Teach Yourself VISUALLY MacBook Pro, 2nd Edition (2014)

Part IV. Taking MacBook Pro Further

Chapter 19. Using iPhones, iPods, and iPads with Your MacBook Pro

Understanding How iOS Devices Work with Macs

Apple iOS devices — iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches — are incredibly popular, and for good reason. They offer amazing functionality in small, extremely mobile devices. An iOS device (or two) makes an ideal companion for your MacBook Pro because you can easily share content that is stored on your MacBook Pro with an iOS device. For example, you can access the same e-mail messages using the Mail application on a MacBook Pro and the Mail app on an iOS device. Your iOS device acts as an extension of your MacBook Pro.

iOS

iOS is the name of the software that runs iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches. It was the first major operating system that you could control solely by using finger gestures on the screen. Since Apple released the iPhone, other manufacturers have imitated the iOS software because it has proven to be so well designed. Apple has incorporated a number of iOS features into the OS X system software that runs your MacBook Pro, such as the trackpad gestures.

Synchronization

Synchronization keeps information on each device consistent with the most current version of that information. For example, when you add an event to the Calendar application on your MacBook Pro, you also want that event to appear in the Calendar app on an iOS device, and vice versa. You can sync a wide variety of data easily using your iCloud account.

iTunes

In addition to all the great audio and video functionality that iTunes offers, as explained in Chapter 18, iTunes enables you to work with iOS devices. You can use iTunes to sync data between your MacBook Pro and iOS devices. You can also use iTunes to maintain an iOS device through updates of the iOS software or to correct problems by restoring that software. Furthermore, connecting an iOS device to your MacBook Pro charges the device's battery; make sure the MacBook Pro is connected to a power outlet to charge the iOS device quickly without depleting the laptop's battery.

iCloud

iCloud also works with iOS devices. The “cloud” provides online storage of information, documents, photos, and more that you can access with your MacBook Pro and iOS devices. This enables you to sync your computer and your iOS devices. The benefit of syncing through iCloud is that it is wireless so that you can use iCloud whenever you have an Internet connection. For more information about iCloud, see Chapter 10.

Other Online Services

iCloud is one of several online services that you can use with your MacBook Pro and an iOS device. Other services work similarly. For example, Microsoft Exchange is the most widely used e-mail and calendar system among businesses and large organizations. You can configure an Exchange account in the Mail application on your MacBook Pro and iOS devices so that you can access your Exchange data from each one. Google offers similar features, including e-mail, calendar, and contacts.

Device Management

In addition to keeping information synced on iOS devices, you can use your MacBook Pro and the iTunes application to manage your iOS devices. This includes keeping the operating system software current by updating it, solving problems on the device by restoring the software, and keeping the device's battery charged. You can also use iTunes to configure the Home screens and install and update the apps on your iOS devices.

Using iTunes to Sync Music with Your iOS Device

One of the great things about an iPhone, iPad, or iPod is that you can carry music with you and enjoy it wherever you go. Chapter 18 explains how to create a music library in iTunes on your MacBook Pro. You can copy any music in your library onto an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Once there, you can use the device's Music app to listen to it. You can configure the specific music that you move onto your iPhone, iPad, or iPod by choosing your entire library or by selecting playlists, artists, albums, and genres.

Using iTunes to Sync Music with Your iOS Device

Connect your device to your MacBook Pro.

If iTunes is not open already, it launches after you connect the device.

In iTunes, click the device's button on the navigation bar. For example, click iPhone.

The management screens for the iOS device or iPod appear.

Click the Music tab.

Select the Sync Music check box ( changes to ).

Choose whether to sync all your music library or part of it.

A Select Entire music library ( changes to ) to sync all your music, and then skip to step 11.

B Select Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres ( changes to ) to sync a selection.

To have iTunes fill up any empty space on the device with music, select the Automatically fill free space with songs check box ( changes to ). This is not a good idea for an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, but it works well for other iPods.

Select each playlist you want to include ( changes to ).

Select each artist you want to include ( changes to ).

Select each genre you want to include ( changes to ).

Select each album you want to include ( changes to ).

Click Apply.

iTunes copies the music you selected to the device.

Note: Every time you connect the device to your MacBook Pro, it will sync using the current settings.

TIP

How can I add music to my device over Wi-Fi?

You can sync an iOS device wirelessly by selecting Sync with this device over Wi-Fi ( changes to ) on the Summary tab and then clicking Apply. To sync the device, click its button on the navigation bar, click Summary, and then click Sync. You can also open the Settings app on the device, tap General, tap iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, and then tap Sync Now.

Using iTunes to Manage Apps on Your iOS Device

One of the reasons iOS devices are so useful is the incredible number and diversity of apps that you can run on them. You can use iTunes to download apps from the iTunes Store similarly to how you download music and other content. After you have downloaded the apps to your MacBook Pro, you can copy them onto the device through the sync process. You can also use iTunes to update apps; the next time you sync the device, iTunes copies the updated apps onto the device.

Using iTunes to Manage Apps on Your iOS Device

Connect your iOS device to your MacBook Pro.

If iTunes is not open already, it launches after you connect the device.

In iTunes, click the device's button on the navigation bar. For example, click iPad.

The management screens for the iOS device appear.

Click Apps.

The Apps tab appears.

On the left side of the window, you see the apps in your iTunes library.

A Optionally, click the pop-up menu () and select how you want iTunes to list the apps from the menu, such as Sort by Kind or Sort by Name.

Click Install for each app you want to install. Install changes to Will Install.

Note: To remove an app that is already installed, click Remove.

Click the thumbnail for the Home screen you want to customize.

B The Home screen appears.

To install an app on the Home screen that is displayed, click the app in the Apps list and drag it to where you want it on the screen.

Note: You can also drag the already installed apps to different positions on the Home screen.

To reorder the Home screens, click a Home screen and drag it to where you want it to appear.

Click Apply.

The iOS device arranges the Home screens in the order you chose and containing the apps you specified.

TIPS

How do I create app folders?

To create a folder, drag one app icon on top of another. A new folder appears and opens; edit the default name of the folder if you want. Click outside the folder to close it. Drag more app icons onto the folder to add them to it.

How do I use iTunes to update my apps?

Click the pop-up menu () at the left end of the navigation bar at the top of the iTunes window, and then click Apps. Click Updates in the navigation bar, and then click Update All Apps. iTunes downloads the updates. The next time you sync the device, iTunes installs the updated apps on it.

Using Photo Stream to Sync Photos with iOS

Current iOS devices have cameras, so if you carry your device with you, you can take photos wherever you are. You can use iCloud Photo Stream to automatically upload photos you take on an iOS device to iCloud and download photos from your photo stream to the device. Your other devices, including your MacBook Pro, can download the photos from iCloud. Chapter 10 provides the steps for setting up your MacBook Pro to use Photo Stream.

Using Photo Stream to Sync Photos with iOS

Press the Home button.

The Home screen appears.

Tap Settings.

The Settings screen appears.

Tap iCloud.

The iCloud screen appears.

Tap Photos.

The Photos screen appears.

Set the My Photo Stream switch to On ().

To enable photo sharing, set the Photo Sharing switch to On ().

Using iCloud to Sync Documents on iOS Devices

You can use iCloud to synchronize documents and data to the cloud from where other devices can access those documents and data. Using iCloud to synchronize documents means you always have the current versions of your documents available to you on all of your devices. This enables you to work on documents no matter which device you are using.

Using iCloud to Sync Documents on iOS Devices

Press the Home button.

Tap Settings.

Tap iCloud.

Tap Documents & Data.

Set the Documents & Data switch to On ().

In the Allow apps to store documents and data in iCloud list, set the switch for each app to On () or Off (), as needed.

If you want to be able to work with iCloud documents and data while the device is connected to a cellular network, set the Use Cellular Data switch to On ().

Note: If your cellular data plan allows only a limited amount of data before charging you extra fees, set the Use Cellular Data switch to Off () so that you can transfer documents and data only when connected to a Wi-Fi network.