48 MACWORLD JANUARY 2022
iOSCENTRAL TURN AN i PHONE INTO A BURGLAR DETECTORAlarms: Fire, Siren, Smoke
Animals: Cat, Dog
Household: Appliances, Car Horn,
Door Bell, Door Knock, Glass Breaking,
Kettle, Water Running
People: Baby Crying, Coughing,
Shouting
You can select as many as the sounds
as you like, and it’s all automatic. When
your iPhone is within range of one of the
sounds, you’ll get a notification and an
alert tone and vibration to let you know.
I’ve tested it for a few of the sounds and it
works impressively well. I got notifications
for water running from several rooms away
and for a doorbell. I haven’t tested glass
breaking but it’s definitely the most
intriguing, as most of the alarm glass-break
sensors I’ve had are very hit-or-miss.
It’s meant as an aid for people with
hearing issues, and it obviously won’t (and
shouldn’t) replace a home monitoring or
smart alarm system, but it’ll work in a pinch
if you want a little extra peace of mind
without buying or setting up any
equipment in your home. Getting a timely
alert could help you call the authorities or
fix a leak before it becomes a problem. ■