I’ve used an iPhone for years, however pairing it with a Mac utterly modified how I exploit it. There’s an entire layer of options that solely reveal themselves when the 2 units work collectively.
5
Sideload Apps on Your iPhone
Not many individuals notice this, however you possibly can sideload apps in your iPhone utilizing AltStore when it’s related to your Mac. Sideloading merely means putting in apps that aren’t on the App Retailer by manually loading them onto your system. As an alternative of getting them by an “official” channel, you obtain the app file your self and put it in your iPhone.
Picture by Raghav – NAR
Raghav Sethi/MakeUseOf
AltStore works by signing the apps you wish to set up along with your Apple account, basically telling your iPhone it’s protected to run them. There are a couple of catches, although. You’ll be able to solely have as much as three sideloaded apps without delay, and also you’ll have to re-sign them each week until you have got a paid Apple Developer account.
I’ve used AltStore to carry again Apollo, a much better Reddit consumer than the official app. It is also resurrected some previous iPhone video games from my childhood, like Name of Responsibility: Zombies, which you’ll be able to’t get on the App Retailer anymore.
4
Use Your iPhone as a Excessive-High quality Webcam
Whereas MacBook webcams are fairly good by laptop computer requirements, they’re nonetheless removed from wonderful. And in case you’re utilizing a Mac mini or Mac Studio, you’ll want to purchase a separate webcam—until you have got an iPhone. With Continuity Digital camera, you should use your iPhone’s main digital camera as a webcam.
Picture by Raghav – NAR
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There’s no app to put in. So long as each units are signed in to the identical Apple ID, it’ll work with out bother. It might join wirelessly, however I’ve discovered a wired connection to be extra dependable. As soon as it’s arrange, simply open any app that makes use of your digital camera and choose your iPhone from the in-app settings. For instance, in FaceTime, go to the Video menu within the menu bar and decide your iPhone.
The one draw back is determining find out how to place your iPhone, particularly if you’re on the go. That stated, Apple does promote a Belkin MagSafe iPhone mount for MacBooks, which makes utilizing Continuity Digital camera a lot simpler.
3
Immediately Import Scans to Your Mac
That is one other function that usually will get missed, and I didn’t find out about it myself for a very long time. It’s since turn out to be an entire game-changer for me. I used to depend on the Adobe Scan app for years, however over time, it’s turn out to be much less dependable and now even reveals adverts.
Ultimately, I finished on the lookout for a third-party app and began utilizing the built-in scanner function. That is additionally a part of the Continuity Digital camera operate talked about earlier.
It enables you to use your iPhone’s digital camera as a scanner straight with the Preview app. That is a lot quicker than my previous workflow, the place I needed to scan a doc in Adobe Scan after which AirDrop the file to myself.
Screenshot by Olasubomi Gbenjo – no attribution required
All you’ll want to do is open Preview in your Mac, go to File > Import from iPhone > Scan Doc, and your iPhone will open a digital camera window. Take an image of no matter you wish to scan, and every web page will robotically be added to a PDF in Preview.
2
Continuity Sketch
If scanning paperwork wasn’t sufficient for you, your Mac and iPhone also can work collectively to allow you to signal paperwork, and even draw something you want straight onto them.
Attempting to do that with a mouse or trackpad is just not probably the most sensible answer, particularly for one thing as exact as a signature. That’s the place your iPhone is useful, letting you utilize your finger for much better accuracy.
Picture by Raghav Sethi – NAR
Raghav Sethi/MakeUseOf
Merely open the file in any supported app in your Mac, equivalent to Notes, then navigate to File > Import from iPhone > Add Sketch. This can set off a immediate to look in your iPhone, permitting you to attract or signal straight on its display screen. When you’re carried out, your sketch will likely be immediately and robotically added to the doc in your Mac.
1
Resume Duties With Handoff
Handoff is a helpful function that makes your Mac and iPhone really feel like one related workspace. It lets you begin one thing on one system and immediately proceed it on the opposite with out having to repeat, save, or ship something manually.
That is particularly helpful in case you incessantly change between your Mac and iPhone all through the day, because it retains your workflow shifting with none interruptions.
Zarif Ali / MakeUseOf
When an app helps Handoff, its icon will seem in your Mac’s Dock every time you have got one thing open in your iPhone. Clicking the icon will open the app in your Mac along with your content material precisely the place you left it. It additionally works the opposite approach round. For those who’re working in your Mac, you’ll see a Handoff immediate within the app switcher in your iPhone, able to take over.
There are many different methods to make use of your MacBook with an iPhone, however even with simply these few, you possibly can see how properly the 2 work collectively. The Apple ecosystem has a fame for making all the things really feel really easy, and, in my expertise, that is well-deserved.
I’ve tried loads of different ecosystems, however Apple’s strategy simply works. When you get used to the comfort, it is onerous to think about going again to the rest.
