iCloud may be the future of synchronization between Apple’s devices, but for users with a mix of old and new Macs the future might just have to wait. Macs running Tiger, Leopard, or Snow Leopard can’t utilize many of the features iCloud has to offer. If a user migrates their account from MobileMe to iCloud, Macs running these older operating systems will be unable to sync contacts, calendars, or Safari bookmarks between themselves or with Macs running Lion. In addition migrating to iCloud from MobileMe means losing the ability to sync Dashboard widgets, Keychains, Dock items, System Preferences, and data from third-party Mac apps that integrate with MobileMe[1]. If syncing these types of data is important you, or if you have older Macs around you need to keep in sync, you may want to wait on migrating your MobileMe account to iCloud.

The MobileMe Preference Pane has been replaced with iCloud on computers running Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2, but that does not mean users running Apple’s latest desktop operating system must migrate to iCloud. Hidden inside the System folder’s Preference Panes directory the old MobileMe functionality can still be found. You can access it by invoking this terminal command.

open /System/Library/PreferencePanes/MobileMe.prefPane

You will now see the MobileMe Preference Pane sitting right beside the Mail, Contacts & Calendars icon in Lion’s System Preferences. This trick will allow you to continue using MobileMe in the latest version of Apple’s Lion operating system until you migrate to iCloud or MobileMe is discontinued on June 30th, 2012. For more information about migrating from MobileMe to iCLoud check out Serenity Caldwell’s article on Macworld.