iPhone Secrets

Chapter 8

Cutting the Cord: Utilizing Wireless Functionality

In This Chapter

• Printing sans wires
• Sorting out device compatibility
• Taking advantage of Wi-Fi sync
• Understanding when the plug is superior
• Transferring files from device to device
• Using Bluetooth to transfer files

If I didn’t make it clear enough in Chapter 7, the iPhone is at its best when no cables are involved. It just feels less like a tool and more like a… magic wand. I’m sure Harry Potter would agree. In newer builds of iOS, and in iOS 6 in particular, Apple has granted the iPhone wireless abilities that some may argue it should’ve had from the start. Wireless printing and syncing everything from contacts to music over Wi-Fi are now included. This chapter covers the ins and outs of the wireless features that are often overlooked on the iPhone, and even dives into the art of wireless transfers between devices. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi will be the driving forces at work, but as always, it takes a little effort on your part to facilitate the connection. Eager to get more done while cutting even more cables? You’re in the right place.

Cutting the USB Cord

I have to wonder if even Apple knew that its proprietary Dock Connector would end up being the barnburner that it has been. It’s quite remarkable, actually. There’s a USB port on one end and a Dock Connector on the other, but you’d be hard-pressed to know which one was the “universal” of the two.

Fun fact: Even Sony’s newest speaker docks have iPod support. If you ...