Thanks to a clever trick, this item finder can track things far outside of Bluetooth range

By Alexander Thickstun and Drew Prindle Published May 18, 2016

People have been losing their keys and wallets ever since keys and wallets were invented — but nowadays, thanks to miracles of modern technology, retrieving those items is easier than ever before. Unlike our ancestors –who presumably had to resort to things like thinking, retracing steps, and recruiting bloodhounds to find lost items– we can just turn to gizmos like the TrackR Bravo when we need to find something we lost.

To be quite honest, devices like this are a dime a dozen these days, but as the newest kid on the Bluetooth item finder block, TrackR Bravo boasts a slew of cool features that you won’t find anywhere else. In addition to the regular suite of functions (distance indicator, item ringer, phone finder, etc.), the Bravo also has the ability to track items that aren’t within Bluetooth range of your phone. This is possible through TrackR’s clever “Crowd GPS” feature, which essentially allows the device to sniff out other TrackR users nearby and piggyback on their internet connections to send you the location of your item.

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And the best part? It’s also got replaceable batteries. Unlike other item trackers, you don’t have to replace TrackR Bravo after it loses its juice. Instead of mailing the tracker to the manufacturer for a replacement, you can just grab a pen, swivel the battery tray out, and pop in another CR1616 battery. If you’re the type of person who’s constantly losing track of your keys, your wallet, or any other essential item, then this gizmo is for you.

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Alexander Thickstun

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alexander graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2005 and an MBA in 2011. He's an outdoor enthusiast and avid…

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