Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 29 05:51PM
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 22:48:49 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
>>> Surprisingly few have commented yet.
>> No, not surprising at all.
> Have fun explaining why they have done with his other stuff.
The number of posts in a thread is absolutely meaningless.
In most threads, most of the comments are unhelpful noise anyway, so, one
or two good technical accurate responses is about all *any* thread could
hope for in the best of curcumstances.
To that end, I *try* (but sometimes fail) to make "my" posts packed with as
much value as I can pack into them, so that all benefit from the
conversation.
I also almost always *try* the suggestions proposed, if they are
reasonable, and if they fit the circumstances.
Based on taking up all suggestions in this thread, what we have together
developed, so far, is this emergency folder capability:
http://i.cubeupload.com/MPNlDb.gif
a. Local 911 (if applicable in your area)
b. CHP 911
c. Evacuation Route Traffic
d. Police/Fire Scanner (if legal in your area)
e. ?
In addition, I'm working on a button to send out an alert SMS to the family
that also sends the GPS coordinates.
1. For example, this emergencySMS app "says" it will send out a
pre-recorded text to three people at the touch of a button:
- Emergency SMS By DASTIS Communication
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emergency.sms
2. This Emergency reverse-SMS app "says" it will alert you by sound (even
if the phone is on silent or vibrate) if you receive a text from someone
using a pre-defined code word:
- TeXTe - Emergency SMS by Curly Y.
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ravid.dev.esms
3. This emergency 911-related SMS app "says" it will alert your family any
time you call 911:
- 911HelpSMS ( 911 Help SMS ) By Safety Now Solutions
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cabmatch.help911
4. This Emergency SMS app "says" it will alert people with a pre-recorded
message and your GPS location when you press the sleep button a few times
- Emergency Alert By xAnkle
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xankle.mobile.sos
5. This alert app "says" it will alert by phone or email with your GPS
location on a map snapshot along with a pre-recorded message:
- Emergency Button By Andluck
= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emergency.button
etc.
As always, there is so much good freeware out there that the "price" is the
testing to find the best ones - which is why I *asked* what *you* put in
*your* emergency folder (assuming you've tested emergency apps).
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nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>: Sep 29 01:56PM -0400
In article <nsjkbi$8t4$1@news.mixmin.net>, Horace Algier
> I also almost always *try* the suggestions proposed, if they are
> reasonable, and if they fit the circumstances.
no you don't.
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 29 06:38PM
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:56:06 -0400, nospam wrote:
>> I also almost always *try* the suggestions proposed, if they are
>> reasonable, and if they fit the circumstances.
> no you don't.
The difference between you and me is that I try to be helpful (which takes
effort on my part).
I wouldn't normally even respond to your supremely unhelpful post above,
but I do have one thing to say regarding the emergency contact setup that I
just tried, after testing out *all* the suggestions people made:
http://i.cubeupload.com/MPNlDb.gif
The fact that we can change the *name* of *any* app whatsoever could be
helpful, in an emergency context, since we can remove the "brand" name of
the app, and just list what function it has for emergency purposes.
Just by way of example, you'll notice in the latter screenshot above that I
changed the pre-installed "Messages" app to read "sns/mms" (sic), [which I
have just now updated to "sms/mms", after noticing the typo in that
screenshot).
The point is that we can change *any* app name we want, which is useful in
an emergency folder, becuase the brand name isn't going to be instantly
recognized, since we use it so little - but the FUNCTIONALITY (as always)
is paramount ...
*So we can name the Emergency app by its FUNCTIONALITY!*
By way of example, I just changed the pre-installed YouTube app name to
"old youtube" because it's an older version that doesn't do advertisements,
and I changed VLC to "vlc player" just to test if I was able to change the
name of both pre-installed and post-installed apps.
Turns out it's really easy to remove those silly brand names to change the
name of the app to something that makes sense to you. Just long press on
the app icon, and you can change the name to anything you want.
This ability to name any existing app what *you* want to name it is very
useful for an emergency folder, where brand names are meaningless, and
where the *functionality* of the app is paramount.
You can even named the emergency apps "1" "2" "3", etc., so that you can
just press them quickly in an emergency.
Whatever you name them is totally up to you, but this capability to edit
the app name no matter what the app is, will give the emergency folder a
*consistency* which can save time in an emergency since you can name them
"do this first" or "call police and fire" or whatever you want to name the
apps, even if they're apps from the app store.
See this screenshot for the summary of how to change the name of any app on
an unrooted Android device (I'm on Android 4.3, Nova free launcher).
http://i.cubeupload.com/rkBFU9.jpg
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 29 06:43PM
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 06:00:48 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
> unconscious or incapable and that is visible on the lock screen of your
> idevice so anyone can get those details from there as long as your
> phone is still working.
I generally tackle all problems on both iOS and Android, particularly for
emergencies, because you'll never know what you will have in your hands at
the time of an emergency.
On iOS 9.x, when I open contacts and search for "ice" or for "emergency", I
get nothing (not surprisingly, because I never set up anything).
Looking about in iOS contacts, I don't see any overt mention of an
"emergency" system.
Googling, I find this article:
3 Features You Should Enable in iOS 8
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468891,00.asp
In that article, they talk about a "Health" app that Apple supplied in iOS
8, which doesn't seem to be on my device in iOS9 (I skipped iOS 8
altogether since I update the device as little as possible since all hell
broke loose outside the walled garden the penultimate time I updated).
Hmmmm... no "Health" app on this iPad. I only have one desktop screen, and
there's no health app on it, nor in Settings General on the left column.
So, scratch that method (maybe it works only on phones?).
Moving on to another reference, I find this:
https://snapguide.com/guides/add-ice-in-case-of-emergency-contacts-for-iphone/
How to Add ICE (In Case of Emergency) Contacts for iPhone
1. Contacts > + > First = ICE 1 - Wife
2. Copy that to "Last" name also (if contacts are reverse sorted).
3. Company = Patty Winter, wife
4. Scroll down to "add field"
5. The article says scroll to the bottom of the popup to add "notes"
but I don't see any notes. I just see:
- Prefix
- Phonetic first name
- Pronunciation first name
- Middle name
- Phonetic middle name
- Phonetic last name
- Pronunciation last name
- Maiden name
- Suffix
- Nickname
- Job title
- Department
6. So I put the phone number in the Company field instead (since there were
no notes fields).
7. Press "Done".
Hmmm... I guess adding ICE is better than doing absolutely nothing, but
it's not much better than doing absolutely nothing.
Rod, can you elucidate a little bit on what you were alluding to when you
mentioned there was some kind of emergency mechanism on iOS?
Thanks!
NOTE: iPad, with SIM data, iOS 9.3.2 (and staying on that until/unless
there is a compelling reason to risk another release)
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nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>: Sep 29 02:46PM -0400
In article <nsjnd9$fag$1@news.mixmin.net>, Horace Algier
> I generally tackle all problems on both iOS and Android, particularly for
> emergencies, because you'll never know what you will have in your hands at
> the time of an emergency.
blood.
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nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>: Sep 29 02:47PM -0400
In article <nsjn2v$eki$1@news.mixmin.net>, Horace Algier
> > no you don't.
> The difference between you and me is that I try to be helpful (which takes
> effort on my part).
if that's the case, then you failed at that too.
and i wasn't trying to be helpful. i was simply stating the facts,
something which you hate.
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"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>: Sep 30 09:23AM +1000
"Horace Algier" <horatio@horatio.net> wrote in message
news:nsjnd9$fag$1@news.mixmin.net...
> it's not much better than doing absolutely nothing.
> Rod, can you elucidate a little bit on what you were alluding to when you
> mentioned there was some kind of emergency mechanism on iOS?
That bit of the health app that allows anyone to see that on the lock screen
of your phone.
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 02:51AM
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 09:23:10 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
>> mentioned there was some kind of emergency mechanism on iOS?
> That bit of the health app that allows anyone to see that on the lock screen
> of your phone.
OK. Now I get it.
It's sort of like this app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ice-standard-er-smart911-official/id412786820?mt=8
If you're dead (or dying), and your iDevice (maybe just the phone and not
the iPad?) is still locked, the "bit of the health app" that you're talking
about, "tells" your good samartan whatever you wanted to tell them in the
ICE contacts.
Um, er ... ok. That's fine, I guess. Nothing whatsoever wrong with that.
But I'm looking for far-more proactive solutions for the emergency folder,
like, um, things that *prevent* you from being dead in the first place.
To that end, previously I found a ton of Android emergency apps (most of
which seemed to be SMS-related, and GPS location alert related). The
problem on Android is that there are so many, all the work is in selecting
and testing the few that you want to keep.
Googling for iOS emergency apps, the first hit is both Android/iOS:
7 essential personal safety apps for emergency situations
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/11/17/7-essential-personal-safety-apps-for-emergency-situations/#gref
Which lists these:
- Guardly (connects you with your security organization)
- LINE Messenger (disaster stuff)
- Disaster Alert (scare mongering disaster stuff)
- Life360 (tracks you and your family for the NSA)
- Red Panic Button (calls the cops when press the button)
- ICE app (same as iOS unlock screen stuff)
I only quickly skimmed that article, but they all seem scamm'ish to me, so
I'll move on to other apps (unless someone says otherwise).
This article lists five free apps "that can call for help":
5 Free Personal Safety Apps that Can Call For Help
http://www.techlicious.com/tip/free-personal-safety-apps/
1. bSafe (broadcasts video and beeps and calls people when you are scared)
2. Kitestring (keeps asking you if you're ok, and if not, it alerts others)
3. SafeTrek (alert police when you *lift* your thumb *off* the red button!)
4. Bugle (leave the phone at home & it calls the cops if you don't return)
5. Samsung Safety Assistance (notify a list of contacts)
As usual, if you read two articles that are supposedly on the same topic,
and *none* of the apps cross pollinate, that's a sign that the scammish
nature of the apps is predominant. (It's not proof - just a sign.)
Moving on to this (and noting the source), at least some apps finally cross
pollinate, which is a better sign that you're getting slightly closer to
the good stuff:
11 apps that can save your life in case of an emergency
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/10-apps-save-life-case-emergency-article-1.2438105
1. Medical ID (same as the ICE stuff above)
2. ICE Standard (same as ICE stuff above)
3. Bugle (calls the cops if you don't get back to your phone in time)
4. Kitestring (nags you and then alerts others if you don't respond)
5. Family Locator/Life360 (tracks you and your family for the NSA)
6. Red Panic Button (calls the cops when press the button)
7. Siren GPS (calls 911 and sends them your GPS location)
8. SafeTrek (alert police when you *lift* your thumb *off* the red button!)
9. Guardly (calls your company security team)
10. Disaster Alert (scare mongering disaster stuff)
11. Natural Disaster Monitor (less personal scare mongering disaster stuff)
There were plenty of other articles on the subject but this post is too
long already:
DISCLAIMER: I only *skimmed* the articles for the gist of what the apps do,
since the true measure of an app is how horrendous it is in setup and use,
not what the marketing guys "say" it will do.
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 02:51AM
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 09:23:10 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
>> mentioned there was some kind of emergency mechanism on iOS?
> That bit of the health app that allows anyone to see that on the lock screen
> of your phone.
Oh. OK. Thanks. Maybe that health app is only on the phone, but still, it's
not a big deal (I like the emergency-SMS apps I outlined better, for
example, as they do what we'd need in an emergency before we're dead.)
That health app, which, I guess does its job *after* you're dead and your
screen is still locked, doesn't seem to exist on "my" iPad, at least not if
it's named "health.anything".
My iPad was, on purpose, kept on 7.x for as long as possible (since Apple
screws up things outside the walled garden) so when I was forced to move
(due to kids complaining games no longer would work on 7.x) it was to
9.something, thankfully skipping 8.whatever altogether.
Since the health app came with iOS 8, maybe that's why I don't have it?
Or do none of the iPads have that Health app by default?
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 03:01AM
On Tue, 27 Sep 2016 22:35:52 -0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:
> Do you create an EMERGENCY folder on your mobile device (and what do you
> put inside)?
Based on the response, people don't seem to create much of an emergency
folder nor do they do much about emergency apps.
Googling for apps, most found seem to be cross platform (as they should
be), so, it's not an iOS or Android-specific problem - but relates to all
mobile devices.
The plethora of supposed emergency apps is apparent from just the first few
Google hits, as everyone seems to want to get in on the bandwagon, so it
would take a *lot* of effort to come up with the best apps on my own.
Since others aren't adding much value, we'll probably get nowhere further
on this task, but to help out a bit, I'll review the next hit after briefly
skimming it for useful details...
iPhone/iPad Apps for emergencies
http://appadvice.com/applists/show/apps-for-emergencies
Here's just my first impression of the free ones, in order:
1. wikiHow: How to and DIY Survival Kit (jesus ... are they serious?)
2. RepairPal: Auto Repair Expert (omg ... they are serious?)
3. iWrecked - Auto accident assistant (jesus christ ... they're serious?)
4. Winter Survival Kit (omg ... more of the same)
5. iTriage (jesus ... more crap)
6. SPOT Connect (a satellite service - but how does it work?)
Other than the potential for "SPOT Connect" to be a potentially useful app,
the rest, based only on my initial inspection, defy any real definition
other than "jesus christ ... are they serious?".
Let's hope the next hit is better:
50 Emergency Apps: Turn Your Phone into a Life-Saving Device!
http://prepared-housewives.com/emergency-apps-that-might-just-save-your-life/
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 03:18AM
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 03:01:46 -0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:
> Let's hope the next hit is better:
> 50 Emergency Apps: Turn Your Phone into a Life-Saving Device!
> http://prepared-housewives.com/emergency-apps-that-might-just-save-your-life/
Looking at the list of 50 emergency apps that "turn your phone into a
life-saving device"...
50 Emergency Apps: Turn Your Phone into a Life-Saving Device!
http://prepared-housewives.com/emergency-apps-that-might-just-save-your-life/
Skimming the list, and eliminating all the "Diy emergency" apps out of
hand, at the beginning, there's the normal ICE stuff after the crap-DIY
stuff (both of which I find to be basically useless), and then there are
"organizational stuff" apps.
For example...
Who know the Red Cross has emergency apps such as this:
Wildfire - American Red Cross By American Red Cross
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.arc.wfa
Interestingly, along with all the "disaster alert" apps, they do have the
scanner app we've been touting as KISS and unobtrusively free, namely
5-0 Scanner for iOS and Scanner for Android.
The article touts an app called "Map Droyd" which claims it works without
cell service (duh, all offline maps work that way), so I don't know what
the big deal is, but I hadn't heard of "map droyd" before so I'll check it
out separately.
There's also "Google Sky Map" (which I didn't know existed either), which
maps the stars. Having grown up hiking and camping all the time, I can
navigate by the stars on my own in the northern hemisphere, but it's
probably useful for others who don't know how to tell direction from a
quick glance through clouds at the sky.
The isocline map they tout is "Back Country Navigator", and the OSM map
they list is "GPS Grid Reference". They tout MotionX GPS Drive for offline
use navigating on roads, and again we see the potentially useful "Spot
Connect" which purports to use satellite messaging (which I'm not sure how
exactly that works from a non-satellite phone when you have no signal
whatsoever).
After the map selection, there is a ton of cpr-related medical garbage, and
then we see "red panic button" again, which seems simple enough to be
somewhat useful if set up correctly.
After that, there were the inevitable scare mongering social networking
apps such as life360 and social alert...
And the article ends with a handful of completely unrelated apps that they
claim are useful, but in that list are "calculator" and "camera", so, it's
a waste of time to get that far into the article before it ends.
Overall, only two apps strike me as potentially worth a second look, which
are the satellite connection app (how the heck *can* it work?) and the
panic button app - which seems simple enough if it doesn't require logins
and idiotic marketing stuff to work).
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"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>: Sep 30 02:45PM +1000
Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> wrote
> and not the iPad?) is still locked, the "bit of the health app" that
> you're talking about, "tells" your good samartan whatever you
> wanted to tell them in the ICE contacts.
Yep.
> Um, er ... ok. That's fine, I guess. Nothing whatsoever wrong with that.
But no need to put it in any emergency folder or anything similar,
because once its setup, it happens completely automatically. That's
why I meant to delete that bit that I first thought that you were talking
about when I realised that you meant something else, and forgot to
edit that out from my original response before I hit the send button.
> But I'm looking for far-more proactive solutions for the emergency folder,
> like, um, things that *prevent* you from being dead in the first place.
Sure.
> (most of which seemed to be SMS-related, and GPS location alert
> related). The problem on Android is that there are so many, all the
> work is in selecting and testing the few that you want to keep.
Yeah, pretty similar on iOS and since much of what I want in that regard
isnt unique to emergency situations but are used all the time like google
maps and other stuff like that, no need to put them in an emergency
folder or anything like that, although I spose that might make some
sense when setting those up for someone else on their phone etc
particularly if they are the sort of person who might well end up
rather flustered in an emergency situation etc.
But IMO it makes more sense to have emergency phone numbers
in a group in the standard contacts because that is where it makes
rather more sense to have emergency phone numbers IMO. Or best
to have the numbers in both so wherever anyone looks, they will be
found immediately which would be useful in an emergency.
> button!)
> 4. Bugle (leave the phone at home & it calls the cops if you don't return)
> 5. Samsung Safety Assistance (notify a list of contacts)
I think there is something to be said for an app that either works out when
you have got up and if you haven't, eventually asks if you are alright and
if you don't respond, calls the numbers you specify. That would be useful
for those who live alone and would hopefully catch most of the situations
where you say fall and can't get up and don't have your phone with you
at the time and so can't call for assistance yourself etc.
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"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>: Sep 30 02:50PM +1000
"Horace Algier" <horatio@horatio.net> wrote in message
news:nskk08$51k$2@news.mixmin.net...
> 9.something, thankfully skipping 8.whatever altogether.
> Since the health app came with iOS 8, maybe that's why I don't have it?
> Or do none of the iPads have that Health app by default?
That's correct, its only on the iphones and ipod touchs.
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Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com>: Sep 29 11:58PM -0700
> Oh. OK. Thanks. Maybe that health app is only on the phone, but still, it's
> not a big deal (I like the emergency-SMS apps I outlined better, for
> example, as they do what we'd need in an emergency before we're dead.)
<http://www.businessinsider.com/iphones-medical-id-could-save-your-life-2015-12>
--
Regards,
Savageduck
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Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com>: Sep 30 12:06AM -0700
>> not a big deal (I like the emergency-SMS apps I outlined better, for
>> example, as they do what we'd need in an emergency before we're dead.)
> <http://www.businessinsider.com/iphones-medical-id-could-save-your-life-2015-12>
...but
it seems to no longer work that way in iOS 10.0.2.
--
Regards,
Savageduck
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tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net>: Sep 30 04:21AM -0400
On Thu, 29 Sep 2016 18:38:24 -0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:
> Just long press on
> the app icon, and you can change the name to anything you want.
Not here (Android 2.3.5): I long press on an app icon (in the display of
all apps) and an options dialogue comes up: [ Add to Home | Add to group ].
Or, I long press on an app icon on a home screen and when the icon vibrates
I can drag it elsewhere, wherever I want.
But rename it? Sorry, not here. Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 03:00PM
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:21:54 -0400, tlvp wrote:
> Or, I long press on an app icon on a home screen and when the icon vibrates
> I can drag it elsewhere, wherever I want.
> But rename it? Sorry, not here
You need a launcher that supports naming.
I realize you are on Andriod 2.x while I'm on 4.x, but one question for
you:
Does your Android support the Nova free launcher?
If it does, Nova free is fantastic and does a *lot* of things the stock
launchers don't do (e.g., mine came with the TouchWiz launcher which sucks
by way of comparison).
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 03:24PM
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:45:35 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
> for those who live alone and would hopefully catch most of the situations
> where you say fall and can't get up and don¢t have your phone with you
> at the time and so can't call for assistance yourself etc.
I was thinking about that old American commercial, a few decades ago, where
an old lady falls down the stairs and says "I've fallen and I can't get
up".
It was perfectly tuned MARKETING fear mongering, and FUD worked as well
then as it does now.
Still, for those who *need* it, I can't possibly disagree with you, that it
will make them *feel* safe to have the app constantly nag them to ask if
they're OK.
I could even use it, I guess, when I go pot farmer hunting ... :)
Pssst.... it won't help me because *feeling* safe and *being* safe are two
totally different things ... but they might be able to locate the body for
a decent burial.
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Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>: Sep 30 03:24PM
On Fri, 30 Sep 2016 00:06:10 -0700, Savageduck wrote:
>> <http://www.businessinsider.com/iphones-medical-id-could-save-your-life-2015-12>
> ...but
> it seems to no longer work that way in iOS 10.0.2.
Since iOS people buy the things primarily to *feel* safe, it's not
surprising that some people tout this rather minor and privacy invasive e
lock-screen ICE note as a "safety" feature.
I don't have an iPhone (I have iPads), so, if the Medical ID is *designed*
to *require* a log in to an Internet site, it's doubly bad (from a privacy
standpoint).
Even in iOS8 on an iPhone, others have made persuasive arguments *not* to
use this Medical ID "feature", as outlined in this article:
https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/iphone-medical-id/
How, Why, and Why Not to Use the iPhone Medical ID
Since you said something changed in iOS 10 with respect to this ICE
feature, I found this:
How to Access Medical ID from Lock Screen in iOS 10 on iPhone/iPad
https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-access-medical-id-from-lockscreen-in-ios-10/
It doesn't say anything about iOS 10.0.2, per se, and a quick search didn't
find anything related to the Medical ID in 10.0.2 specifically, so I'm not
sure what you're alluding to when you say it no longer works that way in
10.0.2 other than what the article says above.
In short though, Medical ID is exactly what I'd expect from Apple users who
merely want to *feel* safe, without actually *being* safe.
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