Cloud computing is basically internet based computing. Instead of
traditional computing - where the end user has local data on a computer
or mobile device, cloud computing removes the need for physical storage
space that is on the users end of their network. It relies on the
internet for both storage and applications and because of
this they are extremely reliable. With all storage and data needs
hosted and accessed remotely, all that a user requires to access their
"computer" is a web browser. Companies that have ventured into the
depths of cloud computing are among the top in the world; both
Microsoft and Apple have services for "cloud" computing. Apple's new
upgrade from the popular .mac service is called MobileMe. One of the main ideas of this
new service is the "push" of data from both computers, iPods, and
iPhones to a "cloud" which is hosted by Apple and accessible from any
web-enabled device. Thus giving the user freedom of movement from one machine (or many) to another. It also gives the user a backup of their data that is hosted remotely.  Another company in the front seat of the cloud computing machine is Google. Google hosts a slew of application in their cloud. Google Docs has been a popular choice for both students and professionals. It is available for free from Google. All you need to do is sign up for a Gmail account and this service will be available. |