By Barry Hren

What is iCloud? Introduced June 6, 2011

Main application components Contacts Calender Mail

Apps store iBooks Backup Documents Photostream iTunes

Advantages Automatic synching and back up No need to worry about pc/Mac uploads/downloads Cost Simplicity Installations and updates are automatic, time saving 20 million users signed up for iCloud in the first week, estimates of up to 150 million people or nearly half of the U.S.

Disadvantages What happens if internet or cloud service goes down? Security/ privacy –online vulnerability, over sharing Must crossover with Apple products- while will work with PC and iPhone or iPad, will only support iOS not android Google Music and Amazon Cloud Drive offer similar services for android phones, some companies, such as SugarSync are attempting to make crossover platforms

Pedagogical Implications Integration- 27% of students own Mac laptops, 47% plan on purchasing. 80 million iPhones expected to be purchased in 2011 Regardless of which device student or instructor has available, documents/ can be edited and saved without having to upload or put on flash drive Automatic backup for lectures, grades, importatnt docs Easy usability with teaching apps Mobile learning- (i.e. instant photos from nature to the classroom)

Discussion Are there any other advantages/ disadvantages you can think of with iCloud service? Are there any other ways you can think of it’s educational uses? Would you use this service yourself?