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iOS 13 code reportedly hints at Apple's rumored Tile competitor

The tags would reportedly work with the new Find My app.

Shelby Brown Editor II
Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
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  • She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville's communication department.
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Shelby Brown
Apple WWDC 2019

IOS 13's code might have clues to a future gadget. 

 James Martin/CNET

WWDC's keynote presentation on Monday was packed full of news on iOS 13, iPadOS, MacOS Catalina and more. And now that the betas for all of Apple's new operating systems are available to developers, some surprises have started to surface. Developer Steve Moser tweeted about "Tag 1.1" Tuesday after digging into the iOS 13 beta code.

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

Moser wasn't the only one fiddling around under the hood; 9to5Mac corroborated the code.

The "tag" device would work similarly to Tile trackers, the small, square, battery-powered tiles that aim to help you find your lost keys, bags and other items. The tag tracker could be attached to any item -- your keys, purse or backpack for instance -- and then paired with your iCloud account by proximity to an iPhone  or other Apple device. You'd reportedly get notifications when the device gets too far away from the tag, so you wouldn't lose things.

Apple iOS 13: Top new features

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That, of course, is an expansion on the new Find My app, the hybrid of the apps formerly known as Find My iPhone and Find My Friends, that Apple announced at WWDC. But a dedicated hardware device would allow anything to be tracked, not just misplaced iPhones, iPads or AirPods. 

9to5Mac had previously reported on rumors of the tracking devices in April. 

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but it's possible the company will reveal more information in September, when it's expected to unveil the iPhone 11 and other new 2019 hardware.

Watch this: Apple reveals tons of software updates and a Mac Pro at WWDC

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