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How to Make Your Mac and iPhone Work Seamlessly

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Here is a guide on how to better use your iPhone and Mac seamlessly with Sierra and iOS 10.

Many iPhone users have come from a Windows based background yet some have been a part of the Apple ecosystem for some time and may own all Apple branded product. The iPhone may serve as a gateway for some to try other products such as Mac computers or an Apple Watch and Apple has certainly geared many features towards utilization with all Apple Products.

The majority of technology that I own is Apple branded and I have definitely benefitted greatly from the new Continuity features of newer iOS versions and most recently MacOS Sierra.

Here is a guide on how to better use your iPhone and Mac seamlessly with Sierra and iOS 10.

Many iPhone users have come from a Windows based background yet some have been a part of the Apple ecosystem for some time and may own all Apple branded product. The iPhone may serve as a gateway for some to try other products such as Mac computers or an Apple Watch and Apple has certainly geared many features towards utilization with all Apple Products.

The majority of technology that I own is Apple branded and I have definitely benefitted greatly from the new Continuity features of newer iOS versions and most recently MacOS Sierra.

How to Make Your Mac and iPhone Work Seamlessly

Here are the steps to ensure you are best utilizing your iPhone and Mac together.

Watch the above video to learn how to set up your Mac and iPhone for seamless integration.

Using your Mac for Messages and Calls

One of the main uses of the iPhone is Messaging and Phone Calls. When we receive a phone call when our iPhone is in the other room we have to run to catch it. When you log in with your phone number to FaceTime on your Mac, you can actually answer calls incoming from your iPhone.

facetimecall

This is an incredibly convenient feature and one I use quite frequently if my iPhone is in the other room charging and I am working on my Mac. I am able to screen calls and send them to voicemail from my Mac as well as answer the ones I don’t want to miss.

On the same note, Messages on your Mac can also be used to start and respond to iMessages you might receive on your iPhone. By logging your Apple ID information into Messages, you can also add your Phone number associated with Messages on your iPhone.

messages

When you receive an iMessage, you can respond from either your iPhone or Mac and you will see the message appear on both devices, representing that the syncing is functioning. I use this feature daily and find that I am less likely to miss messages if they are appearing in two places I frequently check.

Using Handoff Between Mac and iOS

Handoff is a feature that allows you to start one task on one device and then complete is seamlessly on another. Handoff currently supports Mail, Maps, Safari, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and numerous third-party apps.

You must make sure your iPhone has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and is connected to the same Network as your Mac. You must also make sure your Mac is enabled for Handoff by checking the General Tab in System Preferences. You will see a checkbox for Handoff at the bottom.

When you start an email message on your iPhone and then arrive at your desk for work. you can literally open Mail up on your mac and see your current draft waiting for you on the far left side of your Dock. Clicking this icon will open the current draft and allow you to finish typing and send it.

handoff

The same will work for Safari and any of the aforementioned apps, where you can start doing something in one location and pick it up immediately on the other.

Continuity is the name that Apple has given to all of these services that allow you to move seamlessly between our Mac and iPhone/iPad and now even Apple Watch to some degree. These different tasks are designed to streamline and simplify your life, be it by answering a call from your Mac or unlocking your Mac with your Apple Watch.

The Apple ecosystem may take some people a little getting used to yet it truly has some rewards for simplifying the ways we interact with our technology and therefore each other. After playing with the various Continuity features, there is much to be gained by ensuring your devices work together at their most efficiently.

What’s New in iOS 11.4.1

What's New in iOS 11.4.1

What's New in iOS 11.4.1

The iOS 11.4 update added Messages in iCloud and AirPlay 2, but it also brought issues along with it. The iOS 11.4.1 update keeps these long anticipated features and includes fixes for some iOS 11.4 problems. 

Specifically the iOS 11.4.1 update;

  • Fixes an issue that prevented some users from viewing the last known location of their AirPods in Find My iPhone. 
  • Improves reliability of syncing mail, contacts and notes with Exchange accounts.  

This update also includes other bug fixes and security upgrades. It's possible that this update includes a fix for bad iOS 11.4 battery life. 

Messages in the Cloud allows you to backup your iMessage conversations to the cloud just like you back up your notes, contacts and photos. This means they are backed up in case something happens to your phone, but that's not all. 

Messages in the Cloud syncs deleted messages and threads across your iCloud devices. This means everything will show up the same across your Apple devices. With this in place you should see the same conversations everywhere, all of the time. 

This also backs up the photos and attachments in the cloud so you have more room on your iPhone or iPad. When you get a new device all of the messages sync to that device so you don't lose anything. 

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. iOS 10 Jailbreak

    10/23/2016 at 10:39 am

    Connectivity and HandOff is a brilliant service Apple baked right into iOS and macOS. I am addicted to taking calls and reply back to messages using the macOS functionality. This way, I don’t have to see the phone again and again.

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