Cloud computing is not a new premise. In fact, the late Steve Jobs relied on a cloud server as far back as 1996 as a means of protecting some of Apple’s most coveted business plans. Today, cloud-based email is limited to 3-4% of all enterprise accounts, but is expected to jump to 50% within the next nine years.

Amazon is doing it, Google is doing it, Microsoft is doing it, Twitter is doing it. But what, exactly, is it? Essentially, cloud computing is the concept of separating your applications from your personal computer’s hardware for the purpose of added safety and accessibility. Businesses that subscribe to cloud hosting enjoy ease of access to software and data for their employees from anywhere with internet signal.

In addition, if the company’s own servers are hacked, valuable data remains safe and untouched on a remote cloud server. Another aspect of cloud computing that has businesses jumping on board is the elasticity it offers. For instance, if traffic on a website suddenly explodes, such as often happens on Twitter after a significant social event, the cloud is able to grow to maintain that traffic.

An article published on Sunday by The Guardian notes that in the U.K.; “A study in the first half of 2011, which polled IT and business decision-makers across the private and public sectors, found that almost half already use cloud services.” But cloud computing isn’t exclusive to business use, and the consumer market is seeing a distinct increase in interest.

Amazon.com recently began offering account holders 5GB of free storage space from it’s cloud drive, as well as paid plans that store from 20 to 1,000 GB of data. Apple’s iCloud, which was released last June, also offers a free 5GB to anyone who signs up, and promises to bring the personal computer even further into the cloud.

Another addition to the market this past June, Google’s Chromebook actually runs an entirely cloud-based operating system. In their advertisements, Google promises that even if you throw your device into a river, all of your data will be safe.

In addition, the OS protects itself from viruses with sandboxing, a process which isolates webpages so that malware is also isolated, and no other part of the device becomes infected. Just this month, Google opened it’s first retail location, called “The Chrome Zone”, in London — the corporation’s latest attempt to compete with Apple. Several more store locations are scheduled to open in the U.K. over the next year.

So, is cloud computing truly the way of the future? The newest technologies have certainly elicited many positive reviews. Others, however, remain skeptical that information stored on a cloud network is ever completely private, and that cloud networks send up an instant red flag to hackers as an easy target.

When Sony lost the information of 77 million playstation accounts earlier this year, the fears of loose security seemed to gain some credibility. Many industry leaders agree that there are definite flaws that come along with the advantages of cloud computing. In an interview with CNN, Thomas Parenty, managing director of Parenty Consulting warned that,

There are many motivations for why an individual or a company would want to engage in cloud computing. None of them have to do with enhanced security. You have no idea who is managing the computers with your information. You have no idea where they are.

You have no idea what protections may or may not be in place to make sure your information is not stolen or disclosed or that it does not accidentally disappear.

In the end, the responsibility falls upon the individual to weigh the pros and cons of cloud computing. Is security of the highest importance, or does speed and efficiency matter more? Lynn Mucker takes a realisitc stance on the subject in an article for MSN Money: “The cloud is relatively new, and certainly not perfect.

But it is every bit as safe as giving out your credit card number when you make a purchase over the phone or online, and that’s a risk millions take every day.”

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Rumors regarding the creation of Amazon’s new tablet have been confirmed by invitations to members of the press. On Wednesday September 28, Amazon will unveil a new product to the market, and after much speculation, it has now been confirmed that it is the new Amazon Kindle that was under investigation for quite some time.

‘Amazon Kindle’ is the name of the new tablet by Amazon, a name that consumers will already be familiar with. What distinguishes this product from the e-reader is the new features installed. The new tablet has a 7-inch touch screen that displays its content in full color, and also runs the Android operating system.

What’s interesting about this tablet is that the interface was designed specifically for the Amazon tablet. The key colors displayed in the tablet are dark blue, black and orange, which are also the colors used to represent the notifications from apps at the top of the screen next to your Kindle’s name. The main screen resembles the cover flow in iTunes that users can easily recognize.

The tablet will have its own Amazon Android Appstore, and will include Google as the default search engine browser. The web browser looks like the typical web browser for other Android devices and includes tabs for different pages. It will also include the Kindle book reader app so customers can still have access to their Amazon eBook purchases.

The tablet only has 6 GB of memory, mainly reserved for apps and book storing. The reason for this may be that Amazon wants to focus on clouding, as it offers Amazon cloud player for music. The company also plans to give out a free subscription to Amazon Prime, which normally goes for $79 a year, and allows unlimited access to Amazon Instant video and their free 2-day shipping for Amazon purchases as well as no minimum for delivery.

This new device sells for half the iPad price, and the same price as the Barnes and Nobles Nook at $250. It is expected to be released in November before the holidays, which will make for a great holiday gift. Rumors also say that a 10-inch tablet is expected to debut early next year.

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If we had a cartoonish speech bubble corresponding to each of the millions of Apple consumers what would each say?  Perhaps many of them are dreaming of when the latest apple innovation will hit the market.  For those technological visionaries the freshest Apple creation is sure to be a consumer’s dream and wondrous reality.

The newest dreamy addition to the Apple family will arrive this fall: the iCloud.  Apple’s newest tool will make it simple for consumers to access practically everything on all their other apple devices.   Entry into one’s music, applications, photos and more is made easily possible by this latest apple creation.   Its technological design allows for the consumer to sit back and allow for the device to take the reins on virtually everything.  Email, contact information and calendars are updated and along with that the iCloud even stores matter from one’s iPad, iPhone, Ipod touch, MAC and PC.  Ultimately, the iCloud appears to own major multitasking abilities, with its power to collect, track and organize an extensive range of information from other apple family members.

The iCloud’s limitless features will likely leave consumers impressed and satisfied.  But for now buyers will have to settle for dreaming of this new member’s fall due date.

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For all of you new technology addicts, Apple is bringing you new high technology devices that won’t disappoint you. What can you expect next? The launch of the Iphone 5, new and improved apps, new software and yes, even a new Ipad. Launching around August or September of 2011, Apple will be releasing the Iphone 5, which will be the most advanced phone to come about yet. The Iphone is designed to be a sim-free phone with an eight Megapixel camera, which could could even be as efficient as a digital camera. Instead of having to insert a SIM card into the phone, the SIM card will be embedded in the phone itself. The eight Megapixel camera will be able to take pictures and HD video without the annoyance of getting red eye in a picture. All of the world was amazed after Facetime, which was an app on the Iphone 4 that let you video chat with a camera in front of the phone. Now with the new Iphone 5, Facetime not only works on wifi, but it also works on the 3G and 4G network. This will make international calling capable and possible because of the four antennas that will be built into the phone.

Just released, the Ipad 2 is lighter, thinner, and now has two cameras? The new Ipad 2 is 33% thinner, 15% lighter even smaller, so it fits in your hands just right. The new Ipad has a built in A5 chip, which means it can do everything twice as fast on the web, calls, and games. Graphics are more defined and can upload nine times faster. It is hard to imagine a better quality then the first Ipad, but with all of Apples technology, you have to see it to believe it. Also, just like the new Iphone, the Ipad has a camera in front and in the back. Making the Ipad perfect for Facetime, video recording, and even photobooth which makes the Ipad the smallest compatible computer.

What is the Ipad and Iphone without the applications? Just recently, on June 6, 2011, CEO Steve Jobs of Apple Inc. reveled their new software, Icloud, at the Keynote Address press event. Usually, at this event, Apple announces a new release of an Iphone, but instead, this June, their reveling their new software. The New Icloud technology synchronizes files, music over the internet. Amazon and Google have already tried to accomplish this, but licensing and property issues got in the way. Therefore, both companies’,Cloud software, only let a user upload music and share with those it chooses. Apples Icloud software will allow users to “scan and match” which scans a music library from a label and matches it with the music stored.

There are new apps for Iphones, that are launched almost everyday. Now, 350,000 apps later, you can basically accomplish everything you need to do on your Iphone or Ipad without even leaving your seat. Mint personal finance, Nike training club, and ImapmyRide are just some of the new apps for the Iphone. These applications are automatic finance managers, bike routing apps, and personal trainers. It is hard to find a company nowadays without an application for an Iphone or Ipad. Is Apple going too far? A lot of people are expecting technology to take away the ability of people to physically and emotionally connect. With any of apples technology, you can talk, see, and accomplish anything you need to do without actually doing it. Is this good or bad? That’s for you to decide. Apple Inc. somehow and someway will always advance their technology, get on the Apple train before you cannot catch up.

Image Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/acaben/

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