Comments on: iCodeRed is Like Having John Wayne in Your Pocket

By: daka

daka — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:02:22 +0000

Its a good apps to have.
We all hope we will never ever have to use this. But when all things fails, this could be the last lifeline.

By: Provada

Provada — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:14:38 +0000

I don’t know, you said it’s your friends who bring them hiking. You tell me. Ya.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:45:38 +0000

Ya, that is if no cell reception so why bring a phone along then? A pigeon will do the same job ya? Too much assumptions here, mate.

By: Provada

Provada — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:10:21 +0000

Umm Hiking? I don’t think so. If you can’t get cell reception this won’t work unless it is connecting to satelites or something. How many hikers die every year who have their cell phone with them, look at James Kim and what happened to his family. It sounds like a good idea, but really not that useful as even Michael mentions, just call 911, why waste money on an app like this? If there is no GPS the accuracy could be off by miles. Curious how you would test it with 911, if you accidently pressed the application you would call 911 and then you hang up and law enforcement shows up you get a nice fine. This sort of reminds me of the stupid comedy skits when they ask “what’s the number for 911?”.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:30:39 +0000

Know of a few friends that carry the iphone when hiking it be useful for em.

By: Michael Alexander

Michael Alexander — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:43:47 +0000

I’m not interested in defending the developer, and whether you choose an app like this one is entirely up to you. However, I would like to make a couple of observations.

The first is that this app dials a telephone number just like the iPhone auto dials any number, including 911. In a dire emergency, logically, you would call 911 and give them the nature of the emergency and your location rather than use this app.

I don’t think many people would wait to see if their emergency contact received their phone number and/or email, say, if their femoral artery was slit open. The point is, this app is not intended to replace 911 under dire circumstances.

This app will work indoors on EDGE or 3G. Of course, GPS would be even better–which is accurate to within several feet–certainly close enough–but you still have other options if you are indoors.

As with any situation, common sense prevails.

The one thing I can count on is having 911 dispatchers and EMTs arriving at the scene and providing care. In a real emergency, that’s who I would call. You can count on them more than any app in my limited experience.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:09:33 +0000

This is a useful app but I hope I won’t have to use it but as the reviewer said it is good for emergency.

If the app failed the caller can still call 911 anyway not as if it is a one time call app only. Nonetheless good to have in my personal opinion since can predefined any numbers and not necessary 911.

By: Chavez M

Chavez M — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:09:27 +0000

I am an EMT and just to play the devil’s advocate here, what if this app failed? What if someone used this instead of calling 911 and it failed? I am surprised Apple allows apps like this for the same reasons they don’t allow navigation, the location is not accurate enough and there could be liability issues. GPS only works outdoors, so this app is worthless indoors, a false sense of security. Snake oil in my opinion and a false sense of security, emergency applications should not be allowed in the app store, the iPhone is not a stable enough platform and nothing should replace dialing 911 directly, this is just irresponsible. Would you really trust your life or children’s lives to any app like this? No thanks.