“Time to leave”: your iPhone tells you when to set off for your next appointment

The short answer: turn on "Time to leave" and, if your next appointment has an address, Today tells you when you need to set off. The iPhone works it out itself with Apple Maps, from where you are and by the means you choose. It is optional and off by default.

How it works

• It looks at the next appointment with an address in the next twelve hours. Video calls and all-day events do not count: there is nowhere to go.
• It finds the place in Apple Maps near where you are, so that "Office" or "12 High Street" does not end up in another city.
• It works out the journey by car, public transport or on foot, using the arrival time: that way public transport uses its timetables and the car, the expected traffic.
• It subtracts the buffer you choose (none, 5, 10 or 15 minutes) and gives you the time: "Leave at 08:40 for “Meeting” (09:15) · 25 min by car".
• The line updates by itself: at departure time it becomes "Leave now" and, if that passes, "You're late". Tapping it opens the route in Apple Maps.

If you like, it reminds you with a notification at departure time. The phone itself schedules it.

Your location never reaches our servers

This is what mattered most to us. Your location is only requested if you turn the feature on, only while you use the app, and it goes from the iPhone to Apple Maps with the appointment's address. It never reaches Madrugo's servers and is not stored anywhere. It is explained in the privacy policy.

What it does not do yet

• iPhone only. The web does not know where you are, and it stays that way.
• It needs an address written in the appointment. If the event only says "Meeting", there is nowhere to calculate to.
• If Apple Maps cannot find the place, nothing is shown, which beats a made-up time.

Turn it on in Settings → Time to leave. More on journeys, timetables and how they fit into the day in getting around.