The Cloud

Cloud computing is a phrase used to describe a variety of computing concepts that involve a large number of computers connected through a real-time communication network such as the Internet.

The phrase is often used in reference to network-based services, which appear to be provided by real server hardware, and are in fact served up by virtual hardware, simulated by software running on one or more real machines.

In common usage, the term “the cloud” is essentially a metaphor for the Internet.^[2] Marketers have further popularized the phrase “in the cloud” to refer to software, platforms and infrastructure that are sold “as a service”, i.e. remotely through the Internet. Typically, the seller has actual energy-consuming servers which host products and services from a remote location, so end-users don’t have to; they can simply log on to the network without installing anything.

Often “Cloud” based services are little more than storage spaces which can be synchronised between devices.

• Review of Cloud storage
• Dropbox
  • Tour
  • Setting up an account
• Google Drive
• Skydrive
• iCloud
• setting up iCloud on your PC
• Office 365
• LiveDrive – beware of costs
• Copy

and the list goes on….