Filed under: WWDC, Internet Tools, iPhone, MobileMe
MobileMe: Even it gets some updates
Coming about six weeks too late for Steve Sande, the new Find my iPhone feature demoed at WWDC will enable you to locate your iPhone on a map by logging into me.com. Sadly, I doubt that feature will help those of us who accidentally knock their phones behind the bed or get stuck between the couch cushions, but at least you'll know if it's in the house. Edit: I forgot, you can hear it beep, even if it's set to silent. However, how loud it beeps remains to be seen ...You can also use the Find My iPhone feature to do two things: First, you can send a message to your phone that will display on the screen, even when it's locked, alerting to the Good Samaritan who has found it that you'll be on the way to get it. However, if someone with more nefarious intentions in mind gets ahold of it, you can do a remote wipe of the phone, thus returning it to factory settings.
Not mentioned during the keynote are these little gems:
- The ability to access your iDisk from the iPhone: A feature that should have been on the iPhone for version 2.0, you can upload a file to your iDisk and immediately access it on your phone. The iDisk app will be free through the App Store.
- File sharing via iPhone: Likewise, that nifty little iDisk app will enable you to share a file with someone else by tapping on the "Share" button in the application, and it'll shoot an e-mail link to your recipients. You can also tweak the settings to set passwords and the number of days a file is available. You can also use it to access other MobileMe's Public folders.
- Mail search: If you've got a message on MobileMe but not on the iPhone itself, the improved search capabilities of iPhone OS 3.0 will allow you to search MobileMe for messages in addition to the e-mails that are on your iPhone as well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SSteve said 5:18PM on 6-08-2009
Oh, but it will help find the iPhone stuck between the couch cushions. It makes your iPhone beep so you can locate it.
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mere said 5:21PM on 6-08-2009
came here to post this.
it'll even beep if u have it set to silent
Squid7085 said 5:27PM on 6-08-2009
Also my intent to post that. I think thats a HUGE thing, I can not tell you how many times I have misplaced my phone in a couch or something only to remember its on Silent. So I have to tell everybody to be quiet so I can hear the phone vibrate. Lol. I am excited. Now, for playing tricks, the fact it overrides the silent switch can be useful if you know somebody's Mobile Me Account. :-)
Maxwell Ash said 12:43PM on 6-09-2009
Remote Wipe would be funnier if you knew their account details.
waiownsyou said 5:20PM on 6-08-2009
Remote wipe is lame. It just gives whoever has the phone a new factory-setting iPhone. It should instead render the phone useless and it will only display that message indefinitely.
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mere said 5:22PM on 6-08-2009
FTW
Squid7085 said 5:30PM on 6-08-2009
Thats why most Fortune 500 companies require their employees phones to have a Remote Wipe feature. For some the Data on the phone is a heck of a lot more priceless than the device itself. As far as I know, Remote Wipe doesn't "Give a Factory Phone" It wipes then locks the phone, meaning it will still have to be restored. You really think there would be no way around getting rid of a "Permanent" message?
Johnny said 5:32PM on 6-08-2009
Hell yeah!
Tom said 6:36PM on 6-08-2009
I guess it will be a little like when you enter the wrong unlock code 10 times. I tested this once, the iPhone gets completely wiped and you can't use it at all until you connect it to YOUR computer and sync it to your iTunes again.
Sudeep said 3:14AM on 6-09-2009
+1
It's like doing the job for them.
Sudeep said 3:15AM on 6-09-2009
+1
It's like doing the job for them.
Noah said 6:06PM on 6-08-2009
Is this available now, or do I have to wait until 3.0 is released?
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Timo Reitnauer said 6:20PM on 6-08-2009
Still no possibility to use your own domain name for email though. When is MobileMe closing this gap to Google Apps?
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Ianlive said 9:31AM on 6-09-2009
Good question. I just bought the domain of my personal name and would prefer to use it over my mobile me addy but I love the true syncing of mobile me on my iPhone.
Anyone know if this is even on the table for Apple?
epoxy said 10:05AM on 6-09-2009
i've been using my iphone with my own domain via google for a year and it works fine.
Adam Rice said 7:44PM on 6-08-2009
I'm kind of surprised at the remote-wipe thing. It would have made more sense to put the phone into a gimped mode where it can only call an alternate number you designate.
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JumpDamnitJump said 8:14PM on 6-08-2009
I really can't believe they charge $ for MobileMe. It's largely been a junk show. Now I can use it to manage my lost phone? Fine, but $10 a month? They should just toss it in as part of the ecosystem, uh, I mean icosystem.
-kev
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SSteve said 8:31PM on 6-08-2009
It's only $10/month if you buy it from Apple. If you buy it from Amazon, it's $6.90/month.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MB824Z-A-MobileMe/dp/B001BY45QO
[Disclaimer: I have purchased .Mac retail packages and used them to extend my .Mac account. I haven't yet purchased a MobileMe package and am assuming that you can still extend your account by purchasing a retail package.]
Steve said 9:24PM on 6-08-2009
I'd leave my wife behind before I left my iPhone behind. Who are these people that don't cling to their iPhone like its their lifeblood? Seriously?
Okay, I was kidding about the wife thing, but just BARELY.
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Spid said 7:20PM on 6-09-2009
Actually, I think that's a great idea, but I would like to be sure, I can wipe my data but also lock my phone down in the mean time.
I mean, I don't have password on my iPhone (I know that's bad, but I don't want to enter a code every two minutes (or 5 minutes to be more realistic).
I would like to be able to remove all of my personal info, contacts, etc... and then lock down the phone in emergency mode (only able to call 911... and maybe a phone number you selected during the request... such your home number, etc...); even if the phone was in used when I did my request.... to avoid any over bill for long distance call, etc...
my 2 cents,
Spid
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