Thanks to it, you can have all of your data, contacts, calendars and the latest photos taken with iPhone and iPad always on hand for free ... or almost. The basic version of iCloud only offers 5GB of online storage but there is the possibility of raising this limit by signing subscription pay rather cheap.
The plans available are as follows: 20GB of online storage to 0.99 euro / month; 200GB to 3.99 euro / month; 500GB at 9.99 € / month and 1TB to 19.99 euro / month. For more details about the operation of the service and know how to use iCloud on smartphone, tablet and computer, keep reading.
To use iCloud you need two basic requirements: an Apple ID and selection of iCloud as the default system for backing up data on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. To create an Apple ID, you just follow the guide I have prepared on this subject. It is, simply put, to connect to the Apple website, fill out a short registration form and confirm their identity by clicking on the link received by email.
Alternatively, you can sign up to online services through the free Apple iTunes (Mac is pre-installed), by clicking on the icon dell'omino located at the top right and then click Create a new account in the iTunes Store. Are shown throughout the procedure to follow, step by step, in my article on how to register on iTunes.
To select iCloud as the default system for backing up data on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, instead just select the appropriate option during the activation process of these devices. If you do not know how to do, see also my guide on how to activate iPhone.
In case you have already activated iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch without activating iCloud, you can fix at any time by going in the settings of the device, accessing the menu iCloud and activating all the options on the screen that opens: mail, contacts, calendars , photos, documents, etc... It's very easy.
If you want to expand your storage plan and subscribe to one of the paid plans of iCloud, select the item File, button presses on Edit the storage plan and select one of the offers available in the screen that opens.
Once activated iCloud on your iPhone / iPad, all system data and application files will be stored online and synchronized between all devices, but there are also additional services on which you can rely and that you should strongly consider.
- Photo library to iCloud - a service that is added to the Photo Stream, which is enabled by default on all iPhone and iPad, and through which you can permanently store all your photos and video clips captured on your device to iCloud (then also access online directly from the site iCloud.com). Unlike the Streaming Photo goes to affect the space on iCloud Drive, then to use it must necessarily subscribe to one of the paid plans of the service. You can learn more by reading my guide on how to archive photos to iCloud.
- Backup iPhone / iPad - you can use the storage space available on iCloud Drive also to create full backups of your iPhone / iPad, such as those that are made locally on your computer with iTunes. I told you about in detail in my tutorial on how to backup iPhone.
If you want to know how to use iCloud on Windows PC, you must connect to this page of the website of Apple and click the Download button to download the client iCloud on your computer. Download is complete open, double clicking on it, the file you just downloaded (iCloudSetup.exe) accepts the conditions of use of the service by placing a check mark next to accept the terms of the license agreement.
Next click on Install, Yes and Finish to complete the setup and agree to restart the computer. The new access to Windows, open the panel and iCloud login using the login information for your Apple ID.
Then put a check mark next to the items of the PC that you want to synchronize with the cloud service (Mail, contacts, calendars and tasks, Favorites, Photo Stream, etc.) And click OK to save the changes.
Favorites are synchronized with Internet Explorer or Chrome, the photos are saved in the folder can be selected by clicking the Options button while contacts and email can be viewed directly online at iCloud.com. Files stored on iCloud can be viewed (and modified) by selecting directly from the Windows File icon iCloud Drive from the left sidebar.
If you're using a Mac, iCloud is already built into the OS. To configure it, go to System Preferences, click on the icon of iCloud and put the check mark next to the items you want to sync with the cloud service (Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, photos, etc.). Contacts are synchronized with the OS X Address Book, photos with iPhoto, calendars with iCal, Safari bookmarks, etc ..
You can view the status of your iCloud with the details of the data saved in it by clicking the Manage button and purchase additional online space for backup for a fee by clicking the buy button more space. To view the data already stored on iCloud Drive, edit and save others do not have to do anything but open the Finder and select the service icon from the sidebar to the left.
Original post: Salvatore Aranzulla
