[NewsPoster]

A new user-created tool enables OS X Yosemite's Continuity function on Macs that are officially unsupported. Dubbed the Continuity Activation Tool, it checks for strict hardware compatibility -- namely the presence of Bluetooth 4.0 -- and disables an Apple blacklist that shuts off Continuity on some Mac models. It also whitelists Mac board-ids inside Yosemite's Wi-Fi code. Before making any changes, the tool creates system driver backups.

The tool is best for owners of mid-2011 models of the MacBook Air and Mac mini, both of which already have Bluetooth 4.0. Other Macs, even others released in 2011, will typically require new wireless and/or Bluetooth cards. Under those conditions though, Macs from as far back as 2008 can use Continuity after the Activation Tool is run.

Continuity encompasses a variety of features linking iOS and OS X devices. These include Handoff, Instant Hotspot, SMS Relay, routing phone calls from an iPhone to a Mac, and cross-platform AirDrop. Macs must be running Yosemite, and iOS devices must be on iOS 8.x.

[typesetterX]

jer·ry–rigged adjective \ˈjer-ē-ˌrigd\
: made in a quick or careless way : not built or designed well
: organized or constructed in a crude or improvised manner
See jerry–rigged defined for English-language learners »
See jerry-rigged defined for kids »

[Mike Wuerthele]

jury-rigged
adjective
adjective: jury-rigged
(of a ship) having temporary makeshift rigging.
N. Amer.
makeshift; improvised:
"jury-rigged classrooms in gymnasiums"

(Source: Oxford Dictionary)

[MaxHedrm]

Uh. Whose brilliant idea was it to put the "parts required" list into the article as an image? Brilliant.