Set up iCloud on your PC, Mac and iOS
iCloud is a backup solution and remote storage solution offered to you by the people at Apple. You can use it with a wide range of device, from Windows Vista Service Pack 2 or Windows 7 to iOS 5, Mac computers using OS X Lion. To access iCloud you will have to have iTunes 10.5 or later installed on your PC or Mac. The iTunes application is a free download from Apple’s own website.
iCloud is more than an online hard drive. It is also a backup solution that automates backups and does so securely. All your data will be transfered using Apple’s servers and this data will be transfered in a secure way. All your contacts, apps, media files and calendars and any other personal data or information you may have can be transfered this way to iCloud. When it comes to devices, iCloud can be used with iPad, iPods, iPhones and iCloud users can restore or share their files, books, ringtones, messages and other important data with just a few simple steps.
To use iCloud on a mobile device designed by Apple does not require intricate management. Turn your new device on, be it an iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone and if the device has iOS 5 it will be able to use iCloud. Follow the steps on the screen and start the setup process. You can tap on the Settings icon of your device to reach the iCloud configuration screen located behind the iCloud icon.
Tap on the Account menu and enter your Apple ID and password. You will get 5GB free storage which can later be upgraded to 15 GB for $20/year, 25 GB for $40/year or 55 GB for $100/year. Pick your desired plan or stick with the free one and tap the Done button to get back to the main settings window of iCloud.
From here you will be allowed to set individual options for iCloud services> Mail, Contacts, Reminders, Calendars, Notes, Bookmarks, Photo Stream, Find My iPhone, Documents and Data and iCloud Backup can all be individually switched on or off.
Quick tip: When you enable iCloud Backup your iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone will let you know that “Your iPhone will no longer back up to your computer automatically when you sync with iTunes.”
Quick tip: tapping on the Settings menu will let you also tap the Store icon. From there you will be able to activate the automatic downloads feature from iCloud for purchased iTunes content.
Use a Mac to set up iCloud
You are required to run OS X v. 10.7 (at least) if you plan to run iCloud and set it up from your Mac computer. Select System Preferences from your Apple menu and click the iCloud icon in the Internet & Wireless section. The application will then ask you to enter your username and your password.
If you happen to use MobileMe you can choose to use those credentials. If you don’t use MobileMe you can use the login data in your iTunes account (the one you use to make purchases through iTunes).
Click on Manage to add extra storage to your account and see what options you have to manage your existing storage.
Quick tip: From this place you will be able to delete your old backups. Select Backups then click on the device you have backed up and delete it by clicking on Delete.
Quick tip: Freeing up space can be done by erasing un-needed messages from your Junk folder and Trash folder of your Mail app.
Use a PC to set up iCloud
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows 7 are both iCloud-capable. You just have to install the iCloud Control Panel for Windows from Apple. Press the Windows Start menu and pick Control Panel > Network and Internet > iCloud.
Just as in the case of a Mac computer, you will now be asked for your Apple ID and password. Some individual iCloud features can be enabled or disabled. You can also use the iTunes Preferences menu to enable automatic downloads in the case of the media you purchase through iTunes. iCloud will also let you sync the bookmarks you may have in Safari and Internet Explorer. iCloud is compatible with Outlook 2007 and later versions of Outlook so you can also sync Mail, Contacts, Calendars and Tasks.
It doesn’t matter if you use a PC or a Mac. iCloud runs on both and it is a very useful service. The 5 GB you get for free should be enough for you to keep your most important data and settings in the cloud and sync them to whatever iDevice you may have. Having your data on an online server means that it will be kept safe and should disaster strike on your local PC or Mac, you will be able to restore everything by just enabling iCloud again. The 5 GB of free space should also give you plenty of room to keep images and family videos you might have. The service is secure and backed by Apple so you should have no worries regarding the importance of your personal data.
