A Reddit user has created a shortcut that will automatically start an iPhone video recording in the event you get pulled over by the police.
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| © Provided by Car and Driver The free-to-download shortcut will also send a text message to one of your contacts with your location and a message saying you have been pulled over. |
By Daniel Golson, Car and Driver
The newest operating system for Apple's iPhone, called iOS 12, launched a few weeks ago, and one of the new features is the ability for users to create custom shortcuts. Activated by pressing a button or using Siri, shortcuts can be created to do things like press the camera shutter, quickly search Amazon, or control smart-home features. As reported by Business Insider, a Reddit user has created a shortcut that will automatically start recording in the event you get pulled over by the police.
Here's how it works. Anyone running iOS 12 on their iPhone can download and install the shortcut for free, and once it is configured, all you have to do is say a set phrase such as "Hey Siri, I'm getting pulled over." The shortcut then triggers the phone to pause whatever audio is being played, activate Do Not Disturb mode, and turn the brightness all the way down. It then will open the iPhone's front-facing camera (or rear-facing, if you choose) and send a text to a preselected contact to let them know that you have been pulled over.
Sadly, you will have to press the Record button yourself—Apple doesn't let the phone automatically start recording on its own—and if a passcode or face recognition has been enabled, you'll have to manually unlock the phone as well.
Once you stop recording, the phone will automatically send the video to the contact whom it had already texted—or to Dropbox or iCloud Drive, depending on your choice—turn the brightness back up, and turn off Do Not Disturb. The shortcut, now in Version 1.4, can also share the exact address, with latitude and longitude included, when activated.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a similar app that is available for both iOS and Android devices. Called Mobile Justice, it currently is only available for use in 18 states. The app records audio and video and immediately sends the footage to the ACLU. It also offers the option to report incidents or see activity from other users in your area.
The newest operating system for Apple's iPhone, called iOS 12, launched a few weeks ago, and one of the new features is the ability for users to create custom shortcuts. Activated by pressing a button or using Siri, shortcuts can be created to do things like press the camera shutter, quickly search Amazon, or control smart-home features. As reported by Business Insider, a Reddit user has created a shortcut that will automatically start recording in the event you get pulled over by the police.
Here's how it works. Anyone running iOS 12 on their iPhone can download and install the shortcut for free, and once it is configured, all you have to do is say a set phrase such as "Hey Siri, I'm getting pulled over." The shortcut then triggers the phone to pause whatever audio is being played, activate Do Not Disturb mode, and turn the brightness all the way down. It then will open the iPhone's front-facing camera (or rear-facing, if you choose) and send a text to a preselected contact to let them know that you have been pulled over.
Sadly, you will have to press the Record button yourself—Apple doesn't let the phone automatically start recording on its own—and if a passcode or face recognition has been enabled, you'll have to manually unlock the phone as well.
Once you stop recording, the phone will automatically send the video to the contact whom it had already texted—or to Dropbox or iCloud Drive, depending on your choice—turn the brightness back up, and turn off Do Not Disturb. The shortcut, now in Version 1.4, can also share the exact address, with latitude and longitude included, when activated.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a similar app that is available for both iOS and Android devices. Called Mobile Justice, it currently is only available for use in 18 states. The app records audio and video and immediately sends the footage to the ACLU. It also offers the option to report incidents or see activity from other users in your area.
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