I don't understand the use of Handoff

[Silly John Fatty]

How is it different than using iCloud?

Apple says you could start writing an Email or a document on your Mac, and finish it on another device. I can already do that without Handoff, since I've got iCloud enabled, so what's the advantage?

My iCloud tabs in Safari are instantly synced, my Notes and all other things as well. I constantly switch between Mac, iPad and iPhone and everything is always there.

 

[AlixSPQR]

I don't know, I turn it off immediately. Someone got a bright idea, I suppose, which noone cares about.

 

[iStorm]

It's a bit more convenient. When you're using an app on one device (Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, etc.) an icon shows up on your other devices. Tap that and you go directly to whatever you were working on rather than having to hunt for your synced tab, email draft, etc.

Handoff also has Universal Clipboard. You can copy something on one device and paste it on another.

 

[subjonas]

It's a bit more convenient. When you're using an app on one device (Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, etc.) an icon shows up on your other devices. Tap that and you go directly to whatever you were working on rather than having to hunt for your synced tab, email draft, etc.

Handoff also has Universal Clipboard. You can copy something on one device and paste it on another.

I believe Handoff and Universal Clipboard are two different features in the suite of Continuity features. https://support.apple.com/en-us/102418

But you’re right, Handoff allows for more seamless transition between devices than cloud syncing for the reason you said. And of course not all apps have cloud syncing.

 

[iStorm]

I believe Handoff and Universal Clipboard are two different features in the suite of Continuity features. https://support.apple.com/en-us/102418

But you’re right, Handoff allows for more seamless transition between devices than cloud syncing for the reason you said. And of course not all apps have cloud syncing.

That's true, they are different features. I only mentioned it because it requires Handoff to be turned on.

 

[subjonas]

That's true, they are different features. I only mentioned it because it requires Handoff to be turned on.

Oh I didn’t know that. Just tested and you’re right. Curious that turning off Handoff doesn’t warn you that it will disable Universal Clipboard, but it does warn you that it will disable the option to turn on “Cursor and Keyboard”, which I’m not sure means the ability to control a nearby Mac using the iPad’s keyboard and trackpad or vice versa. But either way it’s curious that “Cursor and Keyboard” isn’t called Universal Control even though Handoff is called Handoff in Settings. But maybe my biggest curiosity is why Handoff is the gatekeeper to these other Continuity functions. It seems like they should all have independent toggles, but if one toggle does control them all it should be called Continuity. Several curiosities here.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I think I might try Handoff then. I’m curious to see what it’s like.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

I think I might try Handoff then. I’m curious to see what it’s like.

It's awesome. I use it all the time, it's just seamless.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I've enabled it everywhere, but it doesn't seem to work for me. I never see the Handoff icon over an app icon.

I'm not always in Bluetooth, though. I know it needs to be on. But when I turn it on, and leave it on for long, Handoff still never appears.

They should make this work without Bluetooth as well. I can't have it turned on all the time on my iPhone or iPad, I save battery this way. It consumes a lot!

 

[SnowCrocodile]

How is it different than using iCloud?

Apple says you could start writing an Email or a document on your Mac, and finish it on another device. I can already do that without Handoff, since I've got iCloud enabled, so what's the advantage?

My iCloud tabs in Safari are instantly synced, my Notes and all other things as well. I constantly switch between Mac, iPad and iPhone and everything is always there.

The difference is, with iCloud, you get the same document automatically saved on all devices.

With Handoff, you get the same document opened in the same place on all devices, i.e. scrolled to the same exact paragraph. So you literally can start typing in, say, Pages on your Mac, stop mid-sentence, pick up your iPad, open Pages, and continue exactly where you left without having to open the file and scroll to the right place.

The only problem is that handoff doesn't always work reliably, at least for me. But when it works, it's great.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

The difference is, with iCloud, you get the same document automatically saved on all devices.

With Handoff, you get the same document opened in the same place on all devices, i.e. scrolled to the same exact paragraph. So you literally can start typing in, say, Pages on your Mac, stop mid-sentence, pick up your iPad, open Pages, and continue exactly where you left without having to open the file and scroll to the right place.

The only problem is that handoff doesn't always work reliably, at least for me. But when it works, it's great.

That does sound great. It hasn't worked for me so far. I have enabled it everywhere, but the icon just never appeared. So the reliability is a big minus in my eyes (and also the fact you have to have Bluetooth turned on).