Apple apps that help you get around
Apple apps that help you get around
What's coming up?
In this activity you'll learn about some apps that use your device's location services to help you find your way around. You'll find out how to control which apps can access your location, and in what situations these apps are safe to use.
You'll also learn what to do if you'd prefer your location wasn't used by any apps.
Start activityHow your phone knows your location
The iPhone, like other smartphones, can work out its location anywhere on earth with an accuracy of five metres or so.
This sensitive information is kept secure by your phone's operating software and is part of a feature called Location Services.
How to turn Location Services on and off
You can control which apps can use Location Services, and even turn off the feature entirely. You can find the Location Services settings page in the Settings app, under the Privacy & Security category.
You can switch off Location Services at the top of this screen. This is the easiest way to get peace of mind that no app can track your location at all.
How to tell which apps can access your location
The Location Services settings page has a list of those apps on your iPhone that you have provided with access to your location.
If an app has used your location very recently, you'll see a purple arrow next to it. A grey arrow means the app has used your location in the last 24 hours.
Control how and when apps access your location
You can choose when an app is allowed to access your location. Tap it in the Location Services list to see some options.
If you choose Never, some features of the app may stop working. If you are worried that an app might track your location in the background, you can set its access to While Using. This means the app will be blocked from accessing your location as soon as you load another app or return to the home screen.
eSafety tip
The Location Services feature of your iPhone doesn't access any of your personal information, and it doesn't identify you as the owner of the phone in any way.
Location services is safe to use, but it's important to know when the feature is turned on or off, and to be aware of when an app is accessing your location.
The Maps app
One of the most useful location-aware apps is Maps. It works like a street directory, except instead of having to work out which page you are on, Maps centres the map on your current location, and updates the map as your location changes.
If you type an address in to the search bar, the map will change to show that address.
Using the Maps app to get around
Maps can give you directions, either between two addresses, or from a current location to an address.
You'll see the route drawn on the map, as well as the distance and how long it will take to get there.
Search using the Maps app
If you don't know the street address of where you want to go, you can also search for business names, or categories like Vegetarian restaurant or Service NSW office. Maps will show some results and when you choose the one you want, the map will centre on the street address, and you can use this to get directions to the address.
How to choose different kinds of directions
By default, Maps gives directions for driving. But you can tell Maps that you're walking, or using public transport, and it will change the route accordingly.
It will also change the estimated travel time, and depending on where you are, may also show information about when buses, trains, and ferry services depart, as well as which platform or pier to go to.
How location services can find a lost iPhone
If you misplace your iPhone, you can use the Find My service to see its last known location.
Find My is both a service and an app on your device, and it works with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Mac computers.
How Find My works on your iPhone
Find My works with iCloud to track your device's location. If the device goes missing, you can check its last known location using the Find My app on any Apple device.
If you don't own another Apple device, you can use your computer's web browser to access the web app version of Find My, by signing in with your Apple ID on iCloud.com.
eSafety tip
You can find out more about how to set up and use the various features of the Find My app in the Apple iPhone: cloud location services course.
Other apps that use Location Services
While Maps and Find My make use of your iPhone's exact location, other apps just need to know which suburb or city you're in.
Weather apps can use your location to get current conditions and forecasts from the weather reporting station that's the best fit for your exact address, rather than your wider suburb or town.
Other apps that use Location Services (cont'd)
Traffic apps can use your location to notify you of delays nearby. There are also apps that track bushfires and other potentially dangerous situations such as storms or flood. As well as showing incidents and hazards on a map, these apps will send notifications, and use your location to warn you if you need to evacuate.
Well done!
This is the end of the Apple apps that help you get around activity. You've learned about how some of your iPhone's built-in apps use location services to help you get where you're going and find a missing device.
If you're a registered user, you can now complete a short quiz to test your learning. If you're not registered, this is now the end of the Apps that come with your iPhone course.