Apple blunder resulted in all AirTag units in the world receiving a new update at the same time،
To prevent all AirTag users from requesting a firmware update at the same time, which would put a strain on Apple's computer systems, the company is staggering the release of these updates so that such a scenario does not happen. That makes sense, right? However, according to a tweet from the “X” account
iSoftware Updates (@iSWUpdates), Apple made an error in setting the AirTag update rollout date to version 2.0.73.
The update would normally have a deployment date in the following format: “m/d/2024” with “m” representing the month and “d” representing the date of the update. When Apple marked the year, the person responsible for this work accidentally typed “m/d/24” by mistake. Or maybe it was just muscle memory since most places ask for the last two years of the current date instead of all four digits.
Nevertheless, the error created a situation within Apple. As @iSWU explained in their tweet, “As a result, AirTags think the deployment dates are in year 24 and they simply move to the 100% deployment batch.” The latter does exactly what it sounds like and pushes the update to all AirTag units wherever they are in the world, all at the same time.
As for the firmware update to version 2.0.73, Apple hasn't released a detailed changelog for the update, which means we have no idea what changes owners will get. 'AirTag should expect tracking items after updating. This is the first update to the AirTag tracker since last October. To update your AirTag, keep it near the iPhone you paired it with. Open the Find My app on iPhone while walking around. This should help the handset detect the AirTag and trigger the update.
Speaking of AirTag, Apple recently attempted to have a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed. The suit accuses the item tracker of being used by criminals to stalk their victims. By
BloombergJudge Vince Chhabria refused to dismiss the case, pointing out that the three plaintiffs had presented enough claims to support negligence and product liability allegations against Apple.
