Core Principles for Seamless Handoffs
Every workflow begins with a clear map of which device handles each task. Avoid duplicating effort by deciding ahead of time where prep, practice, and review happen. Once you know the role of each screen, you can wire automation around it.
Suggested device roles
- Mac: deep analysis, long-form review, and broadcast capture.
- iPad: tactile drills, Freeform annotations, and split view note taking.
- iPhone: streak tracking, quick challenge attempts, and focus timers.
Setting Up the Cloud Spine
Use iCloud Drive as the single source of truth. Create folders for deck archives, VOD clips, and session notes. Enable Desktop and Documents sync on macOS so newly exported analyses appear instantly on other devices.
Automation recipe
- Shortcuts automation on Mac copies new OBS recordings into iCloud and names them with timestamp plus deck seed.
- Files app on iPad pins the archive folder for offline access when traveling.
- Shortcuts widget on iPhone logs session metadata to Numbers after each run.
Continuity and Handoff Tricks
Apple ecosystem perks shine when you lean on continuity features. Handoff lets you start a practice run on one device and finish notes on another without exporting files manually.
Freeform Boards
Store board positions as screen captures. Use Apple Pencil to draw alternate lines, then pick up on Mac with a trackpad for detailed annotation.
Universal Clipboard
Copy move sequences from Notes on iPhone and paste directly into Numbers on Mac when compiling training logs.
Focus Modes and Scheduling
Focus modes aligned with Calendar events keep your three-device setup sane. Create a template schedule with recurring blocks: morning warmup on iPhone, afternoon practice on iPad, and evening review on Mac. Attach a specific focus mode to each event so notifications behave differently per device.
| Phase | Device | Focus Profile | Automation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warmup | iPhone | Streak Mode | Starts timer and logs completion. |
| Practice | iPad | Arcade Focus | Opens Solitaire Stories and playlist. |
| Review | Mac | Analysis Deck | Loads Numbers dashboard and OBS VOD. |
Offline Contingency Planning
Travel days or erratic Wi-Fi should not derail your practice. Prep offline decks and downloads before your trip so each device still performs its job.
Pre-flight checklist
- Export three days of practice decks as PNGs stored locally on iPad.
- Sync the Numbers dashboard for offline access on iPhone.
- Cache key VODs on Mac using the Downloads folder with purge protection disabled.
Team Collaboration Patterns
Competitive solitaire teams often share the same files. Use shared folders or Freeform boards so coaches can add commentary. Keep version history simple by naming every file with ISO date plus deck ID.
Example: 2025-02-14_klondike_turn3_routeA.mov. The name alone tells teammates which run they are reviewing without opening the clip. Consistency prevents mix ups when the whole squad syncs overnight.