A new feature in Apple’s iOS 8 software might make it easier for users to track down missing or stolen devices. The setting seen above can be found in the Find My iPhone panel of the device’s iCloud settings, and enables the phone to automatically send its last known location to Apple’s iCloud service if the phone’s battery is almost dead.
The data will apparently be stored for 24 hours after the phone’s battery dies, so even if the phone is no longer turned on users can at least have some idea of where it was active.
Of course, there’s still a chance that thieves could just turn off the device before the battery reaches a critical level and avoid being caught by this feature. Perhaps a future update will allow the phone to send this information as part of its regular shutdown process, but for now it’s at least a step in the right direction.
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apple needs to add the ability to prevent power down from the lock screen
I would prefer if the iOS device asks for my passcode for shutdown.
I agree. This feature is already available in the jailbreak community.
Agreed. iPhones should also send last known location before turning Airplane Mode on, considering that it can be accessed from the lock screen.
If you’re smart enough, you disable notification centre and mission control on lock screen :-) Disabling powering off is the next logical step. I sincerely can’t understand why is Apple making stuff like Find My iPhone when any clever thief turns the phone off immediately.
The reason why Apple makes this stuff available is because not all crooks are all that smart and it may not be stolen, only lost. And since iOS 7, the phone cannot be removed from Find My Phone without the users iTunes password. No matter how you slice it, these features make it the best phone out there. Many, many, many accounts of how these features have resulted in recovered devices, whether they were lost or stolen. Keep it up Apple.
I find what you are all saying is hilarious. Imagine if the thief cant have his way and just destroys the product because of anger. That find my iphone/ipad is pretty much useless then.
But it will be the last iPhone he steals. This was already true with the introduction on iOS 7 of the iCloud lock.
I had all the security options on on my iPhone 5S + Control Center was disabled on lock screen. The dude stole my phone and just turned the phone, never turned it on. 3 weeks now and it hasn’t been on. This hurts, the fact that its pretty useless for him and yet I can’t have it.
Reblogged this on Apple Deaf News.
This has been a joke since day one. It is so on obvious that the iPhone shoul use the same passcode to power down, as it does to unlock.
People don’t turn their phones off much as is, so it not going to be a unconvince. I have had iPad stollen, post iOS 7 and after a week, the morn finally plugged it in to his PC giving the cops an I his location. 2 months later, iPhone stollen. Been 3 months and it was shut down install and to this day, a mystery.
Having a passcode is so easy, it’s my belief it a matter of choice, not a lack of option.
Lost cellphones are a 30 Billion dollar industry. This accounts for the insurance 50% of those who get it, are for lost protection, not damage.
They do enough to make it seem like they are trying, when in reality, find my phone is only useful for finding it in a couch.
So not true, pull your head out. There are so many accounts of recovered stolen phones. I’m sorry that yours was not recovered but just because your was not does not make it a bad thing or a joke. It is a great thing and has helped many people. I do agree with several posts, that it would be a good thing to have to enter your password to power down…but what about that rare occasion when the phone is locked so hard you can’t do anything? You will always need to have a way to force the hardware to power off and back on again. Bottom line, you can’t protect against everything but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect what you can.
Wish I saw this sooner, but either way, I agree, a force off is one thing, but Apple has an easier work around already, ‘Soft Reset’ This force the phone to turn off, but back ON.. Say it’s ‘SO NOT TRUE’ but that nuts, and it’s not about my device, it’s the 1 phone stolen per 3 seconds. It’s an easy work around and easy to fix. Soft Reset solves you issue and solves mine as well.
Opps, and also, I never said to disable the power button, I said to disable power down. Even add a feature in ‘Lost Mode’ that shut all non essential software off, including screen brightness, BlueTooth and LTE to increase the length the phone can be tracked and powered on. If the phone has 10-16 day standby time, that plenty to distract those people who get mugged, beat and hurt for owning something someone else can steal and sell… bigger than I bro