icloud-Its Features, Benefits and Limitations

May 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As Apple unveils the newest iPhone, which is the iPhone 4S, they also introduced one of the newest features that iPhone has, which is the iCloud. Many people who are not completely savvy when it comes to computers and other advanced gadgets will have a vague understanding about how exactly it works, its benefits and features. And in order to understand this, complicated things and descriptions should be narrowed down to its simplest terms.

icloud

Cloud or cloud computing is the term used to describe certain information that are stored on a remote computer or on a server that is usually connected through Internet. Basically, this allows you to access all your files from photos, contacts, videos, music and other backed up files you have anytime you need it because these will be available over the Internet even without plugging in or syncing your device to your computer like you usually do. The same goes with Apple’s own version of cloud computing called “iCloud”. Let’s further discuss its features and how exactly it works.

It may sound a bit complicated but what it does is to unite or consolidate all your files automatically in a much secured manner. Once you download, install and save a certain file to one of your Apple device, it will be automatically transferred to all your Apple devices. The main idea about iCloud is to gather all your files without having to use any wires but internet connection must always be present. There are major featured iCloud offers and it would be best to classify them to different categories.

1. Music and Applications

Any items you buy on iTunes like your favorite games, applications, songs, videos and even books will by synced to all Apple devices you have. You don’t have to repurchase them as it will be automatically added for no additional charge. In addition, Apple has add-ons called iTunes Match that has a subscription fee. This assists users to avoid any duplication of songs because iTunes Match allows matching of songs from the millions of songs available on iTunes to the ones users already purchased.

2. Photos

Part of iCloud’s features is the Photo Stream. This allows you to transfer your pictures easily without having to use your cable. Even if you don’t have your computer in front of you, you can directly import pictures you took through Wi-Fi connection. No need to worry that you would need to transfer them again once you are using your computer because it will automatically appear, even to your other Apple devices.

3. Files and Documents

This feature is very convenient to businessmen, professionals, executives and even to students since they can have all the documents they need anytime, anywhere. For example you are a businessman which offers Facebook users the option to buy targeted facebook fans. You would often need easy access to your data regarding your business and iCloud will make that possible for you.

4. Contacts and Calendars

iCloud also allows users to sync their contacts and calendars. Actually, you can even sync what you have on your notes and bookmarks. You don’t have to type them in to one device to another, as iCloud can do the work.

5. “Find My Friends”

This is one of the newest features. It acts like a GPS, as it can determine where you are on the map. It is also applicable to track people, like for example parents who monitors their kids if they are in the school or just spending the day at the mall.

6. iCloud backup

This feature is as simple as saving all your files including books, applications and even your text messages as long as you have Wi-Fi connection. This is more applicable particularly for iOS users.
Despite iCloud’s special features that offer hassle free work to users, it still comes with its own set of limitations. One of these is the storage space that can only be maximized up to 5GB. Nevertheless, this constraint is not suitable to music files, book or even photos that’s why most users will still find it sufficient. Likewise, iCloud does not support sharing of photos and files from one user to another. This is one of the limitations that Apple set to iCloud since its main purpose is save your data from all your Apple devices and not for social networking.

Setting up your iCloud can be a bit tricky but once you have configured your account, then all your data and files across all your devices will be in-sync with one another. This will make for easy organization and easy access to all your files and data.

Author’s Bio:

Abie is a freelance blogger and content writer for more than 5 years now. She writes about different topic including Parenting, Family, Health & Fitness, Technology, Travel and more.

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Drawbacks for Cloud Computing

April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Cloud computing is creating a big buzz these days, especially after the leak of the Google drive program. Many analysts are convinced that cloud computing is the future and that in a few years most of the software will be hosted on the cloud and offered as a service. As a SAAS company we also hope for this, but there are few drawbacks to cloud computing that might make it a bit harder for you to switch to the cloud. Below are some of the major drawbacks we came across after working with thousands of clients that includes NASA to college students.

Cloud Computing

Data Privacy and Security

The biggest concern faced by many people, especially by businesses and large corporations. Hosting data on the cloud means your data is stored in someone else’s servers. For critical services like defense systems this is not acceptable and sometimes prohibited by law. With businesses they fear that their data might be seeing by competitors. The technology to secure data that travels across the Internet has grown remarkably in the last few years and they continue to make improvements, but convincing potential customers is not easy.

Internet Connectivity

When you host your data in the cloud you need relatively highs speed Internet access to retrieve and work with those data. High speed Internet access is not a major problem for most countries and in some European countries you are legally entitled to have Internet. But this is not the case with most countries and nobody wants to work with applications that are slow to respond. Internet penetration levels and speed of Internet is increasing so hopefully this problem will disappear in few years.

Working with Large Data Sets

Unless you have a very powerful Internet connections transferring large sets of data across the Internet is a major problem. Majority of the users won’t be affected by this, but for large corporations this is critical for smooth running of their operations.

Integration with Current System

This won’t be a problem if you are straightaway started using a cloud service. But if you are already using some service then transferring that data and learning the new software can be a problem. To be fair, most of the cloud computing services have a small learning curve. The bigger problem is importing your current data to the new system. Cloud services are platform independent but your existing data might only work on certain platforms or perform better on certain platforms. Also there could be platform specific or application specific file types, in such cased exporting that data becomes a major headache.

Dependency on the Vendor

This factors is closely tied with security and privacy, but it is another major concerns faced by potential cloud users. You are dependent on them to keep the data secured, to properly back up data and do the maintenance and upgrades to ensure the smooth flowing of the service. Not every cloud company becomes a success so if the company decided to shut down the service in two or three years you will be faced with another data migration headache.

It’s the Future, But Still Evolving

People are using our online flowcharting software for more than three years now and the signups continue to grow. Mentioned above are some of the problems we have encountered while working with thousands of users. For most of users none of them is major concern, but for government organizations and businesses some of the things mentioned above are critical. The security and privacy issues were one of main reasons we developed our own desktop diagram software on top of our web based service. Finally the advantages far outweighs the disadvantages, so switching to a cloud based system will give you a definite advantage going forward.

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Cloud Computing for SMEs

April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Until recently, if a business needed a lot of computing power, they would have to either buy and maintain a powerful server, or lease a dedicated server from a third party on an expensive contract.  If they needed that power only in the short term – perhaps to handle a seasonal traffic spike to their website, then they’d find themselves saddled with a server contract, or an expensive, difficult to maintain piece of hardware that they rarely needed to use. Cloud computing frees SMEs from the need to buy and manage that hardware.

Cloud computing

The above use case is one of the more commonly referred to ones for cloud computing, but many SMEs are using cloud computing to handle almost all of their computer services.  Instead of running email and web servers, backup solutions, account management solutions, and collaboration tools in house, they’re using the cloud.  For a small company, paying for cloud services on an as-needed basis can be a lot less expensive than having to buy and maintain dozens of different software packages and one or more computers to run them on.

Cloud computing allows small companies to compete on an even footing with much larger enterprises.  If your business focuses on knowledge and services, the client may never know whether you’re working from Soho, London, or a Small Office, Home Office.

Access the Cloud Anywhere

Remote working is becoming increasingly popular at all levels of business. The beauty of the cloud is that you can access it anywhere.  This means that remote working is a lot easier to arrange.  Instead of having to worry about firewall settings and the security of your in-house systems, you can simply access information through the cloud.

Information Security

The rush to the cloud does pose a number of questions about internet security. Before you put sensitive information into “the cloud” it’s important to make sure that you understand the security policies of the company you’re working with.  Who can access the data in the cloud?  Where is it stored?  How often is it backed up?  If a breach occurs, who is liable?  What will happen if there is an outage – will you still be able to access information locally?

Many businesses have successfully harnessed cloud computing for both remote working, and office based work, but it’s still a good idea to carry out your own risk assessment and put together a strong IT security plan, as well as running your own backup solution so that you have local copies of your data to fall back on.

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Cloud Computing & Cloud Storage Android Applications

March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Android has great applications to facilitate you insert more storage space to your smart-phone/ tablet. These applications attach to the “cloud,” that can access from your PC or portable devices, as long as you are connected with Internet. We are progressively making digital contents—from pictures,documents and more. File sizes diverge, & shortly our smart devices loaded with stuff, then we have to locate a position to place it. From there the cloud storage comes.

Cloud storage is method to store digital information online, at the hosting company’s server. When you send some data to cloud storage from the phone/ tablet PC, it is carried via WiFi to server where storage account is placed.

Cloud Storage Android

Advantages of the Cloud Computing & Cloud Storage

List given below describes the benefits of cloud storage:

  • No requirement for physical storage devices, like CDs, DVDs, thumb drives and portable hard drives.
  • Protection& backup can be automatic in nature.
  • Ease: you have large storage for images &other digital files, which saves memory on your portable device.
  • Most of the cloud storage applications work with all of the devices—tablet computers, smart phones, desktop & laptops.

Probabledifficulties with the Cloud Computing & Cloud Storage

Probable difficulties with the Cloud Computing & Cloud Storageinclude:

  • Safety:  Malware,hackers& other difficulties can assault your digitized information, &also cause to lose sensitive information/ favorite images.
  • Ease of use&dependability:  The Area networks may be out of your range, hosting company may have difficulties keeping their services up &running mostly.
  • Potential presents for uploads to be arbitrated& stolen by the hackers.

Best Cloud Computing & Cloud Storage Applications on Android

Dropbox Android Applications

The Dropbox application has a free account access, with up to 2GB of memory space that you can utilize as long as you need to. The professional plan is of $9.99 per month for 50GB of space, while the Professional 100 plan is of $19.99 per month for 100GB of cloud space. This application can be installed to your Android’s memory card, & you can lock your account with a 4 digit code. Dropbox is simple to use.

SugarSync Android Application

The SugarSyncapplication is also a cloud storage choice that is simple to use, dependable&secure for your digital information. Though, SugarSyncpresents a free account of 5GB space, able toaccommodate 500 documents, 2,000 images & 2,000 music files.

Box Android App

The Box app is also the safe, easy to utilize & reliable cloud space service offered on Android Market. Just like Dropbox&Sugarsync, Box presents various plans. Box presents plans classified as Personal, Business & Enterprise. You can start with a personal for free, up to 5GB of space. Box allows to view & access files&on all of devices, as long as Internet is connected with device. You can share whole folder &get real-time updates when someone’s viewed,commented, & edited on yourfile.

Guest post by

Satyakampradhan is a seo consultant who blogs on his technology blog and is searching for ipad alternatives.

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The Future of Cloud Computing

March 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Before starting with the future of cloud computing let me first explain what cloud computing is. As the name suggests, the cloud computing is related to the computing world and gives the user , knowledge about the computing infrastructure.

Cloud Computing

Many users and experts claim that the future of Cloud Computing will be very bright.In the present time Cloud Computing is growing day by day and it will be touching new milestones in the future as well. Depending on its current growth it can be easily predicted that Cloud Computing will be the major term in the Future Technology.

Future Of Cloud Computing

1. Like many users are building there carrier or have built their carrier in this field so Cloud Computing is going to provide more Jobs scopes in the future.

2. To increase integration with private cloud software big organization like AWS will launch a partner program.

3. As a result of cloud computing security will move to “centralized trust.”It means that we will learn to keep identities within cloud.

4. Database creation and management will become much easier than present. Cloud Computing will make it easy to store large quantity of data and users will be able to access that data without any kind of problems.

6. Cloud Computing will have positive impact on mobile technology as well. Cloud Computing will make the mobile devices more powerful and thinner as well. In short words mobiles will have more features and capabilities in the future. Mobile companies are looking over it from now on. Apple’s iCloud is a good example of it.

7. Cloud Computing will remove the limits of users. In other words it will cross the difference b/w user and service provider. Cloud Computing will allow everybody to be a service provider.

8. The developers will concentrate on learning HTML 5 and other languages which will help them to improve Cloud Computing.

9. Continuous growing use of Tablets, Smart Phones will show positive results in the Cloud Computing and the users will be more dependent on cloud computing.T he example can be seen from Google’s growing Cloud service that is Google Docs.

10. Website up time will get benefit from it. We all know the big technology fishes like Google, Yahoo has tremendous up time. Due to great up time than that of an average website, these websites are never down, whatever the volume of traffic is on them. These all websites depend upon Cloud Computing for storage of large amount of data. In the Future more and more companies or websites will be including Cloud Computing into their fields and this will result a better internet for users.

11. It will show impact on Social Networking as well. The Cloud Computing will result better relations of Social Networking with Mobile Technology.

So we all can hope of better IT tools and better IT services in the future because of  Cloud Computing. Depending on its current rapid growth we can also scope more and more job opportunities in this field.

What do you think about this????Drop your comments below.

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Cloud Computing- Sky high Security

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Cloud Computing is the recent trend in the technology that give Data Security, Data Storage, accessing applications and more.  In simple manner, Just think you send mail to your family, fellows and other business delegates with attachments of small sized file to large sized file, now think what the intermediate medium that holds your data or that protects your data till your recipient gets! It is Cloud which gives security to your data. Cloud Computing is the fifth generation of computing technology.

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing

We define cloud computing as it is the metaphor used for internet. In general, Cloud Computing is a latest trend or technology that uses internet & other remote servers to preserve data and various applications. With the help of Cloud Computing technology, User can access their applications and data without installation and access their personal files respectively at any computer with internet facility. As I already told about example of Cloud Computing that accessing your Email accounts like Yahoo mail, Gmail, or Hotmail without using any software or application or server. It is much more efficient method of accessing data by centralized storage, bandwidth with memory storage. It is also virtual sharing of data, resources, application and software including other resources and hosting to customers on a pay as you use basis. This technology will allow you to concentrate on your core business.

Cloud Architecture

Cloud Computing architecture consists of two components, which are listed as follows:

1.  Front End

  1. Back End

 

1. Front End

It consists of client’s device or computer network in which user access their cloud computing system by using some applications and software.

2. Back End

It refers to the cloud itself which includes various computer systems, data storage devices and servers. Group of these devices together constitutes the whole network of cloud computing system. The whole system is monitored by a central server to keep eyes on client’s computer and to fill their demand and also to smoothen the process when it gets traffic.

Cloud computing service providers, provides service of Data Redundancy that helps to restore client’s data when client’s device gets damage. Data Redundancy is possible only when cloud computing service providers keep copy of client’s data. Generally, “Middleware” software is used to communicate with computers that are connected on same network.

Deployment Models of Cloud Computing

There are four different deployment model of cloud computing are following:

1. Public Cloud

It is self-service basis over the internet or it is service provided by off-site third party who bills according to their criteria.

2. Community Cloud

It is more expensive cloud computing service that provides higher level of security, privacy and other authorities’ services. Actually it occurs only when many organizations have similar demand to access cloud computing services.

3. Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid means combination that is in this section user benefited by combining two separate clouds and that combination will be combination of physical hardware and virtual cloud server.

4. Private Cloud

In this sections Company hosts own set of hardware and software for cloud services. It is very costly but gives more security.

Service Models of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing providers, gives their services according to following fundamental models:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

In includes most basic cloud services like Virtual machines, Servers, Storage, Load balances and Network. Without these components it will not work.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

It offers computing platform which includes Operating systems, database, webserver, programming language and other development tools.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

In this section, cloud providers install and access applications and software that includes CRM, Email, Virtual Desktop, Communication systems, Emulator, etc.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

  1. Reduction in expenditure on Hardware & Software Deployment.
  2. Independent of location i.e., we can use everywhere with the help on Internet.
  3. Effective Increase in Competitive environment.
  4. Good security at economical cost.
  5. Low maintenance cost.
  6. More flexibility.

More concentration in core business.

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