Apple has created quite a few branded services for iPhone users, which are successful to varying degrees - some are popular, some are not so popular. iCloud cloud storage definitely falls into the first category. However, there are users who do not understand what iCloud is and how to use it. It’s a pity, because this service contains a lot of useful options.
In this article we will talk about the functionality of the service and its subtleties.
Today, users store a lot of useful and important information in smartphones and, having lost the device, the owner often regrets more not so much about the material damage as about the lost data. This state of affairs forced IT companies to come up with cloud services. In the cloud, the user can store a backup copy of important data and restore it if the gadget is lost necessary information on another device.
iCloud is one of the cloud storage services that is available by default to all iOS users. Having purchased an iOS device of any model - iPhone 4 or iPhone 6 S, iPad Mini 1 or iPad Pro, etc., the user automatically receives 5 GB in the cloud (more space for an additional fee).
Physically, the “cloud” represents the company’s remote servers; in other words, it is a huge hard drive owned by Apple, on which the company shares space with each user.
Synchronization or backup
iCloud has two main functions - sync and backup. Don't you see the difference between these two concepts? And it is significant. Let's take it in order.
Backup
A backup can be created automatically or manually. In the first case, copying is performed whenever the device is charging and connected to a Wi-Fi network. In the second, the user decides when to make a backup. To create a copy:
That's all! Pretty simple, right? Now, if automatic backup is configured, you can never return to this menu, but if manual mode is selected, periodically go to the section and click “Create a backup copy”.
The iCloud backup saves almost all types of information that is on the iPhone, that is, both useful data, such as phone book contacts, and not so useful data, for example, some messages from Whats App and other instant messengers, can go there. Of course, if you bought additional space in the cloud and you have much more than 5 GB there, such waste is not very worrying, but if we are talking about 5 GB, the approach of storing everything at once does not seem very reasonable.
Synchronization
This is where synchronization comes to the rescue. If you return to the iCloud menu, to the level where the “Backup” item is located, you will see a bunch of other items, opposite each of which there will be a slider.
If the slider is active, synchronization with the cloud is automatically performed. For example, if the slider next to the “Contacts” item is green, then all phone book numbers are synchronized with the “cloud” via the Apple ID, which is registered in this iPhone. This means the following - if you lose this iPhone, buy a new one and register your old Apple ID in it, you will find all the contacts from the lost device, even if during the initial setup of the device you selected not “Restore from backup”, but “Set up as new” "
So, in essence, backup and sync are capabilities that give the user about the same practical outcome - the data is attached to the Apple ID and is easily restored. But! Synchronization can be controlled by turning on and off the corresponding sliders, rationally using space in the cloud.
Find My iPhone and iCloud Drive
We said a little higher that iCloud has two main options and looked at them. However, the service also has additional functionality. It's quite broad, but as part of this introductory article, it's important to mention two specific options.
Find iPhone
With Find My iPhone, Apple has implemented anti-theft protection. At some point, iPhones began to be stolen so often that it was simply impossible to sit idly by. And then “Find iPhone” appeared. If you turn it on, the so-called Activation Lock is activated. Every time after an update/restore/reset, an iPhone with Activation Lock enabled will prompt you for your Apple ID password.
What does this give? Look, a thief has stolen your device. The first thing he does, of course, is reset the information, because he won’t be able to sell a smartphone with someone else’s data. And after the reset, a surprise awaits him - a request for Apple ID parameters, which cannot be bypassed without knowing the login and password of this account. What remains? Only return the device for spare parts or return it to the user for a fee.
You can also activate Lost Mode using Find My iPhone. To do this you need:
When Lost Mode is activated, the iPhone is locked and a message from the user is displayed on the lock screen.
Another fun option is “Find iPhone”, which will certainly appeal to forgetful people. Next to the “Lost Mode” button, there is a “Play Sound” button; click on it if you don’t remember where you put your smartphone. And even if it is on silent mode, a loud beep will sound.
To enable “Find iPhone”, go to the iCloud menu, find the “Find iPhone” item, tap it and activate the slider of the same name in the menu that opens. This option activation method is relevant for all iPhone models - both the old 4 S and the new 6 S and “sevens”.
iCloud Drive
And finally, let's talk about the iCloud Drive option. In general, it’s easier to say that this is not an option, but an application; it is simply configured through the main iCloud menu.
The iCloud Drive application is pre-installed on iPhones with iOS 9 and later versions of the platform. This is, in fact, DropBox from Apple, or if you are not familiar with DropBox, it is a kind of file manager. Documents can be uploaded here manually, or you can configure automatic transfer - to do this, in the iCloud menu, move the corresponding sliders under the iCloud Drive item to the active position.
Unfortunately, not all users understand why iCloud Drive is needed on an iPhone and what to do with it. In our opinion, the easiest way to understand is with an example.
Let's say you started working on a file on your iPhone, but want to continue on your computer or iPad - you simply drop the document into iCloud Drive on your smartphone, then open this application on the device from which you want to continue working, and... actually, continue!
Moreover, directly from iCloud Drive you can download a document in the desired program. That is, if a file supports, say, working with six programs that are installed on a PC or iOS mobile gadget, you can click on the file and hold your finger on it to select the one you need from all six programs.
Let's summarize
iCloud is a very cool and useful service, and its functionality, of course, goes far beyond the scope of this article. However, now you know at least approximately what iCloud is on an iPhone and, for sure, you have a desire to get to know the service better. Detailed instructions and help in managing the service can be obtained on the official Apple website by reading the relevant sections or by contacting the company’s support service.
The entire Apple population of the planet associated this week with the developer conference held by Apple in San Francisco. The most interesting, as always, was the beginning of the week, which was marked by the presentation of new Apple products. These included new versions of Apple's desktop and mobile operating systems, now called OS X Lion and iOS 5, respectively, and a new service called iCloud.
So what is iCloud? Does it have any differences from the MobileMe we are used to? How much will it cost and why is it needed at all? We will answer all these and many other questions that arose after the presentation of iCloud on the Internet. Perhaps some of these questions are bothering you too.
What is iCloud?
iCloud is the name given by Apple to several services that provide synchronization services for various types of information between devices running iOS, Mac computers and PCs.
Isn't this the same as MobileMe?
Yes and no. iCloud offers the same features as MobileMe and more. Subsequently, the number of services may increase.
What does the advent of iCloud mean for MobileMe?
MobileMe will cease to exist on June 30, 2012, but in the meantime it will continue to operate as before, without charging any additional fees. We will describe it in a little more detail below.
What does iCloud offer?
Like MobileMe, iCloud can sync your contacts, calendars, email accounts, and Safari tabs between iOS devices and computers. In addition, iCloud provides additional storage space for documents, photos and synchronizes music between devices. Don't forget about wireless synchronization of iOS devices via Wi-Fi.
Will iCloud store and back up all the information I need?
Not really. According to Apple, iCloud will sync documents created using Pages, Numbers or Keynote and third-party applications adapted to work with iCloud. Surely some Mac and iOS developers will take the new service into circulation, but there will also be those who will offer the use of old services like Dropbox for their applications. Therefore, users should be careful, because iCloud is not intended for remote storage of absolutely any information. There are other services for this.
How much data will I be able to store in iCloud?
5 gigabytes. This volume is enough to accommodate all your email accounts and information on them, various documents and backup copies. We’ll talk about purchased music, applications and books below.
What if I need more space? Will I be able to expand the storage?
Apparently you can. But you'll have to pay for it. In the current beta version of iOS 5, in the iCloud settings section there is a column “Buy additional space”, which implies the purchase of additional gigabytes to the already existing five. We dare to assume that many users will quickly exhaust the allotted limit and will want to expand their storage at an appropriate cost. Dropbox storage offers users 2 GB for free. Upgrading space costs $10 per month for 50 GB and $20 per month for 100 GB. Apple may choose a similar pricing policy.
How is iCloud different from Dropbox and SugarSync?
Unlike Dropbox and SugarSync, which are similar in functionality, offering storage and synchronization of files and folders from your computer, iCloud is more designed to work with applications. So it doesn’t matter where exactly you save this or that document - it will be synchronized with iCloud. On the other hand, there are also disadvantages. iCloud will not allow you to synchronize a document created in an application that is not adapted for use by the service.
What about photographs?
iCloud includes a feature called Photo Stream that automatically syncs all the photos you take with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch's camera and automatically adds them to a special album in iPhoto. These photos can be stored in the cloud for only 30 days. You'll be able to view and, in some cases, download photos to your iOS devices, computers, and even Apple TV. The number of synchronized photos on iOS devices is limited to a thousand pieces due to size. On computers, any number of photos can be synchronized. Since iPhoto doesn't exist for Windows computers, you can point to any folder on your PC's hard drive and sync all your photos to it. The contents of this folder will be your cloud photo library.
Only 1000 photos? What about all the other photos?
iCloud stores and syncs the last 1,000 photos from your device. This does not mean that all previous photos will be deleted or lost in some way. At the presentation, Apple said that all other photos not saved in the memory of iOS devices will be permanently stored in iPhoto on a Mac or a user-specified folder on a Windows computer.
What music features will iCloud have?
The cloud division of iTunes, based on the iCloud service, offers manual downloading of all previously purchased music tracks from the iTunes Store, as well as automatic downloading of all new purchases to all computers and iOS devices authorized under one iTunes Store account. If you purchased music in the older 128 kbps AAC format from the iTunes Store, iTunes can automatically replace it with the newer 256 kbps AAC format for 30 cents per song. If songs you previously purchased are no longer available in the iTunes Store, you won't be able to download them again.
Currently, music streaming via iCloud is not available, which means that in order to listen to a particular song or album, you will first need to download it to your device. For iOS devices, the main limitation will be the storage capacity.
What will happen to my music that was not purchased from the iTunes Store?
For this case, Apple has provided an original solution. It will introduce a feature called iTunes Match, which will analyze your entire iTunes library and match all your music tracks with those already available in the iTunes Store. You will be able to access your media library from any iOS device and computer connected to your Apple ID. This feature will cost $25 per year and will compare favorably with similar services offered by Amazon and Google, which require all content to be pre-loaded onto their servers to be accessible from any device.
Also unlike Google Music Beta and Amazon Cloud Drive, iTunes Match will replace low-bitrate music tracks with higher-quality 256 kbps DRM-free AAC from the iTunes Store. For those songs that are not in the iTunes Store (Apple said that its store has 19 million songs), manual uploading to Apple servers via iCloud is provided.
Apple says you'll be able to store up to 25,000 songs, including songs you've replaced using iTunes Match and songs you've uploaded yourself. Music purchased from the iTunes Store is not included in this count.
For those whose iTunes library is extremely large, there is no clear solution for storing and synchronizing all the music. Additionally, there's no word yet on what will happen when you stop paying your annual iTunes Match subscription. In this case, there is an assumption that some of the capabilities of iCloud, like some other cloud services, will cease to function.
If I don't pay for the service for the next year, will I lose all of my non-iTunes music purchases synced to the service?
This is not known now. It's safe to assume that if you don't renew your payment, you may lose access to these songs on iCloud. Hence, you will not be able to download these songs to your devices remotely. We'll assume that these songs will remain on your computer, but access to them in iCloud will be suspended.
Will this service work with other files purchased from the iTunes Store?
Yes. You can configure your iOS devices to automatically download applications purchased from the App Store and books purchased from the iBookstore.
What about the rest of the content from the iTunes Store? What about movies and podcasts?
It looks like the cloud version of iTunes currently only works with music, apps, and books. Other content, such as TV shows, movies, podcasts and content from iTunes U, will not be able to be placed in the cloud yet. In the case of films, TV shows and series, this may be due to insufficient throughput Internet or the lack of appropriate agreements with studios and copyright holders of films, TV series and shows. However, we are looking forward to supporting a variety of content for iCloud in the future.
Can I use iCloud to backup my iOS devices?
One of the main functions of iCloud is the automatic creation of backups for all types of iOS devices. According to Apple, iCloud will back up all data on the device every day, but only when your device is connected to power and Wi-Fi. Not all data will be copied, but only songs, applications, books purchased from iTunes, as well as a folder with photographs (photos and videos captured by the device’s camera), settings and various data of applications installed on the device, the location of icons on desktops and in folders, text and MMS messages, ringtones. If you're purchasing a new device, Apple says all you need to do to transfer all previously synced data is just sign in with your Apple ID. Everything is as simple as using a wire.
Will I be able to use iCloud to sync settings and other data between my Macs?
Apart from various data, such as the already mentioned photos and music and information in iCloud-compatible applications, Apple did not mention anything. But we believe it's just a matter of time. By the time iCloud is ready to go, we'll probably be able to sync system settings and maybe even session logins between Macs.
I have several Apple IDs, an iTunes account with applications and music purchased on it, and a family MobileMe for email. What does the advent of iCloud mean for me?
It is not yet known exactly how Apple plans to handle multiple accounts. However, it's worth remembering the current beta of iOS 5, which has an iCloud settings menu that is separate from the iTunes Store settings. This menu contains synchronization of mail, contacts, calendars, notes, Safari bookmarks, Photo Stream and Find My iPad, as well as data storage and backup settings. Store settings take into account purchased music and applications. So you might be able to use one Apple ID to buy music and various iCloud-compatible content, and other IDs for the rest of your data.
Will I be able to combine my iTunes and MobileMe accounts into one? Or change my Apple ID and keep the music and apps I purchased with it?
Apple hasn't said anything about how Apple IDs might be handled. Considering their increasing importance, there should not be any problems with this. In any case, it would be nice if Apple allowed users to change, merge, or even separate accounts.
If I had a registered email account with MobileMe, but the trial period or me.com account expired, will I be able to expect it to be restored when iCloud launches?
It's likely that if you signed up for one of these services at some point, you may be able to reactivate your accounts once iCloud launches. We cannot say for sure, so we are still waiting for the official launch of the service.
Can I play music directly from iCloud, or do I have to download it to the device first?
You can only listen to parts of recordings before purchasing them from the iTunes Store, but you won't be able to stream them in their entirety.
Will I be able to use individual mail or does it have to be me.com mail?
You'll be able to use any email account, but as for iCloud email, it will most likely be based entirely on me.com.
Will iCloud be fully or partially accessible from the browser?
We don't know for sure yet, but we assume that you will be able to view your mail, calendars and contacts from the browser, just like you did with MobileMe. The part of iCloud that requires iTunes (music, apps, books) will most likely work with your Apple ID and iTunes. As for photos, we can assume that they will be just as accessible from your browser window as contacts, calendars, etc.
I have several music albums that I copied from a friend. How will iTunes Match determine which files are not infringing and can be uploaded to iCloud?
The question of how iCloud will or will not interact with pirated music will most likely remain a secret for us. We're guessing that if you try to match some songs purchased from someone else's Apple ID, iCloud won't work with them, determining that you're not eligible to use them. Since these music tracks will be assigned information about the account that purchased them, they will be fairly easy to identify. For music that has been illegally downloaded from the Internet, it is possible that Apple will be able to identify songs in every way possible to determine their characteristics, which may indicate the source of the download. On the other hand, the $25 a year that users will pay for iTunes Match will, to some extent, compensate for the authors' losses due to piracy.
Will applications be deleted using iCloud from all devices after deleting on one?
There is no data yet indicating that applications can be removed from all devices if they are deleted from one. And this is good, because it is unlikely to please those who use your Apple ID besides you.
Can I choose which items on my device sync to iCloud and which I don't?
iCloud settings on all iOS devices include enabling or disabling synchronization of Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Safari Bookmarks, Notes, Photo Stream, Find My iPad, and Backup on each individual device.
What about those who strive to store all their data locally?
It looks like Apple is ready to abandon all devices for the sake of the cloud. Now storing data in the cloud will become a priority not because other companies have begun to implement similar technologies, but because Apple has done it. If you don't agree with Cupertino's decision, it looks like iCloud and similar cloud services are simply not made for you.
What happens to the data when I delete the game and reinstall it? Will all records in the game be saved and restored?
It's likely that all such data will be synced to the cloud as well as the apps themselves, so you can pause Angry Birds on your iPhone and continue playing on your iPad.
Will I need latest version iPhoto on my Mac to use Photo Stream? After all, Windows users will not have to incur additional costs to use Photo Stream.
Yes. If you want to use the Photo Stream service, you will have to update iPhoto on your Mac to version 11. It will cost $15.
Will iCloud eat into my data plan? Or does it only work over Wi-Fi?
It looks like iCloud is consciously focused on using Wi-Fi. This is evidenced by the impossibility of creating backup copies of your device's data without a Wi-Fi connection. But some functions of the service will be sufficient to work through the cellular network, so to a small extent they will use the capabilities of your cellular operator. Users with limited data plans will have to reconsider their iCloud plans.
Most of my music is on non-iOS iPods. How does my iPod fit into iCloud?
The iCloud service requires an Internet connection. This explains that the list of devices interacting with iCloud is limited only to iOS devices. After all, the entire line of iPods, with the exception of the iPod Touch, does not have the ability to connect to the Internet, and therefore is not included in the ecosystem of the new iCloud service.
How much will iCloud cost?
Almost all services of the new service will be absolutely free. The only thing you'll have to pay for is the iTunes Match service, which costs $25 per year.
When will iCloud launch?
At the moment, the service is already working, but it is only available to users from the USA. It is currently in beta testing, so there may be some instability in the service. The full launch of the service is scheduled for autumn.
Will iCloud work with all iOS devices and all Macs?
Using iCloud requires iOS 5 installed on your device. iOS 5 is supported on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third and fourth generation iPod Touch, and both generations of iPad. To run the service on Mac, you will need OS X Lion and iTunes 10.3 or later. As for Windows users, they will need Windows Vista or Windows 7 and iTunes 10.3 or higher.
I am a MobileMe user. What should I do?
You will be able to, so to speak, convert your MobileMe account to one on the iCloud service when the latter is officially launched. An email was sent to all MobileMe users with instructions on what to do next. The letter states that Apple will notify all MobileMe users about next steps once the iCloud service is launched. The current MobileMe will operate until June 30, 2012.
Can I expect a refund?
If you purchased the boxed version of MobileMe and still haven't activated it, you can expect a refund. On its website, Apple has posted relevant documentation with recommendations describing the process of restoring funds. You can also request a refund for unused MobileMe time.
What will happen to the email address? Will it remain @me.com or will it be changed to something else?
According to the same email sent by Apple to all MobileMe users, when you sign up for iCloud, you'll be able to save your MobileMe email address. A user authorized in iCloud has full rights to use an email address ending in @me.com.
What will happen to the rest of MobileMe's features: Galleries, iDisk, Backup, Back To My Mac and ?
Nothing is known about this yet. When Apple talked about the future of MobileMe and iCloud, none of these features, let alone syncing apps in the Dock, settings and notes, were mentioned. As mentioned above, iCloud will offer users 5GB of free storage, which is significantly less than the current 20GB offered by MobileMe. As for Find My iPhone, earlier this year Apple made the feature free for all users by creating a dedicated app for it and releasing it on the App Store. A recent update to the app suggests that Apple will still need it, so we expect this feature to remain.
What about iWeb?
Apple hasn't paid much attention to iWeb over the past few years. We assume that iWeb will disappear from the next version of iLife and Apple-supported web hosting as we now know it will be a thing of the past.
What are the implications of iCloud for the Time Capsule?
Cloud data storage is attractive for many reasons. One of these reasons is that all your data is safe from local incidents. Theft, breakdown, all kinds of emergencies or natural disasters cannot cause the loss of your data. A negative factor is the reduced speed of working with content due to the low speed of Internet connection in some areas. It makes sense to store your most important documents in the cloud, the loss of which can cause big problems for you. But when it comes to backing up your entire media library, the cloud is not the best solution yet. For this, however, it is better to use Time Capsule or some other storage of large amounts of information.
Why is Apple doing this?
When Steve Jobs talked about iCloud at the WWDC ’11 presentation, he said that Apple would downgrade the computer to simple device, like an iPad or iPhone. Over time, your Mac or PC will no longer be the central repository of all your data, around which all your devices require synchronization. Now this function will be entrusted to the cloud. Considering that today ordinary users have not only several computers, but also several mobile devices, such as iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, this solution is becoming increasingly relevant. Coordinating information between all devices used has become a completely normal practice. The main “promise” of iCloud is that synchronizing data and all information will “just work”. Just enter your Apple ID on all the devices you use and iCloud will do its best to deliver the most up-to-date information to all your devices.
Of course, money can also be a reason. Apple has millions of paying accounts in the iTunes Store, and if even a small portion of them use the iTunes Match service, this will be quite a good income for Apple, even taking into account the fact that Apple will have to share part of this income with record labels. And there is always the opportunity to add new, paid services to existing iCloud services. For example, streaming music, why not make money?
The result of all this may be the following picture: Apple continues to improve its ecosystem of devices, in which each individual device is a small information world, which will now be combined with other worlds and turn into one big planet. Apple makes it even more attractive and makes us even more attached to it and purchase more and more devices with the apple logo.
Still have questions? Ask.
What is iCloud? General information
iCloud stores your photos, videos, text documents, and more in the cloud and wirelessly syncs it to your iOS, macOS, and Windows devices.
The best example of iCloud in action is shown in the photo below:
To be clear, let's say you took a photo on your iPhone. It goes to cloud storage and can automatically be accessed on your other devices: iPad, MacBook, etc.
The iCloud service is tied to the user's individual Apple ID. Each Apple ID comes with 5 gigabytes of free cloud storage. With a monthly subscription, you can increase the number of gigabytes in the cloud.
Without iCloud, several important services cannot work: Find iPhone/iPad, Family Sharing, iCloud Drive, Media Library, Keychain. More about all this below.
Setting up iCloud in iOS
To sign in to iCloud, you must have an Apple ID and password. You can create an Apple ID manually, or the first time you turn on the gadget (after purchase or firmware), the iOS setup assistant will help you create it.
Let's go to Settings->iCloud. Enter your Apple ID and password into the appropriate fields. Click the Login button and wait until the system turns on iCloud for you.
The iCloud main window will appear.
your name– if you click on your name, you will be taken to the Apple ID settings menu. Something useful and related to iCloud here is the item Devices, where you can see all the devices that are linked to your Apple ID. These devices can be removed from the list. Useful if you suddenly lost or sold one of them.
Family– setting up family access. Allows users with another trusted Apple ID to make purchases using your payment method. Family access also allows you to download purchases of other family users.
Storage– here you can see information on free space in iCloud. Go to Storage->Management and you will be able to see detailed information on using iCloud. Here you can delete backups of other devices and application data.
iCloud Drive– information on using the relevant service. iCloud Drive is a subset of iCloud in which files are stored in a structured form (analogous to Yandex.Disk, Dropbox, etc.). To view these files in iOS there is a standard iCloud Drive application.
Photo– Here you can turn on iCloud Photo Library, Photo Stream, and Photo Sharing. As a rule, photos and videos take up the largest space in iCloud, so setting up and understanding this particular item is very important.
iCloud Photo Library– allows you to synchronize all photos and videos on your devices. .
Photostream is a legacy subset of iCloud Photo Library. The function is relevant if the Media Library is not yet enabled on any of your devices. Allows you to sync the latest 1000 media files across all devices.
Photo sharing – The feature allows you to share photos and videos with selected users, who can also add their own photos, videos and comments .
Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Safari, Notes, News– enabling these options allows the corresponding programs to store and synchronize data. For example, when you enable the Safari item, the standard browser will store and update bookmarks, reading list, etc. in iCloud. This way, you'll see the same data on your iPhone, iPad, and computer.
Bunch of keys– enabling the service allows you to save and use passwords, data credit cards in a special encrypted file. After setting up a device, each subsequent one requires setup with additional confirmation on already approved devices.
Backup copy– enable automatic backup to iCloud over Wi-Fi. Difference between iTunes and iCloud backups.
Find iPad– perhaps the most useful and mandatory option that allows you to monitor your devices online, lock them remotely and erase data. Be sure to turn it on.
Additional features of iCloud
In the previous section, I essentially listed the main features of iCloud. But some of the functionality remained behind the scenes:
The iCloud cloud is used by the creators of many programs and games in the App Store. In games, saves are often stored in iCloud, so that at any time you can load the desired save and continue playing from the last place.
Program developers store files and data in the cloud so that the user has up-to-date data on any of his devices at any time.
You don't need a cloud-connected device to manage iCloud data. Any computer is enough. Logging in to the official website iCloud.com With your Apple ID, you'll have access to various iCloud features in your browser.
This includes changing notes, viewing and editing documents in Pages, Numbers, Keynote, viewing/downloading photos and videos, managing your devices, etc.
What is iTunes Match?
Let me explain why I raised this question in the article about iCloud. The fact is that iTunes Match essentially uses the same iCloud cloud and works using the same technologies, BUT...
iTunes Match allows the user to store his entire music collection in the cloud. These can be either officially purchased songs from the iTunes Store or imported from a CD. The latter means that Apple essentially doesn’t care what kind of music you store in the cloud (even pirated music).
The main principles of iTunes Match are very interesting:
- the service reads your media library and automatically adds to the cloud those compositions that Apple itself already has in its iTunes Store. If there is no composition, then only then does it upload it to the cloud from your device.
- no matter what the quality of the audio files on your device, the cloud will contain songs from the iTunes Store in good quality AAC 256 Kbps
iTunes Match has a separate subscription. For the summer of 2016, it is 799 rubles per year. You can subscribe on iOS.
Settings->Music->Subscribe to iTunes Match
Or in iTunes on your computer, go to the music section and find the Match tab:
iCloud tariffs. Which to choose?
By default, Apple suggests using 5 gigabytes of free cloud space. This is mockingly little. Why? I'll explain. At the moment, Apple allows you to store so much in the cloud that for comfortable use of iCloud you need to upgrade to a paid tariff plan. The same backup takes on average 3 gigabytes for one device. Please note that no matter how many devices you have, 5 gigabytes are allocated for one Apple ID.
How to change tariff plan:
Settings->iCloud->Storage->Change storage plan.
For the summer of 2016, the tariffs are as follows:
They change periodically and not to say for the worse. Somehow there was even a price reduction.
I recommend using 50 gigabytes. If this turns out to be not enough, then switch to the next tariff plan. I myself use 50 gigabytes with 5 gadgets storing data in one cloud. I have almost 15 gigabytes of backups alone. Sometimes the storage space runs out and the system annoys me with notifications about it. I even wrote a separate instruction about this case:
How are iCloud subscriptions charged? Same interest Ask, which requires some explanation.
After the first connection, you will be charged the amount indicated in the tariff plan. Now this amount will be debited from your card (or phone number) every month. When changing your tariff plan, you will either need to pay an additional amount, or vice versa, Apple will return nth number rubles
It is noteworthy that Apple approached this issue honestly. They write off and return not for the whole month, but for the number of days that are missing to the full month. Example. You have been charged 59 rubles per month. After 15 days, you changed your tariff plan to 200 gigabytes for 149 rubles. You will be charged (149-59)/number of days in a month*(number of days in a month-15). And only after the end of the calendar month will you be charged 149 rubles.
If you don't have enough money in your account, Apple won't automatically reduce your storage to 5 gigabytes within 30 days, but will ask you to pay off your subscription debt. And temporarily disables some iCloud features.
iCloud Security
Well, there remains a special section for paranoids, to which I partially consider myself. Here it would be appropriate to quote Apple itself:
Apple takes data security and the privacy of your personal information very seriously. Therefore, iCloud features are designed with these requirements in mind. All your iCloud content - photos, documents, contacts - is protected by encryption when transmitted over the Internet, and in most cases also when stored on the server. If we need to use third parties to store your information, we encrypt it and never share the encryption keys. And with a number of additional security measures, such as two-factor authentication, you can be sure that the important data accessed through your account will only be accessible to you, and only from your devices.
Articles and Lifehacks
Today, the owner of a mobile device stores a lot of different information on it. If we know what icloud is on an iPhone and know how to use it, we get the opportunity to store data without making any effort at all.
What kind of service is this
- iCloud Server, also often referred to as the “cloud,” is a free storage solution designed for Apple devices. It is important that we have installed version 5 or 6 of the iOS operating system, as well as version iTunes from 10.5 inclusive on the PC.
- Why do you need this “cloud” storage? For example, we took a photo of something with our iPhone. Thanks to automatic synchronization, the photo you take immediately appears on your Mac and iPad.
- The same goes for application settings, bookmarks in the Safari browser, etc. We will also be able to share pictures with our friends or find a missing Apple device. The main condition is access to the Internet.
- What information will be automatically synchronized using the iCloud server? Firstly, these are the videos and photographs we shot.
- Secondly, the player and Apple smartphone settings, as well as the operating system desktop settings. Thirdly, music files, books, applications and their data. Fourthly, SMS and MMS messages, as well as messages sent via iMessages.
- Note that game lovers will also appreciate synchronization. For example, we have the right to pause a game on an Apple tablet and continue it on a smartphone.
- This service is initially built into the system, and therefore does not need to be installed. The main thing is to follow timely updates.
- Registration is also not required - you just need to use your ID (that is, Apple ID), which we need to log into the App Store.
How is iCloud different from Dropbox?
- The disadvantage of Dropbox is that we can only work with this server manually, and we need to indicate the need to save this or that information every time.
- With iCloud, things are completely different. If we have enabled automatic synchronization, you don't have to worry anymore.
- Everyone in iCloud is offered a space of 5 gigabytes, where you can store everything that was generated by various applications (back-up settings, mail, program data, etc.). For a fee the space can be increased.
- As for storing photos, there are no significant restrictions. The main thing is to remember that the cloud server is ready to store no more than 1000 photos for the last month.
The phone is broken and I need a phone book. iCloud is the solution.
Many have experienced that when a phone breaks down and it cannot be restored, the lion's share of a person's life is lost - his photos, contacts, messages.
But if you took care of this a little in advance, then by picking up a “new” iPhone, you could return everything. Sometimes, personal information for the user is much more important than the phone itself.
Moreover, all the capabilities are already available in the iPhone itself. You just need to enable the necessary checkboxes.
Let's learn to use technology like iCloud. This will be discussed in our article today.
What is a cloud service?AppleiCloud and how to use it?
Let's first understand what a cloud service is? Where are these clouds anyway?
The essence of the technology is that all content (photos, videos, documents, etc.) is located not on the device, but on Apple’s servers. At the same time, having access to the Internet, you can access your information from any iOS device iPhone or iPad. This means that your contacts and photos are additionally copied and stored in a safe place.
The most common example of cloud services is email. All your information is stored on a mail, yandex, google or other service server, and you can access this data from any computer, of course, if you know the user and password. And we’ve been using this for a long time, so we’ll start using iCloud.
iCloud is a free service that is available to iPhone and iPad users starting with iOS 5, as well as Mac and PC users with iTunes 10.5 and higher. The main idea of this service is to create a common storage for all sorts of things and the ability to see all your information on different devices.
To log into the cloud service you only need your Apple ID and password. There is no need to create additional accounts. I hope you have already created an Apple ID account.
! Important point: Account AppleID must be unique for your personal iPhone and iPad. You won’t be able to use it if several phones have the same Apple ID; you’ll simply erase each other’s data.
Each user gets 5 GB of memory to store mail, application data and other small items. This is a free limit; if it is not enough for you, you can purchase additional volume for an additional fee. When purchasing, money is debited from your account.
There are no restrictions on size for photographs, but there are restrictions on quantity - no more than 1000 pieces. for the last 30 days.
How to setupiCloud oniPhone,iPad for backup?
It's simple! Go to Settings -> iCloud -> Account and here we enter the email and password that you use in the App Store, that is, your Apple ID. Here you can configure those applications that need to synchronize their data. Feel free to include Contacts and photos, and who cares about the Calendar.
To synchronize notes, you will be prompted to create a free e-mail @iCloud.com. Just indicate your nickname and use the password for your account.
And now the best part, go to Settings -> iCloud -> Storage and backups and turn on the checkbox in the Backup section - Copy toiCloud. Here it is a miracle, the iPhone will start copying your contacts and photos to the server. Now your data is not in danger of any problem with your phone, including complete destruction or loss.
Automatic backup occurs when your device is plugged in, locked, and connected to the Internet. Wi-Fi is a must. That is, we connect the phone to Wi-Fi and charge it overnight. And in the morning a backup copy has already been made.
For those who swallow tons of information, and for whom 5GB is not enough, you can buy space. To do this, go to Settings -> iCloud -> Storage and copies -> Buy more space. In practice, there is more than enough space to store contacts.
How to restore from a backup?
We hope that we will not need this, but we should know about it. There is a backup copy, everything is stored somewhere far away. But then the phone “pah-pah” was lost or completely broken. There is no way to find it or repair it, but all your life, contacts, and telephone numbers are there. Dont be upset. Thanks to the created backup, we will return everything to its place.
We buy a new iPhone, start activating it, and when the menu appears in front of us:
1) Set up iPhone as new,
2) Restore from iCloud backup,
3) Restore from iTunes backup,
We boldly select point 2. Next, enter your Apple ID, select the latest backup and click Restore. All our contacts and photos will be downloaded from the server and loaded into the new gadget. Everything is safe and sound. And we’ll survive the loss of our previous phone.
What else can it doiCloud?
iCloud allows you to do several more interesting things, for example, if you connect your devices to the cloud service, then taking a photo on your iPhone, it can automatically appear on your iPad. In addition to photos, you can synchronize bookmarks in Safari, settings in games and applications, etc. To do this, you will need to be connected to the Internet and enable the necessary checkboxes on your devices.
Let's get to know them.
What is a photo stream?
If you go to Settings -> iCloud -> Photos, you will see the My Photo Stream item. This feature allows you to automatically synchronize photos and screenshots taken using iPhone and iPad between iOS devices. If you find this feature useful, just turn it on, and when you connect to a Wi-Fi network, all photos will automatically be sent to all your iCloud devices.
How to synchronize purchased applications, games, music? Automatic synchronization.
Settings -> iTunes Store, App Store and mark in the “Automatic downloads” section those items that interest us.
iCloud via browser on computer
The web version of iCloud is located at iCloud.com. Enter your AppeID username and password and get access to your mail, calendar, contacts, iWork documents, as well as the Find My iPhone service.
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