Apple’s iCloud lets you sync and store data across all your devices, so you can access what you need, where you need it, when you need it!
 
iCloud is a ‘cloud-based storage service’, which means that information is stored securely on a remote computer, known as a ‘cloud server’, rather than locally (on your computer, iPhone or iPad).
 
You can use iCloud to store pictures, music, documents and folders across all your Apple devices – iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac – as well as syncing your emails, contacts, calendars, etc using one Apple ID. You can also access the information from any internet-connected device – even Windows PCs.
 
iCloud is free – at it’s most basic level. However, you will probably find the 5GB limit insufficient if you wish to store significant numbers of photos, videos or other large documents. But the good news is that iCloud storage is relatively cheap! At the time of writing, 50GB costs £0.79 per month, 200GB is £2.49 and 2TB is £6.99 (50GB will usually be sufficient for the ‘average’ user).
 
For further pricing information, please see: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201238
 
In order to set up iCloud, you’ll first need an Apple ID. You may also need to update the OS on your device to the most recent version.
 
Once set up, iCloud works quietly in the background, seamlessly syncing calendar events, photos and contact details across all your Apple devices.
 
If you would like some help setting up iCloud across all your Apple devices, contact us at Blue Apple Systems, and we will be happy to help.

We all know that Apple Macs are the best computers money can buy. But the best costs! And businesses can’t always afford the equipment they really need. Leasing Apple Mac desktops and laptops is an affordable way to get the equipment you need, without any upfront expense – you don’t even have to pay a deposit – AND the taxman effectively foots the bill!

Here are 4 reasons why leasing your Apple Mac equipment makes sense:

1. Leasing doesn’t tie up your capital.

You can of course buy your Apple Mac technology outright. But most businesses have plenty of other demands on their cash flow.

And when you’re buying outright, you are often restricted by a budget, meaning you can’t always afford the higher specification equipment that you really need.

Spreading the cost with leasing makes sense financially.


2. The taxman is paying!

The cost of leasing an asset is deductible as a business expense, so this can reduce your overall tax bill – the taxman is effectively paying the bill.

Unless of course you don’t pay tax. But in that case, cash flow is going to be an issue, and you probably don’t want to be making any major capital outlays at a time when your business needs support in other areas.

Spreading the cost with monthly payments eases pressure on your cash flow.


3. You can afford better equipment

In an ideal world you would plan ahead, getting the very best Apple Macs to ‘future proof’ your IT requirements for the next two to three years, rather than simply buying what’s adequate now or what you can afford at the time.

With leasing, you can afford to get what you really need – both for now and in the future.


4. You can upgrade to new equipment before the end of the lease

When you buy your equipment outright, you get to keep it. But do you really want to? Computers quickly become outdated, depreciate rapidly and need to be disposed of carefully and securely (to avoid data breaches).

When you lease your IT equipment, you have the flexibility to upgrade any time after 18 months – usually with an overall reduction in the lease price – meaning you always stay up to date.

If you’d like to know more about leasing your Apple Mac equipment from Blue Apple Systems, just give us a ring on 01403 753666 or email Richard@b-apple.co.uk

We’ve all been there. You sit down with a drink, open your Mac and settle down to go through your emails. Then all hell breaks loose as your drink is knocked over and the contents go everywhere!!!
 
First things first:

1. Breathe...
2. If the Mac was turned off at the time of the spillage, DO NOT TURN IT ON! (Not even ‘just to check if it’s still working’ - many a Mac has been lost, that could have been saved, because the user turned it on after a spillage).
3. If it was already turned on, then you need to turn it off. But this has to be done carefully – you don’t want to get an electric shock! Disconnect the laptop from the power, then press and hold down the power button until it powers down (if you have a pen or pencil handy, use this rather than your finger, as it won’t conduct electricity).
4. Next turn the laptop upside down in an attempt to drain the liquid out.
5. Once the liquid has drained off, use some absorbent cloth to dab the exterior of your Mac dry.
6. Bring it in to Blue Apple Systems where we can assess the damage for you and let you know if a) your Mac is salvageable and b) whether your data can be recovered.

Approximately 80% of Macs brought in to us with liquid damage are fully recoverable. But time is of the essence - the speed of corrosion of the internal components can be rapid, so don't delay!

​You get home after a hard day’s work, flop onto the sofa with a cup of tea, and open up your Mac. You wait patiently….nothing happens. Mmm… You check the charger, the plug socket, press the start-up button again. Zilch! Mild panic starts to set in.
 
Then you remember your local IT guys at Blue Apple Systems – phew! Everything’s going to be fine. Next morning you make a quick phone call and pop down to Alfold to see Richard, pass him your precious laptop, confident that all will be sorted in a jiffy.
 
Then the question: “You do have a back-up of this machine, don’t you?” “Erm… well… I keep meaning to, but... It will still be okay, won’t it?”
 
Your life flashes before your eyes – wedding photos… kids’ birthday parties… years’ worth of company accounts... ARGHHHHHH!!!!
 
So – let’s talk about back-ups!

​External Wi-fi Drive
 
A second option is an external wi-fi back-up drive (such as Apple Time Capsule). Once set up on your network, the system will back-up your files automatically. Sounds great! However, such systems can be notoriously unreliable, and you won’t necessarily know that the back-ups have stopped working until it’s too late and you really NEED the back-up… not so great!

​This solution is not expensive, with hardware starting from around £60 to £70, and we can talk you through the process, show you how to use it, and offer on-going support as and when required.
 
If you would like to know more about a reliable back-up solution for your Mac, please contact Richard on 01403 753666 or Richard@b-apple.co.uk. We look forwards to hearing from you!