iCloud questions re: multiple iDevices

[MotionMan]

My family has 4 iDevices. Is it correct that I need to set up a different iCloud account for each of them for syncing and backup as stated in this article?

MotionMan

 

[Lotheron]

Yup.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4895

Using one Apple ID for iCloud and a different Apple ID for Store Purchases

You can use different Apple IDs for iCloud and store purchases and still get all of the benefits of iCloud. Just follow these steps:

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:


When you first set up your iOS 5 device, enter the Apple ID you want to use with iCloud.
If you skipped the setup assistant, sign in to Settings > iCloud and enter the Apple ID you’d like to use with iCloud.

In Settings > Store, sign in with the Apple ID you want to use for store purchases (including iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match). You may need to sign out first to change the Apple ID.


Mac:

Enter the Apple ID you want to use for iCloud in Apple (&#63743 menu > System Preferences > iCloud.
Enter the Apple ID you want to use for store purchases (including iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match) in iTunes > iTunes Store


PC:

Enter the Apple ID you want to use for iCloud in Control Panel > Network > Internet > iCloud.
Enter the Apple ID you want to use for store purchases (including iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match) in iTunes > iTunes Store.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Is it still possible to photostream to different icloud accounts? I currently have 4 devices: iPad 2, MBP and 2 iPhone 4Ss. The iPad and a 4s are going to be used by my wife and the other 2 are mine.

Right now her iPad has all my contacts on it which was updated by icloud. I don't want her contacts on my devices. I guess I could just not have the contacts synched.

What are you guys doing?

 

[MotionMan]

So I set up a different iCloud account for each iDevice and they each get their own backup on iCloud. I believe they all still sync to iTunes as before (or through wifi), right?

Do I need a different iCloud account for my 4 Macs, too (when I eventually put Lion on all of them)?

I need a flow chart: "iOS5, Lion, iTunes, iCloud and the multi-Mac and iDevice family".

MotionMan

 

[Lotheron]

Did you guys NOT read what I posted??!?1

You can use different Apple IDs for iCloud and store purchases and still get all of the benefits of iCloud.

So, if you want a device to have a unique iCloud, give it a unique Apple ID, if you want it shared with another or more than another device, use the same AppleID on those devices.

All devices can share the same purchase AppleID to get the benefits of only one account for purchases.

 

[MotionMan]

Did you guys NOT read what I posted??!?1



So, if you want a device to have a unique iCloud, give it a unique Apple ID, if you want it shared with another or more than another device, use the same AppleID on those devices.

All devices can share the same purchase AppleID to get the benefits of only one account for purchases.

What do you do if you want to share some things, but not everything, between iDevices?

MotionMan

 

[Lotheron]

What do you do if you want to share some things, but not everything, between iDevices?

MotionMan

I'm pretty sure it's all or nothing.

or Dropbox..

 

[MotionMan]

I'm pretty sure it's all or nothing.

So, does each iDevice overwrite the prior backup?

MotionMan

 

[Lotheron]

If you have access to the computer that you synced to, I don't believe so.

If you don't, the best you can do is save apps. (Authorize computer, transfer purchases, upgrade).

Pictures will not be deleted in my experience.

Do a backup on each device for peace of mind.

If you haven't updated, the process goes backup-upgrade ios-restore, just like before. Although it's different than I remember.

The good thing about ios5 is that this should be the last time you have to update using a computer.

 

[MotionMan]

I finally wrapped my head around that your iTunes account and your iCloud account are not linked.

iTunes is for buying things. iCloud is for backup.

I am finally figuring this out. I think I may actually want all my iDevices on the same iCloud account. Time will tell.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Riddle me this.

I do not have Lion on my Macs yet, so I am not sure of some things. Through iCloud, all my contacts on my Macs and my iDevices will be synced with each other, correct?

MotionMan

 

[akshatp]

Riddle me this.

I do not have Lion on my Macs yet, so I am not sure of some things. Through iCloud, all my contacts on my Macs and my iDevices will be synced with each other, correct?

MotionMan

As long as you have iCloud set up to sync Contacts on each of the devices you want synced, then your answer would be yes.

 

[MotionMan]

As long as you have iCloud set up to sync Contacts on each of the devices you want synced, then your answer would be yes.

I am making interesting progress: I only duplicated my entire contact list on iCloud three times.



MotionMan

 

[akshatp]

I am making interesting progress: I only duplicated my entire contact list on iCloud three times.



MotionMan

LOL. You can go for four next week once you get your 3GS

 

[MotionMan]

LOL. You can go for four next week once you get your 3GS

Don't I know it.

So have been having fun/making a mess of things trying to figure things out. Apparently, I can log into a single AppleID for "Find My iPhone", but use multiple AppleIDs for "Find My Friend".

I still have not figured out if I can reasonably use one AppleID for iCloud or if I should use separate ones for my iDevices. When I upgrade all my Macs to Lion, maybe I will have 8 copies of my Contacts on iCloud!

(Looking at the iCloud website, it looks like the only thing I would want to use there is Contacts and Find My iPhone. I use mail via IMAP (Does Apple own iMap?) and Calendar via Google, so those are already "in the cloud". Eventually, iTunes Match will be in the mix. I cannot wait to screw that up, too.)

MotionMan