INTEGRATE YOUR DATA, APPS, AND MORE WITH APPLE’S iCLOUD

In the past, if you wanted to send a file or data between your primary computer
and your iPhone or iPad, it needed to be done via email or using the iTunes sync
process (which involves connecting the devices using the supplied USB cable).

However, some types of data and files could also be transferred using a compatible
online-based file-sharing service, such as Dropbox or WebDAV. This capability was
limited to certain types of data and could be used with only a handful of apps.

One of the new features of iOS 5 is its integration with Apple’s iCloud service.

iCloud is an online-based file-sharing service. If you opt to turn on and use this
initially free service, you’ll quickly discover that it makes synchronizing data, transferring
files and content, and sharing information between your iPhone, iPad, Mac,
and/or PC a simple process, plus it allows you to maintain a wireless backup of
your iOS device.

WHAT’S NEW Using iOS 5 on your iPhone or iPad, you can decide
whether you want to back up your device whenever you manually connect it to
your primary computer using the iTunes sync process, or whether you want your
device to automatically create a backup of its contents wirelessly and store the
data on iCloud. If you opt for the once-daily wireless backups to be created, you
must keep this feature turned on, and your device needs to be within a Wi-Fi hotspot
to connect to iCloud. To use the wireless backup feature, a 3G connection will
not work.

Initially, when used with your iPhone or iPad, iCloud automatically handles a handful
of tasks because it’s fully compatible with many of the core apps that come
preinstalled on your device, as well as other popular apps, such as Pages, Numbers,
and Keynote. Many third-party app developers have also implemented iCloud
compatibility into their apps (or will soon be doing so).

When you set up a free iCloud account using your existing Apple ID and password
(which can also be established for free), you’re immediately given 5GB of free
online storage space, plus an unlimited amount of additional online storage space
to store the content you purchase from iTunes, the App Store, and Apple’s iBookstore
(including music, movies, TV show episodes, apps, and eBooks).

TIP For an additional annual fee, you can purchase extra online storage
space for your iCloud account. Plus, you can upgrade to Apple’s premium iTunes
Match service for $24.99 per year. (See the later section, “Upgrade to the Premium
iTunes Match Service,” for details.)

Especially when you use a Wi-Fi Internet connection, content, files, and data can
quickly be transferred between your iPhone or iPad and iCloud. The process takes a
bit longer if you’re using a 3G connection (which excludes the capability to transfer
files over 20MB in size).

iCloud really becomes useful when you consider that it can be used as a hub in
cyberspace for wirelessly and quickly sharing data, files, and content between your
iPhone or iPad and your primary computer. So, using iCloud, you can transfer a
Microsoft Office file from your computer to iCloud, for example, and then retrieve it
from iCloud and store it on your iPhone or iPad. Depending on the type of file, you
can then use it with Pages, Keynote, Numbers, or another app installed on your
device.

When you begin using iCloud, you’ll quickly discover that it is more than just a
remote hard drive in cyberspace that allows you to wirelessly share content and
data among multiple computers and devices. iCloud also provides an easy way to
instantly and wirelessly synchronize photos, music, emails, contacts, scheduling
data, Safari bookmarks, eBooks, and other information between your primary computer
and your iPhone and/or iPad.