular.
With or Without U1
Until last year, Apple seemed to believe in the U1's future potential and continue to apply it to its products. In addition to the iPhone 12 family, the successor to the iPhone 11, the U1 was installed in the Apple Watch Series 6 and HomePod Mini, which were released last fall.
When Apple introduced a product with the U1, it did not spend much time discussing the use of the chip but gave a short example. It replaces the Handoff feature, which can transfer audio from iPhone to HomePod just by being close to each other. The current version of Handoff uses a different technology, NFC (same as the one in Apple Pay), but it is sensitive and unstable. The U1 version seems to be better, but when iOS 14 was first released, it lacked. The beta version is only available now, but you still have to wait up to a month.
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| 21 HomePod Mini also has a U1 chip |
The real proof that Apple is trying to spread UWB is that it continues to release products with U1. The iPad Air update last fall did not support UWB technology, but an upgraded product for the iPad Pro is expected to be released this spring. The U1 wasn't included in last year's meager update, but this time you'll know whether it's included.
Likewise, Apple's latest custom silicon-based M1 Mac doesn't support UWB. It's unclear whether Apple simply believes UWB isn't useful for these devices, or is planning for an upcoming update, or is turning away from the technology itself.
U1 utilization is definitely a tag
Focusing on UWB's object location tracking and the ability to guide users to where objects are, the most suitable U1 product has proven to exist, but Apple hasn't released a tag yet.
There have been many rumors and leaks of Apple's 'AirTag' in the form of small ornaments that can be attached to key chains, like its competitor's tile. Existing types often relied on other wireless technologies, such as low-power Bluetooth variants. UWB can help you find devices more accurately. It's faster than Bluetooth and can pass through walls and doesn't interfere with Wi-Fi. Apple's tracking devices (and compatible third-party versions) can also leverage the'Find My' network, which anonymously locates and locates nearby lost items using Apple devices.
Simply put, the airtag-like function is exactly what the U1 was designed for. At all signs, the launch is getting closer. It's surprising if it doesn't launch in 2021, but in fact, it was in 2020.
U1 potential output
Apple also explored other features that could take advantage of the U1's proximity detection capabilities. For example, the latest iPhone can act as a car key, allowing the car door to open automatically when the user gets close to the car.
But in theory, U1 could help with even more everyday problems. It can provide more contextual information, for example, which device to send notifications to based on how close the user is. Or it can easily decide which device to handle Siri requests, and it can be used to guide indoor spaces or find items in space more accurately, reinforcing Apple's ambitions for augmented reality. Even if Apple makes a wireless controller that works with its own AR headset, it is possible.
In short, there are many possibilities in the area where U1 chips can be newly developed. Apple clearly believes in its potential in terms of its resources devoted to designing UWB-specific chips and incorporating them into many of its most popular products. All that remains is to persuade the public.
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