Come to MobileMe
by Gary Woods

Apple has a feature called MobileMe that allows you to backup your Email, Contacts and Calendar in what is euphemistically called the cloud. The cloud is just another term for the Internet but Apple's solution as with most other things is rather elegant. All of your data is not only stored on the net but that data is also automatically synchronized with not only your desktop computer and your laptop anytime you log into the internet but also your iPhone.

When you join MobileMe for the annual fee of $99 per year, you get a me.com email account that's always up to date. New messages are pushed to your iPhone or iPod touch automatically, and you're notified the instant they arrive. MobileMe constantly checks for new messages, so you don't have to. This push technology also applies to your contacts and calendar.

My favorite MobileMe feature is the new Find My iPhone. This feature allows you to log in to your MobileMe account from a web browser and view your phone's current location on a Google Map. You can also send a customizable message to the phone instantaneously alerting the hopefully kind soul that's standing in front of your iPhone.

If for some reason that kind soul doesn't respond you can remotely instruct the phone to wipe its contents. This command will clear out all data, including contacts, media and email accounts. The iPhone was cool before but now it can allow you and your corporate IT person to sleep better at night.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910