We’re lovers. You know that. But every now and again, something comes across our desks that just seems... suspicious. Because of the tremendous material upside to all our lives if these claims pan out, we at times put ourselves in harm’s way to investigate. Albeit skeptically.

We call it: Skeptical Investigation. (Trademark pending.)

THE CLAIM
That the iPhone app NeverLate can prevent you from being tardy to meetings/appointments/afternoon trysts by cross-referencing your personal calendar with GPS data and real-time traffic reports. The word “thorough” comes to mind.

THE INVESTIGATION
In order to put this thing through its paces, we scheduled an entire day’s worth of conference calls, presentations and other businessy-sounding things. Then... we immediately traveled across town for a really long lunch.

Somewhere between martini number two and oyster number seven, we felt a vibration. It was NeverLate—something about crosstown gridlock and an overturned ice cream truck (we hypothesized that second part). According to the app, if we wanted to make our 3:30, we’d have to leave in 20 minutes. So we canceled our 3:30.

THE VERDICT
It works. It knows about construction and accidents and how many lights the average taxi driver will run during rush hour. Okay... maybe not that specific—but it will learn from your calendaring habits and anticipate the where and when of your future meetings.

Unfortunately, it can’t attend them for you.