Apple Revamps .Mac: Mobile Me Announced

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

As rumored, Apple has announced Mobile Me, described by Apple Vice President for product marketing Phil Schiller as "Exchange for the rest of us."

Not all of us work in an enterprise... Not all of us have access to an exchange server. Now with Mobile Me, we all can have access to those features. [...] Mobile Me is Exchange for the rest of us. --Phil Schiller

Features
- Push Email, calendar, and contacts
- Synchronization between iPhone, Mac and PC (Outlook for Windows integration)
- "Desktop-like" Web Applications for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, photo gallery, and iDisk online storage.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/06/09/142059-f1213035363_300.jpg



Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/09/apple-revamps-mac-mobile-me-announced/)

[stoid]

I don't like the name, but the service looks awesome!

[davidwarren]

still $99?!?

[ajd10720]

Anybody have any idead about when it will be released:rolleyes:

[aristobrat]

still $99?!?
If you want to pay full retail, I guess. I'm sure you can get it on eBay and Amazon for the usual $20-$30 off.

Anybody have any idead about when it will be released:rolleyes:
None of the live blogs mentioned it, so I guess Phil never said when?

[southerndoc]

I also like the service idea, but hate the name. It really is a tacky name.

Here's hoping that Apple will continue to allow our email to be addressed as username@mac.com instead of username@me.com or username@mobileme.com.

[ajd10720]

I also like the service idea, but hate the name. It really is a tacky name.

Here's hoping that Apple will continue to allow our email to be addressed as username@mac.com instead of username@me.com or username@mobileme.com.
Interesting, Personaly @mac is a lot better been typing it for so long now:rolleyes:

[twoodcc]

can't wait to start using this!

[.mark.]

big question now is when!!

[AGSHender]

Make it like Google Apps where I can use my own domain name for everything, and I'm in. Otherwise, I'm setting up a forwarder on my domain's email like would with any of Google's (free) services.

[dam0dred]

Looks fantastic. As a .Mac user this is long overdue and appreciated. Can't wait.

[aafuss1]

Hope Multi-Edit, inc and other companies (such as our mobile me) would have licensed the name to Apple.

[mogzieee]

Theres a logo

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119422&d=1213038029

[southerndoc]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

[ortuno2k]

As an existing .Mac subscriber, I'm very excited to hear this.
July can't come fast enough! :)
Overall, I think the presentation was great but lacked a little more info besides iPhone stuff...ie: Leopard.
But overall, pretty satisfied :p

[Orng]

Theres a logo

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119422&d=1213038029

Shame about the logo, I know it's supposed to represent The Cloud, but it just likes like a hello kitty cloud or something that escaped from a tamagotchi.

Like the new services though, I'll use them even if I do have to go back to putting my own domain addy in the Reply To field

[Trooperof3]

as excited as I am.. I still was hoping for a nod towards Iweb, having some online blogging deal thing..

[Gogf]

So do we get push email if we don't spring for a new iphone or pay $99 for 10gb of email storage?

[all-in-my-head]

States on the apple MobileMe page that current .mac members can choose to stick with @mac or change to @me

S

[coolfactor]

I like the idea that .Mac has been rebuilt from the ground-up. It can be harder to re-architect an existing system while it's being used by thousands of people at all hours of the day.

We will definitely get to keep our @mac.com addresses, but I'm wondering if we will have the option of using @me.com addresses, as well.

I was hoping MobileMe was going to be even more, rather than a feature-for-feature replacement. I was hoping it was going to become another developer platform.... widgets and online applications for 3rd parties, for example.

If they extended Xcode to support web development -- wow, think of the online apps that could be created. Dreaming...

[mogzieee]

.Mac page is now updated

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119428&d=1213038616

[AGSHender]

So do we get push email if we don't spring for a new iphone or pay $99 for 10gb of email storage?

Depends on your email provider. Exchange users get push email, MobileMe users get push email, but if you're using regular POP3 or IMAP, no push email. There is an IMAP standard for push email, but so few providers use it it's pretty much non-existent.

[bretm]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

What makes you think you'd lose your email address? It's a minor thing for them to keep that running. All they have to do is own mac.com. They do and they will.

Remember mindspring? They bought Earthlink, but then took on the Earthlink name. Nobody was denied keeping their mindspring.com address and they still have them today.

I doubt mac.com email will go away. That's one of the main reasons people don't leave a service, even if they're unhappy with it. They don't want to notify the planet of their new email. I don't think Apple would risk people using this opportunity to switch to a free service.

[Rend It]

For current .Mac users:

Can keep @mac.com or use @me.com

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/migrating/

(most) Everything you'd want to know. :)

[Orng]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

done, thanks

[johnmcboston]

As an existing .Mac subscriber, I'm very excited to hear this.

As an existing .mac subscriber, I'm just confused. :) If I have no mobile device, what do I get? Same ol? less?

[Dimwhit]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

They said in the address that users could use their existing .Mac address and services.

[superduperjacob]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

Or ... just go to store.apple.com and have a look under MobileMe:
"You can choose to keep your current email address at mac.com or switch to a me.com address."

[TheRick]

Sweet. Looks like bookmarks get synced over the air too!

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/features/iphone.html

[Jesus]

To quote:

Your email address at me.com or mac.com.

As a MobileMe subscriber, you can still use your email address at mac.com. You’ll also get a new address at me.com with your user name. Use whichever one you like.

[JW008]

Is anyone else ordering a .Mac code from Amazon now in case the price goes up when they change it to MobileMe??

[Satori]

This looks like a pretty useful upgrade.:)

20 gig storage (doubled!) and tight iphone intergration. Now it looks good value for the subscription.

[aLoC]

Seems like .Mac but with the emphasis shifting to the syncing capabilities. I guess the backup service is discontinued? And what about the web hosting?

[Le Big Mac]

Is anyone else ordering a .Mac code from Amazon now in case the price goes up when they change it to MobileMe??

The prices are the same:

$99-single
$149-family

At least at the Apple Store. Why would Amazon's discounts change ($69/125)?

[themanfromvlad]

$99 is weak sauce.

[jrr]

Is it just me (ha) or does the 'me' in Mobile Me look very similar to the 'me' in Windows ME?

[dblissmn]

Any changes in bandwidth? Any support for Dreamweaver templates or are you still stuck with iWeb?

[shecky]

i think it looks fantastic. my big questions (which are probably on apple.com somewhere):

-is there a limit to how many devices data will push to? i am thinking of getting a single account for my partner and i for the studio, and having address book and calendars sync across 2 iphone and 3 computers. right now we use BusySync to share iCal - this would solve that.

-email is only thru a me.com address, so i cannot use existing email addys from my own domain?

[Zoboomafoo]

the real question is, when do i get to reserve email addresses for @me.com?

[djh]

I am happy with the new service. Wouldn't say I am over the moon. They are things people have been wanting/needing for ages.

But what I am overjoyed about (and it is something apple does very well) is the seamless integrating of the services and devices.

The increase to 20 Gig is good. Though, I don't use much of my existing 10 gig.
Odd that the Backup program was not mentioned. But it is pretty poor anyway.
Happy I can stick with @mac.com
I think the icon for the iDisk is really ugly and they should of stuck with a variant of the previous one.

[aprilfools]

It is a good thing for Apple’s sake they they have “allowed us” to keep our .mac email address. If this was not the case, I would have all my clients (as well as myself) that I have set-up with .mac accounts immediately cancel membership and I would investigate other options elsewhere. I think Mobile Me is the absolute stupidest sounding name on the face of this planet. What’s’ even more amazing is that at Apple Execs get paid big $$ to come up with pathetic names like this Mobile Me! Hello Apple anybody home?

[Peace]

I cant believe Apple has the guts to use that ugly "me" logo.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1932

everything you ever wanted to know about me.

[mogzieee]

This is the only thing about Mac in the WHOLE of that keynote. Waste of my two hours if you ask me...

[Small White Car]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

Cool, now we have a list of people who can't read websites.

I'm sure we'll find a use for that someday.

In the meantime, I'm glad they're letting us change them if we want to. I always hated the .Mac name. People think I work for Apple or something. It would be neat if I did, but I don't, so giving that impression is stupid. I'm a .Mac subscriber and I've never used the e-mail before. I might start, now.

[Prof.]

I only use .Mac for email so I highly doubt I'll be using the new "Me" service at all.

Also, for you professionals out there, emailaddress@mac.com sounds more professional than emailaddress@me.com, IMO.

[w8ing4intelmacs]

I have a dotmac family pack that i haven't opened or activated yet. I'm planning to wait and just use it with MobileMe.

Good plan? or are there some concerns I should have?

[JW008]

The prices are the same:

$99-single
$149-family

At least at the Apple Store. Why would Amazon's discounts change ($69/125)?

Hopefully they won't, but mine's up the first of August and I might as well order now--I was going to do it within the next few weeks anyway.

I can't see any reason why they would change--but no reason in taking the risk that they might.

[Peace]

For those that dont click on links ..


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1932

Read it!!

[tibi08]

If it was half the price I'd buy it - and I'm sure a lot of others would too.

[citi]

Does mobile me sync calendars like google on the fly? That's what I am waiting for. I sync 3 google calendars to Ical and then I can sync my touch with all the entries. I wonder if it will allow it.

[sanford]

This seems like the biggest non-screwing known to man. It can't be right. .mac migrates to .me, for free, doubles storage, adds push, keeps web sites, galleries and all the other .mac stuff. You can use your .mac address or your .me address, so you have to change nothing.

Hmm. You get the full features of the new iPhone in iPhone software 2.0, save real (rather than triangulated "fake") GPS and 3G, which are hardware things, and the price break, which is an early adopter thing and if you don't expect tech prices to plunge in a year, you don't know anything about tech prices. Total App Store functionality, etc. And I get to keep my metal iPhone, which I prefer, even at the cost of 3G and "real".

See, Apple usually does pretty well by their existing customers, but they do always tend to arm-twist you to upgrade with one or two carrots held ou. The final 3G iPhone roll out has to be the result of a down economy. If you don't give your current installed base and subscribers (.Mac) everything the new product and subscription service (MobileMe) can do -- save hardware issues they can't do anything about (3G, real GPS) -- your customer base only becomes a handful of people you can sell new hardware to. Who are fewer than would be, because they just watched the owners of the original model get the shaft and know in about 10 months, they're going to get the shaft, too. And original model owners will stick with their units and subscription service only as long as they must, or until they can find an alternative, and then they're gone and won't come back.

Good move on Apple's part, reading the market, realizing they'll clean up on app sales via the App Store, and on .Mac (now MobileMe) sign-ups and renewals, by making iPhone first gen and second gen the same platform with only a couple minor differences, really as insignificant as the difference between an 802.11g MacBook and 802.11n MacBook with a small processor speed bump. They're both still essentially the same MacBook, just like the iPhones.

For current .Mac users:

Can keep @mac.com or use @me.com

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/migrating/

(most) Everything you'd want to know. :)

[felixkunze]

I wonder why me.com is still redirecting to snapville.com. I thought Phil told everyone to go to me.com during the keynote.

[Achiever]

I HATE the name and logo and don't need much of the new functionality as I do not have, and have no intention of getting, an iPhone. The change in the service is a great disappointment to users like me (ie no iPhone) as it adds features I have no need for, while still "validating" the consistency in the $99 price. It this doesn't do my basic iDisk syncing faster and more reliably, then it is just 2 steps back with no added value for my needs.

Unfortunately, the iPhone looks to now be an "in-your-face" part of my Mac-using life whether I like it or not. Bad times......

EDIT: Double boo for no public peak at Snow Leopard.

[KevanDual2.5]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

Might be worth reading up on things before launching a spamming attack on Apple.

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/migrating/

.Mac addresses remain.

[notnek]

States on the apple MobileMe page that current .mac members can choose to stick with @mac or change to @me

S

The site says you get both, @mac.com and @.me.com. You can user whichever, whenever.

[wrldwzrd89]

Meh @ the new name (I still think it's incredibly dumb). Why discontinue online viewing of bookmarks? That is dumb... and, since I don't use any of the services anymore, anyway... I will be discontinuing my membership once it expires.

[AGSHender]

I only use .Mac for email so I highly doubt I'll be using the new "Me" service at all.

Also, for you professionals out there, emailaddress@mac.com sounds more professional than emailaddress@me.com, IMO.

I might strongly also add for you professionals out there, emailaddress@<yourdomainname>.com sounds more professional than emailaddress@mac.com.

[KevanDual2.5]

the real question is, when do i get to reserve email addresses for @me.com?

There will be a rush for email addresses....

Think about it..

look@me.com

areyoulooking@me.com

donotshout@me.com

shout@me.com

anyone else care to add some???

[stephenmckeague]

Email *restrictions* to apple approved domains when you pay $99 for the privilege= fail

[AGSHender]

There will be a rush for email addresses....

Think about it..

areyoulooking@me.com



youmustbelooking@me.com

Because I'm the only one here.

[superleccy]

-email is only thru a me.com address, so i cannot use existing email addys from my own domain?

I'd also like to know.

I have 3 POP email addresses on a .co.uk domain. Dunno if my provider supports IMAP. I don't want to use a @mac or @me address. Is there any way that Mobile Me can enhance my email experience?

SL

[AGSHender]

Email *restrictions* to apple approved domains when you pay $99 for the privilege= fail

Kinda my thoughts, too. If Apple had introduced it as a service for both home users as well as for businesses and allowed them to use their own domain name like Google Apps, I have a feeling they'd have additional interest. They're poising the iPhone as an Enterprise device and introducing all sorts of syncing capabilities with hosted services, but nothing for small businesses.

[gazfocus]

I wonder why me.com is still redirecting to snapville.com. I thought Phil told everyone to go to me.com during the keynote.

www.me.com now redirects to Apple's MobileMe

[cecemf]

Where is gone BACK TO MY MAC !!!!!!

[Peace]

The selling point is the integration with the iPhone and Outlook on the PC.

[tibi08]

I'd also like to know.

I have 3 POP email addresses on a .co.uk domain. Dunno if my provider supports IMAP. I don't want to use a @mac or @me address. Is there any way that Mobile Me can enhance my email experience?

SL

Interesting. After reading the pages on the Apple site, I assumed it would fetch email from your POP3 addresses and push them to you. But perhaps not, it certainly doesn't say so. And imagine Apple constantly checking pop3 accounts of millions of people - unlikely?

[yoppie]

I might have to sign up for .Mac soon so I can get the .mac e-mail address instead of .me

[odo]

Where is gone BACK TO MY MAC !!!!!!

Quoted for agreement!!

And what about that logo. Reminds me of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Windows_Me_logo_transparent.png

yukkk!

[Orng]

the real question is, when do i get to reserve email addresses for @me.com?

Go get a mac.com free trial account right now, before the possible rush. You'll be automagically updated (cross-dated?) to me.com in july, then you have both.
If you wait, you might not get your preferred username.

That's the closest you'll get to reserving. They'll keep your username for you even if you let the trial expire; at least, they did for dotMac, not sure if they'll change that for me.com


Does mobile me sync calendars like google on the fly? That's what I am waiting for. I sync 3 google calendars to Ical and then I can sync my touch with all the entries. I wonder if it will allow it.

Seriously, try Nemus Sync on your jailbroken iPod Touch to sync your Google calendars (both ways) OTA without having to wait for july for MobileMe. You won't be disappointed.

Until a week or two ago i was synching Google cal to iCal then to my Touch, like you, but Nemus is way better for now. MobileMe might be better still, but give Nemus a go for the next month or so.

edit: NemusSync Review (sync_google_calendar_and_iphone_over_the_air_with_nemussync)

[Diode]

Interesting iTunes 7.7 Required for this service as well.

[Morod]

Does mobile me sync calendars like google on the fly? That's what I am waiting for. I sync 3 google calendars to Ical and then I can sync my touch with all the entries. I wonder if it will allow it.

Yes. It syncs iCal, Mail, Contacts (Address Book), and maybe others. Those are the apps I remember that sync.
Morod

[stagi]

Looks better than the current .mac I am paying for, can't wait to try it out.

[varscsak]

The real question for me is, does it work BETTER than .mac. I love the .Mac concept, but it was really spotty...they really need to beef up redundancy and bandwidth to make this a solid product.

Time will tell.

-Lon

[Diode]

the real question is, when do i get to reserve email addresses for @me.com?

You can still sign up for 60-day trial of .mac so do it that way. Just did for myself...

[VoodooDaddy]

I have a dotmac family pack that i haven't opened or activated yet. I'm planning to wait and just use it with MobileMe.

Good plan? or are there some concerns I should have?

Im in the same boat. Have a family pack that I got for $90 when CompUSA went under. My current sub still has 64 days on it. Can I go ahead and activate the new .mac? Will it just add 365 days onto the exsisting 64 or will it start day 1 today? Dont want to lose 2 months of service by doing it today. But also dont want to wait until the .me thing launches then hear the old .mac boxes are worthless.

[KindredMAC]

Everyone who wants to keep their mac.com email address as is should make sure your voice is heard by Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html

Wow, can't believe how many people won't go look at the Apple website and click on MobileMe first to see that you CAN keep your .Mac email name as well as gain a new .me email address.

I wasn't too happy about this either but I looked up my facts before posting a rant. I think .me is a horribly childish and self centered thing but hey, I get double the space now and can keep my .mac name.

[aprilfools]

I totally agree with you 100%. I am so absolutely tired of Apple cramming down our throats the iPhone. I could so care less about the %^&*$ iPhone. The iPhone is a toy to attract the younger generation.! I hate that way Apple is going these days.

I HATE the name and logo and don't need much of the new functionality as I do not have, and have no intention of getting, an iPhone. The change in the service is a great disappointment to users like me (ie no iPhone) as it adds features I have no need for, while still "validating" the consistency in the $99 price. It this doesn't do my basic iDisk syncing faster and more reliably, then it is just 2 steps back with no added value for my needs.

Unfortunately, the iPhone looks to now be an "in-your-face" part of my Mac-using life whether I like it or not. Bad times......

EDIT: Double boo for no public peak at Snow Leopard.

[andiwm2003]

The real question for me is, does it work BETTER than .mac. I love the .Mac concept, but it was really spotty...they really need to beef up redundancy and bandwidth to make this a solid product.

Time will tell.

-Lon

that is my concern as well. Also let's see how well those webapps run on your companies office computer. I'm not sure if we have ie7.

Sync on my.mac account sometimes forgets to sync a mail rule a mailbox a mail and sometimes adresses or calender entries.I can Imagine that will happen over the air much more often.

I know I need safari 3. But do I also need leopard for this?

[Orng]

Where is gone BACK TO MY MAC !!!!!!

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/features/mac.html

Scroll down

[yoppie]

Go get a mac.com free trial account right now, before the possible rush. You'll be automagically updated (cross-dated?) to me.com in july, then you have both.
If you wait, you might not get your preferred username.

That's the closest you'll get to reserving. They'll keep your username for you even if you let the trial expire; at least, they did for dotMac, not sure if they'll change that for me.com

NemusSync Review (sync_google_calendar_and_iphone_over_the_air_with_nemussync)

Thanks for this tip. I just registered for .mac trial so I can use the .mac name when it's transferred over to .me :D

[odo]

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/features/mac.html

Scroll down

You made my day!

[shirohagen]

Great service, looks amazing and I know it could be a godsend in many situations. Good job I've got my .mac name reserved from a free trial a while back.

I hope the price isn't unfairly inflated for the UK, otherwise it will make me think twice...

[jcricket]

If Apple had introduced it as a service for both home users as well as for businesses and allowed them to use their own domain name like Google Apps, I have a feeling they'd have additional interest. They're poising the iPhone as an Enterprise device and introducing all sorts of syncing capabilities with hosted services, but nothing for small businesses.
If apple let me use my own domain name for the email addresses (user@example.com, user2@example.com) and web galleries from iphoto (example.com) I'd be all over this.

I love my Mac, and want to get an iphone. I like the idea of OTA syncing and all the push stuff, but I'm not changing my email address. I think apple's galleries look way better than what I upload, but I'm not uploading to the me.com URL.

Doesn't seem like it would be that hard for them to offer basic domain hosting (register one .com domain, use that for your email and web address).

I think they'd get a lot of switchers like me, who think the rest of their family could use the apple services a lot better than the roll-your-own stuff that's out there (I suffice with that stuff now, but it's impossible for my family to use that stuff).

[Deanster]

Looks good overall, but I'll second the thought that Apple didn't address SHARING calendars/contacts at all. We'll need to see the final product to be sure, but there's not a WORD about being able to share and mutually edit calendars with other accounts.

I'd really like this tool to work well, but for me, it's not just about MY calendar, it's about my wife's, the office Google calendar, etc.

I know it's a new product, with all kinds of work remaining to be done, but the ability to share and edit data with/from other users in some kind of controlled way, like Google Calendar, is huge, and there's no indication from Apple that I can access anything other than my own account data.

[kingtj]

The future will just steamroller right on over you, then!

The iPhone is actually a critical piece of the "computing puzzle" today. If you have no need for a digitally-connected cellphone yourself, that's fine. A number of people still claim they have absolutely no use for a portable notebook computer either. It doesn't invalidate the concept itself, though.

Disregarding it as a "toy" just shows you have MUCH less vision than Apple does on what this type of device brings to the table for people.

Look at it this way: Many millions of people happily paid as much as $600-800 each for pocket computer/PDA devices (everything from PalmPilot organizers to Dell and Compaq PDAs running "Windows Mobile"). Why? Because they saw value in the ability to carry around a device that fit in a coat pocket or purse that was able to connect to wireless networks, download and work with data synchronized from a regular computer, and provide a way to input small amounts of data on the go. The iPhone is FAR beyond that basic concept, since it integrates all of that with a cellphone/video player/GPS/camera/iPod, and now, is starting to implement "Enterprise type" wireless synchronization of content from Exchange mail servers.

I think Apple and I both agree that the future of computing is one where a "primary" computer is back at someone's home or office, but they also want real-time connectivity to the content created/edited/received by that main system, even when they're out and about. When you need to take "the whole kitchen sink" with you, a notebook computer does the job. But nobody I know actually lugs their laptop around with them all day long, every place they go. Many, many, many people do carry a cellphone around all the time though. So integrating all of this with the phone is the most logical merger possible.'


I totally agree with you 100%. I am so absolutely tired of Apple cramming down our throats the iPhone. I could so care less about the %^&*$ iPhone. The iPhone is a toy to attract the younger generation.! I hate that way Apple is going these days.

[kiang]

http://images.apple.com/mobileme/images/contentfooter_mobileme_title20080609.png
http://www.tweakers.net/ext/i.dsp/962370807.jpg
does anyone see the resemblance? :P

[wrldwzrd89]

http://images.apple.com/mobileme/images/contentfooter_mobileme_title20080609.png
http://www.tweakers.net/ext/i.dsp/962370807.jpg
does anyone see the resemblance? :P

I certainly do - especially the Me.

[citi]

Seriously, try Nemus Sync on your jailbroken iPod Touch to sync your Google calendars (both ways) OTA without having to wait for july for MobileMe. You won't be disappointed.

Until a week or two ago i was synching Google cal to iCal then to my Touch, like you, but Nemus is way better for now. MobileMe might be better still, but give Nemus a go for the next month or so.

edit: NemusSync Review (sync_google_calendar_and_iphone_over_the_air_with_nemussync)


That's baddass. I'm going to install it when I get home...or to a wi-fi location.

[.mark.]

has anyone read anything about mail rules? I'm talking about like in mail where you can have mail process messages into folders, add colours etc... will this be do-able in mobile me's cloud? or will my emails have to come in to my mac first, get processed, and then pushed out from there. This is a pain if true as it means if my mac is not on (where the rules are applied) and I get a new email via my ipod touch/iphone, it will not be processed.

p.s. anyone else from the UK watched the mobile me guided tour and remembered that americans can't pronounce mobile! there's an "e" on the end - honest - go and check! it's not mobil!

[imac/cheese]

There will be a rush for email addresses....

Think about it..

look@me.com

areyoulooking@me.com

donotshout@me.com

shout@me.com

anyone else care to add some???

What about: areyouwinking@me.com

[jcricket]

I'd really like this tool to work well, but for me, it's not just about MY calendar, it's about my wife's, the office Google calendar, etc.
It would be great if apple added this feature as well. My wife and I "share" calendars by sending each other appointments (usually just a reminder of something the other is doing). But being able to publish/subscribe to a shared calendar would totally work better than that.

I think being able to use your own domain name would open a huge floodgate of people switching to this service (esp. small and medium businesses using their new Macs these days)...

Then adding other features like calendar/contact sharing would be the icing...

[xenotaku]

This is retarded! All of these push and cloud services should be available free with any iPhone/ATT contract. These are tools that should be center to the iPhone. And does anyone else think .me is the most pretentious and horribly named domain ever?

Hi Sir, can I have your email address please?
Yes, it is blahblah@me.com
me?
yeh, I know, it's stupid.

Waste of 99 bucks (since these features should be available to all), but at least they give you the option of using .me or .mac.

[jat543]

does Gmail support push email? i have a friend who gets his gmail pushed to his blackberry but i dont know if he routes it through an exchange address. It would suck shelling out cash for the new iphone and being stuck with IMAP or paying 99 bucks to forward my gmail to @me

[dwl017]

Mobile Me what a joke! I am a veteran Mac user and would never waste my money on this junk or .Mac what a watse of $100 per year! what a joke!

[Much Ado]

Mobile Me what a joke! I am a veteran Mac user and would never waste my money on this junk or .Mac what a watse of $100 per year! what a joke!

Mobile Me is meant to compliment the iPhone, so if you don't want it I understand.

[dwl017]

This is retarded! All of these push and cloud services should be available free with any iPhone/ATT contract. These are tools that should be center to the iPhone. And does anyone else think .me is the most pretentious and horribly named domain ever?

Hi Sir, can I have your email address please?
Yes, it is blahblah@me.com
me?
yeh, I know, it's stupid.

Waste of 99 bucks (since these features should be available to all), but at least they give you the option of using .me or .mac.


Its great for 15 year old little girls .... Cindy@me.com Britney@me.com etc.. I think you get my point, what a watse of money for a grown man!

[mashny]

Looks great, but the logo looks like something out of a diaper/toiletpaper/tampon advertisement.

[G4scott]

Heh, I remember when it was called iTools...

Perhaps this is a push towards a 'social networking' type of thing.

Either way, the push/exchange way of doing things is much better imho. My work email, calendars and contacts are synced perfectly no matter where I view them (work computer, home computer, web interface...)

I use pop for my gmail on my Mac, but I check it via the web at work, but there are always inconsistencies between my Mac and what's on the web.

Knowing I'll see the same thing no matter where I view my mail, contacts, or calendars is somewhat important and convenient. I wish there were a free way to do this without having to setup your own email server, but I know of no other way. I'm not too familiar with this field, so there may be something, but I certainly haven't heard of it.

[TonyHoyle]

It would be great if apple added this feature as well. My wife and I "share" calendars by sending each other appointments (usually just a reminder of something the other is doing). But being able to publish/subscribe to a shared calendar would totally work better than that.

I think being able to use your own domain name would open a huge floodgate of people switching to this service (esp. small and medium businesses using their new Macs these days)...

Then adding other features like calendar/contact sharing would be the icing...

Yeah that dissappointed me too. I'm looking to offload my home server maybe to something external and thought this would be good - but having to change all my emails addresses is not an option, and paying multiple times for each email we use in this house is also not an option (I need 7 currently, but would probably get 10 for future use) - was looking for something where I could set an MX and let apple handle it, just like the way gmail works. $99 (actually in the UK $125 at least) for a single unchangable email address is just extortion.

[mexmonk]

does Gmail support push email? i have a friend who gets his gmail pushed to his blackberry but i dont know if he routes it through an exchange address. It would suck shelling out cash for the new iphone and being stuck with IMAP or paying 99 bucks to forward my gmail to @me

I'm in the same position. Does anyone know if just setting up an iPhone with your gmail account would give you push email?

If it doesn't I guess a way around it would be to forward your gmail to a Me account, but it's a pricey solution.

Any info on this appreciated.

[makkystyle]

This is retarded! All of these push and cloud services should be available free with any iPhone/ATT contract. These are tools that should be center to the iPhone. And does anyone else think .me is the most pretentious and horribly named domain ever?

Hi Sir, can I have your email address please?
Yes, it is blahblah@me.com
me?
yeh, I know, it's stupid.

Waste of 99 bucks (since these features should be available to all), but at least they give you the option of using .me or .mac.

Wow... last I checked the cheapest blackberry email only service you could get (t-mobile) was 9.99 a month. That's $20/year more than apple is charging for push email plus Apple gives you calendar sync, contact sync, photo galleries, web apps, and 20GB of online storage.

Apparently ignorance isn't bliss seeing as how you're so irate.

edit: also, if you would like to compare with AT&T's offerings since you feel it should be available with the contract, they charge $29.99 for BB push email service, a whopping $260 more than Apple would charge you.

[TonyHoyle]

Knowing I'll see the same thing no matter where I view my mail, contacts, or calendars is somewhat important and convenient. I wish there were a free way to do this without having to setup your own email server, but I know of no other way. I'm not too familiar with this field, so there may be something, but I certainly haven't heard of it.

gmail can do this with a little setup. Use imap instead of pop, sync your contacts and calendars to your mac (and by extension to the iphone every time you connect itunes).

[xenotaku]

Wow... last I checked the cheapest blackberry email only service you could get (t-mobile) was 9.99 a month. That's $20/year more than apple is charging for push email plus Apple gives you calendar sync, contact sync, photo galleries, web apps, and 20GB of online storage.

Apparently ignorance isn't bliss seeing as how you're so irate.


I don't even care about the email. I have been using Gmail for 3 years or so now, and I'm never changing it. The part I'm referring to is the live syncing with all your devices. This should be a separate service from an email. It's ludicrous to ask people to change their email addresses (and pay 99 where as many are free) just to access the calendar/contacts/etc. syncing of MobileMe.

[rish]

Nooooooooo! God noooooooo! What an awful name. Someone must have drugged the Apple team with the boring Windoze pill. Arrrrrgh! I can't take it. It's uncool, its dull, boring, conformist to the pc brigade. :mad:

Mind you flaming good pricing policy. ;)

[megfilmworks]

I don't even care about the email. I have been using Gmail for 3 years or so now, and I'm never changing it. The part I'm referring to is the live syncing with all your devices. This should be a separate service from an email. It's ludicrous to ask people to change their email addresses (and pay 99 where as many are free) just to access the calendar/contacts/etc. syncing of MobileMe.
Why do you have to change your email??
It's a syncing solution, cloud storage and push solution. Email is a bonus and .mac is a good address. Better than most.

[xenotaku]

So you are saying 99 dollars is a fair price to be able to wirelessly sync my devices? On top of paying 70-100 for monthly phone charges and price of the phone?

Seems like this should be a feature all iPhone users should be able to take advantage of.

[un3creation]

I am glad i have subscribed .mac service at the very last minute...
just before they changed the website....
and get myself a @mac.com account XDD...

@me.com domain is surly a bit trouble to me.......
as i dun really like it.....

[makkystyle]

I don't even care about the email. I have been using Gmail for 3 years or so now, and I'm never changing it. The part I'm referring to is the live syncing with all your devices. This should be a separate service from an email. It's ludicrous to ask people to change their email addresses (and pay 99 where as many are free) just to access the calendar/contacts/etc. syncing of MobileMe.

But the point you are missing is that the "syncing" you are talking about requires a fairly robust server to "push" the email/calendar/contacts down the line. Last time I checked it was entirely free to sync your google contacts with address book. In exchange for that free service all they are asking you to do is click a button. Is it really that difficult?

Push services cost a lot of money to run on a global scale (ask RIM). Why you think that should be free I will never understand.

[Antares]

Does anyone know if the e-mail aliases will still work? That's what is really important to me. You get your main account username@mac.com and 5 e-mail aliases under that account, each with a different name@mac.com address but all being tied to your main username@mac.com account. You even get to choose a color for how each of the aliases look in mail (subject line and e-mail address). I highly depend on these aliases and would be screwed over if Apple got rid of them.

So, does anyone know anything about this...has read anything about the aliases?

If it came down to it, I would rather make one of my aliases my main account rather than loose it.

Edit: Nevermind! I found the answer myself....just got an e-mail from the.Mac team with a link to the FAQ: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1932

In short: Yes, your e-mail aliases will still work! :D

[sammyman]

I am a .mac member and was considering dropping the service, but these new features are mighty tempting. $99 seems a little on the steep side.

[GuillaumeB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

divised i was, divised i remain...
i got own domain...on Google Apps...

[superleccy]

I can already sync my inbox and sent mail between my Mac, my Phone (Nokia N95) and a squirrelmail web client for all 3 of my @<mydomain>.co.uk email addresses. All using POP too.

Part of the trick is that the mail client on the handset needs an "automatically BCC to" setting. Last time I looked at iPhone mail, it didn't have this.

I hope the iPhone sorts this out one way or another. 3-way syncing for all my email addresses is a "killer app" for me.

SL

[bigwig]

Doesn't Mail.app support IMAP IDLE? I don't see the point of a nonstandard feature like push email when you have IDLE. If Apple doesn't fix .Mac's severe performance problems these new features will be close to useless.

[MindBrain]

As rumored, Apple has announced Mobile Me

Freaking stupid. What a stupid name, stupid logo, sounds and looks like something for 14 year old girls. Apple Idiots. I was planning on getting .mac when I finally get a mac laptop but "Mobile Me" "me.com" ?? What are they thinking?

And did I hear something about Google being involved in this, is that correct or did I misread something?

If I didn't mention already this is stupid. They should just keep the .mac name and upgrade the features. "Mobile Me" ??? STUPID

[stryfe137]

there are a few things that left me with questions.

1. what happens with back to my mac?
2. where is the web video gallery?
3. is this the end of iweb in the ilife suite and the end of personalized home pages with mobileme?
4. are there any benefits to being a mac user over windows?


the idea of cloud computing is great but i wish that they didn't take away stuff that was in .mac

[Lancetx]

Well, I just found a merchant online via PriceGrabber that is selling retail boxes of .Mac 5.0 for $56.39 with free shipping so I'm in for that price. I had let my .Mac subscription expire two years ago because I didn't see enough benefit to continue paying, but with all of the enhancements today, I decided to sign back up again. I don't think it's worth the full $99 either, but if you can find it at a major discount like that, it's worth it in my opinion.

[mrklaw]

whats the big deal with push? is it really only relevant to mobile devices like the iphone?

I use gmail with IMAP and when I had two computers it was perfect as everything was on the server just like exchange. The only difference I can see (and please educate me as I'm not great at this) is that IMAP requires polling from the computer whereas push signals the computer that there is a mail.

So probably useful for an iphone but not such a big deal for a mac/macbook which can poll every 5 minutes anyway.


I use exchange on my N95 and set it to sync my mail every 15 minutes during work time, but it can also be on all the time. So its polling, but I get the speed of push and it doesn't use much data either. I often get mails before my work computer on the LAN does :)

[radesousa]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

As rumored, Apple has announced Mobile Me, described by Apple Vice President for product marketing Phil Schiller as "Exchange for the rest of us."



Features
- Push Email, calendar, and contacts
- Synchronization between iPhone, Mac and PC (Outlook for Windows integration)
- "Desktop-like" Web Applications for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, photo gallery, and iDisk online storage.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/06/09/142059-f1213035363_300.jpg



Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/09/apple-revamps-mac-mobile-me-announced/)


Ugh!! Pretty lame... .Mac says it all... :rolleyes:

[Lancetx]

the idea of cloud computing is great but i wish that they didn't take away stuff that was in .mac

C'mon now, they aren't taking anything away from .Mac...

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/migrating/

[askywalker]

The biggest feature I want is the ability to share email folders amongst users (family/coworkers etc). I can do this with IMAP servers, or Exchange. Google doesn't allow this with their IMAP though - so our company has stuck with our own mail server.

We would be happy to continue with just our mail server - but need mobility. We tried Blackberries - but their IMAP support is really weak. Email is very weak unless we invested in Exchange and a Blackberry Enterprise Server - a big deal for a small office.

I would think families and 'enterprise' would love this feature, and am crossing my fingers that Mobile Me is gonna deliver it!

[ziggyonice]

They're getting rid of iCards...

Bye, iCards :(

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2008/06/nomoreicardssbm692008.jpg

[stryfe137]

C'mon now, they aren't taking anything away from .Mac...

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/migrating/

thanks. i didn't see that page. i'm fine with this as long as they don't remove features

[radesousa]

Freaking stupid. What a stupid name, stupid logo, sounds and looks like something for 14 year old girls. Apple Idiots. I was planning on getting .mac when I finally get a mac laptop but "Mobile Me" "me.com" ?? What are they thinking?

And did I hear something about Google being involved in this, is that correct or did I misread something?

If I didn't mention already this is stupid. They should just keep the .mac name and upgrade the features. "Mobile Me" ??? STUPID



I agree with you. May be if enough of us ridicule this new folly Jobs might want to 86 this juvenile POS... :mad:

[ckinyc]

Is it just me (ha) or does the 'me' in Mobile Me look very similar to the 'me' in Windows ME?

That's my exact first impression! That tacky "Me" from WindowMe.

[Orng]

It would be great if apple added this feature as well. My wife and I "share" calendars by sending each other appointments (usually just a reminder of something the other is doing). But being able to publish/subscribe to a shared calendar would totally work better than that.

.

My wife and I have a shared google calendar and we couldn't be happier with it. Solved a lot of our social "double bookings". My office uses it as well to organize shoots and meetings.

Without extra apps, I can sync one- way into iCal, or get a third party app to sync both ways. And as I noted above I just found a two way google cal syncing app for iPhone/ipod touch (and thence to iCal when I plug in) which I'm even happier with.

But I'm already a dotmac user, so I might find MobikeMe is even better... IF I can sync in my google calendars.

[orthorex]

My wife has an "email only" account. Will she get email pushed as well? Will her iPhone interact with the iCal and Add book push services?

[Orng]

They're getting rid of iCards...

Bye, iCards :(

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2008/06/nomoreicardssbm692008.jpg

did anyone even use iCards?

[SeaFox]

I only use .Mac for email so I highly doubt I'll be using the new "Me" service at all.

Also, for you professionals out there, emailaddress@mac.com sounds more professional than emailaddress@me.com, IMO.
emailaddress@company.com sounds most professional, and a basic hosting package is cheaper than .mac-- er MobileMe.

[majordude]

.Me?!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9c/Windows_Me_logo_transparent.png/250px-Windows_Me_logo_transparent.png

Me was one of the worst operating systems ever invented, even Microsoft fanboys admit that. Mac :apple: is riding high. So instead of branding the Mac, they are promoting their competitor's weakest product this side of Bob?! :eek:

http://toastytech.com/guis/bobboot1sm.gif

[nvbrit]

If you want to pay full retail, I guess. I'm sure you can get it on eBay and Amazon for the usual $20-$30 off.


How can you buy it on eBay, it's not a physical item or device, it's an online service! :confused:

[flopticalcube]

How can you buy it on eBay, it's not a physical item or device, it's an online service! :confused:You buy an access code, the same way you buy AppleCare on eBay.

[ziggyonice]

did anyone even use iCards?


No, maybe just a few times on very rare occasions. I guess I just liked the idea that they were there if I'd ever needed them. :(

They sort of... sort of... held a a special place... in my heart, you know?

*cries in corner*

[harrier]

For those that dont click on links ..


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1932

Read it!!

Aside from a few discontinued services, storage bump, improved syncs, and me substitutions for mac, not much about how existing retained services would change. Any improvements to Web Gallery?

I guess we should stayed tuned for updates. When MobileMe becomes available, this article will be updated with more details to help upgraded members get started with the new service. You may want to bookmark this article and refer back to it when MobileMe goes live.

[viniciusc]

I have one question for you: iWeb?
EDIT: Sorry, I had only seen the keynote, there are iWeb mentions on Apple's website.

[harrier]

It would be great if apple added this feature as well. My wife and I "share" calendars by sending each other appointments (usually just a reminder of something the other is doing). But being able to publish/subscribe to a shared calendar would totally work better than that.
...

Then adding other features like calendar/contact sharing would be the icing...

I agree -- my wife is a subscriber to my calendar but since she doesn't have her own .mac account (We don't want to pay for the family plan and think the $99 should be THE family plan), she can't publish hers -- unless I'm missing something.

[flopticalcube]

I agree -- my wife is a subscriber to my calendar but since she doesn't have her own .mac account (We don't want to pay for the family plan and think the $99 should be THE family plan), she can't publish hers -- unless I'm missing something.
$99 is the price of the family plan if you buy it from eBay or Amazon.

[harrier]

$99 is the price of the family plan if you buy it from eBay or Amazon.

I didn't notice the family plan available on Amazon. I did buy my .mac subscription for $69 through Amazon and purchased (in advance of the expiration) another subscription for $69 through Apple with my last laptop purchase.

[flopticalcube]

I didn't notice the family plan available on Amazon. I did buy my .mac subscription for $69 through Amazon and purchased (in advance of the expiration) another subscription for $69 through Apple with my last laptop purchase.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000BX27N4/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2RFEZFB6I3I6F&v=glance

Don't know if that link will work for you. Just search for Mac Family Pack.

[kzin]

Will it's neat new syncing ability work with Mozilla apps (Thunderbird, Lightning, Sunbird)?

Will it's neat new syncing ability work with Google apps?

Will it's neat new syncing ability work with linux apps other than Mozilla?


Didn't think so. Still not interested.

[harrier]

Posted twice in error -- 2nd has corrections -- please disregard.

[harrier]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000BX27N4/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2RFEZFB6I3I6F&v=glance

Don't know if that link will work for you. Just search for Mac Family Pack.

Thanks. Searching on .mac family subscription didn't bring up the hit but family pack did... Good to know the family pack also can be gotten at a discount.

At this point, I'm publishing to the Web Gallery and our family calendar. My wife is a calendar subscriber. It would be nice if she could publish too. Neither of us need to use the email. I hardly use it. So I'll wait before I purchase additional services (i.e., the family pack) until I find a compelling reason.

[nuckinfutz]

Will it's neat new syncing ability work with Mozilla apps (Thunderbird, Lightning, Sunbird)?

Will it's neat new syncing ability work with Google apps?

Will it's neat new syncing ability work with linux apps other than Mozilla?


Didn't think so. Still not interested.

Well that settles it. Bye.

[Wiggin]

I like how the new online applications appear to work, but I'm afraid they my be useless to me. According to Apple's website, you need to use Safari 3, Firefox 2, or IE 7. The problem is that I have no control over what browsers are installed on computers I don't own (work, internet cafe, friend's house, etc). Of the places I frequent, home is the only place that meets the browser requirements. And gee, if I'm home I don't need the online services!

My Windows computer at work has IE 6, and that's 99% of my use of the online .Mac applications. If MobileMe requires IE 7, I'm screwed. If Apple is forcing an upgrade, and that upgrade is incompatible with my computer, can I get a refund? Seriously. If it where an application they were forcing me to upgrade on my computer, and it was incompatible with my computer, I would expect a refund my my purchase price.

Oh, and count me in the ranks of thinking it's a stupid name. I assume that only a very small minority of .Mac users actually have an iPhone or iPod touch. So the whole "mobile" moniker applies to only those few people. Stupid, just plain stupid.

[downunder]

I've decided to join .mac (mobile me)... any reason not to go ahead and purchase from Amazon now and upgrade in July?

[Wiggin]

The online photo arranging in the Gallery could be interesting, but how is that going to sync back to iPhoto and Aperture? iPhoto lets you arrange album order (so that should be a problem), but Aperture does not. It syncs your albums in alphabetical order, and you can't change the order. So will MobileMe override that? Or is an Aperture update coming soon?

PS: If you've ever viewed a .Mac photo Gallery on any web browser other than Safari you've seen just how horribly S-L-O-W AJAX is, especially older browsers. It will be interesting to see the performance of all the new MobileMe online apps which I understand are all AJAX-based.

[Roller]

I've been a dot Mac subscriber since the iTools days, and I have to say that this looks like it'll add more value to the service than anything that's come along in recent years.

The possibility of having my work, home, and iPhone calendars in sync all the time without having to sync them manually is very appealing.

[flopticalcube]

I've decided to join .mac (mobile me)... any reason not to go ahead and purchase from Amazon now and upgrade in July?

Free 60 day trial first?

[LbrTradr]

I have a @mac.com email account and am interested in the push email. It appears that Apple wants us to migrate to @me, which I don't care for, but it appears that to get the push email I may need to switch to @me. Does anyone know for sure if @mac.com does or does not push email?

[MrSmith]

Sorry, jumped to the end, but does this offer anything that I didn't have with .mac sync already? Apart from now including the iPhone.

[VoodooDaddy]

Can someone answer this for me? My current .mac account expires in 64 days. I have a retail box for another year. If I activate it now, will it add a year on to the 64 days I have left (429 days total)? Or will it begin today as the new day 1?

Basically I want it activate it before this mobileme thing starts so there is no "sorry, that is no longer valid" surprises when I try to activate it in 2 months. I know that they will roll current .mac memberships into mobileme, which is why I want to activate it now.

[orangetrumpeter]

Does anyone know..

Can you have a MobileMe log-in, and then a separate personal domain name email through Apple Mail?

I am extremely interested in all of the new feature that MobileMe has to offer but DO NOT want to maintain another separate (useless, to me) email address, and not be able to include my personal working email.

[Wiggin]

Does anyone know..

Can you have a MobileMe log-in, and then a separate personal domain name email through Apple Mail?

I am extremely interested in all of the new feature that MobileMe has to offer but DO NOT want to maintain another separate (useless, to me) email address, and not be able to include my personal working email.

Hm, so basically, have the online Mail app be able to act as a POP/IMAP client accessing another email account? Well, a) I doubt it, but b) that would be awesome if it could (especially IMAP)!

[MrSmith]

Probably the wrong end of the stick, but can't you do this already in .mac?

[tivoboy]

Is there any mention of continuing to do iWeb pages? I don't see that highlighted anywhere

[MrSmith]

Is there any mention of continuing to do iWeb pages? I don't see that highlighted anywhere
Hopefully a faster upload, without having to upload the entire site...

[bigwig]

Is there any mention of continuing to do iWeb pages? I don't see that highlighted anywhere
If they didn't, they have to fix iWeb so, like a real app, it can upload to regular FTP sites. I doubt they'd throw away vendor lock-in so easily.

[macridah]

For current .Mac users:

Can keep @mac.com or use @me.com

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/migrating/

(most) Everything you'd want to know. :)

Done. sent my 2 cents. may .mac live.

[batchtaster]

I'm just thinking out loud, but does anyone else remember movie, "Antitrust (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust_%28movie%29)"? It was practically a Microsoft documentary, although I can't imagine the computer geeks at ol' Redmond are as buff as Ryan Phillipe or as hot as Rachael Leigh Cook.

A lot of the kerfuffle was over Synapse (http://antitrustmovie.co.uk/production_synapse1.html), a system designed to hold your information and keep it with you wherever you went. The main issue of Synapse was of course the stolen code and all the killing and the mayhem, but there were also things about the notion of storing all your data with a company like Microso... er... NURV.

I'm not making any judgements about Apple or MobileMe (I'm looking forward to my .Mac membership getting the upgrade, and anxious to get the new iPhone to use with it); I'm just remembering things.

[Quillz]

I'm just thinking out loud, but does anyone else remember movie, "Antitrust (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust_%28movie%29)"? It was practically a Microsoft documentary, although I can't imagine the computer geeks at ol' Redmond are as buff as Ryan Phillipe or as hot as Rachael Leigh Cook.

A lot of the kerfuffle was over Synapse (http://antitrustmovie.co.uk/production_synapse1.html), a system designed to hold your information and keep it with you wherever you went. The main issue of Synapse was of course the stolen code and all the killing and the mayhem, but there were also things about the notion of storing all your data with a company like Microso... er... NURV.

I'm not making any judgements about Apple or MobileMe (I'm looking forward to my .Mac membership getting the upgrade, and anxious to get the new iPhone to use with it); I'm just remembering things.Of course the difference is that's a movie and this is real life. If Google or Apple or whoever was ever discovered stealing personal information from users, there'd be a class action lawsuit in the billions so quickly it wouldn't even be funny.

[rowanmwilliams]

I have been a longtime reader of MR but have never actually commented on anything, however, now i feel i must. I can't understand the fuss over the name of me.com and its new logo. "Childish", "Self Centered", I don't get it? Its a service that is all about YOU. It allows ME to sync all of MY contacts, calenders, Photos, Bookmarks with all of MY other computers in the best possible way. As well as allowing ME to create MY own iWeb website about ME. Im noticing a trend, anyone else? In my opinion it is a very clever and well thought out brand name. It describes exactly what the service is about, me, .Mac on the other hand based solely on looking at the name what information can you gather? Its a service about a mac and the internet? As for the .Mac members for you almost everything is still the same, besides dropping support for Panther syncing and the ability to view your bookmarks online and you get all these new extras as a bonus. You still can keep your .mac address, you do not have to inform the world of the change, really you do not have to do anything but sit there and receive more services for free, and if you don't use them, nothing gained nothing lost. So if you were happy with the way things were before, how can you not be more than overjoyed with the way things are now.
And as a little aside to all the logo personally i like it but i can see how some people may not like it/agree with it.

Don't get me wrong, however, as much as i love the new me.com service, and how it perfectly suits the needs i have been desperately looking to fulfill i understand that there are some people this service will not appeal to. If you don't use more than one mac or computer for that matter, or an iPhone i really don't see how this service can be more than just an extra, a toy.

I have used the .Mac service only on a trial basis and found it quite useful but for the price (i think it was around the AU$160, although i could be getting it confused with the family pack) the return on investment did not warrant me buying it. Now, this is a different story, coupled with the soon to be released iPhone 3G here and the fact i use a MacBook and iMac this more than warrants a purchase.

Bring on July 11!

:apple:

RMW

[a1dipship]

the UK price is now 59 rather than 69 it was

[rowanmwilliams]

the UK price is now 59 rather than 69 it was

Yes i notice the Australian version is now at AU$119 for a single user. I defiantly don't remember it being this cheep.

Cheers

:apple:

RMW

[Quillz]

I must say, I didn't care for the branding at first, but like everything else, "MobileMe" is growing on... me. It's not such a bad name, and I do think it conveys more information than .Mac ever did.

[numlock]

Does anyone know..

Can you have a MobileMe log-in, and then a separate personal domain name email through Apple Mail?

I am extremely interested in all of the new feature that MobileMe has to offer but DO NOT want to maintain another separate (useless, to me) email address, and not be able to include my personal working email.

taking it a little bit further. what about offering something like google apps for our domain.

If its exchange for the rest of us what about companies with 0-5 or something like that still want everything everywhere to be up to date

[batchtaster]

Of course the difference is that's a movie and this is real life. If Google or Apple or whoever was ever discovered stealing personal information from users, there'd be a class action lawsuit in the billions so quickly it wouldn't even be funny.

I realize that, it's just an odd parallelism, and in terms of the technical aim, not as far fetched a concept as Synapse seemed to be at the time the movie came out.

[Kaptajn Haddock]

There is nothing about mobile me and your personal webpage and how it interacts with iWeb or am I missing something?

[stephenli]

I have a dotmac family pack that i haven't opened or activated yet. I'm planning to wait and just use it with MobileMe.

Good plan? or are there some concerns I should have?

why keep waiting?
go to activate it now and get a @mac.com address immediately!!!


btw i hate the name, and i hate the logo too.

[ntrigue]

Color-coded calendars on the iPhone finally!

[pavelbure]

i really hope they don't drop iweb from this transition. i paid for a 1 year subscription and this is one of the things i like to use. personally i could give a crap about calendars and some of the other garbage .mac had that this new site is touting.

[rowanmwilliams]

i really hope they don't drop iweb from this transition. i paid for a 1 year subscription and this is one of the things i like to use. personally i could give a crap about calendars and some of the other garbage .mac had that this new site is touting.

Yes, iWeb still works with Mobile Me.

http://www.apple.com/au/mobileme/features/mac.html

[tallyho]

Can you have a MobileMe log-in, and then a separate personal domain name email through Apple Mail?

Hm, so basically, have the online Mail app be able to act as a POP/IMAP client accessing another email account? Well, a) I doubt it, but b) that would be awesome if it could (especially IMAP)!

No, this isn't about the online app being able to act as a client for another IMAP account. All that's needed is for MobileMe to allow you to check AND send from another account, as GMail allows you to. So MobileME becomes your centralised archive of all your emails, whichever address they were sent to or from. I currently have all my email "accounts" going through Gmail. Yes, in Outlook (apparently) it comes up as “From: Soandso at gmail.com on behalf of realaddress at domain.com”, but that is no problem for me.

However, seeing as how MobileMe is a paid service, why not the full GoogleApps approach, where my from address would actually BE my own email from my own domain.

[Cloudane]

Looks awesome, I just hope it isn't crippled to death like .Mac

Things that stopped me buying .Mac:

* Very poor quality and resolution of web gallery photos with no way of changing it.
* Inability to host a personal domain on it, having to resort to POP3 to fetch emails from the domain (YUCK) and with no way to set the domain as the "From" address.
* Price (they've improved this in GBP, at least)

Edit: Uh oh...
http://cf.media.macrumorslive.com/p/f1213035240.jpg

http://www.cloudane.com/stuff/windowsme.jpg

:p

[aLoC]

Edit: Uh oh...

Heh. That's a bad omen if ever there was one.

[yoppie]

I signed up for .Mac on yesterday in anticipation of MobileMe but it's not working great for me. I can't get my contacts to sync. If the new service does not fix this I won't be able to subscribe.

[babyj]

Hm, so basically, have the online Mail app be able to act as a POP/IMAP client accessing another email account? Well, a) I doubt it, but b) that would be awesome if it could (especially IMAP)!

The stupid thing is that the iPhone does all of that (as does Mac Mail), so to have the same functionality missing in .mac / Mobile Me has always seemed real strange to me. Perhaps it is something they've addressed in the revamped online mail but there is nothing to suggest it has been.

Not really a problem for me as I'm happy using my iPhone for email, so the lack of online functionality doesn't cause me an issue.

[GuillaumeB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

from-line customization would be a must-have for personal domain owner

Now Google might be preparing an iPhone app that uses the push technology for a permanent connexion to sync our calendar and contacts direcly with the iPhone

[Cloudane]

from-line customization would be a must-have for personal domain owner

Agreed.

Well, come to think of it I never really email people anyway, I just use it for notifications, newsletters and stuff so in most cases nobody would notice.

But that's not the point - I have a domain, and I'm tired of making "wellll.. I don't reeeeally need xyz" sacrifices when it comes to Apple. It'd be so nice if for once in their lives they'd provide a product/service without requiring sacrifices (when compared to every other equivalent out there)

[AdeFowler]

the UK price is now 59 rather than 69 it was

That's interesting. I renewed last month for £68.99. I wonder if we'll get a pro-rata refund or extension?

[Orng]

I've decided to join .mac (mobile me)... any reason not to go ahead and purchase from Amazon now and upgrade in July?

Get the free trial and reserve the username you want before all the windows iPhone people come along and snap up all the good ones. The user base is still small, but people are already going for the trial, so get your username now. Costs you nothing.

[Stewie]

I also like the service idea, but hate the name. It really is a tacky name.

Here's hoping that Apple will continue to allow our email to be addressed as username@mac.com instead of username@me.com or username@mobileme.com.

I am just hoping that apple finally allows you to set a different reply-to address. If not then mobileme isn't going to do me any good.

[Wiggin]

Probably the wrong end of the stick, but can't you do this already in .mac?

That preference will let you pull email from another POP account, but you can't reply to the email from the same POP account. And even if you could, you then have your sent mail scattered between those you send from your client application on your Mac and those you sent from the online app.

I like the look of the new online mail app, but the simple fact of the matter is I've had the same email address for nearly 15 years now, through many moves, ISP changes, etc. My .Mac/MobileMe address will NEVER become my primary email address. It will always be just a secondary address. I currently use Gmail as an online mail app because it allows me to both retrieve and send email from my primary address. But it's uses POP to retrieve my email and it doesn't automatically check frequently enough. And I also end up with my sent mail split between locations. IMAP would be better, but I don't know how server intensive it would be for an online app to act as an IMAP client, constantly checking other services for new mail (like Mail on my Mac does).

[Wiggin]

Apple should really consider a tiered service. Perhaps $49/year for the sync services and online apps (mail, contacts, calendar), and $49/year the rest (web pages, photo galleries, idisk). Why? Because with a one-time purchase of a 3rd party app (BusySync) you can sync your iCal to a free Google Calendar. The same company is about to release the same functionality for Address Book contacts. And you can use Gmail to check and send mail from practically any other email address. You could even use BusySync to sync multiple Macs to the same Google calendar or contacts list as a substitute for Apple's Mac-to-Mac syncing.

So a one-time $25 purchase could replace an ongoing $99/year expense and cover most of what the majority of people use .Mac for, and they would never miss not having web publishing, etc. $99 is a good price IF you use all or most of the services, but most people don't, or wouldn't if they were a member. And I think Apple would get enough new people who would have never signed up at $99 to make up for lost revenue from the lower price.

[MotleyPete]

Now we can look forward to look@me, makingeyes@me, everybodylaughs@me and don'tpointthatthing@me.com.

Oh the hilarity...

[Kaptajn Haddock]

I believe thats a must, and shouldn't really be that hard for Apple to implement.

[Trooperof3]

With the new MobileMe stuff I hope they add a feature SOON to IWeb so that you can make your site a Iphone/Touch compatible. that would be awesome..

[janitorC7]

Now we can look forward to look@me, makingeyes@me, everybodylaughs@me and don'tpointthatthing@me.com.

Oh the hilarity...

haha I just registered
everybodylaughs@mac.com

[MotleyPete]

haha I just registered
everybodylaughs@mac.com

The floodgates are officially open.

[mdntcallr]

honestly,
I just don't like "me.com" it's kinda stupid. Mobile Me?

kinda sounds like someone at apple has been smoking some of whatever those bozo's at silly startups had rolled.

Just doesn't resonate nicely. Also, aside from syncing services for macs and iphones, why does the .mac service need a name change?

THIS IS KINDA LAME. yes push email, and sync services are nice, but they could do alot more to upgrade .mac!!!

least of which is a silly name change.

[wrldwzrd89]

honestly,
I just don't like "me.com" it's kinda stupid. Mobile Me?

kinda sounds like someone at apple has been smoking some of whatever those bozo's at silly startups had rolled.

Just doesn't resonate nicely. Also, aside from syncing services for macs and iphones, why does the .mac service need a name change?

THIS IS KINDA LAME. yes push email, and sync services are nice, but they could do alot more to upgrade .mac!!!

least of which is a silly name change.
I know, the new name doesn't sound all that great to me either. However, I firmly believe Apple changed the name to make it more platform-neutral than ".Mac" was, and hence make it more marketable to non-Mac users.

[Cloudane]

Yeah, it does seem a bit of a lame name. I'd prefer to have an @mac.com address really - it's a little badge of Mac Pride :o

Still, we'll get used to it. It only seems 5 minutes since we were all going "WTF" to the Macbook Air name and saying "no, that name can't be true it's too silly" etc. Seems normal now.

[katorga]

I'm sorry, but but MobileMe seems wildly overpriced from what you get. What am I missing?

Why don't they just outsource the service to google for a slice of the ad revenue?

[cms2]

I am not currently a .Mac user, but I'm considering becoming one as soon as the new features become available. On the aesthetic side... from what microsoft-dungeon did the designers of this unfortunate logo escape? :eek:

[mdntcallr]

I think apple botched by renaming the entire .Mac Service as Mobile Me

There are many of us who don't care about iPhone syncing, or even if we do have an iphone, we don't care about that more than the other MAC oriented services, website hosting, printing services and more.

by going to such a iphone oriented name, you are alienating many very productive uses for .Mac. they are burying functionality, even if they dont get rid of it.

they ought to have kept .Mac, added Mobile Me as a subset function. but under the .Mac umbrella.

[GuillaumeB]

In France the price has dropped to down from 99€ ($154) to 79€ and this is actually pretty encouraging.

[VoodooDaddy]

Can someone answer this for me? My current .mac account expires in 64 days. I have a retail box for another year. If I activate it now, will it add a year on to the 64 days I have left (429 days total)? Or will it begin today as the new day 1?

Basically I want it activate it before this mobileme thing starts so there is no "sorry, that is no longer valid" surprises when I try to activate it in 2 months. I know that they will roll current .mac memberships into mobileme, which is why I want to activate it now.

Maybe the 3rd posting of this will get me an answer, any answer :rolleyes:

Does anyone have any idea about this? If I activate the code I have, will it add an additional year onto the 63 days I have left, or will my subscription start over today, with 364 days left

[batchtaster]

Apple is currently sending the following email out to .Mac users:


Dear .Mac member:

Today Apple announced a new Internet service called MobileMe - taking the best of .Mac and adding a host of new features. As a current .Mac member, your account will be automatically upgraded to MobileMe in July. For a closer look, watch the MobileMe Guided Tour and read below for an overview of your new service.

Mac integration you know and love. With MobileMe, you'll continue to enjoy features that take advantage of seamless integration with Mac OS X and iLife - Back to My Mac; access to your iDisk in the Finder; Mac-to-Mac syncing of Dock items, preferences, and more; iWeb site publishing; and photo and movie sharing directly from iPhoto '08 and iMovie '08.

New web applications for when you're away from your Mac. MobileMe features a suite of web applications at www.me.com that have the familiar look and feel of the applications on your Mac. Because these web applications stay in sync with your Mac and other devices, you'll have the same information wherever you go. Here's what you'll find at me.com:

Mail, the anchor of the new suite, is even better with a refined interface.

Contacts has a new three-pane interface, contact groups, maps integration, search, and photo support.

Calendar is a brand-new web application that feels just like iCal, featuring multiple calendars, click-and-drag event creation, and more.


Gallery lets you manage your collection of shared photos and movies from anywhere. You can now upload photos, rearrange their order, and set sharing preferences, all from a browser.

iDisk now has the familiar look of the Mac OS X Finder. It features drag-and-drop filing and an easy new way to share large documents, by sending an email with a link for downloading the file.

Account lets you manage settings such as storage allocation.

To use the new web applications, make sure you have one of these browsers: Safari 3, Internet Explorer 7, or Firefox 2 or later.

Push email. Push contacts. Push calendar. In addition to Mac-to-Mac syncing, MobileMe now keeps your iPhone, your iPod touch, and even a PC in sync. MobileMe pushes new contacts, calendar items, and bookmarks to your Mac or PC, and over the air to your iPhone or iPod touch. For example, if you add a calendar event on the web, the change will automatically be pushed to your Mac and iPhone. New email will be pushed to your iPhone in seconds, eliminating the need to check for messages manually.

As a MobileMe subscriber, you can continue to use your mac.com address for email. You will also be issued a me.com address with the same user name that you can use if you prefer. The choice is yours.

Double the online storage. To give you plenty of space for your email, photos, and other files, MobileMe doubles your storage from 10GB to 20GB for an individual subscription.

We'll be sure to update you when the new service goes live. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the upcoming transition from .Mac to MobileMe, please visit the MobileMe FAQ (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1932).

Sincerely,

The MobileMe Team

Does anyone have any idea about this? If I activate the code I have, will it add an additional year onto the 63 days I have left, or will my subscription start over today, with 364 days left

It will add another year to the days you have left. It will not start over immediately. Your payment or activation (or lackthereof if you decide to discontinue your subscription) will not kick in until your renewal date arrives. Per the FAQ (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1932) (mentioned above in Apple's email), .Mac activation packages will continue to work, even once the Me.com transition has kicked in; you don't have to "use it up". Basically, activate whenever you want. You only have to do it before your current subscription (63 days, did you say?) runs out, it should not be impacted by the transition. .Mac addresses and URLs will continue to work in Me.com.

[LetsGoMets]

So, here's what I'm not getting.... how does it push to my Mac?

I totally get the iPhone push... but if I at at my office, and make a change on my calendar via the web app, how will it show up on home mac? Currently, I have my Mac "syncing" once/day. Will I need to tell it to update differently? How will it push to my mac "instantly"?

Also, as I have a POP account, I was thinking about either a)not checking it, and having .mac retrieve it or b)forwarding the account to the .mac account. That way, I would have the "push" ability with my regular home account.

LGM

[southerndoc]

the real question is, when do i get to reserve email addresses for @me.com?

Probably after .Mac users are upgraded. I imagine those with a username on .Mac will keep the same username(s) and hopefully mail aliases.

Good news to hear that we can keep the mac.com email addresses.

[southerndoc]

Cool, now we have a list of people who can't read websites.

I'm sure we'll find a use for that someday.

In the meantime, I'm glad they're letting us change them if we want to. I always hated the .Mac name. People think I work for Apple or something. It would be neat if I did, but I don't, so giving that impression is stupid. I'm a .Mac subscriber and I've never used the e-mail before. I might start, now.

Thanks for your polite reply.

FYI, I am guilty of jumping to conclusions before reading a website instead of not being able to read one. This post was made prior to the websites becoming available.

I look forward to more courteous discussions from you. You're a beacon of light exemplifying proper etiquette and interpersonal skills.

[HD303]

Apple got ripped off if they paid some consultant to come up with this name. My daughters 5th grade class could have come up with a better marketing image than Mobile Me.

The concept is great, but the name branding is awful.

[nutmac]

I would switch from my existing hosting provider to Mobile Me in a heartbeat if it has PHP, MySQL, and custom domain name (.Mac supports custom domain, but Apple should provide direct sales and support).

[iheartapple]

It is a good thing for Apple’s sake they they have “allowed us” to keep our .mac email address. If this was not the case, I would have all my clients (as well as myself) that I have set-up with .mac accounts immediately cancel membership and I would investigate other options elsewhere. I think Mobile Me is the absolute stupidest sounding name on the face of this planet. What’s’ even more amazing is that at Apple Execs get paid big $$ to come up with pathetic names like this Mobile Me! Hello Apple anybody home?

Stupidest huh? Good grammar.

But I do agree, the name is most stupid.
Very childish, along with the logo too..

Totally dropped the ball on that one apple.

[Potus]

Why are they dropping iCards? The one feature of mac.com I use every day.

[MrCrowbar]

Here's a screenshot from the MobileMe video:

http://tinyurl.com/3q39gr

See the multiple colors? It makes sense to have the different calendars separated. As it is now, the iPhone displays everything in the same color and all new entries made on the iPhone go into the same calendar (set in iTunes).
Is this multiple calendar suppord exclusive to MobileMe users or do you think it will be in the iPhone 2.0 update?

EDIT: The List/Day/Month bar moved to the bottom. In my opinion, it should have been there from the start. The added top bar is the calendar selector on this screenshot.

[bankshot]

This is the only thing about Mac in the WHOLE of that keynote. Waste of my two hours if you ask me...

Yup. And this wasn't even really about Mac stuff since it is fairly accessible from any platform over the web. :(

whats the big deal with push? is it really only relevant to mobile devices like the iphone?

I use gmail with IMAP and when I had two computers it was perfect as everything was on the server just like exchange. The only difference I can see (and please educate me as I'm not great at this) is that IMAP requires polling from the computer whereas push signals the computer that there is a mail.

So probably useful for an iphone but not such a big deal for a mac/macbook which can poll every 5 minutes anyway.


I use exchange on my N95 and set it to sync my mail every 15 minutes during work time, but it can also be on all the time. So its polling, but I get the speed of push and it doesn't use much data either. I often get mails before my work computer on the LAN does :)

I think you're exactly right. I watched the keynote last night (waste of time, as mentioned above), and during this whole segment I kept wondering what the heck was new? Phil Schiller kept going on and on about how great this new push email technology was, as if Apple invented something groundbreaking (yeah, right! :rolleyes: ) and I'm thinking, I can do all of this with IMAP and a short poll interval. So with push email, it might get to you 30 seconds faster, and there's less network activity overall, but what consumer even notices that? It's a nice, minor improvement at best. Hardly anything to spend more than 2 seconds talking about in a keynote. Especially a keynote for developers when this is a consumer service.

As for calendar and contact push, again this is a very minor update to the way .Mac does it now. I have my two Macs set to sync with .Mac "Automatically" and I always get the latest updates within minutes. Changing that from a few minutes (sync) to 10-15 seconds (push) is worthy of keynote time? I don't think so! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Honestly, I can't understand why anyone would be excited about this after seeing the presentation, especially if they weren't already using or interested in .Mac. Are Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller really that spellbinding? Basically, this minor update includes:
Name change
Push instead of poll for some sync services - ~30 second average improvement
Improved AJAX/Web-2.0/buzzword-compliant web interface with degraded browser compatibility
More storage space
No new features
A whole lot of undeserved hype

[Kabeyun]

I have a dotmac family pack that i haven't opened or activated yet. I'm planning to wait and just use it with MobileMe.

Good plan? or are there some concerns I should have?

Why wait? If you sign up now, the functions will automatically transition and you won't be stuck with possibly the most ridiculous domain name this side of Hades (echoing all the above).

I just can't picture myself saying "MobileMe" in a conversation without feeing embarrassed. Most people you say "me dot com" to will not know a thing about Apple's inspiration, and think you're just a narcissistic idiot. My 2 pennies.

-K

[fronheiser]

I've been wanting push email for quite some time now, but of course, it's implemented badly.

I have two addresses currently I use with my iPhone: me@work.com and me@home.net, both IMAP. It appears there will be no way to use these with "push" unless I forward messages to my .mac account and then I'll have to file/delete/etc. the original messages later.

Great idea, horrible implementation. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[AppleIntelRock]

if our email addresses change to @me.com, I'll no longer be a .mac/mobile-me member...

[diamond.g]

Here's a screenshot from the MobileMe video:

http://tinyurl.com/3q39gr

See the multiple colors? It makes sense to have the different calendars separated. As it is now, the iPhone displays everything in the same color and all new entries made on the iPhone go into the same calendar (set in iTunes).
Is this multiple calendar suppord exclusive to MobileMe users or do you think it will be in the iPhone 2.0 update?

EDIT: The List/Day/Month bar moved to the bottom. In my opinion, it should have been there from the start. The added top bar is the calendar selector on this screenshot.

Wait, I thought it supports multiple calendars now? :confused:

[babyj]

I would switch from my existing hosting provider to Mobile Me in a heartbeat if it has PHP, MySQL, and custom domain name (.Mac supports custom domain, but Apple should provide direct sales and support).

PHP and MySQL support are never going to happen. Its never been about proper web hosting, just web hosting for iWeb and now photo galleries. I can't see them ever going down that route though I can see them adding loads of new widgets and other features via iWeb.

The lack of full custom domain support is a pain and there is no real excuse for it. Unless there is something about the way they implement it which would make it difficult.

[.mark.]

...
No new features


if you check you'll find that they have added the online calendar as a feature - a pretty big feature I'd say.

[brodie]

Does anyone know if you'll be able to 'publish' and then grant passworded access to certain calendars? Without giving out your .me/.mac login?

I've been waiting for this for years and then I thought i would get it with CalDav in Leopard but that's a whole other headache.

[gwerhart0800]

I would jump at the new me.com service if it would support the idea of a family calendar as well as individual calendar. My hope would be that we could add calendar entries to a family calendar that would show up on everyone's devices. I would also like it if everyone could see a "public" view of each family member's calendar for planning reasons.

I don't see much detail about the family pack beyond some simple e-mail accounts and storage space.

[salimdao]

there's no video support for mobileme? im not a .mac subscriber but wasn't the ability to upload and stream video from .mac there?

[MrCrowbar]

Wait, I thought it supports multiple calendars now? :confused:

Well, the different calendars all appear as one calendar on the phone. All the same color too. A new entry made on the iPhone will go to the default calendar when syncing to iCal. So it kind of support multiple calendars, but not really.

[diamond.g]

Well, the different calendars all appear as one calendar on the phone. All the same color too. A new entry made on the iPhone will go to the default calendar when syncing to iCal. So it kind of support multiple calendars, but not really.

Ah, that makes sense. I was just looking at my iPhone and the single color thing stood out, but for some reason didn't click.


I have a .mac username but it has been deactivated. If I sign up for MobileMe do I get that name back or do I have to choose a different one?

[Wiggin]

there's no video support for mobileme? im not a .mac subscriber but wasn't the ability to upload and stream video from .mac there?

I'm pretty sure it's still there. Check out the left-hand source list on this screen shot of the new online Gallery editting application.

http://images.apple.com/mobileme/features/images/gallery_gallery_1_20080609.jpg

[jonswan]

It's a good job that we can still use myname@mac.com - that would've been very foolish.

The name Mobile Me is almost vomit-inducingly bad - but I guess it'll bed down and be accepted. The extra storage will be very useful, and better syncing with Push makes sense - I guess they're angling at new iPhone users moving over to Macs - and for this reason this upgrade is a smart move. The name, though, is creepy and self-obsessed. Ugh.

[majordude]

It's a good job that we can still use myname@mac.com - that would've been very foolish.

I hope that option doesn't go away in a year or two. Actually, knowing Apple, they will charge $99 for .me and $149 to continue using .mac next year. :mad:

And yes, I agree that .mac makes a statement, like putting an Apple decal on the bumper of your car. The new .me sounds like "hotmail" or "gmail" or -- GASP! -- even AOL-ish to me. Real amateurish. Only a dweeb would use .aol or .me if you ask me. :mad:

[salimdao]

I'm pretty sure it's still there. Check out the left-hand source list on this screen shot of the new online Gallery editting application.
oh ok cool. thanks for pointing that out.

[stevearm]

Stupidest huh? Good grammar.


'stupidest' is actually a word.

Arse.

[Prof.]

I take back what I said earlier in this thread. I will most def be using this service. I watched the demo and it looks bad ass. :cool::D
'stupidest' is actually a word.
No it's not.

Only stupid ppl use the word "stupidest". The correct thing to say is "most stupid".

[superfula]

I'm still torn. I really like the live syncing of calendars and the address book, especially with the iphone.

[BillyBobBongo]

I must admit that these new changes are tempting me to put my hand in me pocket.

Previously I didn't need it as I own so so many domain names and have a substantial amount of storage, so it just didn't seem worth it to me. Since getting my hands on an iPod Touch however my 'needs' have changed and this seems like the perfect solution.

I must agree with the comments made here though, the whole @me.com addy just sounds so weak......but as previously mentioned I wouldn't use it anyway, and you can always still use your @.mac.com so it's not gonna really be a deal breaker for old users.

I think they must have re-staffed the marketing department lately. Firstly a lame OS name like 'Snow Leopard' that reeks of its predecessor and lacks originality and then an unbelievably terrible domain name for what in essence is gonna be a great service. Add to that a logo that looks like it was drawn by a toddler......

....I think someone needs to get fired!

[Potus]

The new name is lame.

[Kaptajn Haddock]

Yup. And this wasn't even really about Mac stuff since it is fairly accessible from any platform over the web. :(



I think you're exactly right. I watched the keynote last night (waste of time, as mentioned above), and during this whole segment I kept wondering what the heck was new? Phil Schiller kept going on and on about how great this new push email technology was, as if Apple invented something groundbreaking (yeah, right! :rolleyes: ) and I'm thinking, I can do all of this with IMAP and a short poll interval. So with push email, it might get to you 30 seconds faster, and there's less network activity overall, but what consumer even notices that? It's a nice, minor improvement at best. Hardly anything to spend more than 2 seconds talking about in a keynote. Especially a keynote for developers when this is a consumer service.

As for calendar and contact push, again this is a very minor update to the way .Mac does it now. I have my two Macs set to sync with .Mac "Automatically" and I always get the latest updates within minutes. Changing that from a few minutes (sync) to 10-15 seconds (push) is worthy of keynote time? I don't think so! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Honestly, I can't understand why anyone would be excited about this after seeing the presentation, especially if they weren't already using or interested in .Mac. Are Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller really that spellbinding? Basically, this minor update includes:
Name change
Push instead of poll for some sync services - ~30 second average improvement
Improved AJAX/Web-2.0/buzzword-compliant web interface with degraded browser compatibility
More storage space
No new features
A whole lot of undeserved hype

I totally agree. Where is the news? The quick reply is already there as well.

[Kaptajn Haddock]

-The quick reply in Mail is already there in .Mac
-The Galleries are all dressed in black. Why no costumization available?
-Where is push for Notes and To Do's?
-The Bookmarks thingy has been removed.
-The URL for you webpage and Galleries stink. No one will remember them.
-The Mobile Me logo and name stink. So not Apple like imho.

Mobile Me is all about improvements no doubt, and so far so good, but why haven't they introduced any new features? This is .Mac as it should always have been, so its beyond me why Apple did not spend some time trying to come up with something genius that would separate them from the rest of the pack.

[peterbaby]

In France the price has dropped to down from 99€ ($154) to 79€ and this is actually pretty encouraging.

Yeah that would be encouraging to new members...unfortunately my account is set for automatic renewal on June 29th, i.e. I will still pay the full €99 to get "upgraded" to cheaper euro mobile me a few days later.

I kinda feel Apple won't offer me a refund :eek:


Besides, if they ever remove the possibility to use my .mac address, I quit. The me.com address just doesn't work for me, sounds like a I-m-a-kid-I-want-new-friends address :cool:

[larry22]

Am I right in assuming that all these new features for .mac/mobileme and the iPhone will also work the same for the iPod Touch?

[Alfie]

Am I right in assuming that all these new features for .mac/mobileme and the iPhone will also work the same for the iPod Touch?

Yes, if I understand correctly, you will need to buy the iPod Software Update for $9.95 via the iTunes store and then you should be able to do all the new MobileMe stuff.

[hollaaback]

The new name is lame.

I thought so too, until I snapped up the alias "Hollaaback@me.com"

Sweet.

[theweber3]

Anybody have any idead about when it will be released:rolleyes:



I belive July 11th (When the iPhone 3g comes out)

[BillyBobBongo]

July 11th seems to be the most likely date....however there's no reason to stop them rolling it out a little earlier.

Since we know that the price of this service will be lower than the dotmac new customers will not be signing up (at least if they have any sense). That's an entire month without new business.

[aquarterof]

I'm new so excuse the possibly lame question but I'm dying to know...

Do any of you think that with Mobileme I'll be able to keep my work mail account, calender, and contacts on the iPhone (all hopefully via push with the Exchange update in 2.0), but also have it synch via mobileme to my .mac mail, calender, contacts, etc? Basically I want to be able to have everything on the phone so that I can see both on the phone, but I don't want my work calender synching to my mac, nor do I want my work contacts synching to my Address book. Vice versa, etc, etc

Thoughts?

[Quillz]

I'm new so excuse the possibly lame question but I'm dying to know...

Do any of you think that with Mobileme I'll be able to keep my work mail account, calender, and contacts on the iPhone (all hopefully via push with the Exchange update in 2.0), but also have it synch via mobileme to my .mac mail, calender, contacts, etc? Basically I want to be able to have everything on the phone so that I can see both on the phone, but I don't want my work calender synching to my mac, nor do I want my work contacts synching to my Address book. Vice versa, etc, etc

Thoughts?Couldn't you set up an Exchange account on the iPhone? Anyway, I suppose if you forwarded all your e-mail to the MobileMe e-mail, it would work. As for the calendars, same thing. Maybe upload all of them onto MobileME, and then it should work.

[Quillz]

Am I right in assuming that all these new features for .mac/mobileme and the iPhone will also work the same for the iPod Touch?
First, you pay $9.95 to upgrade the iPod touch with the 2.0 firmware. MobileME is a separate service for $99/year that works with the Mac, PC, iPhone and iPod touch.

[batchtaster]

Okay, I've figured out what's been bothering me about this syncing service.

It's the "everything wants to define 'me'" issue.

Right now I'm fighting a losing battle with the new YahooSync thing in 10.5.3 (how do I get rid of the damn thing). My Mac and my Yahoo can't agree on which card is "me", so they both end up adding their own card to each other. Both of them have me in there twice.

My real Address Book card has all my details in it, and Yahoo has plopped in a second one with a scant few Yahoo details. On Yahoo, my full Address Book card can be found alongside my minimal Yahoo card. Yahoo won't allow you to say "This is me" like you can in Address Book and Entourage.

The only way forward seems to be to copy all my data from my real Address Book card into the one Yahoo took upon itself to create, then delete my Address Book card and choose a new "me" in Address Book. The problem with that is a) the work involved in migrating it all over, and b) I had to fight this same battle with my phone - I had to wipe my phone, which I figured would be a trivial issue since I sync it. But my phone would not allow me pump my Address Book card into it and pick up my details from it; it regarded my Address Book "me" card as a separate person.

I had to do exactly what I just described for Yahoo, but with my phone - repopulate my details into the new card my phone created in my Address Book, delete the old one and say that the new one is now "me". And if I do this again with Yahoo, what will happen to my phone? These syncs tools seem to distinguish between cards, even if the details are changed (it looks like they have a unique identifier of some type), so I fear I'm likely to end up with my phone and Yahoo disagreeing.

Which brings us to.... what happens with MobileMe when multiple Macs and multiple iPhones and multiple PCs all argue about which card is "me"? And can I be certain that I won't get this duplication mess? Oh, and by the way, several of my friends are duplicated too. Their names are the same in both Address Book and Yahoo, and yet they appear twice. I delete the duplicates and they just come back with the next sync.

Syncing is great in theory, but it's a freaking bitch of a nightmare in practice. EVERY program, EVERY device should allow you to say "this is my card" (or "this is their card") instead of assuming they know what's what. Until they do, I doubt syncing will work right anywhere.

/end rant

[ogminlo]

I agree with you. May be if enough of us ridicule this new folly Jobs might want to 86 this juvenile POS... :mad:

Steve Jobs will only care if the service isn't widely adopted and fails to make money. Since everyone with an iPhone will want this, that is an unlikely scenario. Make fun all you want, but I don't think Jobs hangs out on the MacRumors boards... :rolleyes:

Does anyone know if getting your own domain and tying it to mac/me.com allows you to point email to @<domian>.com?

[BillyBobBongo]

Make fun all you want, but I don't think Jobs hangs out on the MacRumors boards... :rolleyes:

:eek:

Of course he's a member here....how else would he stay on top of what's coming next!?! ;)

[MrCrowbar]

I guess the multiple calendar support is not a mobileMe feature, but an iPhone 2.0 feature. Weird I haven't heard if it in the rumors, but it's there in the iPhone features page (http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/calendar.html)

http://images.apple.com/iphone/features/images/supp_calendar20080609.jpg

Even looks like they greaty extended the iPhone's calendar app. Now there's an invitation and attendees tab.

http://tinyurl.com/3strn6
Taken from the "See it in action" video

For me, the iPhone is an iPod I can make calls with, write SMS, edit my shopping list (pop up the Notes app whenever I remember to buy something) and a calendar. I use the calendar a lot, the address book too, although I wish the contact photos were included like in the keynote demo app. If someone knows an app that does it, please tell me :)

http://tinyurl.com/5jsz77
Demo app from the WWDC2006 keynote podcast at 17:35

Bottom of line: Do I want/need mobileMe?
- 20 GB of storage. That's what rapidshare is for
- eMail syncing: I assume it only works with your .mac (.me) address. Who exlusively uses their .mac e-mail?
- syncing in general: Do I really need my devices synced up all the time? When I'm at my Mac, I edit stuff on it directly, if not I do it on the iPhone. I have to connect the iPhone via USB anyway to get the new podcasts, photos and videos on it. So the only time I'd actually use MobileMe is when I don't have either my Mac or my iPhone with me. Well, actually on a Mac with Leopard, I can control Mac at home with Screen Sharing, but I agree that is kinda geeky.
- Mail syncing: Right now, Mail on iPhone is useless to me. It syncs over the accounts from the Mac alright, but the iPhone has no rules, no junk folder and no syncing at all for POP3 accounts. I wish it would sync up with Mail on the Mac a little more. Right now I only turn it on on the iPhone when I really have to and I have to wait half an hour for it to load all the old messages and deal with my e-mail provider's timeouts...
- Gallery syncing: The iPhone camera has plenty of megapixels but no flash and sometimes the pictures are distorted because the sensor scans the area top to bottom and it shows when you or your subject move a little while taking the picture.

I'd love iTunes syncing over MobileMe. Imagine having your entire iTunes library on Apple's server, accessible from anywhere. Got your iPhnoe with you, but you did not sync that song or video because there was not enough space on the iPhone? No problem, get it from your MobileMe. Want to show someone a cool picture but it's at home? No problem, your iPhoto Library is on MobileMe. Didn't back up your documents and now your laptop's hard drive died? No worries, there's a full backup on MobileMe. Come to think of it, the average Apple consumer hard drive space is about 200 GB. Why not offer a cloud storage service where your data gets synced to the cloud? Just select "MobileMe" as secondary Time Machine Drive and enjoy. On the other hand, who would buy laptops if they can access all their stuff from any computer...

[megfilmworks]

Freaking stupid. What a stupid name, stupid logo, sounds and looks like something for 14 year old girls. Apple Idiots. STUPID

Who cares what they call it... it's still a great service.

[Eric S.]

I know I need safari 3. But do I also need leopard for this?

According to Apple's terms of service (http://www.apple.com/legal/mobileme/en/terms.html), 10.4.11 is also supported.

[Eric S.]

I'm sorry, but but MobileMe seems wildly overpriced from what you get. What am I missing?

Why don't they just outsource the service to google for a slice of the ad revenue?

I would consider $99 a small price to pay to avoid Google-style "targeted advertising."

[emtbard]

-The quick reply in Mail is already there in .Mac
-The Galleries are all dressed in black. Why no costumization available?
-Where is push for Notes and To Do's?
-The Bookmarks thingy has been removed.
-The URL for you webpage and Galleries stink. No one will remember them.
-The Mobile Me logo and name stink. So not Apple like imho.

Mobile Me is all about improvements no doubt, and so far so good, but why haven't they introduced any new features? This is .Mac as it should always have been, so its beyond me why Apple did not spend some time trying to come up with something genius that would separate them from the rest of the pack.

I totally agree with wondering where push is for Notes and To Do's. I don't understand how Apple continues to leave a To Do list out of every single one of it's products, including mobile me and the iphone. It doesn't seem this would be a hard feature to add!

[jdeitch]

Perhaps "MobileMe" is the start of a whole family of mobile products. I can imagine a Mac tablet named "MobileMac."

Jay

[flyinmac]

Freaking stupid. What a stupid name, stupid logo, sounds and looks like something for 14 year old girls. Apple Idiots. I was planning on getting .mac when I finally get a mac laptop but "Mobile Me" "me.com" ?? What are they thinking?

They're targetting it at the new "ME" generation. Everything is about me.

Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me

Oh, and did I mention "Me"

Me all the time...

[BillyBobBongo]

I would consider $99 a small price to pay to avoid Google-style "targeted advertising."

Indeed....and when you break it down it's just $0.27 a day to keep them from the door!

Can you say Bargain?!


although I wish the contact photos were included like in the keynote demo app

I would imagine that this will come with the software update.

[MrCrowbar]

I would imagine that this will come with the software update.

Well, I've only seen the contact search function on iPhone 2.0. I don't think the contact pictures are included. Probably because most people don't have pictures for most of their contacts. I have pics for most contacts. If you somehow can't take the picture yourself, Google and social networks are handy for that. :cool:

[km91]

thinking about whether or not using the mobileme service i have the following problem:

i really love gmail's "don't delete anything" philosophy and would like to use my gmail account in the future.
now i think this would only be possible if imap would be build right into mobileme, what probably isn't the case.
at the moment i'm syncing google cal to ical and that via itunes to my ipod touch. if i'm creating a new event it gets syncened to ical, but not to google cal as this works only one way.
even worse is the adress book situation as gmail doens't offer any sort of dynamic api (export all contacts every day is a joke).

[pad07]

Anyone else find it annoying how MobileMe has a very consistent, but DIFFERENT interface to OS X?

Note:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9671/comparisonwf9.jpg

I wish Apple would sort out Leopard, Aqua is clearly dead looking at their apps. Yet it remains for the buttons and scrollbars in Leopard.