It's hard to imagine where many of us would be right now if we were suddenly cut off from all of our GPS-enabled devices.
Perhaps thousands of us would be laying siege to some remote petrol station somewhere in a desperate search for the last cashier alive who still remembers the way back to the motorway.
Scary stuff, I know - I could go on, but I know some of us want to get some sleep tonight.
Satellite navigation, once only a luxury for astronauts and smart bombs, is now a necessity for millions of commuting civilians.
Global positioning systems aren't just helpful; they now share rarefied air with an elite set of tools that keep our tenuous modern society from unravelling altogether - joining the ranks of PIN codes, deodorant and Justin Bieber movies in 3D.
However, while our GPS-enabled devices have become quite adept at telling us where we are and where we might like to go, they still require quite a bit of head scratching when the time comes to transfer that information to anyone who cares.
The app
Fortunately, there's FlareGun! (iPhone, Dh3.67), a smartphone app that allows you to send your GPS location via text message to anyone on your contact list.
For many geeks, that might not sound like such a big deal. After all, there are countless apps out there that let you broadcast your exact longitude and latitude to the world.
But just try to find a friend who's willing to invest the next 10 minutes navigating Facebook or Foursquare just so he can share a pizza with you across town.
By contrast, FlareGun! hands your grid position to them fast and on a silver platter. Your pals, then, are much more likely to track you down because it no longer requires burning more calories than they would consume during your impromptu pizza date.
The details
If you want to show someone where you are, simply launch the app, check to make sure your map position is accurate (move the "pin" position if it's not) and click "Send Flare!" A link showing your coordinates on Google Maps will then be transmitted to the contacts of your choosing via SMS.
While the app is only available on the iPhone, the software sends a link that will work across platforms for anyone with a smartphone and access to Google Maps - and if you still have friends who don't have that, honestly, maybe it's time to reassess your associations.
Check out more of the best apps to make your life easier, and have more fun, at App of the Week. Have some great personal finance apps that you want to share? Write to Curt Brandao at cbrandao@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ordinary Virtues: Moral Order in a Divided World by Michael Ignatieff
Harvard University Press
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Abu Dhabi racecard
5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
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Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
