The release of iPhone 4S during the last quarter of 2011 has brought disappointments to many Apple lovers as they were expecting a new breed of iPhone to be released. Instead, what Apple came up with was a model similar to the iPhone 4 with just a few modifications like an upgraded dual A5 processor similar to the processor that iPad 2 is using, an 8 megapixel camera compared to the 5 megapixel camera of iPhone 4, the new voice activated application called Siri and more.
One of the new features that were rumored to be included in the soon to be released iPhone model is the integration of Cloud technology with Apple’s iTunes. So what is Cloud technology? How will gadget lovers benefit from it?
Cloud technology allows data and information to be stored on a remote server, instead of storing on the hard drive of a personal computer, and can be access via the Internet. This means that all data, files, photos, eBooks, music and more is readily backed up and can be accessed anytime using any gadget or device, as long as there is an Internet connection.
Apple created their version of cloud technology called iCloud. What Apple aims to achieve with iCloud is to allow Apple gadget owners to integrate all their files, photos, music, applications and more. Let’s say you download an application from iTunes using your iPhone, with iCloud, the same application will be available for download in all your other gadgets like you Mac, iPad, etc. without the need to repurchase the application.
Here is a brief description of what iCloud can do:
1. Computability with iTunes. Apple has worked to make iCloud compatible with iTunes which means that all applications, music, books, albums, movies, etc purchased from iTunes will be available across all devices. An added feature is the iTunes Match which is available for an annual subscription fee of $24.99. What iTunes Match does is compare all albums and music in your iTunes library with the millions of songs, albums and videos in iTunes and creates a copy in your iCloud account if a match was found.
2. Online syncing of Photos. Using Photo Stream, an application that is part of iCloud, photos can instantly be shared and opened on all your devices. Imagine you can make pictures available from all your gadgets without the need to physically connect your camera to your PC via usb cable.
3. Document Sharing. Documents saved on the iCloud gets updated and synced automatically on all devices and it can even be accessed from a personal computer after inputting the correct iCloud credentials.
4. Syncing of Calendars, Mails and Contacts. All calendar entries, contacts and emails can be easily synced on all devices via iCloud.
5. iCloud backup. Without iCloud, Apple users backup the contents of their iDevices by physically connecting the device to a Personal computer using a USB cable. With iCloud, books, photos, files, etc are backed up to the cloud via WifI connection eliminating the need for direct synchronization.
In order for Apple users to enjoy the benefit of iCloud, their devices should have the latest OS (iOs 5 for iPhone and iPad and OS 10.7 or Lion for laptops and PCs), as iCloud will only work with these OS versions.
iCloud has brought mobile computing to a whole new level eliminating the need for a physical connection to sync files and to be able to access them across all your devices. It has a lot of advantages that I am sure users that have multiple devices will surely benefit from.
Abie works as an article writer for templates.motocms.com, a website where you can find a lot of Flash templates.