Buzz
Many iPhone, iPad users have the habit of syncing their devices with a computer or laptop, the emergence of iCloud service in 2011 has created quite a shock. No more synchronization? Does iCloud back up everything or just a few things? What about photos? And do apps like Facebook really need to be backed up on cloud services? iCloud Backup and iCloud Drive - what sets them apart? That's the question that iDevice users always ask until today.
What are the differences between iCloud Backup and iCloud Drive?
A few months ago, Apple also introduced iCloud Drive, a service providing users with more storage space. But is this a replacement for iCloud Backup? Or an extension? A completely separate service? If you upgrade your storage plan, will it provide you with more space for backups? The answer will be in Mytour's article below.
What is iCloud?
Many users are demanding an explanation of what iCloud is.
Apple's storage service, iCloud, differs from file-sharing services like Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive. Instead, iCloud backup on iPhone, iPad, iOS is used to back up much (but not all) of the data stored on your iDevice, syncing some (but not all) of your data across other devices.
Access Settings =>iCloud and you'll find more questions than answers:
In this example conducted on iPhone 6 Plus, iCloud Drive has been disabled. The Photos section is set to On, the question arises: where are the backed-up photos located? Mail, contacts, and some other core apps are also activated, but what does this signify?
Next is the Backup section. When you activate this, your device will store things like purchase history, device settings, app data (excluding apps), iMessage and text messages as well as conversations. What about photos and videos? Unless you've activated iCloud Photo Library beta, to store your photos and videos in iCloud.
“Purchase history” refers to what? According to Apple, “iCloud backup includes information about content you have purchased, not the content itself”. Movies, music, books, … will be automatically downloaded to the device if you restore from a backup.
You need an iCloud account to back up your data. If you don't have one, refer to the registration method introduced by Mytour earlier.
All MP3 music files ripped from CDs or videos copied from your computer are not backed up: “iCloud Backup does not back up music, movies, and TV shows you didn't purchase from the iTunes Store, or podcasts, audiobooks, or photos synced from your computer previously”.
So even if you pay to upgrade your storage plan and activate all backup options in Settings, you still won't get a complete backup.
What is iCloud Drive?
iCloud Drive is often seen as Apple's version of Dropbox. Essentially, it's a cloud-based storage service that allows your stored data to sync across different devices, including: computers, Macs, iPhones, iPads, … .
However, iCloud Drive doesn't operate like Dropbox or OneDrive, so you can't access (or organize) your file collection through Finder like on mobile devices. Instead, you can access it through specific apps like Photos, Pages, … .
Which iDevice backup option is the best
Formerly called syncing, it takes about 3 minutes to connect your iPhone, iPad to a computer or Mac, and then to perform the backup. Perform a backup once or twice a week to ensure your data is safe.
Although the steps may seem a bit complicated, it's still a good idea to ensure that everything, including data, photos, music, messages, etc., on your device is backed up. This is also the fastest solution to restore everything if you're using new devices or if old ones are lost or damaged.
If you want to purchase additional storage space for backup data, Apple's 20GB iCloud package costs $12/year. Or if you feel it's insufficient, you can opt for the 200GB package priced at $3.99/month (equivalent to $48/year).
Each backup method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose either iCloud Backup or iCloud Drive. Apple also provides additional detailed information about each method for users to make an informed decision.
Managing an iCloud account is not a simple matter. Once you've uploaded a lot of data to iCloud, you need a proper way to manage your iCloud account to avoid losing your important data.
Mytour has just clarified for you the difference between iCloud Backup and iCloud Drive. Are you currently using iCloud Backup or iCloud Drive? Share your thoughts with Mytour!
