Apple Working to Create its Own Cloud Storage Infrastructure

[MacRumors]

Apple is working on building its own cloud infrastructure to reduce its dependence on services like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, according to information shared by Re/code and VentureBeat. A project called "McQueen" is underway at Apple, with a team of employees working to create an in-house cloud storage system.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Apple already has a team working on this; it's known internally as "McQueen," as in Steve. It's unclear if that project will materialize or when. But a source tells Re/code that the codename refers to Apple's intent, sometime in the next few years, to break its reliance on all three outside cloud providers in favor of its own soup-to-nuts infrastructure.

According to VentureBeat, Apple is unhappy with AWS's inability to quickly load photos and videos onto iOS devices, something its own cloud system could fix. Apple executives reportedly believe that creating a full cloud infrastructure could pay for itself within three years. Estimates suggest Apple spends upwards of $1 billion on cloud services each year.

Project McQueen kicked off after a conversation between a Microsoft employee and an Apple employee, the source said. Azure won't be able to handle the growth of Apple's workloads in the future, meaning Apple would have to pay much more in order to help Microsoft cover the cost of expanding Azure's data center infrastructure, the Microsoft person told the Apple person.

Apple is already investing significant money into building new data centers around the world and is said to be planning for data centers in China and Hong Kong. Data centers are in the works in Ireland, Denmark, Reno, and Arizona, plus Apple is expanding its existing data center in Prineville, Oregon. Apple's Arizona data center, located in the former GT Advanced sapphire plant, is positioned as a "command center" for Apple's global data network. Apple has described the Arizona location is "one of the largest investments" the company has made.

While Apple carries out plans to build its own cloud computing service, it will continue to rely on Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Apple has long used AWS and Microsoft Azure, while Google Cloud Platform is a new partner that inked a deal with Apple late last year.

VentureBeat cautions Apple's plan to create its own cloud infrastructure is still in the early stages, while Re/code says it is not clear if and when the project could materialize. Apple could abandon the plan and stick with its current providers or instead acquire a cloud infrastructure product in the future.

Article Link: Apple Working to Create its Own Cloud Storage Infrastructure

 

[Andres Cantu]

Apple, can you please raise the 5GB limit for iCloud to at least 10GB? Thanks!

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

They should a get rid of Google asap.

 

[coolfactor]

Makes sense. I hope it results in wicked awesome servers again.

Remember the good ol' days...?

Virginia Tech launches G5-based Supercomputer....
http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2004/01/2004-233.html
[doublepost=1458256213][/doublepost]

Apple, can you please raise the 5GB limit for iCloud to at least 10GB? Thanks!

Pay and you can have 10x that, or more. Problem solved.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Of course they are. It was obvious when they acquired FoundationDB that they were going to roll their Cloud service storage into their own design.

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/03/24/apple-acquires-foundationdb/

 

[dan110]

I thought that's why they built all those datacenters around the globe for?

 

[Max(IT)]

This makes sense.
Apple rely on 3 different service provider, Google the last entry, and they aren't satisfied by any.

 

[metsjetsfan]

So what was that whole thing in north carolina for??? Didnt they build their cloud infrastructure there?

 

[\-V-/]

Apple, can you please raise the 5GB limit for iCloud to at least 10GB? Thanks!

It really is a pathetic amount, even for free.

 

[Bubba Satori]

They should a get rid of Google asap.

Why is that?

 

[raniel]

selective sync please

 

[Andres Cantu]

Pay and you can have 10x that, or more. Problem solved.

It's not about paying, it's about all the people who aren't aware about the difference between iCloud storage and the storage on their iOS device. Increasing it to 10-15GB would greatly help in diminishing that confusion, since it would allow more photos and videos to be stored without running out of space as quickly.

But thank you for your obvious solution.

It really is a pathetic amount, even for free.

Yes, it sure is.

 

[aaronvan]

Apple is unhappy with AWS's inability to quickly load photos and videos onto iOS devices, something its own cloud system could fix.

That is driving development of a multi-billions dollar cloud system? There is more to this story.

 

[azdgordon]

I though Apple already had its own cloud storage infrastructure. I thought that's what those facilities in middle of nowhere - the first in the US south east a few years ago, another near Reno, others (maybe one in Ireland (?)) - were for. What do I (obviously) miss, or misunderstand? Then, read yesterday Apple are moving away from Amazon toward Google to provide this. Now this article

 

[samcraig]

They should in theory. But this is not their area of expertise.

 

[Porco]

I don't care how much storage they have just as long as the data centers are 0.5inches thinner than the last ones!

 

[garirry]

They should a get rid of Google asap.

As long as it doesn't end up being the Maps of iOS 6.

 

[danmcq]

They should a get rid of Google asap.

Supposedly they're moving more data from AWS to Google..

http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-using-googles-cloud-moving-some-data-from-amazon-1458239465

 

[2010mini]

Apple, can you please raise the 5GB limit for iCloud to at least 10GB? Thanks!

I would rather they give us PER device.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I would rather they give us PER device.

I would too, but let's not get too greedy. One step at a time

 

[AppleScruff1]

IMO, Apple should use whatever service(s) that provides the best service and security for its users.

 

[2010mini]

I would too, but let's not get too greedy. One step at a time

Greedy? Lol. After paying full retail for all our Apple devices, it's the least they can do. C'mon Apple.... 5GB per device.... You can do it.

 

[\-V-/]

But thank you for your obvious solution.

It's the go-to obnoxious and unhelpful response.

I would rather they give us PER device.

Yeah 5 GB shared is the dumbest idea ever. It's bad enough having 5 GB on one device. Having to split that storage across several is asinine.

 

[pavelbure]

I thought that's why they built all those datacenters around the globe for?

Those aren't data centers, they are bank vaults.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

I'm sure make their own hardware nodes based on ARM (70%) and Intel (30%).

Like a cluster of Apple TV with attached storage.

And we might see the Apple Pizzabox server back ?