Last summer my Blackberry died and I was so sad. It had become my little electronic friend through to quote the “It was the best of times. It was the worse of times” of two years. It rarely crashed and I loved the little keyboard. However, when I went to the store with my husband who had recently upgraded to Android, the store representative suggested I should change to the Android too.
Vin said that as my business had changed from PDF downloads and using Word for my finance business I should consider the Android as it would be a lot more helpful for the new media outlets I would now be using i.e. Facebook, WordPress, my website etc.
Reluctantly, I agreed. I say reluctantly because some of my finance clients had struggled with it when they first started to use it, I think looking back they struggled with the Qwerty screen being a tap and swipe rather than easy little buttons.
I took my new little friend home and started to try and develop a relationship with it, sometimes a frustrating one as swipe texting can drive me insane some times! Vin suggested I talk the text… but… seriously? With my accent? People don’t always understand me let alone a phone! LOL
I did however discover some really cool aspects to it though. We have Vin’s seventeen year old daughter live with us and he was worried in Summer as to where she was going, if she was safe, what would she do if she had an accident or something happened outside of her control… Would she be able to call for help in time.
This is when we discovered Life 360 an App for Android, iPhone and Blackberry. It’s an amazing little app! You register your phone number to it after downloading it to your phone with easy walk through instructions and viola! We are all mapped! Gone were the phone calls between us of “Where are you?” “How long will it take you get home?” etc. It’s a simple tap and it shows you on a map where we all are. It incorporates and a red tap button for alerts if you need help. It also has a “Check In” so family members can “Check in” with each other! And if that wasn’t enough you can register your phone in case it gets lost or stolen, it will be tracked and found! And it shows all your local police precincts/stations, Fire houses and sex offenders in your vicinity! How beautiful is that!?
Now for those who have been in difficult situations before I think it’s a wonderful tool and seriously wished I’d had it available when I was being stalked and threatened. It would have been a lot easier than running through town trying to find a Police car… Which one night I did, surprising the hell out of them by banging on their window screaming for help! They let me into their car and called the officer who was looking after my case, who was a sweetheart because apparently he was having dinner with his family! He told them to escort me back to my car and follow me home so I arrived back safe.
Sorry I digressed for a moment there… flashbacks can certainly jump upon you suddenly!
I strongly suggest this app for everyone and not just women, I mean everyone can find themselves in truly terrible and horrific times in life without any notice at all.
It has won numerous awards too, Mobile Apps Showdown 2012, The National Parenting Center 2012 Seal of Approval Winner, National Parenting Publications Awards Gold Seal Winner, RCRWireless News Innovation Award, Mom’s Choice Awards
Gold Seal Winner, About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards Coolest Parenting & Teens Gadget Winner, The Webby Awards
People’s Voice Winner for Best Use of GPS or Location Technology, Facebook fbFund “Technology Winner”, Babble Top 25 Apps for Moms, Google Android Developer Challenge Grand Prize Winner, PTPA. Winner.
Tell what do you think to these apps? Are they a blessing or a curse? Would it make you feel more empowered? Or do you feel they are an invasion of privacy?
Rather than post up a video about it from Life 360, I posted this one from a father who loves and shows you how easy it is to use.
Link to it from here: www.life360.com
I love it and I am downloading it as I type… LOL. Thanks for the recommendation.
It’s cool isn’t it? What a great way to stay safe
Android really are taking over
If you, and you alone, had the choice to buy any mobile, would you have bought a BlackBerry again? I ask this because I read an article about a year ago, it stated that most BB users were unlikely to buy a BB again. It would be interesting to get your take on this
I would but the screen needed to be bigger which you can get now. I think it’s the phone I have needs to be bigger maybe because texting is a pain with Swype! Roar! Lol
Thanks
In a few weeks you will be texting without even looking at your new phone – a text wizard 
Then there’s no hope! I’ve had it 3 months already and still hate the Swype thing!!!! Lmao
Very nice indeed! Downloading as I type. Every Geek Girl needs this app.
It’s a great app, personally I love it as it has more features than others that profess to be the best
I like the post! I have a BB for work…and I absolutely hate it!! Anyway… I will definitely take a look at the app after reading your recommendation!
It has so many great features, plus if you are meeting up with someone you can see where they are and saves an agitated Where are you!? phone call… It just changes to Why haven’t you left already!? call lol
Interesting post, Claire. I have totally resisted the new wave of ‘smart/techy’ phones. Mine is basic and I like it that way. However, you have made a really important point about it being useful in tricky situations. Thank you for highlighting that to me.
Your welcome!
It shows sex offenders in the area?! That’s one comprehensive app!
Yes it does… each and everyone including a profile picture if you click on their icon.. above their abode! It even includes what their profile is and why!
Claire, firstly being stalked and threatened (too scary) whilst your case worker was having dinner with his family. I guess he must, but where was the backup? Just wrong!
This is like pandora’s box….yes could be used to invade privacy, but I would certainly appreciate it if I was in any sort of trouble. Also with the sex offenders, isn’t there a law protecting them from such things? I’m sure in Australia this is the case when they have served their time (in my opinion the kid will never get over it, so why should they – but that is another story).
Thank you for your comment
I didn’t begrudged my police case worker for taking a day off… we all need one I’ve found. As far the sex offenders here they are put onto a public record along with Child Abusers. It’s in case they look for work in areas they have been prohibited to work in. i.e. A Sex or Child Abuse Offender is not allowed to work in areas such as schools, hospitals etc. I know a registered child abuser and she would not be allowed to work in those fields as she mentally and verbally abused her child… There was no time served but was still registered.
I actually find this type of app a curse. Having that type of phone on display can make you more of a target. But this was a good read.
I agree if you wander around with it and don’t pay attention as to what is happening around you.
I like it because at one point I was stuck by my computer working 15 hour days as I needed to be on Sykpe and believe me clients weren’t happy if I took a bathroom break. These type of phones gave me freedom to go out and live! lol But I don’t walk around texting someone now I wait to get to where I’m going first then reply etc.
Unfortunately, an app like this is just another tool for perpetrators to use to stalk their victims.
My friend recent got robbed and was his is progress.