According to 9 to 5 Mac, iPhone users in Japan will have the option to receive notifications from Japan's advanced earthquake early-warning system in iOS 5.
9 to 5 Mac has published a screenshot of a toggle in iOS 5 that can be enabled via the Settings app under Notifications that will be accessible to users in Japan.
It is apparently a common feature in Japanese mobile phones. Time Magazine had profiled Japan's advanced earthquake early warning system and had this to say about it:
Japan has the most advanced earthquake early-warning system in the world. A nationwide online system launched in 2007, it detects tremors, calculates an earthquake's epicenter and sends out brief warnings from its 1,000-plus seismographs scattered throughout the country, one of the most earthquake-prone nations on the planet.
MacRumors had first discovered references to the "Quake Alert" in iOS 5 beta 2.
Users in Japan will start receiving the notifications when they turn on the toggle seen in the screenshot below:
There is a warning below the toggle informing users that the feature may reduce your battery life as it is always connected to Japan’s earthquake early warning system.
It is good to see companies like Apple taking steps to integrate their next generation mobile operating system with Japan's advanced earthquake early warning system, especially after the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan earlier in the year.
Update:
Reader bodington points out in the comments that there is already a free iPhone app available in the App Store called Yurekuru (iTunes link) - loosely translated as 'Shaking is coming'. Thanks bodington!
[via 9 to 5 Mac]
This is a great feature, though there already is a free app called Yurekuru (loosely translated as “Shaking is coming”) which is as fast as the TV warning.
Thanks bodington, we’ve updated the post with those details.
What.. no early warning godzilla notifications in iOS5? sucks for the people of monster island..
That is a good thing but how many use phone 24 hours?
It’s loud, and uses a standard earthquake alarm sound. Once you associate the sound it with a quake, it’ll wake you from the deepest sleep in a second.