How to use your Mac to snap pictures or scan documents with your iPhone or iPad

Apple hides this feature in plain sight, letting you have a scanner for your Mac without a USB cable or other software.

- GLENN FLEISHMAN

If you're like me, you are constantly trying to bridge the gap between paper and digital documents. While I've managed to decrease the amount of paper that comes in, it's not zero, and often government agencies, medical offices, and my children's schools insist on sending forms that must be filled out "by hand."

Your iPhone is often the best camera you have with you, and it's also the best scanner for your Mac. You can perform powerful tricks in transforming paper to bits with your iPhone by itself, using software like Adobe Scan, JotNot Pro, PDFPen, or Evernote-or even Apple's Notes app.