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iCloud Standard Guide
iCloud Standard Guide

iCloud Standard Guide: Making the most of Apple's iCloud to store, backup, manage, and share your content across all your devices is made beautifully clear in this practical guide. It even tells you how to use it on a Windows PC.

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iCloud Standard Guide

Chapter 2. Getting Started with iCloud

Now, you know what iCloud is and how important it is to use with your Mac, iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch), or even for your Windows PC. It's time for you to get started with iCloud.

In this chapter, you will learn step-by-step how to sign up for an iCloud account on your devices and how to manage it easily. For those who already have a MobileMe account, you need to migrate it first to iCloud. Before we get started, we need to understand what an Apple ID is and how it's related to iCloud (or even with all Apple services).

About Apple ID


If you've bought or downloaded anything, whether it's music from the iTunes Store or apps from the App Store, it implies that you already have an Apple ID. If you have used OS X for a long time, you should have an Apple ID, since Apple prompted you to have one when you booted your Mac for the first time.

So then, what is an Apple ID? It's an account created for you to use all services that Apple provides. It's easy to get one and it's free! However, sometimes you do not realize that you've already had one. Apple ID is used not only in their stores but also for the Apple Developer Program, Discussion Forum, Game Center, and Facetime.

Mostly, Apple IDs are easily recognized if an e-mail address ends with @mac.com, or @me.com, or @icloud.com as username for its account. These addresses are coming from Apple services (@mac.com from .Mac and @me.com from MobileMe). It's okay if you're using some other e-mail address as your Apple ID username. But if you want to use iCloud, you need...

Signing up for iCloud


It's really easy to sign up for an iCloud account. All you have to own is an Apple device. Why? Unlike any other services, you cannot sign up for iCloud directly from its website. You must sign up directly from any Apple device, including Mac, iOS devices (except Apple TV), and Windows PC.

System requirements

Before we go through to sign up process, make sure that your devices meet some recommended system requirements.

iOS devices

To use iCloud with proper experience, your iOS devices should meet following system requirements:

  • iOS version: iOS 5 or later. Availability of iCloud features depends on the iOS version.

  • Devices:

    • iPhone 3GS or later

    • iPad 2 or later (including iPad mini)

    • iPod touch third generation or later

Mac

To use iCloud with proper experience, your Mac computer should meet following system requirements:

  • OS X Lion 10.7.5 or later

  • iTunes 11 or later (for iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match)

  • iPhoto 11 version 9.4 or later, or Aperture 3.4 or later (for Photo Stream...

Migrating from MobileMe


If you are a MobileMe subscriber and would like to use your current @mac.com or @me.com as your Apple ID for iCloud, you can migrate it by entering your @mac.com or @me.com e-mail address while setting up iCloud on your device. Your MobileMe account will then be migrated to iCloud.

If you have an @me.com e-mail address, even if you aren't subscribed to MobileMe, your Apple account will be reactivated for e-mail when you're signing up for iCloud. But, if you had an @mac.com e-mail address that you got from .Mac, unfortunately, you can't use it anymore, so you must then set up a new @icloud.com e-mail address that you can use for iCloud.

It's important to have a verified e-mail address associated with your Apple ID to set up iCloud. To add one, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your @me.com or @mac.com e-mail address, then add a valid e-mail address to your account.

Once your MobileMe account is migrated to iCloud, you will get a welcome message just like other new...

Managing your iCloud account


Managing your iCloud account is easy because you can access it from any device you have. You can use your Mac, Windows PC, iOS devices, or browser in any computer to know your account status and configuration by visiting www.icloud.com. To manage more, you can open the iCloud preference pane on your Mac or iCloud Control Panel on your Windows PC, as shown in the following screenshot:

On the iCloud preference pane, you'll see a list of iCloud services that are available for your Mac. Check on the box to activate each service that you want. More detail on each service will be included in later chapters of this book. You can also check your current iCloud storage capacity and how many GB are available on your account, as shown in the following screenshot:

Click on the Manage button to see all applications in both Mac and iOS that have stored some data on iCloud and iOS device backups. You can delete the data by simply selecting an app and data or document you want...

Summary


In order to use most Apple services, including iCloud, every Apple products user must create an Apple ID. If you buy a new Apple device with the latest version of iOS or OS X, it will prompt you to sign in to iCloud with your existing Apple ID or create one. If you already have any Apple devices, make sure they have the latest version of the operating system and supports iCloud.

For Windows PC users, check if your PC meets the requirements and then install iCloud Control Panel. You can't create a new Apple ID or iCloud account on Control Panel. You must create it on an Apple device, whether it's a Mac or an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch).

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Key benefits

  • Explore the differences between iCloud and other cloud services
  • Understand how iCloud can easily be used in Microsoft Windows
  • Learn how to facilitate storage, backup, and management across all devices with iCloud

Description

iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. iCloud is a hub in a multi-devices environment, that allows your iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches, and Macs sync with each other and always have the same content. The service allows users to store data, such as music files, on remote computer servers that can be downloaded to multiple devices such as iOS-based devices, and personal computers running OS X or Microsoft Windows. This practical guide provides easy, step-by-step guidance to using the numerous features offered by iCloud, for first time users You will be guided through everything that you need to know about using iCloud on multiple platforms, as well as how to use it on a Windows PC. Learn about what iCloud can offer you with this practical guide, and what makes it better than other cloud services. It will take you through all of the iCloud services available, and help you to manage your contents easily across devices. You will also learn how to use Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and other iCloud services on Mac, PC, iOS devices or in the web browser. This book will also let you explore more on using iPhone and iTunes with iCloud, sync all contents without any hassle, and even back them up with iCloud. If you want to take full advantage of iCloud, then this is the right book for you.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone with basic knowledge of computers and mobile operations. Prior knowledge of cloud computing or iCloud is not expected.

What you will learn

  • Sign up for iCloud using Apple ID
  • Setup iCloud on Mac, PC, and iOS devices
  • Migrate contents from MobileMe to iCloud
  • Use Mail, Contacts, and Calendar and manage their contents
  • Configure iMessage, using Notes and Reminders
  • Create a shared Photo Stream on supported devices
  • Manage purchased contents on iTunes, including iTunes Match
  • Sync contents with iCloud, including documents and bookmarks
  • Explore more iCloud apps and iCloud.com
  • Back up devices easily to iCloud
  • Operate iCloud with OS X and Windows PC

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Nov 18, 2013
Length: 158 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782160502
Vendor :
Apple
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Nov 18, 2013
Length: 158 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782160502
Vendor :
Apple
Tools :

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Table of Contents

10 Chapters
Hello, iCloud! Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Getting Started with iCloud Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with Mail, Contacts, and Calendar Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Collaborate with iMessage, Notes, and Reminders Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Using iPhoto and iTunes with iCloud Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Syncing Your Contents with iCloud Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Exploring iCloud Apps Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Backing Up Devices to iCloud Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Using iCloud with OS X Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Using iCloud with Windows Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.5
(2 Ratings)
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onlyInSF Dec 13, 2013
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
First, this book walks you through installing iCloud on Macs, iOS devices (iPads, iPhones,and iPod touches), and Windows PCs. Then you learn how to work with iCloud apps such as Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and iWork (Pages for print documents, Keynote for slideshow presentations, and Numbers for spreadsheets), and edit and update content created in all these apps across devices. Apple allows third-party apps to use the feature Documents to the Cloud for saving documents; which are uploaded to the cloud and downloaded to your devices. To see what data and documents are stored on your iCloud account, you can log into iCloud Developer and click on the Documents icon. You also learn how to manage photos with iPhoto and Photo Stream, and iTunes to purchase movies and music, and distribute them throughout all your devices; and do the same with instant messages, notes, and reminders. Entire chapters are devoted to syncing your content with iCloud, and backing up your devices to iCloud; as well as using iCloud with OSX. There is also a chapter on how to use iCloud with Windows.Perhaps one of the coolest things about this book is learning how to use Find My iPhone, which enables you to locate your iOS device on a map if it gets lost or stolen, and configure it on iOS devices. The Mac has a similar service called Find My Mac, which you also learn how to set up and use. I especially liked how there is a section on how to find your Apple devices on a map using Location Services once Find My iPhone or Find My Mac is set up. This section includes information on how to remotely lock your lost device with another device using a four-digit passcode, so if a thief or anyone else picks the lost device up, they will be unable to use it unless they type in this passcode.Another cool thing this book teaches you is how find your friends on a map using Location Services using the app Find Your Friends. You can enable them to be show up on a map permanently, or invite them to show up on a map for a specific time frame. Once this time frame expires, they disappear from the map. For those who feel leery about having their whereabouts monitored, know that if anyone wants to track you either way, they must have your permission first.I found the iCloud Standard Guide informative, detailed, and well written. It makes a very good quick-start book, and I would definitely recommend it to those new to iCloud.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Tuan Kubaha Jan 20, 2014
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
iCloud is Apple’s cloud technology that is designed (and is acting) as a “hub” of all my devices, not only iPad, iPhone but also my Laptop running Windows. With this technology, I can use iCloud-integrated applications on any devices, anywhere and anytime with my data available across all my platforms. But even iCloud is very intuitive and seamlessly integrated, I have figured out that I can do a lot more after reading this book, iCloud Standard Guide.The book comprises 10 chapters of which the first chapter explains the difference between iCloud and other cloud computing services (you will know why the author of this book called iCloud a hub of all digital platforms from this chapter) while other chapters go a little deeper into bits and bytes of iCloud’s core applications – i.e. Mail, Contacts, Calendar, iMessage, Notes, Reminders, iPhoto and iTunes on Apple’s available platforms and Microsoft Windows. It is quite concise and go-to-the-point (I actually read an ebook edition and I think it is about 100-150 pages of the real paper book). And like any other technology books, you will need some hands-on time with your device(s) to hand in order to get yourself quicker understanding.Don’t think iCloud is plain and simple (even though it is). It is really accessible anywhere and anytime even you are roaming somewhere without your own devices. If you are not aware of this, you need this book! If you lose your iPhone and iPad altogether (or forget them somewhere altogether) and you don’t know how you can find them without your own devices, you even really need this book! I can guarantee that it will be valuable to you!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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