Apple’s new iCloud service is the promise of MobileMe made real. Imagine a PC-free future, traveling our world with an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and yes, even a Mac or PC, without ever having to sync them together again. Apple’s got that future started with iCloud, and we spent a little time trying it out. We’ve untethered our iPhone and iPad and we’re here to tell you how to do it and how it works.
Before we start, though, here’s a quick video, right from Apple, explaining the concept.
iPhone Unleashed
iCloud wants to be the basis of our wireless future. The basics of iCloud are contained in the settings app on the iPhone and iPad, the System Preferences on a Mac, and the iCloud Control Panel on a Windows PC. First up, we needed to update our iTunes to version 10.5, then our iPhone 4 to iOS 5, via that new iTunes. When activating a new iOS device, users will see a couple of new screens to walk them through the iCloud setup. The best way to do this is to log in with an Apple ID, either one that already exists, or creating a new one from the iCloud screens.
For details on how to deal with Apple accounts in a family or work group, check our article iOS 5, iCloud, and iTunes – Set Up in a Multiple Device Family. If a MobileMe user, transition that account to an iCloud one here: Me.com. In addition, users can use the iCloud web interface if away from their own specific devices: iCloud.com.
Another week means another game developer jumping on board the AirPlay support bandwagon. Previously, Firemint and The Binary Mill announced AirPlay functionality, now it’s the turn of Pangea Software’s line up.
Six of their titles have been updated to provide native support for iOS 5′s AirPlay streaming: Bugdom 2, Cro-Mag Rally, Nanosuar 2, Otto Matic, Quarters, and Enigmo 2. Each title can be played at 1080p with the Apple HDMI adapter or 720p via AirPlay. It’ll work on any iPad 2 or iPhone 4S running iOS5.
As well as that, Cro-Mag Rally and Nanosaur 2 have had a new ‘Spectator-Cam’ mode added to make the most of AirPlay support. This means an unique view of the game is sent to an HDTV, making it much more entertaining and sociable for others to watch.
All of the titles have also received a graphical overhaul with new higher resolution artwork implemented to ensure they all look great on HDTVs.
Launched to coincide with iOS5 due to its reliance on such features comes Find My Friends, an app that allows users to easily find their friends and family through their iOS devices. Yup, it’s a jealous boyfriend/girlfriend’s idea of heaven! But it’s also a pretty cool idea for everything from meeting up with friends to simply checking that the kids got home safely from school.
Using an Apple ID that’s used with iCloud, users can add a friend then simply send a request to see their location. Users can then always see on a map or via a list exactly where that person is.
Privacy controls and parental restrictions are in there for the safety conscious, and there’s also the option to temporarily share information with a group of friends. Everything is encased in an attractive and easy to use format, just as we’ve come to expect from Apple products.
It’s out now and is free and universal to all iOS5 users. Don’t forget to sign up to an iCloud account too!
We’ve seen greetings card services from apps such as Oh Greetings and ThankYouPen, but clearly Apple decided to get in on the act with their latest iOS5 included app: Cards.
Cards lets users create and mail some pretty special looking cards personalized with their own text and photos, all from their iOS device. As is synonymous with the Apple way of doing things, it takes a mere couple of taps and swipes to take a snapshot and send a card to anywhere in the world.
21 designs are available encompassing everything from birthdays to simply ‘wish you were here’ messages. All cards are then saved automatically so they can always be sent to more than one person. There’s even the option of adding GPS data to the card so that the recipient can see the current location of the sender.
Payment is conducted via Apple IDs with cards and postage costing $2.99 within the U.S and $4.99 for anywhere else in the world, excluding relevant sales tax. U.S. sent cards even get a delivery notification and an Apple-designed postage mark.
It’s kind of like Christmas for iOS device owners this week. With the huge wealth of new functionality that iOS5 brings, so the numerous app updates flow. In this case, it’s Apple’s flagship iWork applications that have profited from updates that incorporate iCloud functionality.
Numbers, Pages and Keynote have all been updated to version 1.5 adding the ability to automatically store content in iCloud and thus keep documents up to date across all the user’s iOS devices. As well as that, documents can be downloaded to a PC or Mac at https://www.icloud.com/ as a number of different useful filetypes such as Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Pages ’09, Numbers ’09, Keynote ’09 and PDF format.
In the case of Pages, voice dictation functionality has also been added to enable users to create and edit documents in iOS5 on their iPhone 4S. Keynote users can benefit from AirPlay support to enable them to show their presentations wirelessly via Apple TV.
Numerous other minor updates have also been added to the three iWork Apps. Each update is available now.
For iOS gaming fans, one of the most exciting things about new operating system releases is how the new features will be implemented by upcoming games. A classic example of this is with Mini Motor Racing, set for release this year and with a bunch of iOS5 based features thrown in.
Mini Motor Racing promises a heck load of different options. There will be 20 different tracks plus day and night races to make for a lengthy single player campaign encompassing a series of race-circuit cups. 4 different vehicle types – sports, hatch, big-rig and pick-up – will be available. Multiplayer support for up to 4 players will also be included with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity as well as Game Center and Open Feint support for leaderboard racing. Plus, for those after the flexible touch, a variety of control settings are also possible.
For devices running iOS5, there’s the most exciting side of things: iCloud and AirPlay connectivity.
All race data from the game will be stored online through iCloud, meaning users can pick up where they left off regardless of what device they choose to play Mini Motor Racing on. This information includes racing stats, race circuit progress status, unlocks, achievements and best lap times.
The AirPlay functionality means that players will be able to mirror races from the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 to the TV screen for an even more exciting experience.
Mini Motor Racing is already shaping up to be something special with some fantastic looking visuals so hopefully these new iOS5 based features will cement the game’s position as an enjoyable Micro Machines style experience.
We’ll be sure to keep up to date on Mini Motor Racing‘s progress. For now, check out the screenshots and trailer below.
As we’ve seen, the iPhone 4S and iOS5 has been announced and with it has come a whole bunch of different features for app developers to implement in their products.
Historically, it’s always been Firemint and the Real Racing series that has been first to introduce such features such as iPad 2 optimization and 1080p output. It’s no different this time round with numerous features being added to Real Racing 2 and Real Racing 2 HD.
As predicted earlier in the year, AirPlay support will be added so that players can stream the game to their HD TV. Dual screen functionality will also be possible with real time racing telemetry on the iPad 2 or iPhone 4S.
More entertainingly is the addition of Party Play for 2 to 4 players, enabling players to play split screen local multiplayer over AirPlay.
Besides such revolutionary features, there’ll also be numerous visual upgrades to ensure that Real Racing 2 is still a cut above the rest.
Check out the Party Play trailer below. It’s looking pretty impressive.
The update is set to go live in time for iOS5 and the iPhone 4S release.
Carter and guest co-host Brett Nolan discuss Apple’s WWDC conference, particularly the iOS 5 and iCloud announcements. They discuss how the features connect in particular to games, especially game progress and cloud-based saving possibilities in iOS 5 with iCloud.
We cover it all. The latest games, apps and more are all reviewed across the 148Apps network of sites. Just take a look at what you might have missed this week.
Apple’s new iCloud service is the promise of MobileMe made real. Imagine a PC-free future, traveling our world with an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and yes, even a Mac or PC, without ever having to sync them together again. Apple’s got that future started with iCloud, and we spent a little time trying it out. We’ve untethered our iPhone and iPad and we’re here to tell you how to do it and how it works. 
Six of their titles have been updated to provide native support for iOS 5′s AirPlay streaming: 
Launched to coincide with iOS5 due to its reliance on such features comes Find My Friends, an app that allows users to easily find their friends and family through their iOS devices. Yup, it’s a jealous boyfriend/girlfriend’s idea of heaven! But it’s also a pretty cool idea for everything from meeting up with friends to simply checking that the kids got home safely from school.
Cards lets users create and mail some pretty special looking cards personalized with their own text and photos, all from their iOS device. As is synonymous with the Apple way of doing things, it takes a mere couple of taps and swipes to take a snapshot and send a card to anywhere in the world. 
It’s kind of like Christmas for iOS device owners this week. With the huge wealth of new functionality that iOS5 brings, so the numerous app updates flow. In this case, it’s Apple’s flagship iWork applications that have profited from updates that incorporate iCloud functionality.
The title has been in development for much of this year with a 
Round and round and round and roundtable!
