iCloud Basics

Todays blog highlights the many features of iCloud.  In the coming days and weeks, I will expand on each highlighted section to provide more in-depth information to iCloud.

To start, iCloud allows device back up, restore, updating to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch as well as managing your iTunes apps, books, music, TV shows, movies, Match, and Photo Stream in the cloud.  If you don’t already know, iCloud is Apple's online content service built to make managing your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Apple TV, and your iTunes content easier and more efficient. iCloud is based in the “cloud”, which is merely a way of saying giant data centers filled with servers that you can access from your device over Wi-Fi or Cellular internet, wherever you may be, and whenever you want your content. It consists of several services that work with the apps on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and with iTunes and a handful of desktop apps on your Mac and yes, even Windows machines. Most iCloud services are free, like other “cloud” services, additional storage and services are available for purchase.

Because the vast majority of iCloud services are free, and because they work automatically and transparently in the background to backup your data and give you access to your content, no questions asked, you should absolutely use it!

Setup, backup, restore, and update your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad with iCloud

Thanks to iCloud, you no longer need to plug your iDevice your Mac or Windows PC, then go into iTunes to set it up your iDevice the first time, to keep it backed up, or to upgrade the software. All of that is done faster and more easily, over-the-air (OTA) while on a Wi-Fi network. Because routine tasks, like backups, happen automatically, there is no need to worry about forgetting them and then finding out you don't have a backup when you need it most.

iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars, Bookmarks, Notes, and Reminders

iCloud includes push email, calendaring, and contact services. Push service simply  means whenever you receive an email, it's immediately made available on all your iDevices. Whenever you make or modify an appointment it shows up in your calendar on all your iDevices. Whenever you add or change contact information, that change is  reflected in the contacts on all of your iDevices. You access these services via the Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, as well as via the iCloud.com website from any desktop browser, or through popular mail, calendar, and contacts apps on your Mac or Windows PC.

iCloud will also sync Safari Bookmarks, Notes, as well as Reminders.

iTunes in the Cloud

iTunes part of iCloud lets you access content you've bought from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore, re-download it to your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and to iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC, and stream your music, movies, and TV shows to your Apple TV.

iTunes Match

iTunes Match is Apple's iCloud-based "music locker" service that allows you to store copies of all your music on Apple's servers and re-download it from any of your devices, at any time. iTunes Match isn't free, however. It comes at a price -- $24.99 a year (in the U.S.).

Documents in the Cloud

Thanks to iCloud you no longer have to fuss with traditional files and folders or worry about forgetting where you stored  a document when you go back to look for it later. For apps that support Documents in the Cloud, all you have to remember is which app (or apps) opens the type of file you want to work on. From then on, iCloud manages everything, storing any changes you make back up to the server, and pushing down those updates to every device you have logged into your account. Create a Keynote presentation on your iPad at home, get to work and it's ready and waiting for you on your iPhone, Mac or via iCloud.com.

Find my iPhone

Find my iPhone -- or Find my iPod or Find my iPad -- keeps track of your iCloud-enabled devices so you can track them down if they're lost or stolen, and even remotely message, lock, and erase it to keep your data secure.

Keep a look out for more detailed information about each of these iCloud headings in the coming weeks.  In the meantime if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and contact me at geoff@themacmentor.com.

iPhone 6, First Review

I want to start this by saying, I was and still am, extremely happy with my iPhone 5S.  It was a bit thinner, and longer than the 4S that I had used for two years, had better battery life, better camera, and a slew of other features that made it much better experience than the 4S.  Since June, I've been looking forward to getting the 6, but given that I had been testing iOS 8 for months, wasn't all that excited, until it arrived.  I was a bit concerned that the size increase would make it uncomfortable to hold and use with one hand, but the concern quickly disappeared!

As you can see above, the 6 has quite a size advantage over the 5S.  Yet as you can see below, still fits easily into the palm of your hand, as is still completely usable with one hand.  

What thoroughly impressed me, was the sheer thinness of the iPhone 6 (below).  I'm not sure why I was surprised, as Apple has made nice advances with each prior iPhone.  With the 6, however the advances are far superior than any previous iPhone.  

Sure the internals all were upgraded, new processor, better camera, better wi-fi antenna, better battery etc, etc, etc.  The thinness and size are two of the things that make this iPhone the best yet.  To be fair, I have not tested or tried the 6 Plus, so I can't speak to it just yet.  

From the moment I started using the 6, I was impressed.  I loaded it from my last iPhone 5S backup, so my apps, and content were available almost instantly.  As the apps began to update for iOS 8, they began to support the larger screen size of the 6, which made them all that much better.  

With each iPhone release comes a new operating system.  When I began testing iOS 8 since early June, there didn't seem to be a great difference from iOS 7.  Once I started using the iPhone 6, the new features seem to come to life.  From the new Speak Screen setting, to the new Handoff feature, to the ability to enlarge your whole screen using the new Zoomed Feature (and those and just 3 of the hundreds of new features), everything just worked better on the new iPhone.

Speak Screen let's your iPhone talk and tell you exactly what's on your screen (whatever app you may be in).

Handoff let's you start something on one device and continue on any of your other devices using the same iCloud account.  

This is the standard display, below is the new Zoomed display option, which you can see makes everything bigger and easier to see.

There is  so much more to cover, but I wanted to get a quick review out for those of you wondering if you should upgrade or not.  If you are on the fence, let me be the one to push you over.  The iPhone 6 is not only well worth the upgrade, but it is simply the best iPhone to date!

I will have more to write in the coming weeks.  If you've upgraded, or newly purchased the iPhone 6, I'd love to hear from you regarding what you like, and even what you don't!

Until next time...best to you and your devices!

Apple Pay!

Along with two new iPhones, Apple has ambitiously made the way you pay for things so very easy by creating Apple Pay!

What it is...
With Apple Pay, you'll be able to pay for things in any physical or online retail store using a contact-less touch system. When you make a purchase the retailer does not see your name or card number and even better, Apple collects no purchase history.

A Token element...
I apologize if this gets to tech speak here, but here's how this works;  Apple Pay uses NFC (Near Field Communication), the Secure Element and Touch ID.  You enter your credit card details into the system which confirms your card with your bank, and creates a unique Device Account Number (aka a token), this is held in the Secure Element on your device.  Your transactions are authorized using the token and a one-time dynamic security code.

Devices that will be able to use Apple Pay include...
Apple Pay will be available on the  iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. It will also works with iPhone 5, 5C and 5S devices but will require an Apple Watch.

Scan your credit card in with your devices camera...
Now I'm not certain just how secure this process is, but you can pre-load your credit card into your iPhone using your camera. Once approved the card appears in the Passbook app.

Apple Pay and Apple Watch...
Coming early next year, Apple Pay will work with your Apple Watch once you enter your passcode. Now this part is very cool, if you remove your watch payments are suspended until you put it on again and re-enter the watch code. Nice!

What happens if I loose my device?
If you loose your iPhone, the Find My iPhone app will suspend payments from your device once it is placed in Lost Mode. You will not need to replace your card, just create a new token on the device.

Very secure!
Because transactions are validated using dynamic codes it impairs or blocks hackers from scanning and stealing account details during a wireless transaction.  According to Morgan Reed, of the App Association, "Consumers can be confident their Apple Pay transactions will be private, safe, and secure." 

Info NOT stored in iCloud (or any other cloud for that matter!)
The essential credit card data is not held in the iCloud, making it extremely secure. Google Wallet's failure was due to the fact that it held this highly sensitive data in an insecure cloud.

Where Can Apple Pay be used?
At first, Apple Pay will be available in the US, where American Express, Visa and MasterCard  and most of the biggest banks support it at over 200,000 shops. Mastercard says such payment services will be widely available in 12-18 months.

What will this cost the consumer?
Apple will be taking a processing fee from banks.  The amounts are large, and Apple may gain close to $30-$50 million in added income on existing iTunes purchases, and the best part, it costs you nothing!

Other Benefits?
Apple Pay will be awesome when you are price comparing sites;  look at an item in a store and if you find it cheaper somewhere else, order it there!

Finally...
Both PayPal and Square have said they will support Apple Pay within their services.  Apple Pay is expected to launch in the US in October, and internationally in the very near future.

iMessage updates in iOS 8.

iMessage in iOS 8, a better way to message.

Apple’s Messages app has been solid, but it is well overdue for the update it's about to get, and it should make it more competitive with the other popular texting apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp.  There are many great new features coming in the new Messenger, you’ll be able to create voice and video snippets to post along with your text and photos. You'll also be able to share your location for a set period, for instance an hour, through the end of the day, or indefinitely. And, with a tap, you can view all the attachments in a conversation—all the photos and videos—without having to scroll through text to find them.   Today's blog is only covering the new voice recording feature.  

In the screen capture above, you'll notice the microphone just above the word "I'm" (That's the predictive keyboard at work, predicting what I'll type!).  Now take a look at the screen capture below.  

When you press the microphone icon, a 3 quarter circle appears with an X (left), an Arrow (Top) and a circle with a red square inside (middle).  The X cancels the recorded message.  The Arrow pushes the voice message into the body of the message (see below).  The red square stops the recording.

So, if you need to be discreet, and don't want to type out a message, the voice recording is a fantastic way to go.  

Look for my next iOS 8 update towards the end of the week, it will be covering the new iCloud drive!

Hey Siri! Handsfree Siri coming to iOS 8.

It only took a few years, but Apple is giving iPhone and iPad users a great new (old) tool in iOS 8,  handsfree Siri!  There is a catch, your device needs to be plugged in, in order for Handsfree to work.  First, turn it on.  Go into Settings > General > Siri:

Turn the Voice Activation switch to On (or green), and your ready to go!  This is awesome for those of us who haven't learned that we shouldn't hold our phones (or use them!) while driving.  As long as your iPhone is charging, simply say "Hey Siri" and Siri is ready for your request.  I've used it (not in Deerfield because you can't use handheld devices in Deerfield!) and it works famously.  I've had it call ("Hey Siri, Call Erika"), I've had it text ("Hey Siri, text Eli"), I've had it check the price of Apple stock ("Hey Siri, what's Apple stock at today").  Now this isn't only for driving.  Handsfree Siri works whenever and wherever your iPhone or iPad is plugged in, to a computer, outlet or other charging device.  I'm quite pleasantly surprised at how well it's working in the beta software (currently beta version 5).  

So if you have to use your iPhone while driving, at least you'll finally be able to do it all hands free!

If you are testing iOS 8, I'd love to hear your thoughts, and if you are not, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well!  

More cool iOS 8 features to come soon!