How to Enable Text Message Forwarding and Answer Phone Calls on Your Mac

by Richard Padilla

With the release of OS X Yosemite, Apple has included a new set of "Continuity" features that connect iOS devices and the Mac in a number of ways. Most notably, Continuity allows users to place and answer calls with their Macs and iPads that are forwarded through the iPhone.

Similarly, Macs and iPads can now receive SMS messages, even ones sent from non-Apple devices. Before the launch of iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite, Macs and iPads could only receive iMessages, as SMS messages were limited to the iPhone via traditional delivery. iMessages are a part of Apple's proprietary messaging service made for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, while SMS messages are usually intended for communications between mobile phones. Users can now also send SMS messages to any kind of device from the Mac and iPad. Apple previously referred to this feature as "SMS Relay" before the debut of iOS 8.1, but officially refers to it as "Text Message Forwarding" in the Settings app.





The ability to answer calls and SMS messages on a Mac is especially useful when an iPhone is across the room charging or otherwise inaccessible. The iPhone being used to relay calls and texts can even be in sleep mode, meaning that users can manage all incoming calls and text messages entirely through their Mac and iPad.


Before You Start


You need iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite in order to forward phone calls and SMS messages from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad. You also need to make sure that both your Mac and iPhone are logged into the same iCloud account. Phone calls and SMS routing are compatible with any iPhone and iPad running iOS 8.1 and any Mac that supports OS X Yosemite. Also, the Wi-Fi calling feature needs to be off to enable call forwarding, so ensure it is disabled by going to by going to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calls.


Steps to Enable Text Message Forwarding


1. Turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone (Settings -> Wi-Fi) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Wi-Fi -> Turn Wi-Fi On. SMS forwarding will still work between the Mac and an iOS device even if both are using different Wi-Fi networks.

2. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone (Settings -> Bluetooth) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Apple -> System Preferences -> Bluetooth -> Turn Bluetooth On).

3. On your Mac, open the Messages app and navigate to Menu Bar -> Messages -> Preferences -> Accounts -> Click on iMessage account -> Check the boxes next to your phone number and email. If your email is not listed, click Add Email and enter your email.

4. On your iPhone, add your email address to your iMessage by going to Settings -> Messages -> Send & Receive. A registered email for iMessage is required in order to enable text message forwarding.

5. Turn on Text Message Forwarding on your iPhone by going to Settings -> Messages -> Text Message Forwarding -> Turn Text Message Forwarding On. A prompt will appear asking you to enter an activation code. The activation code will appear in your Mac's Messages app. Enter the activation code from your Mac in the prompt shown on your iPhone. An activation code is required for every device that you want to include in text message forwarding.


6. You will now be able to answer any incoming text message on your Mac. Text messages sent to your iPhone will also automatically appear as a push notification on your Mac in the upper-right corner. When a text message appears, you can answer it by clicking "Reply". Text messages will also appear in the Messages app on your Mac.



Steps to Enable Phone Call Forwarding


1. Turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone (Settings -> Wi-Fi) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Wi-Fi -> Turn Wi-Fi On. Call forwarding requires both of your devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

2. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone (Settings -> Bluetooth) and Mac (Menu Bar -> Apple -> System Preferences -> Bluetooth -> Turn Bluetooth On).

3. Turn on iPhone Cellular Calls on your Mac (FaceTime -> Preferences -> Turn On iPhone Cellular Calls) and iPhone (Settings -> FaceTime -> iPhone Cellular Calls).

4. You may now begin placing and answering phone calls on your Mac. Incoming calls to your iPhone will appear as a push notification on your Mac in the upper-right corner. When a call appears, you have the option to answer it by clicking "Accept" or ignore it by clicking "Decline". You can also click on the arrow to the right of the Decline option and can then choose to send a text message or create a reminder to return the call later.


When you're on a call, you can silence yourself by clicking "Mute" or switch to a FaceTime video call by clicking "Video". If another person calls during your current phone call, you will also have the option to click "Hold & Accept" and can even switch between calls by clicking the connected arrows. You can also click "Merge" to merge both calls. If you want to transfer the call from your Mac back to your iPhone, unlock your iPhone tap the "Touch to return to Call" banner.


You can also make phone calls from a number of apps on the Mac, including Contacts, Safari, Mail, Maps and Spotlight. For example, you can call a business after searching for its information in Maps, and can highlight and call a phone number when one is displayed in Safari.



Troubleshooting


A number of users have had difficulty with trying to enable text message and phone call forwarding for their Macs. For text message forwarding, users on our forums have reported that a combination of logging out and back into iCloud on their devices, turning iMessage off and on in the iPhone's Settings app, disabling and enabling Bluetooth, and restarting both devices fixed their problems. If the activation code to set up text message forwarding is not showing up on your Mac, ensure that an email address is activated for iMessage on your iPhone. Once again, you can activate an email for iMessage on your iPhone by going to Settings -> Messages -> Send & Receive.

Meanwhile, users attempting to fix problems with call forwarding have found that the most common solutions include rebooting both devices, logging out and back into iCloud on their devices, and turning FaceTime off and back on in the iPhone's Settings app. Other users have found that having Wi-Fi Calling enabled on the iPhone has caused call forwarding to not work, so once again ensure that setting is off by going to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calls.

Apple Inc. Beats Samsung Out For China’s Top Brand

by Michelle Jones

It's been two years since Samsung unseated Apple Inc. as the most powerful mobile brand in China

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has recaptured the title of top mobile brand in China, according to the 2014 China Brand Power Index ranking, which is compiled by the China Brand Research Center. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) had held that title since 2012.


Why Apple beat Samsung

CNET reports that in order to come up with the ranking in the index, the China Brand Research Center polled 13,500 Chinese between the ages of 15 and 60 in 30 different cities. The poll lasted from August 2013 to January 2014 and covered questions about loyalty and brand awareness.

According to researchers, Apple beat Samsung as the most powerful mobile brand because of market share issues which resulted in declining customer loyalty. They said that Samsung focused too much on gaining market share in China and essentially ignored its customers’ concerns. The result was a brand management issue that caused Samsung to score lower than Apple did in the poll.

Apple focuses on China

Apple has made it no secret that China is an important market for it. The company has been doing quite a bit of damage control there, and the survey results suggest that the efforts are paying off. Apple took on a lot of warranty charges in China and CEO Tim Cook even apologized.

Also the Chinese state-run media said earlier this year that Apple’s iPhone is a threat to national security because it is able to track and time-stamp the locations of its users.
How Samsung stacked up against others

Samsung did, however, gain 24.6 points year over year, bringing its ranking for this year to 566.6 points. Apple topped that though, scoring 568.5 points in the rankings for mobile brands. Samsung also kept the top spot in color TVs, making this the fourth year in which the Korean electronics giant earned that ranking since 2011.

This is also the third consecutive year in which Samsung got the top spot for monitors. The company also earned a third place ranking in digital cameras, video cameras and laptops.

No excuse to ignore your Whatsapp messages!

By VICTORIA WOOLLASTON

App update reveals when a post is read - and the precise time it was opened

• Feature is available on WhatsApp messenger across all mobile platforms
• Single grey tick means the message has been sent, a double grey tick means it has been delivered, and two blue ticks mean it has been read
• Pressing and holding an individual message shows the Message Info option
• Clicking this reveals the precise time that particular message was read 
• Opinion about the changes has divided users on social networks 

Who’s Really in Charge of Microsoft Corporation? Nadella, Gates, or Ballmer?

By Tim Brugger

For decades, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) was synonymous with Bill Gates. After his childhood friend and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen retired in 1983 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, Gates was Microsoft, and vice versa. As former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer learned after being named chief executive in 2000, following in the footsteps of a world technology leader isn't an easy proposition. Some would argue Ballmer brought on much of the ill-will from investors and industry pundits alike by holding on to the past much too long, rather than looking to the future.

Based on Microsoft's recent successes in cloud-related solutions and its new emphasis on becoming a significant player in mobile technologies, Ballmer's replacement, Satya Nadella, has been a breath of fresh air. And shareholders have reaped the benefits, enjoying Microsoft's 24% jump in share price so far this year. Turns out, however, there's a bit more to the Nadella-Microsoft turnaround story, and it involves a familiar face.

Heee's, back!An article was published in Vanity Fair recently discussing Microsoft's transition to Nadella, only the third CEO in company history, dating back to its inception nearly 40 years ago. Both Gates and Nadella were included in the discussion, and it became apparent the two are very much on the same page in terms how to ensure Microsoft remains, "relevant."

Nadella said a key objective for Microsoft is to ensure software and services help people accomplish more, in less time. As he put it, the winner's in the tech industry will be those that do, "the best job of building the right software experiences to give both organizations and individuals time back so that they can get more out of their time, that's the core of this company—that's the soul."

Gates was quick to piggy-back Nadella's comments, adding "We're not even a third of the way toward empowering workers even to the dream that goes back to the start of the company." Clearly, the two like-minded tech gurus share a common vision for the future of technology, and Microsoft's place in it. Which is a good thing, since it appears Gates himself is spending a great deal more time helping to define Microsoft's future than most of thought.

As intriguing as the insights the two provided were, what may catch some by surprise was Gates' admission that he now devotes, "30 percent" of his time to Microsoft, a decision he made when Nadella was given the top job in early Feb. It's not shocking that Gates was working with Microsoft; his input is invaluable, but 30%? When a tech giant with the status of Gates come back into the fold, how long will it be before questions arise about who's really running the show at Microsoft?

There's also the question of where Ballmer fits in the Microsoft picture, if at all? It's a valid question because as Microsoft fans may know, by spring of this year , Ballmer became the largest single owner of Microsoft stock, with approximately 4% of its outstanding shares. Of course Ballmer has already resigned from Microsoft's board, and has plenty on his plate already, including becoming the new owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers.

Challenges remain

Developing solutions to free up time, as Nadella suggested, or technologies that are "pervasive," virtually surrounding us, as Gates alluded to, aren't novel ideas: one look at the growth in the Internet of Things makes that clear. And that puts Microsoft in the mix with a cast of familiar foes, including Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) (NASDAQ: GOOGL  ) andIBM (NYSE: IBM  ) , among others. IBM's super computer Watson, and its emphasis on cloud big data solutions, dominate CEO Ginni Rometty's focus as she attempts to right the IBM ship. It's been slow going, but IBM is beginning to make some headway.

If there was any doubt that Google saw the future of the industry as "pervasive," ala Gates, its recent $3.2 billion acquisition of "smart" home solution provider Nest Labs answered that. You can add its line-up of wearables, an industry leading mobile OS, and a full suite of cloud solutions to Google's pervasive arsenal. Microsoft certainly has some challenges ahead, with or without Gates.

Final Foolish thoughtsSo, who's running things up in Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, WA? Gates would be the first to say Nadella's CEO, and the buck stops with him. As for Ballmer, he may own the most stock, but he has no intention of muddying the Microsoft waters, he's got an NBA title to focus on. Which leaves Microsoft in the enviable position of having the best of both worlds: A new leader that has quickly changed Microsoft's culture, for the better, along with access to one of the technology industry's all-time leading innovators.

Is Microsoft Corporation Becoming the Next Google?

By Tim Brugger  

Some folks may still remember when Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen were considered the ultimate innovators. Whether you're a fan of Microsoft or not, there's no denying it took a starring role in what would become an exploding PC industry, and Gates' dogged determination to support Internet growth across the globe nearly 20 years ago played an important role in getting the web where it is today.

Somewhere along the line, it could be argued ex-CEO Steve Ballmer was the culprit, Microsoft lost its mojo. Much like the old IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) , Microsoft was perceived by investors and industry pundits as a slow-moving behemoth in a lightning-fast world. With the loss of Microsoft's innovative touch, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) (NASDAQ: GOOGL  ) was more than happy to fill the void. But with a new CEO, a new culture, and several cutting-edge technologies on the horizon, Microsoft may well be on its way to earning back its place as the leader of innovation.

The case for MicrosoftIt's clear CEO Satya Nadella's mobile-first, cloud-first mantra is taking hold. Microsoft's shift in focus to new, cutting-edge markets like cloud computing makes good business sense, and just as importantly, it's also helped change the culture of what had become a stagnant, sleeping giant. It seems investors perceive the change in Microsoft, too. When Nadella took the helm on Feb. 4 of this year, Microsoft's stock was sitting at a ho-hum $36.35 a share. At nearly $46 a share today, longtime shareholders are finally being rewarded, and the sense that Microsoft is entering a new era is partly responsible.

Nadella's "Bold Ambition & Our Core" open letter to Microsoft employees says it all: "The day I took on my new role, I said that our industry does not respect tradition -- it only respects innovation." Nadella wasn't simply spewing the party line regarding innovation, either.

Microsoft recently took the wraps off a new prototype that could knock the virtual reality, or VR, world on its head. Dubbed "RoomAlive," Microsoft's VR innovation, gives its Xbox One users the ability to turn an entire room, every square inch of it, into an immersive virtual world. Just as important as the potential of RoomAlive as a commercial gaming product is, it's also an example of Microsoft thinking outside the box, just like the good ol' days.

Some folks may not see Microsoft's new Surface Pro 3 as innovative, but it is. By introducing an entirely new form factor, Microsoft wants to change the tablet-laptop landscape, and by most accounts, it's working. The Surface Pro 3 has earned solid reviews from industry pundits, and early sales estimates are positive as Microsoft tries to keep up with demand.

Turns out, Microsoft engineers may not be done with the Surface Pro 3, and a new technology would really make it an innovative wonder. Microsoft's working on a "smart" transparent cover that uses piezoelectric sensors that measure external forces like pressure and speed and converts them to an electrical charge. The Pro 3 cover is akin to a transparent piece of paper that allows users to "peel" away layers to view what's underneath, among other innovative functions. Like its RoomAlive VR product, a transparent smart cover is a prototype, but that doesn't detract from the fact that Microsoft is spreading its innovative wings -- again.

The case against Microsoft
Though Google opponents point out there are legitimate questions as to whether its cutting-edge innovations have a legitimate business case, there's no denying it's presently the king of innovation. One look at its Project Loon balloons to beam Internet access to the world's unconnected masses speaks volumes. Will people really sit back and let sensors and computers drive their cars for them? Who knows, but the fact that Google is even exploring a world of driverless cars demonstrates its innovative tendencies.

Like driverless cars, there are questions from both a commercial and regulatory perspective surrounding Google's connected Glass product, but it's a perfect example of pushing the proverbial envelope. Google doesn't shy away from even the craziest-sounding project, which is what innovators do, even if there are failures along the way.

Final Foolish thoughtsMicrosoft's new technologies aren't enough to boot Google off its perch as the leader of innovation. But these latest introductions, even if they're still in prototype stages, prove that Microsoft is ready to go back to the future -- a time when it was at the forefront of new technologies. If Nadella keeps moving Microsoft along its current path, shareholders will once again benefit from owning the world's most innovative company.

Xbox One vs. PS4: Microsoft Corporation Beats Sony In September

By Evan Niu, CFA

Microsoft ran a free game promotion from September 7-13, which worked like a charm. Image source: Microsoft.

It seems that every month you see a headline proclaiming that Sony (NYSE: SNE  ) has sold more PlayStation 4 units than Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) Xbox One. That may be mostly true since both next-generation consoles launched nearly a year ago, but the tables turned in September. The software giant came out ahead this time around.

2 for the price of noneThat's according to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, who estimates that Microsoft sold 325,000 Xbox One units during September. That would be enough to beat Sony's estimated 250,000 PS4 units. That would be the second month that Microsoft has been able to squeeze out a victory.

As Sony has beaten Microsoft in cumulative unit sales thus far, Microsoft has gotten more aggressive with pricing and promotions. The company unbundled the Kinect in order to reduce the Xbox One's price point to $399, matching the PlayStation 4, in June. Unit sales promptly doubled over the prior month.

In September, Microsoft then launched a promotion where buyers would get a free game (up to $60 value). That promotion was timed to coincide with the launch of Activision's (NASDAQ: ATVI  ) Destiny, which was eligible for the promotion, among a slew of other titles. The deal even included Xbox One bundles that already come with free games (Madden NFL 15 or Forza Motorsport 5), so gamers could effectively get two free games.

Microsoft's promotion beat Sony's marketingSony has put a lot of marketing dollars to promote Destiny, even as it is a cross-platform title available on both consoles. In fact, Sony scored an exclusive marketing deal with Activision, whereby Microsoft wasn't allowed to advertise the title and Sony will receive exclusive content for a limited period of time. Instead, Microsoft ran a mock campaign for a fictional "Destiny Fragrance" as an underhanded way to poke fun at its rival.

Well, there was nothing precluding Microsoft from running its free game promotion, which appeals directly to consumer pocketbooks. That approach seems to have been more effective than Sony's massive marketing campaign, particularly when it comes to driving console unit sales. That's even more impressive considering Microsoft likely spent less than Sony on its promotion.

Xbox mattersMicrosoft sold 11.7 million consoles during its just-closed fiscal year, although the company does not regularly disclose product mix. In April, the company said it had reached 5 million in cumulative Xbox One channel shipments, but hasn't said much since. In August, Sony announced that it was up to 10 million PS4 units sold, so it seems that the Japanese company is still winning this race by a healthy margin.

Interestingly enough, former Microsoft president of Interactive Entertainment Business, Don Mattrick (who has since left for Zynga), said back in 2008 that 10 million is the magic number, and the company that hits 10 million in console unit sales first is deemed the winner of that generation's console war. That means that Sony has won by Microsoft's own definition.

Of course, Microsoft isn't throwing in the towel quite yet, as it remains committed to the Xbox business. Xbox platform revenue jumped 34% last fiscal year thanks to the launch of the Xbox One.

Why Didn’t Microsoft Corporation Split?

by Brendan Byrne

Back in 1999 Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson declared Microsoft a monopoly and slammed the company for suffocating its rivals at birth.

In a further judgment in 2000, the judge declared that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) should be split into two halves, with the Windows business cut off from the rest of the company. If Judge Jackson declared war on what he saw as a monopoly, why is the company still in one piece today?

Microsoft’s legal wrangling

First came the remarkable twists and turns in the case. Predictably Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) appealed the decision, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Jackson’s ideas, as well as accusing him of unethical conduct. It was revealed that the judge had spoken informally with journalists while the trial was still ongoing.

Microsoft and the Department of Justice later settled the case in November 2001, agreeing to allow competitors easier integration with the Windows operating system. Although this was still a bitter blow, it was nowhere near as much of a disaster as a forced breakup of the company.

The situation today

Microsoft’s power has waned with the shift from PC to mobile. Of course Windows is still the dominant force in the PC operating system market, but their decrease in market share has lessened Microsoft’s control over its rivals. The company has found its grip loosening with the arrival of high-speed internet, web-based solutions and cloud computing, which do not require fidelity to one OS.

The increasing popularity of mobile devices has seen a power shift from Microsoft to Apple and Google, who are far more powerful in that sector. It is not just consumer attention that has shifted from Microsoft to its competitors, as Google now finds itself under investigation from regulators in much the same way as Microsoft was back in 2000.

Nowadays regulators are not clamoring for the breakup of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), but stockholders and analysts are. A recent spate of corporate spinoffs has increased the pressure on Microsoft to separate its consumer and corporate businesses. So far however, CEO Satya Nadella seems set on maintaining the present structure of the company.