Dorchester — Nov 14th 2017

David discussed sharing. First up, how to share an editable document on iCloud Drive or, with DropBox, share a folder, sharing files by logging in to a computer on the same network and also using a shared file server. Mick explained how to avoid these complexities as users on the same network can pass documents back and forth using the built-in User folder’s Public folder plus “Dropbox” (nothing to do with the DropBox application). You can drop documents into the public folder for people to collect and they, in turn, can drop documents in the “Dropbox” without having access to the User’s folder itself.

Moving to Photos David showed how to set up and use a shared folder on Photos.app, how to share Photos from computers via Apple TV — this is set up via iTunes which must be open for sharing. These photos are accessed via the Apple TV Computers icon. The Photos icon gives access to PhotoStream direct from the cloud and iCloud Photos Library. (He omitted the AirPlay option).

Printing: David showed his network of three shared printers, one using WiFi, one Ethernet and the third connected to an Airport Express via USB. Not having AirPrint on any of these printers he uses the Printopia.app to print from IOS devices.

Airdrop: a useful way to transfer files between nearby Macs, iPhones. Lionel expanded this mentioning how Google Cloudprint also allows you to communicate with a non-AirPrint printer from anywhere. “The only problem is that the connected computer needs to be left on and not just asleep, but I suppose this is also necessary when using Printopia.” (this is correct but I think having ‘Wake for WiFi networks access’ in Energy Saver Preferences gets around this?) He recommended Android File Transfer which enables users to transfer files and photos from their Android phone to their Mac. Filedrop is another application that works like Airdrop between PCs and Macs. Both computers need to download the relevant app from the Filedrop website. “It is rather more clunky than Airdrop, but this may reflect the age of my Mac and the lack of sophistication of my PC” Thank you Lionel for forwarding details and your comments included here.

We looked at Screen sharing whilst talking between Macs on the same Network and also across the Internet using Messages.app. Mick pointed out that this is only possible for contacts with whom you are communicating via iMessages.

HandOff (part of Continuity): this lets you start working in a compatible App on one device and continue on another. On the Mac an extra icon of the App being worked on another device is displayed with the Finder Icon in the dock together with a small image of that device. For example, when writing an email on Apple Watch, on the Mac or iPad with iOS 11 the email App Icon plus an image of Apple Watch is displayed in the Dock. Click on that icon and the Mail app opens, taking over from the Watch. With IOS 11 a similar icon is displayed in the Dock on iPad. David was having a problem with Handoff on his iPhone!

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