From “we should catch up” to Friday dinner.
Turn a vague maybe into a day on the calendar. Share it in a tap, and the next day Howdy Mate! asks whether it happened.
At a glance
- Suggest a timeTwo free slots, written into a text for you.
- Plan my weekThree mates, a day each, a nudge that morning.
- Who’s up for it?Start from the footy tickets, not the person.
- TravelSee who you know in the city you’re off to.
Make a plan
“Plan something” turns a vague catch-up into dinner on Friday with Jo and Sam. The things to do together on their “For next time” lists are offered as the plan’s title.
- share it with them in a tap
- Add to Calendar puts it in your calendar, where you can set a time
- you get a reminder on the day
- the next day it asks whether it happened, and logs it if it did
A plan that didn’t come off can move to another day.
Not sure when? Suggest a time
Choose “Suggest a time” from a mate’s ••• menu. It offers the next week as days, picks a free weekday evening and a weekend day, and writes the text:
- Coffee soon? I’m free Thursday evening or Saturday morning. Any good?
Let it read your calendar and your busy days drop out. Send it, and the first day is saved as a plan.
Start from the plan, not the person
Got two footy tickets, or fancy a hike on Saturday? Name the plan and “Who’s up for it?” offers the mates who are into it, from an interest, a fact you saved or a catch-up where it came up. Tap a face to put them on the plan, then share it in one go.
Plan your week
On Sunday and Monday, Today offers to plan your week: pick up to three mates who are due and a day for each. Each one shows on Today on its day, with a nudge that morning.
Going somewhere, or someone coming to you?
Tell Howdy Mate! the city and your dates, and it ticks the mates you know there, each with the reason under their name. A week before you leave, a nudge offers to tell them you’re coming, and while you’re away a card on Today lists them.
Someone coming to stay? Flip the same screen to “They’re coming”. Two days before they arrive you get a nudge to grab a night together.
Friendsgiving, sorted
In November, if your iPhone is set to the US, Today asks whether you’re doing Friendsgiving this year. Tap Pick mates and a plan opens for the Saturday before Thanksgiving with your close mates on it, ready for one group text asking everyone to bring a dish.
Your questions, answered
Can Howdy Mate! help me set a date?
Yes. Choose “Suggest a time” from the ••• menu on a mate’s page, or press and hold them on Today. You see the next seven days with a free weekday evening and a weekend day already picked, and the app writes the text: “Coffee soon? I’m free Thursday evening or Saturday morning. Any good?” Let it use your calendar and only days you’re actually free are offered. Send it, and the first day is saved as a plan.
Can a plan go in my calendar?
Yes. Save a plan and the “saved” message offers Add to Calendar. iOS opens its own new-event screen with the plan filled in, so you can set a time or pick a calendar before you tap Add. The app doesn’t need Calendar access for this. Changing the plan later doesn’t touch the event, so move or delete it in Calendar yourself.
Can I plan who to catch up with this week?
Yes. On Sunday and Monday a card on Today offers to plan your week, or choose Plan my week from ⋯ at the top of Today any day. Pick up to three mates, most overdue first, and a day for each. Each one shows on Today on that day, with a nudge that morning. If you haven’t planned by Sunday evening you get one reminder at 6 pm, which you can turn off in Settings.
Can I find who’s into something, like hiking or footy?
Yes, in Plan something. Name the plan, say hiking or footy, and “Who’s up for hiking?” shows the faces of the mates who are into it, from their interests, the facts you saved about them and catch-ups that mention it. Tap a face to put them on the plan, then share it with them in one tap. Everything is matched on your iPhone.
Can it help when I travel, or when a friend comes to visit?
Yes, both ways round. Choose “Going somewhere?” from the plan button on Today, type the city and your dates, and Howdy Mate! ticks the mates you know there, with the reason under each name. When a mate is coming to you, switch to “They’re coming”. Either way a card on Today shows the stay, one tap logs seeing someone in person, and anyone you missed gets the usual “Did it happen?” the day after.
Go on, say howdy.
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