Seven years ago, while working on a video series in Puerto Rico, the director said they liked the footage that I had shot with my smartphone. Problem was, I couldn't figure out how to remove it from the phone. My two devices, an Android phone and an Apple computer, were in a fight just like my marriage. It doesn't work that way, I thought.
To transfer the phone to the computer, I needed a software bridge. Every time there was an update on one side, the transition would be uncertain. Commander One, Android Transfer and any other software I could find worked well. It was difficult to find a consistent solution, especially for large files. My co-host asked me why I was living in two universes. I thought he meant that I had just left my husband on another continent. But he really meant that I had a Nokia phone and a MacBook Air.
After that film shoot, my husband left me and I got seven LG phones. Their cameras and video quality improved rapidly. Everyone would agree that I was the best photographer on any group trip. Because the quality was so much better, it was worth the effort to maintain the dual status.
A film director at Discovery Channel had earlier told me that he switched to the iPhone12 Pro Max during the pandemic. LG soon announced that they were quitting the phone business. I thought, "What could make my life easier?" and went to Costco for a new phone. Although I was aware that swapping phones would be difficult, I reminded myself that Costco is always there to help you. I walked out with an iPhone 12 Pro Max.
As my iPhone friends waited anxiously for my chat bubbles change from green to bleu, they said, "Welcome to the Dark Side." It was my first experience with the iPhone, and I felt lost at first. But I soon found my feet. These are my top features, along with some cool tricks, for Android users who want to switch. Some of these friends are also loyal iPhone users.
Working with Photos and Videos
My primary goal was to make it easy for my photos to appear on my laptop instead of having to transfer them from Android. Initialy, I needed help. I made an appointment online with Apple Tech Support. After some back and forth, I was able to have my devices talk to each other. They were able to help me redirect my photo library. Now I can select a group and create an album. Then, Airdrop the photos from my phone to my computer. Photos are stored on my laptop's Photos app and backed up in iCloud immediately. Making movies from an adventure like the one I made in Alaska with bears, I can drag the videos from my desktop into iMovie. It is seamless, painless and much more enjoyable than I used to do.
A built-in magnifying glass
The good news is that an iPhone can make you feel more youthful. My doctor has her wear her reading glasses everywhere, and it makes her feel old. In one simple step, I showed her how to turn on Magnifier.
Go to Settings > Accessibility on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Magnifier and then turn it on. Tap the button on the right of the phone three more times to open the magnifier. She can now use her phone as a magnifier at the grocery store or on a date, and she doesn't need to wear glasses. Although she has owned an iPhone for 14+ years, she didn't know it could be used to help her read small print. You need to download an app for Android. While there are many options, it is nice to have the feature built into your phone.
Easy Screen Recording
Screen Record allows you to capture a screen shot. To do this, swipe diagonally from the upper left corner to reach the control center and press the screen record button. The countdown will show you 3 before the screen record button starts. Make sure you're open to what you wish to record before you press it.
Aliza Licht was a brand expert that I interviewed for Thrive Global.
