PC Free computers (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch)
Are you someone who finds using a computer difficult as hell? Do you know someone who finds computers difficult? Your solution comes this fall when Apple releases iOS5, the new iPods, a new iPhone and possibly (very unlikely) a new iPad. When I say device, I mean an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Why does iOS5 make being PC Free easier?
With the next version of the operating system for iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad, many features, namely iCloud, will make being PC Free a reality. 1) iCloud. With iCloud, you no longer need to connect your device to iTunes to back it up. Everyday, while your device is connected to Wi-Fi, plugged-in, and not in use (or locked-the screen is off), it will backup your apps, app data (like documents/files, lists, etc.) settings, photos, and more will be backed up to Apple's servers. Basically, if it's on your device, it's backed up on iCloud. Now, say you've been using an iPad for awhile, and decide you want to get an iPhone, iPod touch, or you want to upgrade your iPad to the latest and greatest. You'll see that you can restore from iCloud. When you do that, guess what! Your apps, files, photos, and more will be right there. Just like it is on your iPad. No computer required. And it's like you've been using it forever. NOTE: To set up a device without iTunes, you will create an Apple ID (your iCloud account) if you don't have one. 2) App Store, iTunes, and iBooks-iCloud. The other major part of iCloud that will help you cut the computer, is your apps, music, and books, and keeping them in sync. So, let's assume all you have is one device, let's say an iPad. So you've been enjoying this iPad. You're buying music, apps, and books. (iBooks is a separate download from the app store). That's great! Now, maybe you deleted a book from your iPad but now you want to read it again. Press store in iBooks and there will be a purchased button, most likely under downloads. Land there will be your book, with a poofy cloud button to redownload it for free. This works the same way with the iTunes/Music apps and AppStore. Now, you buy a new device, let's say an iPhone. You get your new phone out of the box, set it up. You apps downloaded automatically, the data in those apps is there, your photos and settings are there too. But where is my music and books? You need to download those. Go into iBooks, under the purchased link and hit the poofy clouds. You'll notice your bookmarks (in your books, not browsers bookmarks) and reading positions keep in sync with both devices. Now, do the same inside iTunes app. There, you now have your music and books. Now, when you buy an app, song, or book, they are automatically downloaded to all your other devices. No thought needed. Take a picture, it shows up on your other devices automatically (if you don't have a computer, make sure to move those pictures to an album from the photostream as your device will only save 1000 pictures that are in the photostream). If you need to do productivity, the iWork apps are your best bet. They work on all your devices. These apps are called Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. These apps have a cool trick. All of the documents in these apps will sync between all your devices. Start working on a document at home on your iPad and need to go to work, just set your iPad down and take your iPhone with you and continue working just as you were. 3) Other apps. Many other apps in iOS5 have had upgrades to make them PC Free friendly. Like in mail, you can now create mailboxes (folders), in Calendars, you can create and delete calendars. I already have a computer. But if I don't have a computer, I should read this anyway. If you have a computer already, but find it hard to use, or don't want to deal with it, going PC Free works great, but becomes even more powerful when you still have a PC. To start with, going PC Free requires an Internet connection. In particular, you have to have wireless (Wi-Fi) on it as well. If you don't have Wi-Fi, and you just have your Internet connection running to your computer, and your computer has a Wi-Fi card in it, you can create a wireless network with your computer. Make sure to put a password (using WPA or WPA2) on it to protect your security, safety, and privacy. If you don't have a computer, you need someone with a computer to set the Wi-Fi up before you can activate a device. However, if you buy your device at a store (which you probably will), they may have Wi-Fi in the store you can set your device up with. Then, when you get home, you can use Safari on your device to configure your Wi-Fi, but it may be confusing. If possible, have it configured in-store or by neighbors/relatives etc. Now, install a d log into iCloud on your PC or login on your Mac. That way, all your pictures will be stored forever on your computer. Also, if you have music, photos etc. you want on your device, open iTunes and plug your device into your computer. (You can do a Wi-Fi sync to your computer, but I'm not sure how it works). Click your device on the side, and sync over your content. By the way, any books, music, and apps you buy will be downloaded to your computer automatically, and if you buy something on your computer, it will be downloaded to your devices.
I know some of this is confusing. If you want help setting up your stuff, or want to know what you need to do to get everything working, what to buy, or how to use it after everything is set up, I will help you step by step. Just email me at benjamin239@gmail.com. Thank you.
