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7 life-changing phone alerts you need to enable right now
No matter what your phone’s notification settings are, you’ll still receive messages from the national wireless alert system. These texts are a 21st-century version of the test patterns you used to see on TV: “In the event of an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to tune to one of the broadcast stations in your area…”
But now, thanks to technology, you can turn your phone into a live police and emergency scanner. Tap or click here to find out how.
Hundreds of mobile apps are designed to keep you informed about your life and environment — from the length of your morning commute to the state of your finances. With the right mobile alerts enabled, you can stay safer and more aware of what’s going on. Here are a few new notifications you can subscribe to that make your life a little easier.
1. Latest weather warnings
Not all weather is unusual, but it almost always affects our day. Weather apps can help you dress, schedule, and prepare for serious problems like heat waves and flash floods.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Hi-Def Radar app available for iOS from Apple’s App Store, offers clear maps and images. The NOAA app can also send alerts any time lightning strikes within 10 miles of your location, or when severe storm events break out in your vicinity.
RadarScope (App Store or Google Play Store) and Accuweather (App Store or Google Play Store) for Android and iOS have similar (free) features. They also offer a similar customizable suite of notifications, which may be life-saving during tornado or flash-flood season.
2. Any banking activities
Banking notifications are helpful for two reasons: First, when automatic payments go through (or checks are finally cashed), so you can ensure that your accounts are current. Second, alerts can also nip criminal activity in the bud. If your debit card is skimmed or stolen, large purchases will register right away, and you can give your bank a head’s up.
Depending on which bank you use, you’ll need to look in the app settings to set up special alerts, many of which use text messages instead of push notifications.
Alternatively, apps like Mint can be set up to connect to your bank as a third-party app and can send you the same types of alerts, albeit with an expanded range of options. Mint is available for both iOS and Android (App Store or Google Play Store).