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iPhone Location Services: Unexpected Benefits

April 5, 2016
iPhone Location Services: Unexpected Benefits

The Benefits of Location Services: Beyond the Headlines

Recent scrutiny of companies such as Facebook, regarding their utilization of smartphone GPS data, has prompted a re-evaluation of public perception. It’s important to understand that location services are not inherently malicious, despite negative portrayals in the media.

Understanding the Concerns

It's crucial to acknowledge the valid concerns surrounding location data. Granting applications access to your location can impact your device’s battery life. Furthermore, this access provides companies with data that can be leveraged for targeted advertising.

Making Informed Decisions

Therefore, a cautious approach is recommended. Users should carefully consider which applications require location access and grant permissions selectively.

While potential drawbacks exist, dismissing location services entirely overlooks their numerous advantages. Thoughtful management of these settings allows users to benefit from the technology while mitigating potential risks.

Key Considerations for Users

  • Be mindful of which apps request location permissions.
  • Understand that granting access can affect battery performance.
  • Recognize that location data can be used for advertising purposes.

Ultimately, responsible usage and informed decision-making are key to maximizing the benefits of location services while safeguarding your privacy.

Leveraging Location-Based Reminders for Grocery Shopping

Do you frequently find yourself forgetting essential items, despite having them listed? The Reminders app offers a surprisingly useful feature – a location service – that allows you to link specific locations to your reminders, ensuring nothing is overlooked.

This functionality can be particularly helpful when planning trips to stores like Safeway. Creating a grocery list within the Reminders app, accessible from your home screen, is the first step.

Setting Up Location-Based Alerts

After creating your list, select the small "i" icon positioned next to the initial item. This action will navigate you to a detailed settings screen.

Scroll down within this screen to locate the "Remind me at a location" option. Input the desired location associated with the task.

Upon successful configuration, a visual indicator will appear beneath the reminder, confirming the location association.

The system also provides control over when the reminder is triggered. You can choose to receive the alert upon arrival at the specified location, or alternatively, when you depart from it.

This flexibility is especially beneficial for items like milk. It guarantees you'll remember to purchase everything needed before traveling too far from the store, eliminating unnecessary return trips.

Locating Friends is Effortless

Apple’s exclusive “Find My Friends” functionality empowers users to utilize location services for both discovering the whereabouts of their contacts and sharing their own location. This can be achieved directly within the application or through individual text messages.

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To initiate location sharing via Find My Friends, launch the app from your device’s home screen and select "Allow" when prompted for permissions. Subsequently, individuals who have added you to their account will be able to readily view your location without needing to engage in lengthy phone conversations.

The application also facilitates the creation of automated alerts. These alerts will send a text message to a specified contact or group whenever your phone registers your departure from a defined geographical area, such as your residence.

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To establish what Apple terms a "Geofence," begin by accessing the Find My Friends app and then selecting the "Me" icon located at the bottom of the screen. This will lead you to the following page:

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Select "Other" and then input your address. A circular boundary will then appear, adjustable to precisely encompass your home or extend to the size of your city, allowing notifications as soon as a journey begins.

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Upon your phone detecting an exit from the designated Geofence, all contacts on the notification list will receive a text message informing them of your departure! The alert trigger can be easily switched between arrival and departure as needed.

Depart at the Optimal Moment, Consistently

Related: A guide to disabling Facebook Messenger's location tracking, should it be enabled.

Do you have a dental appointment scheduled for 11:00 AM, coupled with a meeting back at the workplace at noon, and are uncertain about the duration of the appointment and subsequent travel time?

The iPhone's Calendar app offers a solution with its Time to Leave feature. This ensures you receive a notification indicating the precise moment to depart, factoring in traffic and travel duration, regardless of how long your dental procedure takes.

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When scheduling events that demand punctuality, remember to include the location details within your Calendar entry.

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Verify that the "Time to Leave" setting is activated within the Settings app. To locate this setting, navigate to the Settings application first. Then, scroll down to "Mail, Contacts, and Calendars" and select the "Default Alert Times" option.

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This feature is typically enabled by default, but it may be deactivated due to specific Restrictions settings.

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Enable this setting, and your iPhone will automatically schedule notifications for upcoming Calendar events. These notifications will be sent a few minutes before the estimated travel time, utilizing current traffic data from Apple Maps.

Currently, this functionality is limited to driving directions. If you intend to travel by walking, cycling, or public transportation, it is recommended to set a timed reminder instead.

Controlling Location Services via Privacy Settings

Related: A guide to Managing App Permissions on your iPhone or iPad

It’s important to recognize that applications differ in their needs, and some may utilize GPS unnecessarily, even when not actively in use.

To optimize battery performance and maintain control over your data, you can individually configure which applications are granted access to your location, and which are prevented from activating it, through the Privacy menu within your iPhone’s Settings application. Begin by launching the Settings app and then navigating to the Privacy section.

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Within this menu, you will find a tab prominently displayed at the top labeled "Location Services".

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Selecting this tab will direct you to the following interface:

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From here, you have the option to disable Location Services entirely using a single toggle. Alternatively, you can manage app-specific access to this feature. This granular control is particularly useful if you frequently use applications like Maps, while simultaneously restricting access for other, potentially less trustworthy, apps.

Concerns regarding battery drain and privacy are frequently voiced as reasons to disable location services. While it may be prudent to prevent applications like Facebook from constant location tracking, Location Services can, in many instances, be a beneficial and practical feature of your smartphone.

Beyond these specific cases, Location Services can prove to be a valuable asset to your device’s functionality.

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