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iCloud Photo Storage Review

Review of iCloud Photo Storage

Overview of Apple’s iCloud Drive

As many of you already know iCloud Photo storage is part of the Apple Inc suite of products that support the ever expanding product lines from Mac Books to iPhones. In this review we want to show you the benefits and downsides of using iCloud to allow you to make an informed decision.

Apple’s iCloud Drive is a cloud storage service that allows users to store and share files across multiple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and PCs. With iCloud Drive, you can easily access your files from anywhere, and the service integrates seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem of devices and services.

This article will take a look at what iCloud Photo Storage is, how much it costs, how the service compares to other photo storage services, and whether or not it is worth signing up for. But to kick things off lets understand a little more about the company behind iCloud.

Apple Inc. was founded back on April 1st 1976 in Los Altos, California but now has its headquarters based in Cupertino California. The reason why I am telling you this is to show the company has been around for many years and is unlikely to shutter like some other suppliers anytime soon.

When did Apple start using iCloud?

June 6th 2011 was the launch date.

What is iCloud Photo?

iCloud Photo is a service that allows you to store all your photos in the cloud and access them from any device. This is done by either having iPhoto installed on your computer or iCloud Photo Library enabled on your devices, which will turn the iCloud storage of all new photos into an iCloud Photo Stream.

This feature enables you to transfer your photos automatically from one device to another, without the need for any file management application. This means that everything will be automatically synced and the photos will be kept up to date, even across different devices.

iCloud Photo Library does not only allow you to store your photos in a central location on the internet but also enables you to share your photos with others. You can set up a calendar event to automatically upload all new photos from your iOS device or computer, and then send them to other people via email or social media.

iCloud Photo Storage is simply the service that turns all of your photos into an iCloud Photo Stream, so all your new and old photos will be stored by default online. This means you can access them from any device and they will automatically get uploaded to a cloud storage location, be it on iCloud or Google Drive.

Installation and User Interface

Installing iCloud Drive on a PC is a straightforward process, and the service integrates seamlessly with the Windows user interface. The installation process is intuitive and easy to follow, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.

How Does iCloud Photo Storage Work?

To use iCloud Photo Storage, first, you will need to download this program as it needs to be installed on a computer. Once you have installed it, you will need to connect your computer or device to the internet.

This option is available in the Account section of iPhoto, where you can set the location of where you want your photos to be stored. Next, you need to choose which folders on your computer are located in the iCloud Photo Library. You can also choose whether or not you want Apple’s privacy policy (which seems to be a thorny issue) to be enabled as part of this process.

After you have done this, you will see all your photos in iPhoto with a small cloud location on the bottom right corner. This means that your photos are now being synced across all devices via iCloud Photo Library.

You can also choose to add more folders, or even delete entire locations at any time; this is done by simply selecting the option from either the “Folders” or “Turn Off iCloud Photo Library” section in iPhoto.

File Syncing and Backup

One of the most significant advantages of iCloud Drive is its ability to sync files across multiple devices. This means that if you make changes to a file on your iPhone, those changes will be automatically synced to your PC, ensuring that you always have access to the latest version of your files.

In addition to file syncing, iCloud Drive also offers robust backup features that ensure your data is always safe and secure. With iCloud Drive, you can backup your photos, videos, and documents, and access them from any device.

Security and Privacy

Apple is well-known for its commitment to user privacy and security, and iCloud Drive is no exception. All files stored on iCloud Drive are encrypted, and only you have the key to decrypt them. Additionally, Apple does not have access to your files, so you can rest assured that your data is safe and secure.

Pros of iCloud Photo Storage

1. Large storage space

The iCloud Photo Library service gives you 5GB of free storage space, which offers a pretty good deal for a cloud storage service. It also gives you access to all your photos from any device, so there is no need for any file management application or drive to be installed.

2. Easy to use

This service is incredibly easy to use, and anyone with even the most basic knowledge of iCloud could get it up and running in less than 15 minutes.

3. Biggest online storage service

Since Apple control the iCloud service and make it its core operating system, it obviously makes sense that it offers the largest online storage amount. As of September 2013, this became 250GB. Although this may not be all that much in comparison to some of the alternative services, it is still a decent amount of space for a free service.

4. No subscription

Unlike some online photo storage services, which require you to pay a monthly fee, you don’t need to ever pay for iCloud Photo. It’s completely free. Although this is great news for people on tight budgets, it does mean that you are taking a risk when using this service. Since there is no guarantee that the service will continue to give you the same amount of space on your iOS device or computer.

5. Accessibility

Since Apple’s iCloud service is used in almost every iPhone and iPad, in combination with Mac computers, it is only logical that the iCloud Photo Storage service would be integrated into the devices without any problem. This means that you can access your photos across all your devices and even remotely if you choose to. You also don’t need to install any third-party apps on your Mac computer or device, since it comes pre-installed.

6. Privacy

Since the iCloud Photo service is integrated into all of Apple’s devices, and since it is pre-installed on Mac computers, it seems to be the most privacy-friendly online storage service, as there are no additional third-party apps that need to be downloaded.

7. Manageable storage space

iCloud Photo gives you an option to delete or manage your photos or even change your settings whenever you want. This is great as it means you have total control over your online storage space.

8. Easy to use on a Mac computer

Since iPhoto is already pre-installed on your Mac computer, it makes it incredibly easy to log in and upload or download photos. This also means that there are no problems when using this program on a Mac computer; you don’t need to install any additional software which can cause compatibility issues.

9. Simple upload process

The iCloud Photo service provides a simple upload process, which makes uploading or downloading photos easy. It is also handy that the program already has this storage space available for you, so even if you don’t have many photos yet, it means that it’s not a huge hassle to start. The service also makes it very easy to manage the photos on your computer or devices.

Cons of iCloud Photo Storage

1. Requires an Apple device

This service is only available to people who own Apple devices, so anyone who doesn’t have an iPhone or iPad would need to purchase a Mac computer, to use this online storage service. This is not a huge issue for most people.

2. Data loss risk

Since there are absolutely no guarantees that Apple will continue to offer the same amount of space for free, there is a risk of losing your data completely if this happens. This might be a major drawback for people who have photos that are very important to them.

3. No Google Drive integration

Even though Google Drive has become a big player in the world of cloud storage, it seems like Apple still hasn’t integrated their services. This means that you can’t access your iCloud Photo Library from the Google Drive website, and vice versa. This might be an issue for people who use the web version of Google Drive since it doesn’t automatically back up your photos.

4. Expensive

Since you don’t need to pay for the basic storage, which is 5GB, it would be tempting to upgrade to one of the higher storage options. However, these storage upgrades can cost up to $20/month. This is expensive compared to many of the other online storage services, which cost $10 – $15/month.

5. Limited social media integration

Although Apple does offer a lot of integrations for different social media sites, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, it seems like Apple hasn’t integrated its iCloud Photo service into any of these platforms. This makes it slightly inconvenient to share your photos on Facebook or Twitter, as you would have to use the “Facebook” or “Twitter” option on your device instead of using iCloud Photos.

Why iCloud Photo Storage?

As you can see, there are some pros and cons to iCloud Photo Storage, but the fact remains that it is a very useful service that will allow you to back up your photos and save them for when you want to look at them. An amazing feature about this service is that it does not require any additional software programs or applications. All you need to do is sign in with your Apple ID and get started. This means that there are no costs aside from the required monthly storage fee. The service is also very easy to use, and it doesn’t require any additional software. This makes it a great online storage option for anyone looking to back up their photos.

Will iCloud delete my photos if I don’t pay?

No, iCloud will not delete your photos if you don’t pay for your subscription. Your photos and data will remain on your iCloud account, but you won’t be able to access them until you upgrade your subscription. It is important to note that if you cancel your iCloud subscription, Apple will eventually delete your data if you don’t reactivate the subscription or move your data to a different storage option.

Conclusion

Overall, Apple’s iCloud Drive is an excellent cloud storage service that offers seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem of devices and services, robust backup and syncing features, and top-notch security and privacy. If you’re an iPhone user with a PC, there’s no reason not to install iCloud Drive. With its user-friendly interface and excellent features, iCloud Drive is an excellent choice for anyone looking to store and share files across multiple devices.

Apple is making it an easier and more convenient to use iCloud Photo Storage option when it comes to backing up your photos. The fact that this service can be used across all your devices and even remotely if you decide to make it an extremely useful option for everyone.

Overall, this is a perfectly good online storage service for anyone looking to back up or share their photos. It has some drawbacks but is still much more reliable than other online storage options.

For Pros and Cons plus a Price Comparison check out

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