BROADCASTS.com

Have you ever lost your keys or wallet? Of course you have! And it always happens at just the wrong time. You're running late and headed out the door and your keys are nowhere to be found. Now you've got to spend time that you don't have looking for your keys, making you even later for wherever you're headed. Fortunately, there is an easy way to solve this problem thanks to the team at Chipolo.

What is Chipolo?

Chipolo is a company that produces a line of products to help you find what might get lost. The product works by attaching a small Bluetooth LE tracker to the item that you want to track. When you need to locate the item, simply open the corresponding app and, if you are within range, press a button to cause the tracker to make noise.

If you are outside of the transceiver's range, you still have the ability to track it. By default, the app will show you the last place that it was encountered. If you are in a remote place, or in a private location, you will see a map showing where your device last encountered it. If the device is in a more public place, it can be tracked live through interactions with other phones and tablets within range.

Why Chipolo?

The line is similar to some of the other brands you may have heard of, but with a variety of benefits that are lacking with others. Firstly, the most obvious difference is that Chipolo makes products that work with both Apple's and Google's ecosystems. So, no matter what type of phone you own, you still have the ability to use a Chipolo tracker.

Another benefit is that the trackers come in a variety of colors and styles. For example, if you are looking to put one in your wallet, the company offers a slim tracker that looks like a credit card called the CARD. For keys, backpacks, and other uses, there is a small round tracker with a mounting hole in it, called the ONE. Offering multiple styles with different purposes makes the product more versatile. Having one product that tries to do everything means that it doesn't do anything great.

In addition, the ability to purchase in different colors allows you to really personalize your experience. You can also easily differentiate between two similar items because of the color of the Chipolo tag attached. For example, our team has several of the same camera bag, but we can differentiate between the team bags because of the color of the tracker.

Which Chipolo to choose

If you are securely in the Apple product family, the line you want to look at is the Spot. This family works with Apple's Find My ecosystem, allowing all iPhones and iPads to help locate it. If you are in the Android camp, or you have a mixed collection, then the original family is for you.

Either way, both product families are available for purchase today. To learn more or to buy some for yourself, head over to the company's website, or find the products on Amazon or Best Buy.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch.