Preparing for a Mac family

[Pantoot]

I got each of the kids an iMac, and we now own more idevices than I know what to do with. Right now I have everyone under the same apple store id so that all of the iphones and pads can share content. With the new imacs I am thinking that each kids should have their own icloud accounts, and I know that I am going to hit itunes' limit on number of desktop machines tied to an account.

Anyone know of any articles or have suggestions for the optimal way to set up a family under the iUmbrella?

4 people, each with their own desktop(or laptop) and ipad or iphone.

Thanks

 

[pukemon]

Mountain Lion Server for $20 might be something to consider to centralize management of multiple machines/devices.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Apple can set up a family account, with secondary accounts for kids that you can do parental control stuff, and not associate credit cards with.

Then you can associate all the porn and sexts with your Apple ID and there's no risk that your kids will get accidental Photo Stream updates with daddy's "Big Daddy."

 

[MotionMan]

Apple can set up a family account, with secondary accounts for kids that you can do parental control stuff, and not associate credit cards with.

Link?

MotionMan

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Link?

MotionMan

Dunno. I thought I read it somewhere, but can't find anything explicit like that now.

Everything on the googles says to use multiple accounts on each device, using a single on for app and music purchases (and setting up purchase allowances for the kids' devices) and then using individualized accounts for each device for other services (like iCloud.)

Maybe that's what they were talking about and I misunderstood.

 

[TheStu]

You can set up home sharing through a main iTunes library, and everything should be linked up that way, or use iTunes Match for that sort of thing.

Give each kid an AppleID, tied to a giftcard or something maybe?

 

[Pantoot]

You can set up home sharing through a main iTunes library, and everything should be linked up that way, or use iTunes Match for that sort of thing.

Give each kid an AppleID, tied to a giftcard or something maybe?

I thought about that, until I read:

Home Sharing requires all computers, iOS devices, and Apple TVs (2nd generation and 3rd generation) to use the same Apple ID.

 

[TheStu]

I thought about that, until I read:

Home Sharing requires all computers, iOS devices, and Apple TVs (2nd generation and 3rd generation) to use the same Apple ID.

You just log in with the ID and then they have access to the music and videos. I don't think that you have to stay logged in.

 

[boomhower]

This is where Apple falls apart. I also have two kids with iDevices. I don't want them on mine and have all of their kids junk on my account nor my stuff and theirs. They should have a way to set up a kids account under an adults. Since they have an age limit on the account you have to fudge with birthday to create their own. Heck it's hard to even get an email address set-up with the correct birthday for a minor.

I will give MS credit here. They have a nice set-up where you can set up your kids account under yours and control what content and services they have access too.

I ended up setting mine up with outlook email addresses and put gift cards on their Apple accounts with fake birthdays.

 

[ArJuN]

I setup a Windows server using iHomeServer to control iTunes. (I can't recommend iHomeServer enough.) It's one centralized library with everyone's media (associated with an iTunes account in my dog's name). I have Home Sharing turned on for that so it feeds all of the Apple TVs and Airport Expresses. Everyone has their own account on their computer. And then they all add the music/videos from the main library to theirs. Apps and all are purchased on the individual account. When someone wants to buy music/movies they just do it under the dog's account.