Computers were cool and all, but until the early 1980s, my only experience with one was our Pong console. Pictures were taken with a camera that you had to load with film, and then you had to have the film developed before you could see that you’d cut off the top of your subject’s head or that he was nearly out of the frame entirely. Calendars were something you hung on the wall and reminders and shopping lists were kept in clunky notebooks or planners. And music was something you could typically listen to only on fuzzy-sounding radios or on vinyl albums that emitted as much hiss as they did tunes. And don’t get me started on the heady days when we transitioned from 8-track to cassette tapes — as someone once put it, “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”
As I said, things are different now. Everything I just mentioned can now be done with a small device you can hold in the palm of your hands. Smartphones have evolved from the aforementioned handset tethered to the wall to become one of the most important tools you own. That little rectangle makes phone calls and plays music with pristine clarity. You can get the news or read magazines on it almost instantaneously. You can take stunning snapshots on a whim and share, delete, or edit them in seconds. Calendar events and reminders pop up to keep you on top of your daily activities and responsibilities. Maybe you even use your smartphone to perform your job from just about anywhere — there's no need to lug your desk along, either.
Apple is one of the companies at the forefront of these cultural upheavals. The “fruit company” that made money one less thing Forrest Gump had to worry about has arguably become the most recognizable technology brand on the planet. At first, computers drove the bottom line at Apple. Next, the iPhone and iPad had the world welcoming their sleek products into their homes and hearts. Apple then got the groovy notion that they could provide services to folks who use their devices — services such as email, cloud-based storage, productivity apps, top-notch journalism, favorite songs, movies, and TV shows, and even exercise instruction. What the heck? Let’s throw video games into the mix, too!
And guess what happened? These services became popular — HUGELY so. So huge that they are now Apple’s second largest revenue stream, second only to the venerable iPhone, and accounting for about 20 percent of Apple’s annual income. Up until now, Apple offered these services — Music, TV+, Arcade, News+, Fitness+, and iCloud — as standalone products. Now, however, they are bundled together under the moniker Apple One. You can subscribe to Apple One at a substantially lower price than if you subscribed to each product individually.
That’s where this book comes in.
About This Book
Apple One For Dummies introduces you to the Apple One ecosystem. I tell you what Apple One is, how to get it, and how it works. I discuss each of the six services included in Apple One and show you how to take advantage of all they offer, using whatever Apple device you might use for your Apple content. I even help users of non-Apple devices learn how to access Apple One products — no discrimination here. If your product supports an Apple One service, I tell you how to access and use it.
I’ve written this tome in such a way that you can either read it cover to cover or, if the fancy strikes you, skip around to topics that most interest you. Dummies books are famous for their organization, information, and levity, and I strove to bring these qualities to this book as well.
Some items in the book, such as sidebars and Technical Stuff, are simply there because I thought they were cool to know about. Just because I like them or find them interesting doesn’t mean they’ll be your cup of tea, so feel free to bypass them or revisit them at a later date, if you prefer.
You’ll find a slew of URLs (web page addresses) that you can use to further check out the services I discuss and learn more about them. All of these URLs worked at the time of this writing, but they can change as often as a politician’s opinion.
Foolish Assumptions
You rightly picked up this volume with the expectation that I, the author, had something valuable to impart regarding Apple One. However, for you to take full advantage of my expertise, I must assume a few things about your technical acumen, too.
For example, because Apple One is entirely Internet based, I must assume that you know what the Internet is. If you have no idea what I mean by the term, you might lose interest quickly as you continue reading.
Another assumption I must make is that you use at least one Apple device in your day-to-day activities. Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches are all Apple devices that will grant you purchase into the world of Apple services. Without at least one of these (preferably more), your foray into Apple One will be limited at best.
I assume you know how to successfully operate your device. If you’re a seasoned user of computers, smartphones, and tablets, you should be fine, even if you’re new to Apple devices. However, if the aforementioned devices are entirely foreign to you, I suggest checking out a Dummies title that caters to the device(s) in question before proceeding with this book.
I must also assume that you’re familiar with web browsers, which are generally considered the main way to access the wonderful (and sometimes the not-so-wonderful) things the Internet has to offer. Understanding how to navigate a website and enter a URL are basics you’ll want to be familiar with.
Icons Used in This Book
From time to time, you’ll see one of the following icons, which will help you discern the type of topic I’m discussing.
Beyond the Book
In addition to what you’re reading right now, this book comes with an access-anywhere cheat sheet that provides information on how to get the most out of Siri on your Apple TV remote, as well as which browsers will give you the best experience with iCloud.com. To get the cheat sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for Apple One For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
I’ve written this book with the intention that you, dear reader, would be able to approach Apple One either in the order that I’ve presented here or in any order you desire. No rule demands that you read this