We constantly try to share great tips and tricks with our readers in an effort to help them get the most out of their gadgets. Sometimes we put our own lists of tips together, and sometimes we point out useful lists that can be found on other sites. I came across one such list this morning, but it was presented in a particularly curious way.
The post framed eight iOS and Mac features as things that people likely don’t use because they’re too subtle or are “big misses” that remind us Apple is “human” and makes mistakes. Interestingly, however, I use and love every single feature the site listed.
DON’T MISS: 5 secret things you didn’t know your iPhone could do
Re/code published the list early Wednesday morning, and it includes eight features that are spread across Apple’s iOS and OS X platforms. The site positions these eight different functions as potential Apple mistakes, and I suppose that’s possible.
You be the judge.
The list begins with “Tap to Talk,” which allows iPhone users to record and instantly send short voice messages to each other via iMessage. I probably don’t use this feature every day, but I definitely use it several times a week, typically while I’m driving. I also use it to communicate with several different friends and family members, which suggests that they use it as well.
Next up is the OS X Launchpad, which lets you open apps from within an iOS-like icon grid. I actually almost never use the dock anymore on my Mac — all of my apps are launched from either Launchpad or Alfred.
No. 3 on the list is Reachability, which really threw me for a loop. In fact, it was the impetus for this post.
Reachability is the single most important trick that every iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus user needs to know, and I use it constantly, every single day. Unless you’re in the NBA, Reachability is the only way you’ll ever be able to comfortably tap things near the top of your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus screen with one hand.
Read more about Reachability in this post.
Mac OS notifications, Passbook and AirDrop are the next three items on the list, and once again I use each feature regularly. I can’t even remember the last time I flew somewhere and didn’t use Passbook for my boarding pass, and I’m not sure how anyone can use a Mac without taking advantage of the new notification system.
I also use AirDrop all the time, especially now that my wife and I constantly exchange photos and long videos of our new puppy.
Closing out the list are Mac trackpad gestures, which are probably used to some degree by anyone and everyone with a MacBook; and saving drafts in the iOS Mail app.
Am I crazy? Are these features all big misses by Apple that no one uses? Let me know on Twitter and I’ll eat humble pie.
