Seamless integration with continuity and transfer explained.
The Yosemite news broke at Apple’s WWDC. After a while, the software was the sole focus of the update. There was the Swift programming language, iOS 8, OS X Yosemite, and our only focus was on that spectrum. Another feature was mentioned, which we didn’t know we needed so badly, was continuity/transfer. Terms alone do not sufficiently express the range of capabilities it provides, let us explain exactly how this will benefit you and how you can use these amazing new features.
The biggest problem facing hordes of techies is the inability to seamlessly port features, at least without outside help. You would have to save a draft to your inbox, then open it on another device to continue working on it from then on. That and sharing tabs. Fortunately, Apple exercised foresight and expanded into an entirely different realm of sharing.
The underlying technology is an expansion of Airdrop, which now works on all platforms, be it iOS or OS X (that in itself is great news). Now, instead of just being able to share files, you can also share full features. At this stage of development, these features are only capable of delivering apps from iOS to OS X, final builds are promised to support bi-directional cross-platform transfers. You will be able to receive transfers as icons that appear on your lock screen.
Wi-Fi Hotspot
One feature that was sorely missing from iOS was the inherent ability to use the data on your iOS device as a WiFi hotspot, allowing your Mac to connect to the Internet without WiFi access. This could have been achieved with third-party software, but native support offers easier access. More importantly, it finally brings a long-awaited Android feature to iOS.
iCloud Drive
With cloud storage being all the rage and iCloud serving as a mere backup service, Apple has finally decided to allow users to access their storage like they would any other service like Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, etc. Now you can directly access files stored on a device. , eliminating a lot of third-party sync apps, again, the native one is almost always better. Internet Explorer serves as an example of exception. iCloud retains its previous usefulness in terms of saving backups, settings, features, app lists, purchased items, etc. with the added support of the Drive utility. We definitely look forward to exploring hidden tips and secrets when the final version is released.
Free hands
Handoff is a feature that when activated will sync any iOS or Mac with another using the same Apple ID via bluetooth. As long as bluetooth is on and the two devices are close, the Handoff function is activated. Your Mac goes into a low power “listening” mode for any incoming connection. Its default behavior is the same across the board. When an app is launched on an iOS device, it will appear as a shortcut in the Dock. This feature is only available from iOS to OS X for now, the final build promises vice versa, but we don’t know exactly if it works yet, but we know it will. We will keep you informed. Each app appears uniquely in Handoff, here’s how.
Emails + Compatible Apps
If you’re writing email on your iOS device and decide you can use a keyboard for this particular endeavor, just click the email icon in the Dock and it’ll pick up right where you left off, not a misplaced space bar. Plain and simple. Similar results were found with all supported apps, including Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Messages (SMS right from your Mac), Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts.
Phone calls
We’ve gone over (sorry for the crude words) the awesomeness of this feature before, you now have the ability to take phone calls on your computer, and if apps like Handsfree are any indicator, the sound quality will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Dyed. heard on the phone. So ideally you could end up not having to interact with your phone at all if calls are a priority.
maps
If you’re browsing the Maps app on your iOS device and zeroing in on a region. Clicking on its icon in the Dock will display exactly that region. Since you will have delivered it, you will need to do it all over again to show a new location. We don’t know if future builds promise real-time updates or if it will be finished as is. Either way, it serves its purpose.
Safari
Safari now behaves in a way familiar to CloudTabs, the only difference being that it now appears in the dock as well. Any sites you’re visiting will appear in Safari’s Top Sites tab, which will take you directly to the page you were accessing on your iOS device. It won’t get you to the exact position on the page though, we don’t know if it will be addressed in future builds, but that’s figuratively nitpicking, which unless it’s a poorly designed site with huge content, it won’t. be a problem.
conclusion
Handoff is a very promising feature and one that will surely remind some unruly Apple users. Nothing attracts users like a uniform architecture. Furthermore, this feature will also not be limited to apps created by Apple, but APIs will also be pushed to developers to help integrate Handoff with their own apps. In theory, we could transfer games, apps, edited images between devices. This is the next step in seamless integration across all Apple devices and we’re certainly excited. More, as it (literally) unfolds.
