Share your ETA on the go
I hate being late. There’s nothing worse than leaving your friends hangry at a restaurant. But if I am running behind, I always give folks a heads-up.
Today’s apps have so many hidden tricks. Here’s one I use that I wanted to share with you: Use your map app to share your ETA automatically. That way, you can keep your friends in the loop and your eyes on the road.
Plus, it’s way less intrusive than sharing your location 24/7 with an app like Find My Friends. Can you imagine if we’d had this ETA notifier tool when we were in our 20s? Definite concert and party game-changer.
Google Maps in navigation mode:
- Tap the card at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose Share trip progress.
- You can either pick a contact to send updates through Google Maps or a messaging app to send a link with your location.
- Tap the bottom card > Stop Sharing to stop sharing your ETA. (It won’t share your whereabouts after you end the trip.)
With Google Maps on Android Auto, you’ll see the same navigation card showing the time left on your journey. Tap Share journey to let folks know where you are. Easy-peasy.
Apple Maps in navigation mode:
- Tap the Share ETA link that appears as soon as you start a journey.
- If the link has disappeared, tap the arrow at the bottom, then Share ETA.
- Choose a contact to share your arrival time with.
- Tap Stop Sharing ETA at any time, if you need to.
If you’re using an iPhone, you’ll get a link to see your location on Apple Maps. Team Android gets a text saying what time you’ll show up (and another text if that changes).
In an Uber:
After you accept a ride, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the trip details. Tap Share Status on iPhone or Share My ETA on Android. This works on the Lyft app, too. Share this with anyone who takes Uber alone.
Don’t want to be late in the first place?
Schedule a reminder to leave on time. Google Maps has it built right in when you look up a route!
- Type a destination and choose your mode of transportation.
- Expand the route preview and scroll to the bottom. Toggle on Remind you to leave on time.
- Tap Leave to choose when you plan to leave or Arrive to choose when you want to get there.
- Set the time and Google will automatically send you a notification 15 minutes ahead of when you need to leave! Brilliant.
Pro tip: Never use GPS to go to a cemetery. It’s not very comforting to hear, “You have reached your final destination.”
Tags: Android, Apple, Apple iPhone, apps, Feature, friends, Google, Google Maps, Kim Komando, Komando, Location, messaging, tricks, trip, updates