Covenant Eyes iPhone App is Here!
The Covenant Eyes app for iPhone and iPod Touch has finally arrived! This has been one of our most requested products, so we are excited to add this app to our growing list of services.
The app is an Internet browser. You can use it like you would Safari. It works somewhat like our other accountability services for the PC, the Mac, and Windows Mobile devices. It isn’t a filtered browser. It simply monitors everywhere you go online, scoring each Web address for mature content. It then sends a detailed report to the “Accountability Partner(s)” you choose, such as a friend, a spouse, a mentor, etc.
Accountability software like this has helped tens of thousands of people to avoid online temptations. Removing the secrecy of where we go online changes how we surf the Web.
For our existing Members, this new app is a free service. Just use your existing username and password to run it. To become a Member visit CovenantEyes.com and sign up.
Please, look at our user guide for more information about how to use this app most effectively.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Covenant Eyes, Donald Lindsey. Donald Lindsey said: CE Marmot is singing, dancing & celebrating today: Covenant Eyes Accountability for the iPhone is now released! http://bit.ly/5VvroE [...]
It’s too bad that Apple will not let you hook into their API for Safari and YouTube like you can on their desktops and laptops.
Will there be a comparison of features between CE and X3Watch for iPhone?
@John – We’ll try to put a comparison together and welcome anyone else who would like to run a comparison test.
So glad this has finally been launched! Thanks guys!
First off I think its great that the app is finally out. I have been checking the blog almost daily for it. I had a feeling that the app would be a browser and not more like the desktop version that monitors all internet activity. Thats unfortunate, but I’m sure that’s out of your control.
My only complaint is that it has a 17+ rating. I understand that that’s because it a browser and so you can access inappropriate material, but it makes making the iPhone safe tough. Right now I have Safari locked out, YouTube locked out and 17+ apps locked out. So to add the Covenant eyes I will make the iPhone less safe rather than more safe.
Can you comment at all about how apps get the ratings? Is that something you give it or does Apple give the apps ratings? There are many other browsers that have lower scores. Even one I noticed that promotes that it covers the users tracks. I really hope the rating can be changed otherwise I don’t think I will be able to take advantage of it.
Thanks for all you do and continue to do.
Finally. I have been waiting what feels like an eternity for the new CE app. Thanks so much guys for all your hard work in getting ready.
Luke,
I have found the setup in the user guide to be very satisfactory. I love the fact that installed apps can access the Internet connection even with Safari, etc. disabled under Restrictions. Now I have an iPhone with only a handful of the thousands of functions disabled.
Well done, CE! Thanks so much.
Yesss!
Thank you guys so much! you are awesome.
My my accountability partner brothers in Christ and I have been waiting for something like this for our Iphone’s & Itouches for a good long while now.
Cant tell you guys how much your efforts are appreciated.
Strength in Christ
@Tom – The Apple Blog says 17+ apps “may also contain frequent and intense offensive language; frequent and intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence; and frequent and intense mature, horror, and suggestive themes; plus sexual content, nudity, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs which may not be suitable for children under the age of 17.” We certainly wanted a lower rating, but because our browser is only monitoring, not filtered, it allows all of the Internet to come through, and with that all the ability to search for this adult content. Any app that does this will be rated 17+ by Apple. Unfortunately, this is out of our control.
@Tom – The best way to solve this problem is to install the CE app and then disable “Installing Apps” in the “Restrictions” menu. Lock it down with a password. Then you won’t be able to install new apps, but you can run your current apps, including CE.
Does Apple rate Safari as a 17+ app?
@John – I don’t believe it is. Ironic.
Any plans for the future to have a CE iPhone app that will also filter?
Thanks
@Luke – Two things: 1) is there a possibility of complaining to Apple about the app rating? Seems to me that if their Safari app isn’t 17+ rated, why should ANY other browser??
2) Is there a possibility of making a CE app for jailbroken iPhones/iPod touches that takes advantage of the API and runs more like the PCs and Macs with monitoring of EVERYTHING??
I would rather jailbreak my iPhone/iPod touch to have that feature and risk a void warranty than not be FULLY protected.
@Tom – Nothing has been done for that yet. A filter for Macs is a little higher on our list right now.
@David – Be our guest to complain to Apple about the rating. In a lot of ways the iPhone system itself is bent away from accountability altogether, making any accountability app an awkward edition. Apple is inconsistent with their rating process which initially made us want to delay creating the app.
Great app guys….I’ve been waiting for this to come out. Nice work!
One question: I’ve got the Google Voice search app installed. When I do a search through that app it presents the results within the Google App – like a separate browser. Will the CE app monitor that content OR do you have to do
all the browsing through the CE application?
Thanks again!
I know that it took a while for iphone app to be developed, but any word on when a similar app will be developed for droid?
@David – Unfortunately, because of the way the iPhone is designed, the CE app can only monitor itself, not other apps. In our user guide has instructions on disabling other apps. Our app certainly isn’t a perfect solution.
@Lucas – Nothing is being developed for the droid currently.
Thank you CE for developing this. One future improvement we would like to see is the ability to access hot spot access pages that require password login, similar to what CE desktop version has.
Shouldn’t you call this iEyes? 8-{)>
Great developement guys, have been looking out for some accountability software for a when I get an iPhone.
Having not got an iPhone at present I was wondering whether the CE browser allows you to do the usually expand/shrink, copy/paste etc funcitons you get with Safari.
Can anyone comment on this?
Cheers
@Joey B – Yes. Is does the copy and paste functions as well as zooming in and out.
Yeah Joey it does do those things, however… it won’t allow you to quickly google search anything you type into the upper right hand corner without resetting and just sending you back to the google homepage again where you have to retype what you’re looking for. I suggest just creating a bookmark until this bug gets fixed
[...] Eyes, makers of the popular desktop accountability program for Windows and Mac have recently unveiled their iPhone [...]
Great! This is wonderful.
Will the accountability report from an iPhone/iTouch be streamlined into the normal PC/Mac report, or will a separate and additional report (specifically for the Apple product) be generated and sent to the accountability partner?
Hope that makes sense. Thanks!
@Robbie – Your iPhone surfing will be rolled into the normal report. You can have an account and use CE on as many computers as you like (work, home, PC, Mac, iPhone, Windows Mobile, etc.) and everything surfed on that username goes into one report.
[...] Covenant Eyes (free app). Although it’s “free,” it requires an account with Covenant Eyes, which costs $8 per month merely to email out a list of sites you visited. This would be ideal if you already use Covenant Eyes on your computer(s). [...]
CE iPhone browser is generally great, but I’ve noticed some glitches.
1. I’ve got the “stay signed in” button “on”, but it’s signed me out a few times and said my login was invalid. I’ve had to login again.
2. The keypad appears on the screen at login and takes several taps of the screen and the Google search box to disappear–kind of annoying.
3. You can’t jump to the top of a webpage by tapping the top of the screen as in Safari. This is really handy if you’ve scrolled down a large webpage.
I assume there will be updates? These would be some great things to address.
@Chris – Yes. Updates will come along. Thanks for your comments. They really help us for making a better browser.
Does this mean you have to use it as the browser? What if you use Safari, does it still monitor everything? Maybe I’m just confused.
@Kent – Yes. The app is a browser. It essentially replaces Safari. It still monitors everything surfed on that browser as CE would on your PC or Mac. The only catch it you have to disable Safari and any other app that might be a problem, password protect it, and give let your accountability partner (or whoever you want) hold the password. It isn’t a perfect solution, but the iPhone doesn’t allow for background processes the way a desktop computer does. We’ve created something that will work for iPhone users as long as it is used properly.
Luke, excellent work on this. I do have a technical question about the app: the feasibility of me using the app as a replacement browser for Safari depends on whether I can import my bookmarks, either from Safari or (more likely?) from IE on the laptop I sync the iPhone with. I’ve got a lot of bookmarks, and adding them all manually would be prohibitive.
Does the app support syncing bookmarks?
@Jeff – The app does not sync bookmarks. We are unaware of any way to easily do this. Sorry.
Luke, thanks for looking into it. I will probably still use the CE browser as my default, but will have to keep Safari enabled, though I know that reduces the effectiveness of the CE browser.
When considering future updates of the app, you might consider:
1) Finding a way for users to sync bookmarks via iTunes or import them some other way;
2) Adding a “Add to Home Screen” option like Safari’s, that allows users to add an icon for a bookmark to the iPhone’s screen.
I think these would really bump up the feasibility of using the CE browser as an alternative to Safari.
Thanks again for all your work on this!
Quick question… I’m currently debating whether to get the iphone or an android phone. My main priority for now is to just lock down all internet access on the phone. I understand that this is possible on the iphone (by locking down safari, which I hope is a foolproof solution). But is this possible on android? Any ideas? Thanks..
@Gerald – There are a number of places online (like here) that talk about disabling various apps on the Android.
I understand CE browser monitors only content browsed in itself. Given the numerous number of apps which now have in app web browsing features, I am wondering whether CE is in dialogue with Apple in gaining access to API. Is this something you could petition Apple on?
@Michael – Yes, we’ve been in dialog with Apple for about a year and a half now. Unfortunately, us gaining access to API is something they have zero interest in cooperating on.
Wikipedia mobile site loads on the CE browser
without any search box. Very odd. Any way to
fix this?
@Chris – We’ve tested this here several times on several iPhones. We are going to mobile.wikipedia.org and see the search box just fine. Perhaps you could call our customer service folks so we can troubleshoot the problem with you.
Thanks for the info Luke.
Why is Apple able to keep companies from gaining access to their APIs, but Microsoft was not able to do this?
Has anyone else been having an issue with ‘keep logged in’ option on the iPhone app? If I use it, the keyboard won’t go away. So either surf with a keyboard eating 70% of the screen or manually log in each time. Any ideas?
@Jeremy – This seems to work. When you open Covenant Eyes and it is set to automatically log in, hit “Next” on the keyboard, and then “Go.” The keyboard seemed to go away then.
I’ve been using the CE app with an iTouch. I’ve found the way to remove the keyboard is to touch the URL field at the top and then make a down swipe across the screen.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned that many iPad Touch apps launch their own browsers from adverts etc. So you have to delete them if they do that. Also the device can be restored via iTunes to wipe it’s settings. I’ve taken iTunes off my computer and given my connection wire to my accountability partner. I charge the iPod with a wall plug-in charger.
I am so disppointed with this app. It would be great if it was the ONLY browser that could be used on the iphone. When clicking on any apps like google, youtube, facebook, etc it immediately opens safari. The fact that it is 17+ rating doesn’t help either. My husband downloaded covenant eyes at the exact same time that he downloaded a “secret browser”. Now, how is this really helping anyone??? It has just caused more problems!!!!
@anonymous – There are many improvements we would like to make with this app. Unfortunately Apple makes doing this very difficult and in order to make an app at all, we had to make one that isn’t nearly as professional as our other products. In our user guide we recommend disabling any apps that access Safari and disabling the installation of apps altogether. This is the only way the accountability is complete.
@anonymous – I am so sorry this app has not worked out the way you’d hoped. We state in our user guide that the only way to use the app so ensure airtight accountability is to disable Safari and YouTube and any other app that accesses a Safari browser. We also recommend disabling the installation of new apps. This limits the iPhone’s usability, but is the only way Apple allowed us to design the app.
Someone mentioned that with the CE app you can’t connect to wireless internet connections that require a password. Is this correct?
I hear all the comments about the browser, I have been using it since the day it came out. I have removed 95% of the apps i had because there is a way to access subversive content through almost every app. Apple does not really care about parental controls or accountability. Using an app like this is a sacrifice, but as men there are sacrifices that we must make. I will continue to use it as I wait for an update that fixes some of the issues. I am very grateful to have the internet on my phone at all (and a shackled iphone is still ten times better than any windows phone)
@michael – Thanks for your comment about the new app. Unfortunately Apple does not live in the same culture of accountability we live in. I hope some day they see the value of accountability in people making proactive choices about where they go and what they see online.
Will CE app & settings advice be applicable to the new iPad?
I have just discovered that, even though I have the Installing Apps function on the i-Phone password protected, I can “synch” my iPhone to the iTunes store on my PC and download apps to my iPhone that way. Is there any chance of giving the Apps store a high score on the accountability reports? It would at least flag the issue and raise dialogue with the accountability partner.
@Dean – Thanks for the idea. I’ll run it by our scoring team and see what we can do.