Apple’s ecosystem

[Der_mit_dem_langen]

What are the features that make Apple’s ecosystem worth it for you? I have to admit that I use a lot of third party solutions for the things I want to do and find the ecosystem lacking in a lot of ways. Sure, your AirPods Pro 3 switching seamlessly from your Mac to your iPhone is a nice to have feature. But why can’t I change the volume of my Mac from my iPhone, or change the song that is playing? Why do I need to rely on Syncthing or similar solutions if I don’t want my files in Apple’s cloud? I’m sure there are a lot of benefits to the ecosystem that are simply not advertised. If you know any, please share!

 

[Performa460]

Worth it for me? I don't know about any unadvertised benefits (as I don't pay much attention to what's advertised to know the difference), but I like being able to access my iPad and iPhone apps on my MacBook and using the applicable ones without a touch interface.

I also like the ability to take/reject calls on my MacBook if I'm sitting at it.

I like being able to send things to my MacBook from my iPhones or iPads via AirDrop and vice versa.

I like being able to connect my iPod to my MacBook and listen to music through my MacBook (without having to sync them to my computer or offload them onto my computer) which of course has better audio output and sound quality than the iPod itself. I guess using it as a glorified speaker. Not new technology in any way, but really convenient. Then again, I use a third-party app for that, so maybe that isn't a good example of the "ecosystem."

I also love Find My. When you have as many devices as I do, that's the easiest way to keep track of them.

 

[Der_mit_dem_langen]

Worth it for me? I don't know about any unadvertised benefits (as I don't pay much attention to what's advertised to know the difference), but I like being able to access my iPad and iPhone apps on my MacBook and using the applicable ones without a touch interface.

I also like the ability to take/reject calls on my MacBook if I'm sitting at it.

I like being able to send things to my MacBook from my iPhones or iPads via AirDrop and vice versa.

I like being able to connect my iPod to my MacBook and listen to music through my MacBook (without having to sync them to my computer or offload them onto my computer) which of course has better audio output and sound quality than the iPod itself. I guess using it as a glorified speaker. Not new technology in any way, but really convenient. Then again, I use a third-party app for that, so maybe that isn't a good example of the "ecosystem."

I also love Find My. When you have as many devices as I do, that's the easiest way to keep track of them.

True, Find My is nice. I also really like Apple’s theft protection/lost function.

 

[Pjrufus]

Iphone, Apple TV, iPad Pro, Macbook Air, old Thunderbolt display, older iMac - they are all separate devices, with their own uses. I don’t expect one to have all the capabilities of another.
I’m very happy with the overlap they do provide, type in a search for ATV on iPad, deleting emails - messages on one device does it on all, take a photo on my phone and it’s immediately on my ipad or MBA for editing, rejecting phone calls on my iPad, etc. I don’t know about any not-advertised bennies.

 

[doogm]

But why can’t I change the volume of my Mac from my iPhone, or change the song that is playing?

That's a thing! The iTunes remote app on iOS can control the Music App on a Mac when you have Home Sharing turned on. It's in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/itunes-remote/id284417350

See also https://support.apple.com/guide/music/set-up-the-itunes-remote-app-mus4cd95db32/mac

Why do I need to rely on Syncthing or similar solutions if I don’t want my files in Apple’s cloud?

So if you don't want to use the ecosystem, you're asking why you need to use a third-party app?

Syncthing is great, and I've been using it since it was still in beta, but I don't expect Apple to provide a built-in OS app for every single third-party service.