iCloud

How to sync your iCloud calendar with an Android device

Android makes it very easy to add nearly any Google service to the platform, but when it comes to adding various other third-party services, such as an iCloud calendar, there really isn't an easy way of doing it.

If you're already entrenched in iCloud and sharing calendars with family members and colleagues who are using iOS and/or OS X, switching to Google Calendar may not be the easiest thing to do, for all involved. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but it won't be seamless for those who aren't switching devices. Thankfully, there'… Read more

How to share your iTunes account with multiple iOS devices

Before the launch of iCloud, sharing an Apple ID linked to iTunes or the App Store was straightforward -- you would simply log in to the same account across all devices and you'd avoid having to purchase an app more than once.

With the launch of iCloud, users are still able to share one main "iTunes account" (if you will) and still have their own iCloud account linked to the rest of the iOS services. Although, not many people realize how straightforward it is.

When initially setting up a new device, go ahead and log in using … Read more

Apple refreshes iCloud beta with new Web apps

Apple has apparently cooked up Web-based versions of its Notes and Reminders apps, as seen in the latest iCloud beta.

Accessible via iCloud from a PC or Mac, the new apps seem similar to their mobile iOS and Mountain Lion counterparts, according to a review by 9to5Mac.

The Web-based Notes app lets you enter and organize notes and then e-mail them using the iCloud e-mail. The Reminders app allows you to add reminders, attach notes to them, and schedule the date and time for you to be alerted.

Other online surprises are in store for iCloud users.

The latest beta … Read more

iWork.com users have one month before Apple shuts it down

In the wake of the closure of MobileMe, Apple is again reminding people that it is pulling the plug on iWork.com at the end of the month as it transitions users to its iCloud service for online syncing and storage.

"As of July 31, 2012, you will no longer be able to access your documents on the iWork.com site or view them on the Web," the iWork.com site says. "We recommend that you sign in to iWork.com before July 31, 2012, and download all your documents to your computer. For detailed instructions on … Read more

Cloud games mean sweet streams for Sony

Don't care how, just watch Monday's Update now:

The future PlayStation experience could involve streaming your video games. Sony is buying the cloud-based game provider Gaikai for $380 million in shares. Gaikai lets you stream games like Mass Effect 3 with just an Internet connection. No downloading. No discs. Gaikai began working with Samsung and LG to bring video games to Smart TVs. This acquistion could cause a few ripple effects in the gaming industry, not to mention we could be seeing streaming as an option for a future Playstation device. It could even expand the Playstation footprint … Read more

Apple's MobileMe service closes tomorrow

UPDATE (July 1): MobileMe is officially closed, but Apple is for a "limited time" offering links for users to access the services and retrieve their files, as well as upgrade their existing accounts to iCloud.

Tomorrow, Apple will be closing down its MobileMe online service in place of its new iCloud offerings. While some of the previous MobileMe services have been continued in iCloud, a few of them including Web hosting, photo gallery, and the iDisk online storage option will be shuttered. If you have used MobileMe for various hosting or storage purposes, then be sure to log … Read more

MobileMe, a rare Apple screwup, finally bites the dust

Come Sunday, Apple will make good on a year-old promise: MobileMe, its paid cloud sync and storage service, will go dark.

That means files that users have stored on the service -- as well as the sites they have published through Apple's iWeb software -- are going to disappear as well.

MobileMe users ought not to be surprised. The very same day that it named a replacement service, Apple said it would be closing up MobileMe. Since then, the company has steadily nudged people toward migrating their accounts to iCloud, which opened up last October.

Apple declined to comment … Read more

How to check if your cloud storage service is down

If you can't access your cloud storage service, the problem could be any number of things, from your own computer, to the servers in the cloud. To check if the problem is on the service provider's end, check out the system status pages for your provider. Here are the status pages for Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, Box, and SkyDrive:

Dropbox The Dropbox status page provides the status for Dropbox web access, as well as desktop client access. Details of updates are also provided below the status box. To check Dropbox status, go to http://status.dropbox.com.

iCloud … Read more

Amazon's music cloud is licensed by all top labels

Amazon's cloud music service is fully licensed by the top-four record labels, numerous sources have told CNET.

The labels and Amazon aren't talking, but my sources say Amazon is expected to roll out new features for the company's cloud-music offering in the United States sometime in July.

We reported on Tuesday that Amazon had wrapped up cloud deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and EMI, and was in negotiations with Warner Music Group. Information is coming in now that Warner Music Group was actually among the first to sign.

The ways in which the licenses … Read more

Amazon getting cloud-music rights, may match iCloud (scoop)

Amazon executives are close to striking license deals with music studios to cover the company's cloud music service, numerous music industry sources told CNET.

Amazon already has reached agreements with Universal Music Group, EMI and Sony Music Entertainment and is in the later stages of negotiations with the other Warner Music Group, the sources said. Amazon could announce the deals within weeks.

Spokesmen for UMG, EMI and Sony declined to comment. An Amazon representative was not immediately available for comment, though I'll update as soon as we hear back.

Details are scarce as to what new features Amazon'… Read more