One of the nice things about the iPhone is that it comes with several built-in apps that serve a variety of reminding functions. However it’s good to know what the differences in function are since they all have different strengths and weaknesses.
- Timer
- Simplest interface (especially if you use Siri – just say “set timer for 10 minutes” and it will start counting)
- Very limited on features, including that you have to remember what you set the timer for! But good for parking meters, timing food, etc.
- Alarms
- Pros:
- Simple interface – easy to set quickly
- Alarms can be labeled to tell you what they’re reminding you to do
- Alarms sound even if phone is muted with the ring/silent switch
- Use this if you want to get an auditory alarm no matter what, e.g., if you have to wake up at a certain time, or if you want to make sure you’re alerted and the sound won’t be a problem.
- Cons
- Alarms will sound even if phone is muted (bad for meetings, theater, etc.)
- The Siri default setting is AM, so if you create a new alarm with Siri and you want it to be PM, you much specify that or edit it to PM once it’s created.
- Pros:
- Reminders
- Pros:
- Checklist style
- Can be set to show on lock screen until actively dismissed (set as an “Alerts” style alert in Notifications)
- Can be categorized and prioritized
- Can be set for time or place notifications
- Time notifications can be set to repeat at desired intervals (e.g, daily, weekly, etc)
- Easy to set with Siri, eg., “Remind me at 8pm to do the laundry,” or “Remind me when I get home to take my vitamins.”
- Cons:
- Multiple features/menus make setting potentially more involved (compared, for example, to Alarms)
- Alarms do not sound if phone is muted (though they vibrate once)
- Pros:
- Calendar
- Pros:
- Placed on Calendar (for easy reference if you refer to Calendar a lot or have coordinated Calendars, etc.)
- Repeatable
- Can set up to 2 alerts at different intervals up to and including the event time
- Cons:
- Alarms do not sound if phone is muted but vibrate and otherwise function like reminder alerts.
- Pros:
That’s my rundown. If there’s something important I missed, you can add a comment, or let me know on the Google Group (see About) and I’ll add it!
[Photo credit: Author]
Ever forget whether you just shampooed in the shower while you were distracted by pondering the meaning of life? Here’s a simple solution: rub your hair. If it squeaks, it’s clean! For short hair rubbing seems to work best. If your hair is longer, you can pinch a small gathering and slide your fingers along the length of it.
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