Apple: Find My iPhone App Now Available

kjk · 06-18-2010, 01:05 PM

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/news/2...an-update.html

Quote:

If you lose your iPhone or iPad while on the go, simply install the Find My iPhone app on any other iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to find it. Sign in with your member name and password to locate your missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. You can even remotely lock the missing device to protect your privacy, or wipe it to permanently delete all of your data if you think that it won't be returned.* The app will automatically sign you out after 15 minutes of inactivity or you can manually sign out at any time.

Works great-and much easier than using Mobile Safari. It even shows a little icon of either the iPhone or iPad in question.

Had to promise my son I wouldn't use it for evil though

Maggie Leung · 06-18-2010, 01:08 PM

Cool. Thanks for the heads up.

toddos · 06-19-2010, 03:12 AM

Too bad it requires a MobileMe subscription. There are free Android apps that work better without requiring a monthly charge.

scottjl · 06-19-2010, 11:01 AM

oh. quick. let's all ditch our iOS devices for android now..

Sischa · 06-19-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottjl

oh. quick. let's all ditch our iOS devices for android now..

Yeah come on scottjl someone said something against your beloved apple. Fight back ... Pathetic

And by the Way he has a point why a monthly fee for such a simple feature. Not only android makes that possible for free Even windows mobile and symbian.

scottjl · 06-19-2010, 12:40 PM

sischa, have you decided to take up kenny's old job or what? save your attacks for someone who really cares.. your attempts are pretty pathetic in themselves. if you're going to troll, try harder.

HarryT · 06-19-2010, 01:25 PM

Ad hominem attacks and slurs are strictly contrary to MR Guidelines. Repeats of same may result in removal of access to MR. Responses of "But he/she said..." will not be entertained.

MR Moderating Team

JSWolf · 06-19-2010, 02:50 PM

An important function like finding your Apple device should not require a monthly payment.

Android has the right idea by giving that functionality for free. It seems that Apple has a lot of catching up to do with Android.

Android multitatsks from the get go and it doesn't restrict that functionality based on the face they they want you to upgrade your hardware. Apple on the other hand is restricting functionality where there's no need to do so (with iOS 4 and older hardware) just to get people to upgrade for no good reason other then Apple's inherent greed.

scottjl · 06-19-2010, 03:02 PM

Anyone who depends on this "Find my lost phone" "feature" is a tad bit of a fool. All it takes it a quick yank of the SIM (which most thieves will do quickly after they walked off with your phone) and there goes the ability. Once the phone is wiped and slotted with a new SIM you can no longer find your lost phone. It's a gimmick, nothing more.

Android has the capability and may have given the capability away for free, but not all hardware vendors implement it. It also isn't as one-stop as the Apple application is. Is it given away free with your phone? Maybe, but maybe not with someone else's Android. People seem to confuse Android, which is a phone operating system, with actual hardware which has various capabilities made by many different manufacturers. Even feature sets vary from carrier to carrier.

As for multitasking, this one has been hashed out in a few other threads, feel free to revisit them if you want to join the argument. Short answer is, yes, Android allowed free-for-all multitasking and paid for it in battery life. Wasn't until they started locking it down that people got more than a few hours of life out of their phones.

Apple upgrades, no good reason? Hmm. Let's see. Faster processor. More RAM (512M vs. 256M). Better camera. Front facing camera. More durable glass face. Longer battery life. Slimmer design. None of those reasons may be good enough for you, but they certainly are to many other people.

HarryT · 06-19-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottjl

Anyone who depends on this "Find my lost phone" "feature" is a tad bit of a fool. All it takes it a quick yank of the SIM (which most thieves will do quickly after they walked off with your phone) and there goes the ability. Once the phone is wiped and slotted with a new SIM you can no longer find your lost phone. It's a gimmick, nothing more.

I guess it's useful in situations where your phone really is lost, as opposed to stolen. You might have left it in a store or a restaurant, but be unable to remember which one.

Maggie Leung · 06-19-2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I guess it's useful in situations where your phone really is lost, as opposed to stolen. You might have left it in a store or a restaurant, but be unable to remember which one.

Yup, I think that scenario more likely. I don't think I'd risk my safety by pursuing a thief on my own, even if possible, and I don't think cops are going in hot pursuit of a gadget, even if stolen.

By the way, what do you techies think of this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/te...ref=technology

I'm not technical, so I dunno how effective these options would be.

kjk · 06-19-2010, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Yup, I think that scenario more likely. I don't think I'd risk my safety by pursuing a thief on my own, even if possible, and I don't think cops are going in hot pursuit of a gadget, even if stolen.

By the way, what do you techies think of this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/te...ref=technology

I'm not technical, so I dunno how effective these options would be.

I've thought about getting Undercover for my Macbook when I was traveling, since it has a lot of personal data on it. But I just don't take it with me that often any more. Not sure if I'd use it for an iPad though.

And yeah, I like FindMyiPhone for more the accidental/convenience finding features. But I also don't underestimate the stupidity of most thieves-I have a feeling a lot of them wouldn't know a SIM card if it hit them in the face-plus, who carries a paperclip around with them 24/7

Maggie Leung · 06-19-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk

I've thought about getting Undercover for my Macbook when I was traveling, since it has a lot of personal data on it. But I just don't take it with me that often any more. Not sure if I'd use it for an iPad though.

And yeah, I like FindMyiPhone for more the accidental/convenience finding features. But I also don't underestimate the stupidity of most thieves-I have a feeling a lot of them wouldn't know a SIM card if it hit them in the face-plus, who carries a paperclip around with them 24/7

Yup, wiping data seems more important to me, because the likelihood of recovering stolen hardware seems low to me. I'm guessing thieves aren't that worried about being tracked quickly even with the SIM card in.

HarryT · 06-19-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk

plus, who carries a paperclip around with them 24/7

I do, because it's the "universal reset tool" for gadgets. I have one in my wallet

.

kjk · 06-19-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I do, because it's the "universal reset tool" for gadgets. I have one in my wallet

.

Ok, I admit, when I carried around my REB1100, I also carried around a paper clip to reset it

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Retro iPhone - iRetrophone is Rotary Dialer app for iPhone!	Madam Broshkina	Lounge	13	04-01-2009 10:46 AM

06-18-2010, 01:08 PM	#2
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	Cool. Thanks for the heads up.

06-19-2010, 03:12 AM	#3
toddos Guru Posts: 695 Karma: 822675 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Aura, Nokia Lumia 920 (Freda)	Too bad it requires a MobileMe subscription. There are free Android apps that work better without requiring a monthly charge.

06-19-2010, 11:01 AM	#4
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	oh. quick. let's all ditch our iOS devices for android now..

06-19-2010, 12:40 PM	#6
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	sischa, have you decided to take up kenny's old job or what? save your attacks for someone who really cares.. your attempts are pretty pathetic in themselves. if you're going to troll, try harder.

06-19-2010, 01:25 PM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Ad hominem attacks and slurs are strictly contrary to MR Guidelines. Repeats of same may result in removal of access to MR. Responses of "But he/she said..." will not be entertained. MR Moderating Team

06-19-2010, 02:50 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	An important function like finding your Apple device should not require a monthly payment. Android has the right idea by giving that functionality for free. It seems that Apple has a lot of catching up to do with Android. Android multitatsks from the get go and it doesn't restrict that functionality based on the face they they want you to upgrade your hardware. Apple on the other hand is restricting functionality where there's no need to do so (with iOS 4 and older hardware) just to get people to upgrade for no good reason other then Apple's inherent greed.

06-19-2010, 03:02 PM	#9
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	Anyone who depends on this "Find my lost phone" "feature" is a tad bit of a fool. All it takes it a quick yank of the SIM (which most thieves will do quickly after they walked off with your phone) and there goes the ability. Once the phone is wiped and slotted with a new SIM you can no longer find your lost phone. It's a gimmick, nothing more. Android has the capability and may have given the capability away for free, but not all hardware vendors implement it. It also isn't as one-stop as the Apple application is. Is it given away free with your phone? Maybe, but maybe not with someone else's Android. People seem to confuse Android, which is a phone operating system, with actual hardware which has various capabilities made by many different manufacturers. Even feature sets vary from carrier to carrier. As for multitasking, this one has been hashed out in a few other threads, feel free to revisit them if you want to join the argument. Short answer is, yes, Android allowed free-for-all multitasking and paid for it in battery life. Wasn't until they started locking it down that people got more than a few hours of life out of their phones. Apple upgrades, no good reason? Hmm. Let's see. Faster processor. More RAM (512M vs. 256M). Better camera. Front facing camera. More durable glass face. Longer battery life. Slimmer design. None of those reasons may be good enough for you, but they certainly are to many other people.