14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has updated the Find My iPhone application used to track lost or stolen iOS devices adding the ability to receive an email if an offline device comes online and is located, as well as an option to remove an offline device from the list.
Find My iPhone is part of the dying MobileMe suite of services. However, it’s also a free, standalone service for anyone with an iPhone 4, iPad, or 4th generation iPod touch.
With MobileMe soon becoming extinct, Find My iPhone will undoubtedly be transferred over to iCloud, Apple’s all-new suite of cloud based services.
As its name implies, Find My iPhone lets you find your device if it gets misplaced.
“Just sign in with your Apple ID on your qualifying device and turn on Find My iPhone to allow you to locate it,” Apple explains.
“Then use the same Apple ID to turn on Find My iPhone on your other iOS […] devices.”
If connected to the internet, the lost device will be displayed on map. From there users can choose to have it display a message or play a sound, remotely lock the device, or wipe it to permanently delete all of the data residing on it.
As noted above, the latest version of Find My iPhone adds a couple of extra features:
What's New in Version 1.2
• When you are unable to locate a device because it is is offline, you will receive an email if the device comes online and is located. • Ability to remove an offline device from the list using the app.
Apple asks users to note that they must first set up and turn on Find My iPhone on each device they want to locate, even though installing the app is not required.