First National UK Emergency Alerts Test Set for Today, But iPhones Won't Be Included in Testing Until Next Week

[ruka.snow]

Irrelivent...? Yeah, COVID-19 got to the Scottish border and never bothered to go further.

The government doesn't need to ask you for permission to send essential communications. Get a grip of yourself.

COVID-19 is a world wide issue with hundreds of news sources. I was well aware we were in lock down, it was widely reported by news sources I wish to pay attention too. I don't need nor want another means forced on me. I don't wish to receive an txt message nor push notification from any source.

 

[827538]

So nearly all of the US has turned this off years ago because it’s more of a nuisance than anything. Why the UK is just getting around to implementing it? What for, Boris grams? Subliminal marketing? If you ask me it should be removed from the OS entirely.

You can't turn off the serious alerts, only the useless amber warnings.

 

[827538]

COVID-19 is a world wide issue with hundreds of news sources. I was well aware we were in lock down, it was widely reported by news sources I wish to pay attention too. I don't need nor want another means forced on me. I don't wish to receive an txt message nor push notification from any source.

Then use a tablet or laptop instead of a phone.

 

[HacKage]

And if Faslane is attacked then I'll know about it though the news sources I wish to visit. I don't need nor want a txt message or push notification I haven't subscribed too.

Sorry, but if Faslane is attacked and you are in say Glasgow, you won't have time to look at your phone for news updates

 

[Aggedor]

So did we get a test or not? Nothing received on my Android phone today.

 

[ruka.snow]

Sorry, but if Faslane is attacked and you are in say Glasgow, you won't have time to look at your phone for news updates

Well that is the other side of the country, and a wee bit too south. And it also once again proves the system is irrelevant to me. Why do I want a message telling me to panic moments before dying?

 

[brandters03]

Funny story - but not so funny. Did you know that iPhone 12 is NOT supported for emergency weather alerts on Verizon? A tornado was on the ground less than 2 miles from my house and my phone? No alert whatsoever. My wife (who has an iPhone 8) - lighting up like the 4th of July.

People count on these alerts and take them for granted and not so much as a head's up from Verizon that hey, by the way, this feature doesn't work with your phone. Had I been alone or my wife not have been awake, literally could have cost us our lives. Verizon needs to answer the bell on why iPhone 12 is not supported for these alerts.

 

[T Coma]

iphones not included yet due to apple’s pending request for “ted lasso” alerts

 

[Frustratedperson]

This should be opt-in and not opt-out. The English government sent everyone in Scotland (outside their competency) a notification about Covid which is a devolved matter and should have been sent out by the Scottish government. No one opted in to receive that notification and no one has yet to have had any repercussions.

You sound like Hancock. It should ALWAYS be opt in with an automatic opt out. Not everybody trusts, believes or likes this shoddy government. Not a one of them are thinking of us. There is some other explanation. Tracking?

 

[ruka.snow]

You sound like Hancock. It should ALWAYS be opt in with an automatic opt out. Not everybody trusts, believes or likes this shoddy government. Not a one of them are thinking of us. There is some other explanation. Tracking?

I have know idea who or what a Hancock is so can't comment. As for tracking, I don't think I could give a monkeys. Regardless of what governments are currently in power and if I support them or not, just put up a screen that lets users make an informed decision if they want to opt-in to emergency alerts with information on who is allowed to send them, for what purpose, and who is accountable. Ideally add a geofence so if I opt in I don't need to be bothered if some crazy is doing something a hundred miles away. And don't send me a txt message.

 

[machpost]

By the way, the photo used for this article must be from an earlier version of iOS; my iPhone 12 Pro also has options for Mad Alerts and Bloody Bollocks Alerts.

 

[Absolute Trainwreck]

This should be opt-in and not opt-out. The English government sent everyone in Scotland (outside their competency) a notification about Covid which is a devolved matter and should have been sent out by the Scottish government. No one opted in to receive that notification and no one has yet to have had any repercussions.

I have a feeling you’d change your mind instantly if it were your child’s amber alert. Have some sympathy for others, it’s 1 notification out of thousands that you flip by each month.

“yet to have had any repercussions” lighten up

 

[Futurix]

Yay, notifications you can't turn off and the government decides what to send... in a couple of years that will be a new way for councils to bombard you with the crap you don't care about (as they do by paper mail now).

 

[ruka.snow]

I have a feeling you’d change your mind instantly if it were your child’s amber alert. Have some sympathy for others, it’s 1 notification out of thousands that you flip by each month.

“yet to have had any repercussions” lighten up

I get 0 notifications because I want 0 notifications. All incoming calls and txt's are blocked. This one pushed through. It isn't about having or lack of sympathy for others, it is about my choice to not wish to receive notifications and txt messages. If I want to receive CRA, I can opt-in.

 

[Futurix]

I have a feeling you’d change your mind instantly if it were your child’s amber alert.

Please THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!1! 🙄

 

[TVOR]

I have a feeling you’d change your mind instantly if it were your child’s amber alert. Have some sympathy for others, it’s 1 notification out of thousands that you flip by each month.

“yet to have had any repercussions” lighten up

Actually, as a parent I can say absolutely that my mind wouldn't change if it were my child. I love my child as much as any other human being on the planet loves theirs, but my "loss" does not give me a right to demand that others have to receive information/alerts they don't wish to. This sounds like the "for the good of the community" BS arguments that are flying around at the moment against the "refuseniks"

 

[anyjungleinguy]

So did we get a test or not? Nothing received on my Android phone today.

Service tests

Planned tests of the Emergency Alerts service

www.gov.uk

 

[TVOR]

Funny story - but not so funny. Did you know that iPhone 12 is NOT supported for emergency weather alerts on Verizon? A tornado was on the ground less than 2 miles from my house and my phone? No alert whatsoever. My wife (who has an iPhone 8) - lighting up like the 4th of July.

People count on these alerts and take them for granted and not so much as a head's up from Verizon that hey, by the way, this feature doesn't work with your phone. Had I been alone or my wife not have been awake, literally could have cost us our lives. Verizon needs to answer the bell on why iPhone 12 is not supported for these alerts.

Some people count on these alerts...SOME...you don't speak for everybody...

 

[TVOR]

COVID-19 is a world wide issue with hundreds of news sources. I was well aware we were in lock down, it was widely reported by news sources I wish to pay attention too. I don't need nor want another means forced on me. I don't wish to receive an txt message nor push notification from any source.

Preach!! 🤣

I'm the same...I haven't read a newspaper, visited a news website (or Apple News or similar) or watched a news programme on either TV or Online for many years now. If there is something potentially life-changing, my friends will call me to let me know...because they won't be able to help themselves! So you know what, I will let them get all of the news anxiety seeing as they can't be "unplugged" - I have tried - so I will let them deal with all of the stress and distress and just filter through to me anything that I absolutely NEED to know. Which is less than 0.1% of what most people consider "essential".

And before some smart ass says "but you visit sites like this which are news"...I am talking about general "world news"...current affairs...MSM propaganda type news...that's what I avoid. If I have a genuine interest in an area then I will look it up...the ultimate opt-in...the proactive type!

 

[Absolute Trainwreck]

Please THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!1! 🙄

What a sad view on life. You were a child once too

 

[Absolute Trainwreck]

Actually, as a parent I can say absolutely that my mind wouldn't change if it were my child. I love my child as much as any other human being on the planet loves theirs, but my "loss" does not give me a right to demand that others have to receive information/alerts they don't wish to. This sounds like the "for the good of the community" BS arguments that are flying around at the moment against the "refuseniks"

That’s a depressing view of things. Nobody cares for each other anymore.

Don’t worry I’ll keep my alerts on for your children

 

[ruka.snow]

Preach!! 🤣

I'm the same...I haven't read a newspaper, visited a news website (or Apple News or similar) or watched a news programme on either TV or Online for many years now. If there is something potentially life-changing, my friends will call me to let me know...because they won't be able to help themselves! So you know what, I will let them get all of the news anxiety seeing as they can't be "unplugged" - I have tried - so I will let them deal with all of the stress and distress and just filter through to me anything that I absolutely NEED to know. Which is less than 0.1% of what most people consider "essential".

And before some smart ass says "but you visit sites like this which are news"...I am talking about general "world news"...current affairs...MSM propaganda type news...that's what I avoid. If I have a genuine interest in an area then I will look it up...the ultimate opt-in...the proactive type!

I can very much agree with you on the anxiety and stress. I have followed social distancing and lockdown to the letter. Mask on, vaccine taken. I do not want to be bombarded with notifications and news to further hammer in to keep doing what I have been doing since Feb 2020. I want to view news when I am able to take it in and from a source, I know that isn't going to blow it out of proportion.

I don't want to know about some bomb killing people five hundred miles away, nothing I can do about it and as horrible as it is to say, they might as well be NPC's in a video game. At this moment people are likely being massacred (go humanity!) in some far-flung part of the world, I don't need to hear about it. When I read the news I want to know first what is going on in my local area, then in my country. Then I may look at world news on occasion, but in world news there it is just news: someone blew themselves up in London, someone went missing in Paris, a military dictatorship on the other side of the world is massacring protestors and the country has no oil so no one is stepping in, a president of some other country said something stupid.

 

[ruka.snow]

That’s a depressing view of things. Nobody cares for each other anymore.

Don’t worry I’ll keep my alerts on for your children

You know, some people actually care too much about others and have a lot of empathy that it bloody hurts to read about the latest little girl or boy that was murdered in a forest. And I don't think this is about caring about others, it is about choosing not to receive alarming messages by default.

 

[machpost]

I have know idea who or what a Hancock is so can't comment. As for tracking, I don't think I could give a monkeys. Regardless of what governments are currently in power and if I support them or not, just put up a screen that lets users make an informed decision if they want to opt-in to emergency alerts with information on who is allowed to send them, for what purpose, and who is accountable. Ideally add a geofence so if I opt in I don't need to be bothered if some crazy is doing something a hundred miles away. And don't send me a txt message.

Just so you know: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock

And as someone who also lives with a paralysing fear of being alarmed, you have my sympathies.

 

[Absolute Trainwreck]

Well I’m glad to know my city is hugely in favor of these alerts. Wouldn’t want to live somewhere where people seem to hate each other and not even be willing to put up with very occasional side effects to basic societal conveniences offered and enjoyed everywhere else. How sad for you - I only hope you’ll never need to rely on these services going forward because I can guarantee you’d change your mind instantly. Just sucks that it takes something happening to you before giving a crap about it 🙄. Same exact flow of people that hold rallies for masks - just no semblance of sympathy for others, all about me me me