Quick web tasks on iOS

SAFARI TO MAC

>>> It’s convoluted getting Safari for iOS downloads to a Mac – emailing files to yourself is inefficient. Try using Transmit ($9.99) instead.

On your Mac, turn on File Sharing in the System Preferences Sharing pane. In Transmit, add a new SFTP server with your Mac’s address, a username and password, and a default directory. Next time you’re in a Share sheet, add Transmit to Activities, and use it to send files across.

POST A BLOG

>>> The iPad is an excellent tool for focused writing, using the likes of Byword ($5.99) and Ulysses ($24.99) – fullscreen text editors with a firm emphasis on words. (Both work with iPhone, too, if you’re happy tapping in words with your thumbs.) They also enable direct publishing of your writing to blogs, speeding things along – Byword (with an IAP) supports WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, and Evernote, while Ulysses supports WordPress and Medium.

UPLOAD TO SERVERS

>>> Transmit can be used to upload content to a range of server types, including FTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3. On iPad, you get a two-pane interface with local/remote files, so you can manage docs in the former, importing items from iCloud, Photos, and other online services.

BLOCKED CONTENT

>>> There are various reasons why you might want to access geoblocked web content, from needing pricing information on a website that pings your location, to reporting from somewhere that heavily restricts internet access and use.

Once launched, Opera VPN (Free) gets you there in three taps: install the profile, confirm you want to do this, and then Turn On in the settings tab. Choose Region enables you to adjust your virtual location.

ZIP DOCUMENTS

>>> In Transmit, tap the tick to enter document editing mode, select some files, tap “…” and then Compress. You’ll get a ZIP you can upload. You can also tap the info button to access a ZIP’s details to rename or decompress it.

If you’re actually just interested in the archiving element, and not the other things Transmit is designed for, consider Good-Reader ($4.99) or Zip-it (99¢), the latter of which functions as a Share sheet extension.

UPDATE WEBSITES

>>> We think you’d have to be very ambitious to create an entire website on an iOS device. But fixing some errors? No problem. Coda ($24.99) and Textastic ($9.99) both provide smart editing environments (including custom keyboard rows) for grabbing files, making edits, and uploading changes – even on an iPhone.