Looking for app to track my wife's phone real time...

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Level 1

9 points

Looking for app to track my wife's phone real time...

My wife is seriously directionally challenged. I can show her a route to drive somewhere, we can drive it together, I can give her photos of where she needs to turn, etc., etc. and somehow she always makes a wrong turn, gets completely lost in the wrong direction, terribly upset and calls me for help. And to top if off, she's horrible at communicating where she is so she keeps driving and making turns and I can never catch up with her location to tell her where to go, what turn to make, which lane to be in, etc.

So, what I'm looking for is an app that we can install on our 5S phones that will allow me to get second to second updates on a detailed street map as to where she actually is. With that info I can then guide her correctly. What I'm looking for is just something that will give me that info. I'm not interesting in eavesdropping or monitoring her in any way. Just a simple app to see where she is from moment to moment. If the app has other features, then fine. But I really just need the second to second tracking feature.

One of the problems I've found researching the various apps online is none seem to say how often the location data is updated. Every minute or so, or even every 10 seconds or so is not sufficient as she's usually driving when she calls. What I need will update second by second.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 3:57 PM

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Answer 1

C Ogle

Level 5

7,030 points

Jul 23, 2015 4:18 PM in response to valbelvalbel

I think you just perfectly described some of the features of Apple's "Find My Friends" app. If you haven't looked at it yet, I would do so as it's pretty easy to use.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-friends/id466122094?mt=8

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Answer 2

valbelvalbel Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 23, 2015 4:23 PM in response to C Ogle

How frequently does it update? Can I zoom in on the map, see what street she's on, and then see how she's progressing down that street more or less real time? That point is critical to finding an app that will work.

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Answer 3

C Ogle

Level 5

7,030 points

Jul 23, 2015 4:28 PM in response to valbelvalbel

I don't know if they published specifics like that anywhere, and I'm not an expert with the app, but I've used the app to guide friends as they were driving and didn't have any trouble with slow refresh rates.

It's a free app, and a small download. I'd recommended checking it out to see if it meets your needs.

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Answer 4

valbelvalbel Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 23, 2015 4:38 PM in response to valbelvalbel

'Just noticed it's free, so I might just try it.

Hey! I've already got it on the phone.

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Answer 5

valbelvalbel Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 23, 2015 4:39 PM in response to valbelvalbel

'Just saw your response about guiding friends as they're driving. 'Sounds like it might work. I'll try it tonight.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please post.

Thanks!

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Answer 6

valbelvalbel Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 23, 2015 4:43 PM in response to valbelvalbel

Hmm....in the Find Your Friends support area it says this:

How often does my device transmit my location with Find My Friends?

Your location is sent from your device when someone requests to see your location. It isn't transmitted on a regular interval.

If you have to request the other person's location and it won't update at a regular or frequent interval, it's really of no use to me.

Any more suggestions?

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Answer 7

kb1951

Level 10

124,151 points

Jul 23, 2015 5:05 PM in response to valbelvalbel

Take a look at find my phone. My wife and I have used it a few times to see where each other was. I haven't used it recently but I recall that it refreshed fairly frequently to show the location.

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Answer 8

Camelot

Level 9

54,333 points

Jul 23, 2015 5:08 PM in response to valbelvalbel

If you have to request the other person's location and it won't update at a regular or frequent interval, it's really of no use to me.

Well, when you open the app it requests your wife's location. You then get updates as often as you press the refresh - if you press it every second you'll get per-second updates as to where she is/where she's headed, etc. Maybe not perfect, but the price is still right.

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Answer 9

notcloudy

Level 4

1,252 points

Jul 23, 2015 5:25 PM in response to valbelvalbel

When you are showing your wife the route - is she driving or are you? It may help if you let her drive and at the same time as giving her instructions also recorded them along with various businesses etc along the way.

Have you tried reviewing with the various street views and also the applications that give a driver point by point instructions?

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Answer 10

anypats

Level 7

21,283 points

Jul 24, 2015 5:51 AM in response to valbelvalbel

Find My Friends works great. At any time I can open the app and see my wife's location (and of course she can do the same for me). It won't be updating unless you open the app. If you simply leave the app open it will be updating every few minutes or so but you can press the refresh button at any time to get an update right away.

Have you ever considered just entering the directions into Maps (or Google Maps) and have it give her turn-by-turn directions? It will tell her when she makes a turn how far to go and whether the next turn will be right or left, gives an update on that turn direction about 1/2 to 1/4 mile away and then as you approach the turn location. If you turn the wrong way, Maps will automatically either re-route or tell you how to get back to your route.

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Answer 11

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,519 points

Jul 24, 2015 5:55 AM in response to valbelvalbel

Maybe she should consider using an app like Waze or Google Maps for navigation, or even the built in maps app... Seems like that would be simpler.

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Answer 12

Jul 24, 2015 6:00 AM in response to valbelvalbel

This all sounds a bit strange. Since she already has an iPhone, why can she not use Apple Maps, Google Maps, or any of the other dozens of navigation apps to get herself to a destination? My guess is any of them could do a much better job of it than you giving directions. Maybe that's your solution.

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Answer 13

ZikzakCorp

Level 4

1,089 points

Jul 24, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Alfred DeRose

Yeah, I agree with Alfred. It sounds more like OP wants to track her through her phone, not give directions. Google Maps would be far easier and more reliable to do turn-by-turn navigation than someone trying to be a human GPS.

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Answer 14

valbelvalbel Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 24, 2015 10:28 AM in response to ZikzakCorp

'Problem is she's distracted enough with her driving. And trying to get her to know how to use the maps app or WAZE or similar GPS functions is really not an option. She has many wonderful qualities but being tech-savvy is not one of them. Heck, she can't even use the nav in her car and forgets it's even there when I ask her what street she's on.

To be clear, I want to be able to give her verbal instructions over the phone (she'd be hand's free, of course) and I simply need to be able to tell where she is because she has no idea.

I did a test last night to get the location of her phone on my phone by using Find My Friends. I then did a short walk down the block. It seems to work fine, though the position refreshes don't happen as often as I like and that may be a problem at 25 to 35 mph. But at this point it's better than nothing. I'm going to try WAZE next. And if that doesn't work, maybe an app from Life360.

Thanks again.

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Answer 15

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,519 points

Jul 24, 2015 10:33 AM in response to valbelvalbel

Studies show that holding a hands free phone conversation while driving is no safer than actually holding a phone to your head when driving. If she's having trouble, she needs to pull over. If she has that many problems driving from point A to point B, that's an issue that should probably be raised with her doctor.

It's possible to allow someone to 'follow' your drive when using Waze. If she really can't understand spoken instructions from an app like Waze saying "Turn Right in 100 feet", then there is a serious problem there that needs to be addressed.

Not trying to be judgmental here, just stating what should be obvious.

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