Cloud Computing in easy steps

by David Crookes

Overview

Cloud Computing in easy steps will show you how to harness cloud computing in your everyday life. You may already be using cloud services yet didn't realize it! You'll learn how these new platforms can help you work and play more efficiently and more importantly, at any location you choose. The cloud liberates its users from the desktop and allows them to embrace the webtop.

Whether you are a small business looking to reduce storage and application costs and make collaboration easier, or an individual who wants to use more cloud based services but isn't too sure where to start, Cloud Computing in easy steps is the book for you. Areas covered include:

What is a cloud?
How to develop a cloud computing security policy
How to work with Google Drive, Dropbox and Apple iCloud
How to word process, produce spreadsheets and presentations
The steps and hardware needed to play games in the cloud
Organizing yourself better with reminders and cloud calendars
Listening to music and streaming films
How to take notes and have them available to you at all times
How to use a cloud for a micro business

The cloud is here to stay, and Cloud Computing in easy steps is your handy guide to these new services.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840785326
Publisher:	In Easy Steps Limited
Publication date:	09/04/2012
Series:	In Easy Steps
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 7.20(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

David Crookes is a journalist who specializes in technology and video games. He began his career in 1994, writing for Amstrad Action magazine and his many credits include The Independent newspaper, Computing Made Easy, Web User, Micro Mart, games, Retro Gamer and the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition. In addition to his writing, he is the curator of Video game Nation, an exhibition celebrating the rise of gaming, which tours the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

1 Introducing cloud computing 7

Traditional computing 8

How cloud computing works 9

What you can achieve 10

Who is offering cloud services? 11

The possibilities of the cloud 12

Wi-Fi and Broadband 13

2 Working with Google 15

Google in the cloud 16

Signing up to Google 17

Create a new project 18

Working with Documents 19

Using format options 20

Sharing a document 21

Create a presentation 22

The Insert Menu 23

Create an animation 26

Start a presentation 27

Create a spreadsheet 28

Change spreadsheet formats 29

Add a spreadsheet function 30

Create a chart 31

Create and share a form 32

Creating a drawing 34

Creating tables 36

3 Using Google Drive 37

Set up Google Drive 38

Download Google Drive 39

Upload files to Google Drive 40

Share your Google Drive files 41

Send document by email 42

Save or publish a document 43

Set up offline Drive access 44

Create a new folder 45

Google Drive on the go 46

4 Google Calendar 47

Set up Google Calendar 48

Google Calendar views 49

Add an event 51

Set a reminder 52

Receive SMS reminders 53

Change your notifications 54

Add guests to an event 55

Share your calendar 56

Share your calendar with non-Google users 57

Add a friend's calendar 58

Print your calendar 59

Google Calendar and Android 60

5 Cloud printing 61

What is cloud printing? 62

Set up Google Cloud Print 63

Using Google Cloud Print 64

Using Apple AirPrint 65

Using Printopia 66

6 Microsoft SkyDrive 67

What does Microsoft offer? 68

Opening an account 69

Upload files to SkyDrive 70

Share your files 71

Create a document 73

Microsoft Word on SkyDrive 74

Microsoft Excel on SkyDrive 75

Microsoft PowerPoint 76

View a previous version 77

Download or print work 78

SkyDrive on your mobile 79

Move, copy and delete files 80

7 Using Dropbox 81

Why use Dropbox? 82

How much does it cost? 83

Signing up to Dropbox 84

Installing and Using Dropbox 85

Using Dropbox online 87

Share your Dropbox files 88

Share a folder with others 90

Create a photo gallery 92

Recover your files 93

Dropbox on the go 94

8 Apple iCloud 97

What is Apple iCloud? 98

Set up iCloud on iOS 99

Set up iCloud on computers 100

Find My iPhone 101

Contacts, iCal and Mail 103

iWork and the cloud 104

Apps and iBooks 105

Photos and iCloud 106

9 Making notes 107

Using the cloud for notes 108

Creating notebooks 109

Create a new note 110

Share an Evernote note 111

Using Evernote Web Clipper 112

Install Evernote apps 114

Recording audio 115

Exploring the desktop apps 116

Exploring mobile apps 118

10 Using SocialFolders 125

Back up your social media 126

Create a SocialFolders account 127

Connect to your services 128

Viewing your files 130

Download your friend's data 131

Upload photos in one go 132

11 Task management 133

Your memory in the cloud 134

Join Remember The Milk 135

Create a task online 136

Manage locations 138

Set up reminders 139

Share your tasks 141

Create a smart list 142

Using email to submit tasks 143

Sync with Google Calendar 144

Using Twitter with Remember The Milk 145

Using a smartphone 146

12 Pictures in the Cloud 147

Set up and use Flickr 148

Uploading photos 149

Using Flickr tools 150

Create a Flickr set 151

Create a Flickr group 152

13 Audio & Video 153

Audio and video in the cloud 154

View films via Netflix 155

Watch movies via LoveFilm 156

Using Spotify 157

Create playlists with Spotify 158

Share Spotify playlists 159

Spotify on a smartphone 160

Using iTunes in the cloud 161

Download songs to a device 162

Using iTunes Match 163

Uploading to iTunes Match 164

14 Playing in the Cloud 165

Understanding cloud gaming 166

Playing with OnLive 167

Signing up to OnLive 168

Setting up OnLive billing 169

Set OnLive parental controls 170

Installing on PC or Mac 172

Playing on PC or Mac 173

Play OnLive via your TV 174

Play OnLive on the move 176

The OnLive Dashboard 177

Select a game 178

Produce a brag clip 179

Find friends with OnLive 180

Set up audio chat 181

Using Gaikai 182

Gaikai and Facebook 183

Installing Java for Gaikai 184

15 Security in the Cloud 185

Keep safe in the cloud 186

Be safe in public Wi-Fi zones 187

Clearing browsers of data 188

Index 189