Stolen Ipad

Yes Apple can track a stolen iPad. The question is not ability but willingness. My wife just had an iPad stolen. Although the sales person where we bought it says that the company can't track it, the police inform us unequivocally that Apple can indeed track the devise through the GPS system. They asked us to call them should Apple decide to cooperate.

Having been an avid and vocal fan of Apple's for over 30 years, I am very disappointed that the company's policy is that it won't help someone whose iPad has been stolen. It's about a sale, not about customer service.

Apple can't track a stolen iPad with only GPS. (Google it) There needs to be software on the iPad to use the GPS to find the iPad. (Google it) Finally, if you have both GPS and tracking stoftware on the iPad you can find the iPad yourself. The police were wrong.

Correct, David. Just having a GPS chip doen't mean it's trackable.

The cell phones have a function that tell police where the gps-equipped cell phone is, based on the coordinates. It's the phones that can do this, in conjunction with the gps chip. Not just a standalone gps chip.

With Mobile Me, the app has the necessary code to make remote-location tracking work.

I saw a case on Judge Judy about a stolen cell phone. (yes Judge Judy) The person who lost the phone had to get a subpoena for the phone imei/records for his phone... The phone records show who sim card was in his phone. He won the case.

Just having a find me software and GPS isn't going to cut it and the police aren't going to act on this alone. Your going to have to take the person to court who has your iPad along with proof.

Here is the stolen cell phone case on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGb1nIv2mnU&feature=youtubegdataplayer

So, assuming the wi-fi + 3g has an IMEI or equivalent, a person should be able to go to a judge and request a subpoena for AT&T's records of how that IMEI or equivalent is being used. Hmm... Interesting. Good stuff to know if one's phone gets stolen, too.

Thanks for the info, David.

Auto insurance does not cover contents of the car. As "personal property," that's covered by your homeowner's insurance.

<< A Mobile Me subscription allows you to track your iPad only when it is online. ie full battery and a source of power.>>
When it is online, how does it work to locate it ?!

talekas1 wrote:
<< A Mobile Me subscription allows you to track your iPad only when it is online. ie full battery and a source of power.>>

The quoted statement is not exactly correct. "Online" should mean either when the iPad is using wi-fi, or 3g if it has that capability. It does NOT have to have a "full battery and a source of power." In summary, it DOES have to be turned on and connected to a network, either wi-fi or 3g.

As discussed in a number of posts above (and I realize there are quite a few!), if an iPad is wi-fi only, it does not have GPS capability. Instead, it uses "location services" via the network to pinpoint its current location. If the iPad has 3g capability, then it uses actual hardware GPS to pinpoint its current location.

Either way, if a person is signed up for MobileMe, they have the option of turning on a "Find My iPhone" app within MobileMe. Once they have done this, to find their iPad, they simply log into MobileMe and pull up that app. If the iPad is connected to a network (either wi-fi or 3g as explained above), a map will display in MobileMe with a dot where the iPad is reporting itself as located. The user then has various options, including setting or changing a lockout code on the iPad or sending a message to display on the iPad.

You may already know that MobileMe is $99.00 per year (or less for the 1st year if you get it when you purchase an Apple device) for an individual. A family membership is available that costs $149.00 per year and allows 5 users. MobileMe is in no way INTENDED for the sole purpose of tracking a lost or stolen iPhone or iPad - it is an all-around calendar, to-do list, picture and file-sharing, and backup package - that just happens to also include this "Find my iPhone" application as a cool feature.

FYI, Apple cannot legally track your ipad via gps, regardless of their actual capabilities. I work with cell phones and it's the same way. People come in and tell us their phone has been stolen and want us to activate the gps and track it. Legally, we can't do this. There has to be an actual court order in order for this to happen, and those are rarely granted. Basically, it has to be a true emergency, as in a kidnapped child, in order for the court order to be issued. (It has something to do with information privacy and constitutional rights). It *****, but if we can't do it with phones, Apple would be in the same boat with other personal electronics. I hope you find it though, good luck!

The issue is more than legal. Considering the number of individuals that already don't want to take personal responsibility, can you imagine how many persons would allege theft if they knew that would cause Apple to locate a lost iPad? Apple would have to stop manufacturing products and spend all their manpower on locating lost mobile devices.

Greetings,
It would perhaps be helpful to think "Macro" with regard to this. With the THOUSANDS of ios devices lost and stolen, can you inaging the manpower Apple would need to dedicate to helping people locate all of their lost or stolen devices (in multiple languages) and interfacing with Police in hundreds of countries?
It is really unrealistic to expect this in my opinion.

That said...... it really blows to loose your stuff..... sorry that happened to you.

SG

oops,
I meant "imagine"

so its really true? they dont use gps to track it unless it a court order?.. so if sum1 were to take my iphone 4 there is nothin i can do?

I believe that the principle is known as "taking responsibility for your own mistakes."

My ipad was stolen tonight from my dorm room. Seton Hill University was the first university to give their students ipad's and it was so exciting. I love the ipad, I have always taken care of my stuff. I left my room for 45 minutes and my roommate left the room after I did staying on the same floor and left the door open! Someone stole it =( I told my RA and Campus Police but I feel like I'll never get it back. SHU makes all this hype that they give their student's ipads, yet they do nothing to help the students if something gets stolen. The IT department can track the device if its on the network I have a passcode on it, and I just wonder if they turn it off does that mean the IT department wont be able to track it because the wifi goes off too?