5 Things That Are Keeping Me in the Apple Ecosystem
It’s been over a year since I switched back into the Apple ecosystem, and what a year it’s been. For starters, I strongly believe that switching back to the Apple ecosystem has helped me become more productive.
As a long-term Windows and Android user, I felt that I was being distracted by various things, such as gaming on Windows and customisation on Android. While I know I’m responsible for how I use my devices, having been on both sides, I’ve come to realise that the Apple ecosystem simply works better for me. I also discovered that it helps me be more productive, as there are fewer distractions and some fantastic apps and features.
In this article, I will mainly focus on some of the features that are keeping me in the Apple ecosystem. So, without any further ado, here are five things that are keeping me in the Apple ecosystem…
1. Hide My Email
As an IT engineer, I’m a big fan of the Hide My Email feature. Hide My Email allows you to create unique, random email addresses that you can use with websites, apps, and more. It helps your personal email address stay private so that if a breach ever happens, your personal email address stays secure. All emails get forwarded to your personal email address.
Best of all, if you want to, you can deactivate an email address. This works great for fighting spam.
Hide My Email is an iCloud+ subscription feature, but you can get it even with the 50 GB (£0.99) plan, which is pretty awesome.
You can generate random email addresses on a device running iOS 15, iPadOS, or macOS Monterey or later in email fields in Safari. You can also generate them on demand using the Settings app in iOS and iPadOS and the System Settings app on macOS or on the iCloud website.
2. Universal Clipboard and AirDrop
The Universal Clipboard is another fantastic feature that is keeping me in the Apple ecosystem. It allows me to copy content such as text, images, photos, and videos from one Apple device to another.
For example, if I want to copy text from my phone to my MacBook, I can do so by simply copying the text and pasting it on my MacBook.
It’s a simple feature, but it works extremely well and helps me save time.
Since we’re talking about copying things, I also wanted to talk about AirDrop, which is a feature on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS that allows users to wirelessly send files such as photos and videos to nearby Apple devices.
AirDrop is the default way I tend to send files from my iPhone to my MacBook and iPad because it’s quick, and it just works really well.
3. iCloud
iCloud is the backbone of my digital life within the Apple ecosystem. It smoothly syncs files, photos, documents, and more across all my Apple devices.
This means that I can start editing a document on my MacBook and continue editing it on my iPad. I am fully aware that this type of technology isn’t new and that I can do the same with OneDrive and Google Docs, but it’s all about the user experience. Based on my experience so far, I find that iCloud works better for me.
Thinking about it, it’s all down to the way iCloud Drive integrates with macOS and iOS, making file management straightforward. I also like the interface of the Files app on iOS.
4. Integration
One of the main reasons I remain loyal to the Apple ecosystem is its exceptional integration across Apple devices. That is not to imply that other ecosystems are bad, I just prefer the way Apple devices work together, as it helps me stay productive and on top of things.
Universal Clipboard, AirDrop, and iCloud are just a few examples of how well Apple devices integrate with each other, but there are many other cool ways.
For instance, the ability to answer calls and respond to messages from my MacBook or iPad when I’m working and have my AirPods on can be extremely convenient. I know it’s a small thing, but when I’m working at my desk it stops me from reaching out for my phone, which helps eliminate other distractions.
5. Apps
Last but not least, I wanted to talk about apps, specifically the default Apple apps. At present, I use the default Calendar, Notes, and Reminders app for managing my daily life, and I think that these apps are fantastic. They are simple yet packed with useful features that help me stay productive.
The clean and elegant interface and the consistency in design and functionality provide a great overall user experience, which I argue helps me be more productive. I don’t really know how to explain this, but I guess it’s because I like the look and feel of these apps.
Since we’re on the topic of apps, I also wanted to discuss the apps that are available for iOS and macOS because there are some remarkable apps out there, especially when it comes to productivity and creativity. As an example, I use an app called Ulysses to write my blog posts. I have yet to find a comparable app with all the included features on other platforms. But there are many other apps.
Final Thoughts
I know that there are many opinions about this, but at the end of the day, the Apple ecosystem works great for me, but I completely understand that it’s not for everyone.
For my needs, particularly around productivity and focus, it offers a seamless and reliable experience. From game-changing features like Universal Clipboard to small conveniences like being able to answer a call on my MacBook, the Apple ecosystem is full of thoughtful touches that genuinely improve the way I work and live.
Will I always be in the Apple ecosystem? Who knows — things change. But for now, I’m more than happy to stay, and it’s difficult to imagine going elsewhere. But at the same time, I do like the innovation going on at other brands such as Samsung or Google.