How to use iOS 8 Continuity between your iPhone & iPad for calls, texts, apps & more
Once updated to iOS 8, recent iPhones and iPads will play nicely with each other, allowing users to do new functions like answering a phone call or sending an SMS message via their iPhone without having to put down their iPad, or start an email on one device before finishing it on the other.
Apple has dubbed this seamless integration "Continuity," and some of it works immediately once all of a user's devices are updated to iOS 8. For example, if a user has the same Apple ID and associated phone number enabled on their iPad, calls will show up on the tablet once the iPhone begins ringing.
Answering a call on an iPad automatically places the conversation in speakerphone, allowing the iPad's microphone and speakers to handle the call. Continuity requires an iPhone 5 or later, fourth-generation iPad or newer, iPad mini, or fifth-generation iPod touch.
iOS 8 also allows users to automatically enable Personal Hotspot from a nearby iPhone, in a feature Apple calls "Instant Hotspot." A Continuity-capable iPhone will appear under the Wi-Fi section of the Settings app on iPad, and selecting that device will switch Personal Hotspot on, allowing a user to access mobile data from their cellular provider when possible.
The iPad also gains the ability with iOS 8 to send traditional SMS text messages via a connected iPhone. Previously, users could only said iMessages to Apple devices. While SMS messaging was available to test in iOS 8 beta releases, it is not included in the final release, and Apple has said it will become active in October.
All of this same functionality will be coming to newer Bluetooth Low Energy capable Macs later this year with the launch of OS X Yosemite, which will also be a free update.
Additional Continuity features in iOS 8 are available by enabling the "Handoff" feature. Users can do this by opening the Settings application, choosing General, and then selecting "Handoff & Suggested Apps."
"Handoff lets you start something on one device and instantly pick it up on other devices using your iCloud account," Apple's description reads. "The app you need appears in the lock screen, app switcher, and the dock on a Mac."
For example, if a user is reading a website on their iPhone running iOS 8, they can quickly switch to their iPad by swiping up from the small Safari icon that is displayed in the lower right corner. Doing so will immediately open the same website on the iPad.
In addition to Safari, this functionality works immediately with Mail, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts. Developers will be able to add Handoff into their own third-party apps as well.
The "Suggested Apps" function also utilizes a user's location to recommend applications. For example, if a user is at a Best Buy retail store, iOS 8 will display an App Store icon in the lower left corner of their iPhone lock screen. Swiping up will take the user to the App Store listing for the official Best Buy app.
If the Best Buy application is already installed, the icon for it will be displayed in the lower left corner, giving the user quick access to the app while they are in the store. This will help expand iBeacon functionality, which requires third-party applications to be installed to access unique functions.
Apple has dubbed this seamless integration "Continuity," and some of it works immediately once all of a user's devices are updated to iOS 8. For example, if a user has the same Apple ID and associated phone number enabled on their iPad, calls will show up on the tablet once the iPhone begins ringing.
Answering a call on an iPad automatically places the conversation in speakerphone, allowing the iPad's microphone and speakers to handle the call. Continuity requires an iPhone 5 or later, fourth-generation iPad or newer, iPad mini, or fifth-generation iPod touch.
iOS 8 also allows users to automatically enable Personal Hotspot from a nearby iPhone, in a feature Apple calls "Instant Hotspot." A Continuity-capable iPhone will appear under the Wi-Fi section of the Settings app on iPad, and selecting that device will switch Personal Hotspot on, allowing a user to access mobile data from their cellular provider when possible.
The iPad also gains the ability with iOS 8 to send traditional SMS text messages via a connected iPhone. Previously, users could only said iMessages to Apple devices. While SMS messaging was available to test in iOS 8 beta releases, it is not included in the final release, and Apple has said it will become active in October.
All of this same functionality will be coming to newer Bluetooth Low Energy capable Macs later this year with the launch of OS X Yosemite, which will also be a free update.
Additional Continuity features in iOS 8 are available by enabling the "Handoff" feature. Users can do this by opening the Settings application, choosing General, and then selecting "Handoff & Suggested Apps."
"Handoff lets you start something on one device and instantly pick it up on other devices using your iCloud account," Apple's description reads. "The app you need appears in the lock screen, app switcher, and the dock on a Mac."
For example, if a user is reading a website on their iPhone running iOS 8, they can quickly switch to their iPad by swiping up from the small Safari icon that is displayed in the lower right corner. Doing so will immediately open the same website on the iPad.
In addition to Safari, this functionality works immediately with Mail, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and Contacts. Developers will be able to add Handoff into their own third-party apps as well.
The "Suggested Apps" function also utilizes a user's location to recommend applications. For example, if a user is at a Best Buy retail store, iOS 8 will display an App Store icon in the lower left corner of their iPhone lock screen. Swiping up will take the user to the App Store listing for the official Best Buy app.
If the Best Buy application is already installed, the icon for it will be displayed in the lower left corner, giving the user quick access to the app while they are in the store. This will help expand iBeacon functionality, which requires third-party applications to be installed to access unique functions.
Comments
Note that the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch compatibility information for Continuity is as follows:
Unfortunately I'm using a 3rd gen iPad.
But I'm looking forward to using this with my Macs once Yosemite is released.
I really hope you're being facetious.
This is awesome. If your wife is using your iPad and your ex-girlfriend calls your phone...love it.
I really hope you're being facetious.
I really hope you're being facetious.
so it is a serious issue then
Note that the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch compatibility information for Continuity is as follows:
Unfortunately I'm using a 3rd gen iPad.
But I'm looking forward to using this with my Macs once Yosemite is released.
Wonderful..the question is how much battery is used having Bluetooth on at all times
so it is a serious issue then
Not for an honest person.
But, the idea of someone complaining because a great new feature will bust him with his infidelities is ludicrous.
Not for an honest person.
But, the idea of someone complaining because a great new feature will bust him with his infidelities is ludicrous.
well - he said ex-girlfriend
not necessarily an infidelity -
maybe there are cases where you would prefer than an iPad in another room is not going to alter, each time you may get a call or text while working in another area of ones house?
i imagine "do not disturb" applies to each individual device and is not global.
so i sit down to watch a movie - setting my phone to DND (except for favorites - there could be a family emergency.) but a call arrives and the iPad in the next room starts alerting?
http://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/photos/
No mention of it anywhere. Missing from the GM/public release for anyone that did not have it active as part of their Apple ID already.
Sms / mms doesn't seem to work like the release notes say
I don't see any indication that iphone to iPad or iPad to iPhone handoff works at all for sending emails
And Safari. The icon doesn't show up
I see safari and compose email showing up on yosemite dp 8
Wonderful..the question is how much battery is used having Bluetooth on at all times
I keep Bluetooth on at all times so that my car can connect with my phone. It doesn't seem to drain very much battery life. I believe this is the point of Bluetooth LE
I agree. So far much ado about nothing on most fronts. Plus the new Swiftkey is mostly crippled compared to the Android version (yes I know Apple did not write that app but it still adds to my overall disappointment with iOS 8 out of the gate).
Because it isn’t supposed to.
Quit the FUDmongering. It doesn’t work when you’re proven wrong by Apple.com itself.
With what? Did you mean to log into your other account? Otherwise:
text messaging was removed. apple insider's mention of it is in error. this is a missing feature that will return in october
I really hope you're being facetious.
Haha...that's what
is for
It doesn't work. Iphone5 and iPad mini retina both upgraded to 8.0 today.
Does one of them have to be in the lock screen?
Do they both need to be in the same app?
Do you need to start typing in a message before it shows up???
Do the devices need to establish a bluetooth connection?
Do they need to be on the same wifi network?
Nothing is mentioned of any of this.
I actually called earlier about this exact same thing, as I am supposed to get my 6 Plus on Friday as well but for the past few days have just been staring at a "Preparing for Shipment" label across the order. Basically what I found out is that they may be nearby you already as Apple apparently gave it to the carriers to ship and Apple is not updating our shipment processes because they are waiting until they are ready for the shipment information to come out. And they are making sure no one gets an iPhone earlier than Friday. The lady at Apple told me that tomorrow we should be seeing it as "Shipped" and will see exactly where it is. I was freaking out about this myself.
Both my iPhone 5s and iPad mini retina are iOS 8