lifehacker lifehacker LifeHacker LifeHacker 7 good things to feel when using an iPhone and Mac together

Apple, Google, and Microsoft are each striving to integrate computers and smartphones to provide users with a seamless experience.

Therefore, Mac people should choose iPhone over Android and Windows smartphones.

There are many good things about the combination of iPhone and Mac.

table of contents

1. Coordination and Handoff

2. FaceTime and iMessage

3. AirDrop

4. AirPlay

5. Apple ecosystem app

6. iCloud

7. Internet sharing

1. Coordination and Handoff

Apple devices come with "linkage" and "Handoff."

These two features are meant to improve communication between iPhones and Mac.

Thanks to this, iPhone and Mac are synced so that you can smoothly and comfortably switch from what you started on one device to the other.

A good example is writing a message in the "Messages" app on your iPhone.

If you say "I started writing a message on my iPhone, but it's going to be a little long", I can open the message on my Mac and continue writing with a full-size keyboard.

Similarly, when you receive an incoming call, you can choose to answer or reject it on your Mac screen without touching your iPhone. Only the iPhone and Mac combination offers this seamless experience.

This "link" feature also syncs different apps.

Most of them come standard with Apple devices.

Supported are contacts and calendars, email accounts, maps, browser tabs, and the iWork suite of office apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers). Sign in to the same iCloud on both your iPhone and Mac and your sync is complete.

With the "Link Markup" feature, you can even use your iPhone to sign and sketch documents on your Mac.

After drawing a picture on your iPhone or annotating a document, all you have to do is insert it directly into the actual document on your Mac.

This saves you the trouble of drawing a picture or signing a document using the trackpad.

The combination of "linkage" and "Handoff" creates the best user experience.

In particular, I'm grateful that the number of times I reach for the iPhone when using a Mac is reduced.

2. FaceTime and iMessage

Apple offers two unique communication apps.

The instant messaging service "iMessage" and the video calling service "FaceTime". These apps are also only available on Mac and iPhone.

Starting with iOS 15, Android and Windows users can also join FaceTime calls via shareable links.

However, there are conditions. Only if an Apple user initiates a call on an Apple device and shares an available link.

So if you use FaceTime a lot, it makes more sense to buy an iPhone.

There are many good things about this.

For example, you can start a video chat on your Mac when your iPhone's battery is about to run out.

You can also continue the same conversation with "iMessage" on different devices.

It's true that Windows and Android also have alternative apps such as Skype and WhatsApp.

But if your friends use iMessage and FaceTime, you can't help but use them too!

3. AirDrop

One of the biggest advantages of using iPhone and Mac in combination is "AirDrop". It's the easiest and most seamless way to share files between Mac and iPhone.

6 ways to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac

Open "AirDrop" in the Mac Finder, launch "AirDrop" from the iPhone Control Center, and then drag and drop or share the target file.

No need for messy cables or iTunes.

Even if there is no such thing, it "works properly". In contrast, on Windows and Android, you can't share files without a cable and a driver or software for it.

4. AirPlay

Starting with iOS 15 and macOS Monterey, you can mirror your iPhone display on your Mac. There are many cases where this feature can be useful.

You can enjoy the video even more by watching it on the big screen of your Mac. You can also mirror the screen to record the tutorial.

If you like, you can play the iPhone audio on your Mac speakers.

With AirPlay, you can do all this wirelessly, so you don't need any cables or adapters.

Also, AirPlay mirroring is so fast that it can be very useful if used correctly.

5. Apple ecosystem app

Some developers who have absolute trust in Apple devices are developing apps specifically for Apple. In fact, some MakeUseOf push apps can only be used with Apple's gadgets.

For example, "Tweetbot".

It's the best mobile or desktop Twitter client app. It's only available on macOS and iOS, and you can sync between them.

There are other apps like this. The calendar "Fantastical", which is expensive but definitely worth it, the diary app "Day One", and one of the best RSS readers "Reeder".

All are top-class apps. It's tempting to say that Android and Windows don't have comparable apps.

6. iCloud

Another advantage when combining iPhone and Mac is iCloud.

With iCloud, you can sync everything to the cloud and access it quickly and easily from any other device.

For Mac and iPhone users, if iCloud Drive is turned on, you can quickly access files on your Mac using the Files app on your iPhone.

Similarly, if iCloud Photos is turned on, all photos taken with your iPhone will be automatically uploaded to the cloud and synced with your Mac.

With iCloud, data on all your devices is easy and seamless. "Calendar", "Contacts", "Memo", etc. can also be synchronized with iCloud.

7. Internet sharing

If you find it difficult to connect to Wi-Fi where you work, try temporarily switching to a cellular network and using a personal hotspot to connect.

It may be easier to connect to the internet.

In the previous steps, you could use the hotspot from the iPhone's "Settings" and then enter the password to connect to it as a normal Wi-Fi network.

However, with a feature called "Instant Hotspot," you can use your personal hotspot to connect directly to your iPhone's cellular connection without having to follow the same steps as before.

This means you don't have to turn on hotspots on your iPhone or enter your password on your Mac.

A list of available Wi-Fi connections will appear on your Mac, from which you can select your iPhone's cellular network to connect.

Original Article: 7 Reasons Why Every Mac User Should Get an iPhone by MakeUseOf