Lost in the clouds?
In a previous article, I talked about saving data on your mobile device by connecting to a computer. But the truth is that not everyone has a computer or always remembers to back up their data. Enter the cloud. Saving your data to the cloud is a very popular choice that requires very little effort on your part. This article explores the cloud services offered by Apple and Google and aims to give you a better idea of how they work. Pro tip: Never forget that you are the only person who has control of the data you save on the cloud. Contrary to what you may have heard, nothing is automatically shared with other people or on social networks. If you’re still not sure what the cloud is all about, read this article by my colleague Michel Baril. In short, the cloud is an online storage space that you can access via your Apple or Google account. iCloud by Apple If you have an iPhone, you’ve probably already heard of iCloud. Offered by Apple, this service allows you to save all kinds of things, including your contacts, photos and appointments in your calendar, as well as your notes, reminders and favourite sites on Safari. All this is connected to your Apple ID (which is the email address you use for Apple services). If you have other Apple products, such as an iMac or iPad, iCloud will allow you to access your content and synchronize it across all your devices. New data is backed up automatically whenever your iPhone is plugged in and you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. This function is really handy when you consider that phones tend to get plugged in daily, often before we go to bed. It’s also important to note that this service gives you 5G of free storage, meaning you can store a decent amount of data without paying. If you reach the limit, you can always delete unwanted data, like old photos and videos, to make more room. Alternatively, data can be saved to your computer. And, of course, Apple offers various monthly packages to increase your cloud space. Pro tip: Does everyone in your family have an iPhone? If so, you may want to consider the Family Sharing feature, which lets family members share any music, app, book or movie purchases with each other. That way, you don’t have to pay for content more than once! You can also share photos and calendars, which is great for managing the family schedule. Parents, rest assured that you decide which features you want to share. You’re also the one who authorizes any purchases! Google If you’ve got an Android device, you can get cloud backup from Google. To access this service, simply create a Google account (if you already have a Gmail account, you’re good to go). Google’s Android service lets you save the same type of data as the Apple service, like contacts, calendars and photos. However, the backup method differs from phone to phone. For an optimal backup and syncing experience, make sure you save your data to your Google account. Here are a few examples to give you a better understanding: When you add a contact, make a point of saving it to your Google account, not to your phone’s memory. This option should appear when you enter your new contact information. When you add an event to your calendar, follow the same principle by selecting your Google account. For photos, go to your phone’s Google Photos app and activate back-up and syncing. Any photos you take after that will automatically be backed up when you connect to a Wi-Fi network. These are just three of an infinite number of possibilities for saving data on the Google cloud. If you want to learn more, start by exploring the various backup apps available—they can really make managing your data much easier. Pro tip: Want to explore the many possibilities that Google offers? Go to google.ca and click on the square menu in the top right corner of the page. You’ll find tons of features, many of which will be compatible with your mobile phone! In short, don’t forget that you decide what gets saved onto the cloud, and that you can adjust these preferences at any time. Whether you just want to keep your contacts safe and sound or back up all your content, the one thing you absolutely must do is remember your passwords. Without them, you won’t be able to access your data. Using the right backup service is a sure way to get the most from your digital devices. Now, get saving!Cloud accounts, a user’s manual
Personal devices are evolving so fast, it’s enough to make you dizzy. But getting a new product doesn’t necessarily mean having to learn everything all over again. Written by Michel Baril, your Pro. Cloud solutions are a great example. You’ve probably already heard that they can help you make better use of your devices. That’s true, but many people still aren’t clear on how they work and, more concretely, how can they help. Here’s some handy information to help you understand what cloud services are all about. 1. Your cloud is yours only! The first thing you need to know is that when you use a cloud service, the only person who can access your data is you. It’s important to let that sink in. A lot of people are afraid that once their information is sent to the cloud, it will be accessible to everyone on the Internet. But the fact is that no one knows your password but you—not even the cloud service provider’s staff! So don’t forget this important nugget of information: you are the only person who can access your information. 2. What exactly is the cloud? In the IT field, the term “cloud” refers to storage space reserved just for you. Think of it as a bank account for saving your information. To access it, you need a device (computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.) and an Internet connection. Most cloud services require an email address (to use as your ID) and a password. To understand how the cloud system works, let’s go back to our banking analogy. When you want to access your bank account, you need a debit card (which is like a user name) and a PIN number (which is like a password). 3. What is the cloud used for? The cloud’s main function is to make a copy of your information so that nothing is lost if your device is misplaced or stolen. Services like Apple iCloud or Google Drive have features that enable automatic backups. In fact, whenever your device is connected to Wi-Fi, its contacts, photos, notes, reminders, appointments, search history and more are all saved in this virtual storage space. That way, even if you lose your device, you can still access most of your personal information via websites like icloud.com or google.com/drive. 4. How does syncing work? To get a better understanding of what we mean by “syncing devices,” let’s imagine that phones, tablets and computers are all ways of accessing the Internet and your accounts, much like an ATM at the bank. No matter where you go, you still have access to the same amount of money. The same is true with the cloud! Syncing your devices allows you to access the same contacts, photos and other data on all your devices. This means that if you make a change on one device, it will be automatically applied to all the others and saved in the cloud. Did you buy a new phone? Simply connect your new device to your cloud account and all your information will be available to you. How do you know if these features are enabled? Open the settings on your various devices and go through the backup options.
