mobileme.

welcome to cloud computing. cloud computing is seen by many as the way we will use computers in the near future. no longer will software applications be housed on a computer's hard drive. instead, programs will be housed & accessed online through a web browser. mobileme is a service provided by apple that houses several web applications, online backup storage, wireless synchronization, & many other features. this service stores information in a "cloud" & pushes the information to your cell phone, computer, or online portal. the service costs $99 a year & it can be a teacher's best friend.

as a classroom teacher, i used mobileme on a daily basis. with its online storage feature, my entire curriculum was housed online & accessible by any computer with an internet connection. mobileme allowed me to publish my class website, built with iweb, in only one click. the service also kept me organized, as my iphone's calendar & contacts immediately & wirelessly sync with my macbook & my online portal.

many of mobileme's features can be found online for free. google, for example, provides wireless synchronization of calendars, but the fact that mobileme flawlessly combines so many excellent features, makes it worth the annual fee. also, there are features provided by mobileme that you cannot get for free anywhere. web hosting & the idisk are excellent examples. this is one tool that is truly worth its cost.

final verdict.
mobileme provides a bevy of services to the user. teachers will make most frequent use of web publishing, online storage, & wireless synchronization, but there is so much more. mobileme will also provide a web gallery, iphone security features, & automatic disk backup. users can sign up for a free 30 day trial. most will continue to pay, because the service is excellent.