The best new iOS feature no one uses (yet!) by Kim Komando

OK, please let me see a show of hands, how many of you have ever emailed a file - like a photo or a document - to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad, even as you sit right in front of your Mac? Yes, I've done it too, just like nearly every other Apple user on the planet. That's probably because using email to move files around works pretty well as long as your file is small enough to be attached to an email. But now there's a better way to move files among your gadgets or even among your friends.

Though file moving is a feature that goes back to iOS 7, previous versions did not include your desktop Mac computers. Seems many users simply used third-party apps like DropBox to move files back and forth between gadgets. That's all changed now. When Apple released iOS 8 along with the newest desktop OSX, Yosemite, it also dramatically improved - and simplified - the ability to easily move files around.

Here's the really cool part of this new function: Your various Apple gadgets don't even have to be on the same network or signed into the same iCloud account to move files back and forth. That means you can also move files to a friend or co-worker. However, there is one small caveat to this file moving system: It is designed to work between users who are near each other. Apple says gadgets should be within about 30 feet of each other. So this works well in coffee shops, conference tables, between cubicles or across the den.

Apple AirDrop

Apple AirDrop lets you seamlessly move files back and forth between nearby desktop Macs and iOS gadgets like iPad, iPhone or iTouch. To use AirDrop from a Mac, it is available from the Finder, the Share menu, and in Open and Save windows. When you choose AirDrop in Yosemite, your Mac looks for nearby devices that can also use AirDrop. This includes Mac computers with OS X Lion or later installed, and iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices with iOS 7 or later.

To see if your Mac works with AirDrop, make sure you’re in the Finder by clicking the desktop (the background area of your screen), or by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.

Then, check to see if AirDrop is listed as an option in the Go menu. If you don't see AirDrop listed, your Mac doesn't support this feature.

In order to transfer files between a Mac and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

• Your iOS gadget needs to include a Lightning connector with iOS 7 or later installed
• Your Mac needs to be a 2012 or later model with OS X Yosemite installed
• Your Mac and iOS device both need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. You do not have to be connected to a specific Wi-Fi network.

To transfer files between two Mac computers, you need the Mac models listed below with Wi-Fi turned on and OS X Lion or later installed.

• MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
• MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
• iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
• Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)

*The MacBook Pro (17-Inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.

Steps to use AirDrop between a Mac and a mobile

1. Wi-Fi must be turned enabled on your gear. For iOS: Settings -> Wi-Fi; and Mac: Menu Bar -> Wi-Fi -> Turn Wi-Fi On. The gadgets using AirDrop do not have to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

2. Turn on Bluetooth on your mobile (Settings -> Bluetooth) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Apple -> System Preferences -> Bluetooth -> Turn Bluetooth On).

3. Turn on AirDrop on your phone, tablet or touch iPod (Slide up to access Control Center -> AirDrop -> Choose "Contacts Only" or "Everyone") and Mac (Finder -> Menu Bar -> Go -> AirDrop -> Click "Allow me to be discovered by:" -> Choose "Contacts Only" or "Everyone").

4. You may now begin using AirDrop to transfer files between a Mac and an iOS gadget. To test it out, go to the AirDrop menu in the Mac Finder and notice that your iOS device is represented by circle. Drag and drop a file onto the circle, and your iOS device will prompt you to accept the file. If you don't see the receiving device in the AirDrop window, make sure the recipient is set up to get files over AirDrop. If you don't see the receiving device in the AirDrop window, make sure the recipient is set up to get files over AirDrop.

You can also transfer files from the Mac to an iOS device using apps that have Share feature built-in. The Share menu can be accessed in the upper right corner of an app and is represented by a square with an upward facing arrow.

5. Transferring a file from an iOS device to a Mac can be done in any app that supports the Share functionality. Like on the Mac, the Share button brings up a list of options for transfers including AirDrop. For example, sending an image to the Mac from the Photos app can be done by tapping the Share button, tapping AirDrop, and selecting the desired Mac. A prompt to accept the file should then appear on the Mac.

Steps to use AirDrop between mobile gadgets

Sending files from your iPad or iPhone is the similar as shown on the previous page.
You’ll need both gadgets no more than 30 feet apart, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. On the iPhone that you want to send from, find a file such as a photo and press the share button.

Again, you'll see sharing options including Message and Mail plus any nearby users who have AirDrop enabled, such as user "Richard" shown on the screen shot below. If you see only the AirDrop icon with no users, ask your receiver to enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Tap the AirDrop icon until the receiver's name and is displayed below their circle photo or icon.

When you see the contact picture and name of the device you want to send to, tap on the circle. This will start the transfer. If you are sending to yourself on another gadget, it will auto download on that gadget and will display the file. If you are sending to someone else, they need to accept the file. The receiver's mobile screen will display an "accept" as shown below.

AirDrop has been an Apple feature since iOS 7. But with the updated version in iOS 8 coupled with Mac's desktop OSX Yosemite, Apple seems to have smooth out earlier bugs making AirDrop a smooth, seamless was to move files between gadgets.

Posted in: iPhone,Mac OS