iPad 2: The Missing Manual, 3rd Edition

Chapter 16. Back Up and Sync Your Gadgets with iCloud

Odds are, you have more than one computer in your life. An iPad for sure, and maybe a desktop or laptop computer, an iPhone, an iPod Touch, or some combination of these devices. All of them can snap photos, store contact information, keep track of your appointments, and hold downloaded music, apps, and books. Wouldn’t it be great if they could all share these files and this information so all your devices were always in sync and up-to-date?

They can. With an iCloud account and all your iOS and desktop/laptop devices set up to work with it, iCloud backs up and syncs your photos, music, apps, books, email, calendar appointments, contacts, and iWork documents across Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches. Best of all, the service is free and comes with 5 gigabytes of online storage, not counting your iTunes Store purchases or your stream of photos.

Because iCloud is included with iOS 5, you may have signed up for it when you activated your iPad. If so, this chapter tells you how to use its features to keep your life in sync. (For MobileMe members wondering what happens next: MobileMe will be active until June 30, 2012, giving you plenty of time to move your stuff to the new iCloud service. Apple has its own guide to making the transition at www.apple.com/mobileme/transition.html. Once you make the move, you’ll be ready ...