Mac Training Guide!

Here a step by step guide to get your MobileMe Account up and running in not time, We will check all the preferences needed to have this great service synchronize all our critical information, having your push data updated simultaneously in many location and devices, keeping a fresh backup, create gallery albums, move data to the iDisk and let others access it. This guide is intended to provide an easy to follow setup. If you want to know more about Apple MobileMe and how you can benefit using its features read:

What is MobileMe and how it works?

or visit Apple MobileMe website.

MobileMe

MobileMe is a service from Apple that helps you collect all your critical information, store it in a central server (cloud server) and get it delivered to all your previously subscribed devices. MobileMe synchronizes all your business and personal information over the air, instantly and without hassles. It’s ideal for people on the go that need to have access to their information every second. In this screen you must supply your USERNAME and PASSWORD you set at the MobileMe signing window.

Account

This is your Account Summary, it shows your account name, your account type, your Mail Storage and iDisk available space.

Sync

In the Sync area you specify what part of your system will be synchronize with your other devices, you select what applications to sync: Calendars, Bookmarks, Contacts, Safari preferences, System Preferences, Mail, Mail Rules Signatures and more. We can have our MobileMe account synchronized automatically, hourly, daily, weekly or manually.

iDisk

In this section you can monitor your iDisk available space, manage your iDisk public folder, let others access it to Read or to Read and Write, set password for you iDisk folder and turn on and off your iDisk synchronization.

Back to Mac

Here your files and screen shared with your other Back to Mac enabled Macs over the net.

Login to Me.com

Once you complete the setup process of MobileMe, you can access your account atme.com providing your Login Name and Password.

Mail

Your new email is up and running, you can access in the Me.com section, filter mails, separate your junk mail, create Mailboxes, something similar to Apple Mail. To have your Apple Mail and MobileMe mail synchronized you must select it first in your MobileMe’s Sync section at the System Preferences.

Contacts

Your synchronized Contacts information will be placed here, as promised all your Mac OS X Contacts are accessible via Me.com and your other devices. You can create and delete your Contacts Groups, import and export vCards. To have your Contacts synchronized you must select it first in your MobileMe’s Sync section at the System Preferences.

Calendars

In this section you access all your iCal Calendars, Tasks and Events. To have your Calendars synchronized you must select it first in your MobileMe’s Sync section at the System Preferences.

Gallery

Gallery section is where you share all your pictures, you can group by Albums allowing uploading and downloading via the iPhone/iPhod Touch or Via email, you can sync your Albums with iPhoto or Aperture.

iDisk

Have your files synchronized using iDisk backup features, access all your sites, backups and files using the Desktop iDisk icon on the sidebar, you can upload and download manually or via Applescript all your stuff to and from iDisk.

To have your Files synchronized and backup you must select it first in your MobileMe’s Sync section at the System Preferences.

Me.com Account Setup

The account area is used to setup all your Personal/Corporate information, passwords, storage, hosted domains and Secure Certificates.

Mobile Device Setup

Once you finished setting all your MobileMe Preferences, then you need to Setup your Mobile Devices Preferences (iPhone or iPod Touch).

First setup your iPhone Fetch New Data to Push in your iPhone or iPod Touch Settings, this will enable the synchronization between your Devices and the MobileMe service over the air. Go to iTunes, selec the Info tab and verify that the Calendars, Mail Accounts, Web Browser options are set to sync with MobileM. In the Mail Accounts section you can select all your email accounts to sync, notice that not messages are synced, only your account settings will be synced on your iPhone or iPod Touch using this setting.

MobileMe Windows Sync
We will provide a in deep guide on how to setup your Windows based iPhone – iPod Touch synced using Windows OS in a different post.

MobileMe is a service from Apple that helps you collect all your critical information, store it in a central server (cloud server) and get it delivered to all your previously subscribed devices. MobileMe synchronizes all your business and personal information over the air, instantly and without hassles. It’s ideal for people on the go that need to have access to their information every second.

MobileMe uses a both way sync or push, it delivers your mobile information to the cloud server and once received it updates all your home or office devices, keeping all points updated with fresh information. MobileMe interface is clean, easy to use, elegant and pleasant, a mature interface that offers an easy to use layout.

MobileMe up and Running

At this year WWDC (2008), Apple retooled the .mac service and renamed it as MobileMe, a syncronization service that will have all your devices updated simultaneaously. Your Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Gallery and iDisk will be on the Cloud for you to access them whenever and whererver you like it. And the syncronization is among multiple devices, your iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac and Windows PC, the most important thing about MobileMe is that it’s an ad-free service.

MobileMe Features:

Push Email

MobileMe Mail pushes new messages to your iPhone automatically and notifies you when they arrive. You’ll instant notification for new email. On your iPhone and iPod touch, it works with the built-in Mail application. It also works with Mail on a Mac and Outlook, Outlook Express, or Windows Mail on a PC. Emails are scanned for viruses.

Push Contacts

With MobileMe Contacts, you have all your address book information at your fingertips. Any change to your Contacts and automatically all your devices will be updated-synchronized, giving you more access and control of your information anytime and anywhere.

Push Mobile Gallery

Mobile Gallery provides a destination for your friends and family, you can upload photos from your computer or iPhone to your Gallery and invite people to visit, download and share their favorites, and even contribute their own. It provides fancy and animated views, mosaic, carousel or slideshow.

Push Calendar

MobileMe pushes your calendar information to your iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, and PC. So you always know where you need to be and when you need to be there. You can make changes on one device and MobileMe automatically updates all your other devices, it works with iCal on a Mac and Outlook on Windows PC.

iDisk

MobileMe provides a virtual disk accessible from anywhere and with every browser on the market, it comes with a 20GB combined email and file storage and can be accessed from your Mac OS X Finder. iDisk is the easier and more reliable way to transport your office or personal files and access them on the road.

Prices and Availabilities

MobileMe is said to be up and running today and can be accessed from Mac and Windows computers with any browser, this technology is ready to use with your iphone and ipod touch too and there is not news about support for other mobile devices. MobileMe is a subscription based service with a price of $99 a year for indivual use with a 20GB of combined email and file storage, 200GB of monthly bandwidth and $149 for a Family Pack (4 members) with 5GB of combined email and file storage, and 50GB of monthly data transfer for each member.

Third parties support is unknown and virus or any thread is under Apple control, but the price could be a roadblock for some mac users that were expecting a cheaper price for the service.

Images courtesy of Apple. Used for editorial purpose only.