4. Sync, Share, and Print Files Using AirDrop, AirPlay, AirPrint, and Handoff

When it comes to syncing and sharing files and data (including app-specific data), your iOS mobile device is equipped with several tools, including AirDrop, AirPlay, AirPrint, Continuity, and Handoff.

The AirDrop tool enables your iPhone or iPad to wirelessly transfer certain types of files (including photos) and app-specific data to other iPhones, iPads, and Macs that are in close proximity, and that also support the AirDrop function.

To turn on the AirDrop feature on your iPhone or iPad, launch Control Center by swiping your finger upward from the very bottom of the screen. When the Control Center appears, tap on the AirDrop option.

From the AirDrop menu (shown in Figure 4.1), choose whether you want to utilize AirDrop to communicate with any other nearby users (Everyone) or only with people within your Contacts database (Contacts Only). It’s also possible to turn off the feature altogether.

Figure 4.1 Access the AirDrop menu from the Control Center. (Shown here on an iPad.)

When it’s turned on, use this feature to send content from the Share menu that’s built in to compatible apps. For example, if you want to send a photo to another AirDrop user (or one of your other compatible Macs or mobile devices), launch Photos, view and select the photo(s) you want to send, and then tap on the Share icon.

When the Share menu is displayed (shown in Figure 4.2), thumbnails representing people in close proximity who have AirDrop turned on are displayed. Tap on the intended recipient, and the selected photos are wirelessly sent.

Figure 4.2 Select AirDrop from the Share menu of compatible apps to send app-specific content to other iOS mobile devices and Mac users.

After you receive content via AirDrop, to access that content, launch the relevant app. For example, to view, organize, or edit photos you receive, open the All Photos/Camera Roll album in the Photos app. If you receive a Contacts entry, it is automatically added to your Contacts database and is accessible from the Contacts app.

To use AirPlay, your iOS mobile device and the other AirPlay-compatible device must be connected to the same wireless home network (via Wi-Fi). Then, when you turn on the AirPlay feature, the two compatible devices automatically establish a wireless connection.

After the connection is made, an AirPlay icon appears within compatible apps, such as Music, Videos, and Photos, enabling you to transfer (stream) what you would otherwise see on your iPhone or iPad’s screen, or what would be heard through the device’s speaker, to another compatible device.

In addition to being able to stream photos and video (including iTunes Store TV show and movie purchases and rentals), you can use AirPlay to connect external speakers (without cables) to your iOS mobile device and then stream music (from Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, or iTunes Radio, for example) or other audio (such as audiobooks or podcasts) from your device to those compatible speakers.

When it’s available, one of the easiest ways to turn AirPlay on or off is to access it from Control Center. Tap on the AirPlay icon, and then choose where you want to stream the content to. In Figure 4.3, you see that an iPad is wirelessly connecting to Apple TV to stream a TV show saved in the iPad and display it on an HD television set via Apple TV.

Figure 4.3 The AirPlay icon and menu found in Control Center.

After you’ve set up an AirPrint-compatible printer, use the Print feature that’s built in to many apps, such as Pages, Notes, Safari, Maps, and Photos. The Print option is often found in the Share menu of these apps, although this can vary.

Basically, this feature enables you to begin a task on one of your Mac(s) or iOS mobile devices and then pick up exactly where you left off on another Mac or iOS mobile device that’s linked to the same iCloud account and is within Bluetooth range (about 33 feet).

To enable the Handoff feature on your mobile device, launch Settings, tap on General, and then tap on the Handoff & Suggested Apps option. Turn on the virtual switch associated with the Handoff option. This must be done on each of your iOS mobile devices.

Also, make sure the device you’re using is connected to the same wireless network as the device(s) with which you want to use these features and that Bluetooth is turned on.

When Handoff is turned on, start performing a compatible task on one of your Macs or iOS mobile devices. Then, to pick up what you were doing on a different iPhone or iPad, wake up the device, and from the Lock screen, place your finger on the app icon displayed in the lower-left corner of the screen, and swipe upward (shown in Figure 4.4). You can also access the app switcher. Apps available via Handoff will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Figure 4.4 When it’s possible to take advantage of the Handoff feature, upon waking up your iPhone or iPad, place your finger on the Handoff app icon displayed in the lower-left corner of the Lock screen and swipe upward.

Handoff is one of iOS 9’s Continuity features. Another Continuity feature, and one of the coolest if you’re an iPhone user, is that when you receive an incoming call on your phone, when the Continuity/Handoff feature is also active on your iPad and/or Mac, you can answer that incoming call and engage in the phone conversation from one of these other devices.

Your iPhone continues to host the call, but the wireless connection between your iPhone and iPad (or iPhone and Mac) enables you to use the Mac or iPad’s built-in microphone and speaker(s) as a speakerphone.

When an incoming call is displayed on your iPad or Mac’s screen, tap or click on the Answer icon to answer the call. If you want to initiate a call from your iPad or Mac (via your iPhone), tap or click on a phone number that’s displayed in the Contacts, Calendar, or Safari apps, or tap on one of the recent contact thumbnails displayed on the Spotlight Search screen.

Another nice feature of Handoff is that you can now send and receive SMS and MMS text messages via your cellular service provider’s texting network (as opposed to Apple’s Internet-based iMessage service) from your iPad or Mac(s). These incoming or outgoing messages use the Messages app running on your iPhone (with its cellular connection) as a conduit.