iCloud is simply a service that keeps all your devices in sync. You can allow all your apple devices to stay connected and share information between them whether it’s an iPhone, iPod, iPad, or mac. The information on each device is automatically updated to make sure the most current information is available on all devices. So if you were to make any change on your iPhone, the corresponding change would occur on your mac. The service is free and it operates wirelessly.
How does iCloud work?
If you were to have a night out with your friends and take some photos and videos on your iPhone, the same photos and videos would appear on all your other apple devices. There is no need to manually transfer photos from your iPhone to your computer or any other device. The photos are automatically available on your computer.
In addition to syncing photos across multiple devices, it also syncs other information such as: iTunes purchases, Contacts, Calendars, Notes, documents, Reminders, and Safari bookmarks. It provides the capability to back up your device and locate a lost device.
iCloud works by storing your information securely on a remote server. This online storage capability is also known as cloud storage. By securely storing your information online, you can access this information from any device, at any time.
How do I use iCloud?
Before using iCloud, you must first create a free account. Typically, your iCloud account can be the same as your Apple ID. Your Apple ID is the email address you used when signing up for iTunes. You use the Apple ID and password to download apps or music. To keep things simple, you can also use the same Apple ID when creating an iCloud account. However, if you have more than one person sharing the Apple ID, you may want to create a separate iCloud account.
On a Mac, select iCloud in the System Preferences and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
If you have a PC, you will need to download the iCloud control panel from Apple’s website. Once it is installed on your PC, open the Control Panel, then open iCloud and sign in with your Apple ID and password.