misHaps – security Android app that helps you get your phone back if lost
by Paul Wilks
Oct 19, 2012 9:10 AM –
Install
misHaps is a friendly security app that can help you get your phone back if you lose it. Essentially, the app presents a contact information screen which compliments your lock screen. This means your device can stay locked and secure, but the finder can get in contact with you in order to return the phone.
Price: $0.99
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Nice user interface!
- Innovative and useful!
- Lets you add both contact and emergency information!
- Customisable!
- Easy to use!
Cons
- Waiting for the screen to kick in from lockscreen feels a little unnatural.
Features:
OK, so you’ve lost your Android. Now, you can use an app like Cerberus or others to wipe the information remotely, report the phone’s GPS and even send messages to it, but what if someone has found it and wants to return it to you? Lock screen security will prevent them from gaining access to your phone (which is good) but it also stops them from finding out who you are if they wanted to return it. misHap solves this conundrum by providing an additional screen which can display both contact information if lost or emergency information should that also be required.
The app is incredibly helpful and, although it relies on the good nature of the person finding your phone to use the information to return it to you, it’s a great idea. I like to think our readers are ‘good people’ and let’s be honest, if you found a device and wanted to return it to the owner, misHaps would be pretty helpful. Additionally, if you’ve lost your phone, at least the finder can contact you.
misHaps is really easy to use and you can customize the info it displays. You can also change the font colours to personalize it further. The interface itself is based on Google’s Holo design principals so it looks the part too. Setup is extremely easy and it gives you an extra peace of mind should you lose it.
I would perhaps suggest it could be better if you had an initial screen that offered either to enter your unlock pin/pattern or contact owner. As it is you can sets how long it takes for the message to be displayed. I set it for 2 seconds because, I know my pin and will automatically begin entering it in that time. On 2 seconds the screen changes to display the contact info you’ve entered into misHaps. Maybe I’m being picky here though!!
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misHaps – Background to the app is your wallpaper
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misHaps – Lost device screen
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misHaps – Emergency information screen
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misHaps – Enter lost device info
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misHaps – Font colour picker
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misHaps – Display categories
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misHaps – Screen timeout
Usefulness:
If you lose your phone, this could be a way of getting it back. Only you can determine how useful you would find that!
Ease of Use:
The app is mesmerically easy to use. Just enter the information you want displayed on both screens, set the timer between your screen coming on and the information being displayed and you’re pretty much good to go. You can alter font colour too if you want the information to be differentiated. So, for example, I had contact information in white and emergency information in red.
Frequently Used:
Like many security apps, you really hope the app never has to be used. Additionally, this might be the only app that you install for the benefit of someone else!
Interface:
Well designed, elegant yet simple, the UI is based on Google’s Holo design, so looks great on any device with Android 4.0 and above.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
Cerberus,
Emergency,
Find Lost or Stolen Phone,
How to Retreive Stolen Android Phone,
misHaps,
security
Categorised in: Tools
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