Lost in the clouds?

[JeanMarieAlneus]

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:

1. 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.
2. When you add an event to your calendar, follow the same principle by selecting your Google account.
3. 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!