In the clouds with your iOS device
Installation
To be able to use iCloud (http://www.apple.com/uk/icloud/), you should upgrade your iTunes to version 10.5 and your device (iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad) to iOS 5. Tip. To prevent problems, follow the preparatory steps described in http://thegadgets.net/2011/10/12/ios-5-upgrade-to-ios-5-things-to-do-before-you-update/.
When you now launch your device, a wizard will help you to activate your iCloud access. You can configure which content you wish to back up to the iCloud or to synchronise with all your iOS devices (each of which should be equipped with iOS 5). You can find more detailed instructions at http://www.apple.com/icloud/get-started/. Once you’ve activated iCloud, you can also manage it on your own computer. The easiest way to do so is to surf to http://www.icloud.com. After logging in using your Apple ID, you can start managing your iCloud services.
Advantages
No more computers. Until now you always needed a computer to manage your iOS device. Now this is possible without the iTunes software: you can update your apps via your Wi-Fi network and have your music synchronised automatically. You can even create a full backup copy on iCloud and use this as your starting-point when you’ve bought a new device.
Automatic backups. You can configure your Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Bookmarks or Reminders to be synced to iCloud and between all your iOS devices as soon as you’re on a Wi-Fi network. You can also have an automatic backup made of your Camera Roll and your settings. You can share music, apps or iBooks automatically among all your iOS devices, or for the items you already bought at the iTunes Store - download them again. Note. iCloud offers 5GB of storage space by default, but this won’t take you very far. Fortunately, all the music, apps or iBooks you buy are not included in this volume. You can, of course, buy extra iCloud storage space: £14/year for 10GB, £28/year for 20GB and £70/year for 50GB. Note. Some apps are “iCloud-enabled”. For example, a document created in the Pages word processor on your iPhone will be saved on iCloud automatically; you can then use the same app to further edit this document on your iPad.
Viewing photos everywhere. On devices equipped with a camera, you now have a Photo Stream besides your ordinary Camera Roll. Each photo you take and place on the Photo Stream is saved on iCloud automatically and pushed to all your other devices. So if you take a photo using your iPhone, you will be able to view it on your iPad. Note. Only the last 1,000 photos are stored for maximum 30 days in your Photo Stream. However, when you connect your iOS device (or your computer) to iCloud in this period, the photos will be stored there permanently.
Find your friends/your device. iCloud offers two extra free apps, downloadable separately. Find My Friends lets you share your location (temporarily) with friends. This is convenient if you’re, e.g., visiting a theme park together. And Find My iPhone lets you trace your lost or stolen iOS device. Its location will be displayed on a map on your computer and, if necessary, you can block the device or erase all data remotely.
Create your profile to unlock this advice and many more.