Is iCloud the next MobileMe

News this morning is that Sweden - based Xcerion just sold its iCloud.com domain for 4.5 million and that Apple might be the buyer. Xcerion had previously sold a cloud-based storage service called iCloud, but it's been rebranded as CloudMe after the sale of the iCloud.com domain.


Speculation abounds that Apple is nearing the launch of a cloud-based music service that would allow people to store their music libraries on the Web for access anywhere they can connect to the Internet. Last month, Amazon.com launched its own digital music locker, allowing folks to store their tracks on the Web. The Amazon service also lets people store video and e-books. However, the service launched without licensing content from record labels, potentially putting it at a disadvantage when compared with services that have licensed content and can thus deliver a more well-rounded, feature-rich offering.

Sync Google Calendar with iCal

If you use Google Calendar, why not sync it to your Mac? Setting this up is very simple:

• Launch iCal
• Open iCal Preferences from the iCal menu
• Click the Accounts button
• Click on the + icon in the lower left corner of the window to add an account
• Enter your Google credentials and click on Create

You can keep the import settings on Automatic, although setting to Google seems to speed up the first time the calendars are synced. iCal will contact Google for you and grab all the information, there’s nothing else to do.

Now you can add events from iCal and the Mail app on your Mac, or Gmail and Google Calendar from anywhere else, and you’ll always have the same date and event information regardless of where or what you’re checking your calendar from. Don’t forget that you can add Google Calendar support to your iPhone or iPad too.

Evernote for Mac 2.1 Update boasts Social Sharing, Audio, Speed

Evernote now has the ability to share individual notes through Facebook, Twitter, email and any other way you can think of. There's now a Share button in the menu bar of the Mac app. You just need to select the note you want to share, click the Share button, then select the way you want to share the information.

There's also a new way to record a meeting and write notes about it at the same time, all archived for posterity in Evernote. To record an audio note, you just click on the microphone icon and start recording by clicking the Record button. When you're done recording the audio, you can add text or files, then share it with others. The length of recordings depends on whether you're a free or premium user -- free users can do a single audio note with a maximum size of 25 MB, while premium users get 50 MB (about 4 hours) per note.

The update is available from Evernote, or you can select the "Check for Updates" link in the Mac app to receive your update. If you've installed the app through the Mac App Store, Evernote assures us that the update will be available "very soon."

WiFi Photo Transfer

Easily access your photos via wifi from any computer with a browser! Just start the app and enter the displayed address into the address bar of your browser. It works with any computer that has a modern browser (like desktop or portable computers, iPads, or even an other iPhone) and is on the same wifi network as your phone.

Your Photos collection can all be sent to your computer.  When I review an iPhone app, I grab screen captures for my review photos. The app will allow you to transfer your photos to any computer, or other iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone on your network.


http://tinyurl.com/3l4pf6x

Dropbox app updated as the service hits 25 million users

Dropbox has quickly become the must-have app and service for many people. Launched in 2007, about the same time as the original iPhone, Dropbox is a wonderful way to synchronize files between computers of all types.

Dropbox now has 25 million users, up from just 4 million a year ago. The numbers are astounding -- over 200 million files are saved to Dropbox daily, about a million every five minutes.

Concurrent with the announcement of this user milestone, Dropbox has updated their self-named app to version 1.4. Part of the update brings the action buttons (Dropbox, Favorites, Uploads, Settings) back to the bottom of the user interface in a tabbed fashion, but the new version of the app improves on the way that uploads from the iOS app are handled.

It's now possible to upload many photos and videos from the camera roll to a specific folder in Dropbox. That functionality is useful and seems like a logical extension of the way that the Dropbox app works, but the other new capability really adds usefulness to the app. Dropbox can now accept direct uploads from external apps.

iOS 4.3.2 now available for iPhone and iPad

Owners of the iPad/iPad 2, the 3GS & later iPhones (except the Verizon/CDMA iPhone 4), and the 3rd/4th gen iPod touch: fire up iTunes, there's a Thursday surprise for you. iOS 4.3.2 is now available and adds these features and fixes:

• Fixes an issue that may have caused blank or frozen video during FaceTime calls
• Resolved the problem preventing some international users from connecting to 3G on their iPads
• Includes all the latest and greatest security fixes

If you're updating today, take a moment to pop into our comments and let us know how it goes for you.

Mozy releases iOS client

There are any number of online file storage and backup options these days -- Amazon's new Cloud Drive, Dropbox and Mozy, which I've just installed on a customers network last week, it's simple backups. What really nice that Mozy has now released an iOS client that will allow you to view your files stored on its servers.

Mozy file sync allows you to synchronize your files across all your computers automatically. No longer will you need to email a copy of a file to yourself, or wait to show off your vacation pictures until you get to your home computer, or even have to rely on USB drives to make your files portable. With Mozy file sync, your files are automatically synced across every device, ready for consumption wherever you are. We are currently looking for Mozy customers (free or paying) to beta test this feature.

With Mozy’s mobile apps, you’ll be able to access your backed up files from your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Browse files or search for a specific file from anywhere. Quickly view photo thumbnails and download the full file in high resolution, right to your mobile device. Email any of your backed up files or photos to friends and family, right from your phone. Using Mozy mobile apps, you’ll be able to access and use your information where and when you need it.

We’ve been using these cool features internally for a few months now and… we’re hooked! Both features will be available to Mozy customers soon. In the meantime, if you’d like to be considered as a candidate for a private beta of the sync feature, or be one of the first to be notified of the Mozy mobile app, please visit http://mozy.com/backup/sync-beta.give the free iPhone or iPad app a try.

TaskPaper 2.2.3 in the Mac App Store with a big discount

TaskPaper 2.2.3 

Minimalists looking for a task manager should take a closer look at TaskPaper for OS X, which is now on sale at US$4.99, a $25 discount off its normal $29.99. The app recently launched in the Mac App Store, and Hog Bay Software dropped the price for a limited time to celebrate TaskPaper's debut. This $5 pricing will be available until Friday, April 8.

Developed by the same company that released WriteRoom, TaskPaper is a text editor-based task manager that mimics a handwritten list. If you are inspired to add an item to your growing to-do list, you only have to launch the app, type in your thoughts and hit Return to add it to your list. We have covered TaskPaper since version 1.0 and have been pleased with its simplicity and ease of use. If you have any interest in the application, grab it now before its price goes back up on Friday.

TaskPaper

April 1st iPhone Tip - Pocket dialing, pocket-calling, or butt dialing

Over the last few years I received many pocket calls and some of them have been pretty interesting and very long. Wish I had a way of recording them...

Always turn your iPhone off before you slip it into your pocket. Although your iPhone will switch itself into idle mode (where the screen turns off but the phone stays on) after a designated period of inactivity, you should get in the habit of manually turning off the screen. Otherwise you might accidentally place a call or run a battery-draining app while slipping the phone into your pocket. So remember, when you're done using your iPhone, press the top button (aka, the Sleep/Wake button).