Find My iPhone – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Apple, Inc
Version #: 1.0
Date Released: 2010-06-20
Developer: Apple, Inc.
Price: 0.00
User Rating:
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Recently, the ability to get Insurance for your iPhone was made available (although we think the pricing is a bit off). But there is still the matter of sensitive data from one’s iPhone falling into the wrong hands. Fortunately, there is the Find My iPhone app from Apple.
Once installed and launched, the app can use your iPhone’s GPS to track it down and present its location on a map. It’s also possible to remotely make the iPhone play a sound for an extended period and display a message to help discourage thieves, or maybe encourage them to bring the phone back. Users can also remotely set a passcode and wipe all personal data from the device. Sounds like a pretty good idea to us.
Here’s the kicker tough: a MobileMe account is required to do any of this. So, while the app is free, to properly safeguard your iPhone, it will cost $99 per year. Of course MobileMe brings a lot of other things with it, so It’s certainly worth having. If you don’t have MobileMe, all of this functionality can be performed at any Apple store, but having control of your phone remotely is something we think is a nice addition to that MobileMe membership. Imagine that you don’t loose your phone at all, but instead use the feature to track your phones location when you "lend it to your teenager". 🙂
Overall, the app is very well done, very easy to use, and provides some additional functionality that I’m sure you will be glad you installed if the unfortunate theft ever occurs.
Quick Take
Value:Medium.
Would I Buy Again:Possibly.
Learning Curve:Low.
Who Is It For:Those who are paranoid about their iPhone security.
What I Like:Free. Good interface.
What I Don't Like:Requires a MobileMe account plus a second device to install the app on.
Final Statement:If you need that extra security to sleep at night and have MobileMe, this app is required.
Sign in with your member name and password (MobileMe subscription required) to locate your missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. You can even remotely lock the device to protect your privacy, or wipe it to permanently delete all of your data if you think that it won’t be returned.
FEATURES
– Locate your iPhone or iPad on a map
– Display a message and optionally play a sound for two minutes at full volume even if your device is set to silent
– Remotely set a passcode lock on your device (or lock it using your existing passcode)
– Remotely wipe your device to permanently erase all of your personal data
The app will automatically sign you out after 15 minutes of inactivity or you can manually sign out at any time.
Please note that you must first set up your MobileMe account and turn on Find My iPhone on each device you want to locate (installing the app is not required).
Find My iPhone requires a MobileMe subscription. If you are not a MobileMe member, you can learn more about MobileMe and sign up for the free 60-day trial at https://www.apple.com/mobileme.
Supported languages: English, French, German, Japanese
Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later
O U R T A K E ...
