Jeffrey Donenfeld

Tag: ios5

  • How To Enable Geofenced Notifications in Apple iOS 5

    How To Enable Geofenced Notifications in Apple iOS 5


    Over the past few days after the release of iOS5, I’ve been eagerly trying to set up geofenced notifications. Previously I wrote about the release of geofencing in iOS5, and now I’ve had a bit of time to test geofenced notifications. It seems that the process is not quite as smooth as it could be, but finally I’ve gotten it to work.

    In my testing, it appears that the notifications will only work and sync correctly when using calendar and notifications with iCloud. You can’t use the notifications if you’re syncing your calendars only with Gmail or Exchange (like i usually do) – you must use iCloud for now.

    Here are the steps for getting geofencing notifications on iOS5 it working.

    1. Make sure your iCloud account is setup online, and enable the same iCloud account on your iPhone.
    2. Make sure that the notifications and calendars are syncing with iCloud on your iPhone.

      The iCloud services control panel in iOS5. Be sure calendars and reminders are turned on.

      3. (more…)

  • Apples’s iOS 5 Finally Adds Geofencing

    Apples’s iOS 5 Finally Adds Geofencing


    New post for iOS 6 – Geofencing in iOS 6
    ==
    As I’ve been discussing for literally years, the concept of “Geofencing” – creating virtual fences around geographic points in order to trigger certain events when the barrier is crossed – is getting ready to change the way we’re productive, and the way we run our days. By using geofencing, starter apps on mobile devices have allowed users to do things like automatically checking to FourSquare (as in the iOS app Mayormaker), and be notified when their friends are near. Now, with Apple’s iOS5 mobile device software update, Geofencing functionality is integrated at the core OS level. Calendar events and tasks can now be tagged with a location, and an action assigned when the user is near that particular location.

    I’ve been waiting for this feature for a long time, and I’m interested to see how it could improve my daily productivity, and eliminate backtracking as I go about my day. My iPhone 4 is actually in the process of updating to iOS5 now, so we’ll see how it actually works shortly.

    From Apple:

    Next time you think to yourself, “Don’t forget to…,” just pull out your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and jot it down. Reminders lets you organize your life in to-do lists — complete with due dates and locations. Say you need to remember to pick up milk during your next grocery trip. Since Reminders can be location based, you’ll get an alert as soon as you pull into the supermarket parking lot. Reminders also works with iCal, Outlook, and iCloud, so changes you make update automatically on all your devices and calendars.

    (more…)