Tell your life story out loud, and keep it for your family.

Many people mean to write their life story, and never start. A blank page is hard, and typing can be slow. In Shaterian you tell it out loud, a little at a time, and your words are kept on your iPhone as text.

Start with one question

You don't need a plan, or to begin at the beginning. Smith asks one question a day. Most are about a different part of your life: “Where did you grow up?”, “What was your first job?”, “Who taught you a skill you still use?”

1. Open Shaterian. Today's question is on Smith's screen, under Smith asks.
2. Tap Answer.
3. Tap Tell me your story and talk. Your words appear as you speak.
4. Tap again when you have finished. The button says Tap when you're done. Your answer is kept, with the question at the top.

If a story is long, tell it in parts. Each part is kept as its own memory.

If you would rather type, tap Or type it, then Keep it. If the question doesn't suit you, tap Another question or Not today.

With Speak replies aloud on, Smith also says the question out loud when you tap Answer and, from the second day, the first time you open the app each day. To stop the questions, tell him “Stop asking me questions”, or turn off A question each day in Settings.

Or just tell a story

You don't have to wait for a question. Tap Smith and talk, or tap the microphone in the box under him. Say “Let me tell you about the summer we moved to the coast”, and carry on. He keeps what you tell him. A private voice diary explains the steps.

What is kept

• Your words, as text. Shaterian does not keep the audio, so your family will read your story, not hear it.
• The people and places in it. Each memory is tagged with them and filed under Memories. Tap a star, then tap it again, to read the memories behind it.
• Your corrections. If a word came out wrong, open the memory and tap the pencil.

It is kept on your iPhone. There is no account to create. The privacy policy lists everything that ever leaves the phone, and when.

Sharing it with your family

Shaterian Caregiver connects with Shaterian through Your circle, in Settings. In the Shaterian Caregiver app they see your routines and reminders, when you press Taken, and only the memories you choose, and they can suggest a reminder, which waits for your yes. You can stop at any time.

You choose memories one by one, all of them, or new ones as you add them. Once someone has joined and you have turned on Memories you choose, open a memory and turn on Share with your circle. They see what it says, never a file or a picture.

Setting it up for a parent

If you want to record your parents' life stories, put Shaterian on their iPhone. They do the talking. The Thanksgiving questions are a good way in, and Set it up together shows how the two apps work side by side.

Asking about it later

You can ask Smith about what you told him: “Where was my first job?” He answers from your own memories and shows which ones he used. With Apple Intelligence, on an iPhone 15 Pro or later, he can put the answer in his own words. On other iPhones he reads you the memory that matches best, in your own words, with its date. Ask your own memories explains how.

Questions people ask

Is there a simple app to record my life story?

Shaterian is one. Smith asks you one question a day, you answer out loud, and your words are kept as text on your iPhone.

How can I record my parents' life stories?

Set up Shaterian on their iPhone and let them answer Smith's questions. Through Your circle, they can choose memories for you to read in the Shaterian Caregiver app.

Does it make a book?

No. Your story is kept as memories in the app, to read, to ask about, and to share with your circle.

What does it cost?

Shaterian is two weeks free, then $2.99 a month, through the App Store. Shaterian Caregiver, for the person reading, is a separate subscription.