Mountain Lion and Location Based Reminders

[Allenbf]

Quick, simple question.

In Mountain Lion, on the Reminders app - can you just type an address for the geofencing feature? For example, if I want to be reminded to stop at a local supermarket as I pass by, in theory can I really just type that address and be reminded as I'm driving past? I have searched google for an answer and can't find anything to confirm this.

Sorry if this seems stupid, I am new to the Mac world and just buying my first Mac, I don't have it yet to test this. Thanks!!

**Obviously I mean would the reminder pop up on my iPhone

 

[ideal.dreams]

Yes, there is an option to be reminded at a location.

 

[race1]

location reminder set on Mac, but Mac doesn't travel

I haven't had a chance to test, but if I set a location based reminder on my Mac, and my Mac stays home, does my iPhone still remind me when I arrive at that location? Does the reminder just go off on whichever device gets there regardless of where the others may be?

 

[Major.Robto]

it will go off on your phone when you go by aslong as the event is in the "Icloud " callander


I dont think the feature is out yet, its with IOS6 not 5, I can not get it to even show up on my mac,

I guess we have to wait for it to work,

 

[race1]

Odd, it's been working for me...

in some ways:

"to-do" reminders that I set on my phone show up on my phone, and were showing up on my Mac running 10.7. Still works in 10.8.

and calendar events that I set a reminder for in 10.7 on my Mac showed up on both my Mac and iPhone, as well. Although 10.7 didn't have the option to make them location based; I could only do that on my phone and it worked when my phone got to the location set but of course not if my Mac arrived there. Needless to say calendar events were set to sync using iCloud.

I'm guessing if I set a location based reminder on my Mac now (running 10.8 obviously) it will remind me on whatever iOS device I happen to be carrying when I get to that destination. That would only make sense, I guess. Of course, usually the only device I'm carrying around is my phone since I remote into my Mac (or at least did with Wyse PocketCloud; having trouble getting it setup on 10.8, but that's another thread). I'm still just not sure if that's the way it works, although it seems to be the only logical way for it to be any good. Location based reminders showing up on the Mac in 10.8 probably won't happen or work all that well since it's location can only be found via Wi-Fi and not cellular like iOS.

 

[whsbuss]

Has anyone actually tried it? And since OS5 will only alert for addresses in the contacts app, try setting a location not in your contacts and see what happens.

 

[pbrooks]

For example, if I want to be reminded to stop at a local supermarket as I pass by, in theory can I really just type that address and be reminded as I'm driving past?

In theory, this is what will happen. I tested out location-based reminders when I upgraded to iOS 5 last year. In my experience, geofencing does not work well enough to be useful. For instance, I would set a reminder reminding me to buy milk when I left work. The alert would come, but 10 or 15 minutes after I left the location. I'd be home already before I received my reminder. Who knows? Maybe it works better now.

Also, using location-based reminders keeps location services turned on on the iPhone which greatly diminishes battery life.

 

[Allenbf]

In theory, this is what will happen. I tested out location-based reminders when I upgraded to iOS 5 last year. In my experience, geofencing does not work well enough to be useful. For instance, I would set a reminder reminding me to buy milk when I left work. The alert would come, but 10 or 15 minutes after I left the location. I'd be home already before I received my reminder. Who knows? Maybe it works better now.

Also, using location-based reminders keeps location services turned on on the iPhone which greatly diminishes battery life.

I have the iPhone 4s and iOS 5, it works great for me in the situation you describe. I'll set a reminder to do something "when I arrive home" and as soon as I pull into the garage, it reminds me. Or I will say "remind me to call xxx when I leave," and as soon as I pull away, it alerts me.

IF it works with Mountain Lion as I understand it (for now), then it is a game changer. Because in theory, I could set a reminder to pick up milk at the local grocer next Friday, and as I drive by the place next Friday, my phone will remind me.

That would be an awesome feature. I hope I am understanding it correctly.

Edit: It would be great if you could select ANY address, and not just one on my contact list, that is what I'm not sure about.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

 

[fins831]

Does reminders has to be open in the background on the phone for location based reminders to work?

 

[race1]

update on location reminders in 10.8...

First, I've found that location reminders work well, but from my experience the larger the address (like some big business complex), the larger the geofence. I find that when set to home the fence is relatively small (a few 100 feet of my front door). When set for arriving or leaving work it's about 1/4 mile+ (big place). The grocery store seems to be inbetween (~200 yds). I don't know if this is true; just my observation and it's consistent.

The other thing is that setting a location based reminder on my mac (at home without my Mac ever leaving home) for when I arrive at work. It bombed. I had hoped my phone would remind me since my completely re-partitioned, re-formatted Mac running 10.8 picked up my address book from iCloud (only my iPhone had it). Reminder left me cold. I've been to work three times this week and haven't seen it yet. I have it in a "Work" reminders group, but that shouldn't make a difference; it never did before.

I just noticed something; I tried setting another test reminder for when I show up at work, and this time after being in the reminders app for a few minutes, when I selected the "arriving" radio button, the drop down list was populated with all off my contacts that had an address. I think the app in 10.8 needed more time to sync up with the address book. I did this pretty fast the first time and had never been in it on the Mac - I have a good feeling about it this time.

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Does reminders has to be open in the background on the phone for location based reminders to work?

Reminders need not be opened first for them to work - like if you reboot or turn on your phone in the morning and go - reminders will just work.

 

[race1]

Update: Reminders on the Mac work

After setting another location based test reminder on my Mac using 10.8, I got to the location I set and it wen't off on my phone.

I think on a new install, you just have to be in the reminders app long enough for addresses to link up to it. Very cool to be able to set reminders of any kind on my Mac and know my iPhone will always remind me, location based or otherwise.

People can hate Apple all they want and use whatever they care to, but I know my stuff will always work. Great things you're doing, Apple!