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Apple Introduces iCloud: Contact, Cal, Docs, Photos, and Music Syncing Free of Charge
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the jury is out
Not sure what I think about icloud. I agree that dropbox seems like a better option (knowing what little we do now) since you can backup ANY document etc there. I guess it's nice to be able to sync things instantly but honestly, I have to plug my ipod in to charge it so it's not really that much of a pain to sync it then. Now once apple comes up with wireless charging, THAT will be something.
Not sure what I think about icloud. I agree that dropbox seems like a better option (knowing what little we do now) since you can backup ANY document etc there. I guess it's nice to be able to sync things instantly but honestly, I have to plug my ipod in to charge it so it's not really that much of a pain to sync it then. Now once apple comes up with wireless charging, THAT will be something.
Actually one doesn't have to sign up for iCloud, or even know it is there. Your applications, updates, music, books, documents, calendars, alarms, notes, and photos will magically start syncing unless you turn the feature off.
No, you are never required to turn on sharing with iCloud. Let's say you get sick and tired of having your calendars synced. You merely turn off syncing on your calendars and you will be back to June 2011 where all your calendars have no idea what you have on the other device.
Well, welcome to the new and improved ecosystem around Apple products. However, you know, you don't have to use it. Go ahead and use Edura and Dropbox, and whatever you want. Enjoy yourself making fire with flints. It's all up to you. Snow Leopard has features I don't use. I'm not trying to be a Luddite, I just don't need them yet.
As soon as Microsoft decides to add the ability to Office applications. They just got the developer's kit today.
Same thing. Every application can be made iCloud aware.
Yes... movie and still. If the media is on one iDevice or a desktop or laptop, then it's available to all the other computers and iDevices registered to the same Apple account.
iCloud will be replacing MobileMe next June 2012. However the three core applications within MobileMe have been rewritten and are now free within iCloud. Those are Mail, Calendar, and Contacts. Devices running iOS5 or Lion will automatically have the data within these apps synced on all of your devices and computers.
In addition there will be 6 more major things iCloud will sync. You have several months before this all happens and I'm sure we will be learning a lot more details as time goes on. I really see no downside with these changes.
The ONLY thing you will need to pay for, going forward, will be the iTunes MATCH service, and that is optional. Read about it at Apple.com
Like I said, I believe that will change at some point if you want to continue running the latest apps.
Today's announcements will not affect what you have set up. However, if you want to use the new features, it will also sync the email, contacts, calendars, books, music, applications, documents and more between all your computers and iDevices automatically and instantly.
Don't think of the new services and features have anything to do with doing a backup. Dropbox or Time Machine still have a purpose. As Jobs said, "This is not a hard disk in the sky." Sure, having all the same documents, photos, music, books, emails, contacts, and calendars up to date on all of your computers and devices is really a form of a backup, but its real value comes from having it synced automatically and instantly.
I have a question with respect to game saves because I may have missed it from the keynote.
If I have for example Sentinel 3 for my iPhone and iPad .. and only have a game save on my iPhone .. when I open up my iPad will I be able to continue from the iPhone's game save and then back to the iPhone? Or will they still be separate again.
If I have for example Sentinel 3 for my iPhone and iPad .. and only have a game save on my iPhone .. when I open up my iPad will I be able to continue from the iPhone's game save and then back to the iPhone? Or will they still be separate again.
The email from Apple says....
I was of the impression that meant the full address including the @mac.com and @me.com
(oh it seems it won't be iCloud addresses will be @me.com)
Is there any official news of this not being the case?
Also what about other aliases of the same account will they stay working or do we get offered to convert those to separate accounts?
That would be ideal as I'm not convinced by the security of having private information so closely tied to such a public thing as my email address.
It's about as secure as using your birthday as your password.
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They will sync. So when you move to your iPad you can start where you left off from your iPhone.
With regards to auto-syncing documents, there's Drop Box, which automatically syncs between all my devices. Plus, it's also free, and has been so since it existed.You can get Drop Box for your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device.
Can someone explain to me how this is different from dropbox?
Not as secure as iDisk.
If you really need to hide all your stuff, make an encrypted disk image.
And like someone already said, nothing will happen to your @me.com email address
This is an excellent question.
I use the web interface almost daily. It was a convenient way to read/send personal mail from my office Windows PC, transfer photos, and move files. Seems like all this will go away, which is a shame.
On another note - will you need Lion to use iCloud? i have a Macbook which cannot be upgraded to Lion and will be stuck on Snow Leopard. When MobileMe gets shut down, can I still use this computer with iCloud and my iPhone, and get my calendar, photos, etc to sync?
apple is not afraid to jettison products
As a result of my experience with Apple online products, I've started to migrate over to google for a lot of things. I had itools when it first came out, and then it went away and became .mac (and wasn't free anymore). Then I was using .mac groups, and that went away when they went to mobileme, so I went to google groups. And now idisk is going away in a year or so because of the migration to icloud. My feeling is that apple online products come and go so regularly that I can't rely on it in the long term. The photo and music syncing will be nice, but I'll have to see it in action. The remainder of the services (email, docs, calendar, contacts) I've already migrated to google.
For email, I still have my .mac/.me account, but I use gmail primarily because apple started charging for the .mac (and the .me account) and I wanted to a email account that would always be free and I've never have to pay for.
For calendar, I migrated to google calendar, but primarily because it was ubiquitous - I like shared calendars with my wife and she doesn't have a mobileme account but does have a google account, so it's easier for her in that sense.
For address book, I've kept the mac address book because I sync it with my ipod touch, but it's also sync'd with my google contacts since I like to have it there as well. Plus, I have an android phone with makes using google contacts that much easier.
As a result of my experience with Apple online products, I've started to migrate over to google for a lot of things. I had itools when it first came out, and then it went away and became .mac (and wasn't free anymore). Then I was using .mac groups, and that went away when they went to mobileme, so I went to google groups. And now idisk is going away in a year or so because of the migration to icloud. My feeling is that apple online products come and go so regularly that I can't rely on it in the long term. The photo and music syncing will be nice, but I'll have to see it in action. The remainder of the services (email, docs, calendar, contacts) I've already migrated to google.
For email, I still have my .mac/.me account, but I use gmail primarily because apple started charging for the .mac (and the .me account) and I wanted to a email account that would always be free and I've never have to pay for.
For calendar, I migrated to google calendar, but primarily because it was ubiquitous - I like shared calendars with my wife and she doesn't have a mobileme account but does have a google account, so it's easier for her in that sense.
For address book, I've kept the mac address book because I sync it with my ipod touch, but it's also sync'd with my google contacts since I like to have it there as well. Plus, I have an android phone with makes using google contacts that much easier.
HOW THE HECK WILL iMESSAGE WORK? What type of login do you need for the service? A separate email account ( like facetime )??? will it work seamlessly with the iCloud's ID( I hope! )??? Or will it have a BB-like Pin# ??(not!) and what about the iPhone, cause with facetime it uses its own cellphone #!!!
You don't need to stop using Dropbox. iCloud is not so much a backup but a syncing service. Until all the applications you use to make documents are updated to be iCloud compatible, you won't be able to send them to the cloud anyway. iCloud is not intended to replace Time Machine or other forms of backup.
Good question. iCloud may not meant for your kind of professionals use. I expect it is for more non-commercial sharing. MobileMe is not going away for another year, so there will be ample time to find a solution. BTW, your @me addresses will remain for you to continue to use.
Don't be smoking dope and posting. Nothing will change on your computer except that you will have the ability to go back to earlier versions of your documents and work from there if you desire. Also, auto-saving your documents to the cloud and your HD will be automatic.
Again, nothing has changed with how your Mac or PC data files are stored or filed.
I suppose. You will just need to start operating above board. The upside is that you will sleep better at night.
I can't quite figure out if you're peeing and moaning because other people will get a free @me email address, or if you don't understand you will get to keep your @me address free from now on. No more charges.
Let's see, they give you better core service with iCloud plus more services than ever before, and don't charge you a cent for it, and you call them "money grabbers"? What school of economics did you graduate from?
So far you have it all correct!
You're wrong. From what they announced today you will actually be able to stream your photos, and videos direct to your Apple TV from the cloud. Now, today they didn't give out all the details of how to manage your memory while syncing, but that's the nature of presenting with a broad brush and not overdoing it with the details. Go to Apple.com and read up on the details.
Firstly, don't think of the iCloud as replacing iDisk in function or purpose. In some sense, iCloud is backing up your data by copying it to all the computers and iDevices registered to the same Apple account. There is still a need for a true backup device, such as TimeMachine. Also, in Lion, automatic backing up will go on, so if it is automatically backing up to the TimeMachine you are gaining an automatic iDisk service.
iDisk seems to be going away. If so, Apple has determined that it is not the best solution to the bulk of users. Apple seems to be focusing on having such tasks be automatic and instant.
Regarding the example you quoted: a file format that does not have the iCloud hook will need to have the creating application updated to provide that. Apple has provided that "hook" to all of their applications and may have done so with vi...it was certainly not specifically mentioned during the presentation. Developers got their SDK kits today, so by the time Lion and iOS5 are released, many programs will have been updated.
For the "some of us" there is always an alternative or "classic" view. Not to worry.
Yes, iCloud will require Lion OS and iOS5 to function. Why do you not want to update? is $29 total for both your MacBooks too much? The new system will automatically install itself, so what's to not like?
You've heard too little.
So, nothing will change how you work... Except you may enjoy having the OS save your work automatically and create "versions" of your work in case you'd like to go back to an earlier version. The other advantage to LION is that when you open a document it will present it to you EXACTLY as you last left it with all the pallets and associated files laying exactly where you left them.
Apple's iCloud is not designed to be your backup HD. It is designed to sync all your work on computer "A" to computers "B" and "C" and the iDevices as well. So, if you are working on computer "A" and a cloud of black smoke starts pouring out the back, you can move to computer "B" and carry on without losing a moment's work or having to do an involved restore. Continue using whatever backup methods you currently use, however having synced files on all computers will mean you may never have to go to the backup server.
First off the servers are in North Carolina. Secondly, they are not intended to be your HD in the sky. So, if your iCal in the cloud get's toasted you will have an exact completely up-to-date version on all your computers and iDevices. Once the server farm comes back on line your computers will start syncing all their iCals to match the latest one.
Where the iCloud will also help you is that it remembers all the applications, music and books you purchased and supplies free copies to every computer and iDevice (up to 10 at a time). It will also handle software updates.
Where the new software announced today will help you is to have your important data at your fingertips regardless which computer, iPhone or iPad you are using. Your latest calendars, contacts, email, current documents, photos and much more will be with you regardless of which iDevice you have with you.
You don't need to defect, just don't use the new features.
Nothing has changed to stop you from backing up as you always have.
Just as it's getting good. You may want to schedule a senility test, you may have been on the job too long.
Yeah, right now Apple's programs are the only ones with the ability to sync their documents in the iCloud. Microsoft's developers as well as 5000 others got their SDKs for iOS5, iCloud, and Lion today, so if nothing doesn't happen soon to enable Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to be iCloud compatible, then it's not because Apple isn't making it possible.
You've made some good choices. Apple's past history with the iTools/Mac/MobileMe is one of their worst implementations ever, so I don't blame you for shopping other places, and Google is doing a good job where Apple was stumbling.
Apple needs to earn a lot of people respect back in this area, and I think this time it is well thought out and the infrastructure put into place before announcing.
While you may stay with your current setup, keep your eye on what Apple is doing with their new software in Lion, iOS5 and iCloud because it may be the tightest and most automatic implementation on the planet.
I don't use iDisk as a backup; I do lots of other backups. I use iDisk as a network attached drive to provide access to my files from different machines in different locations.
Then I need to look for another cloud-based disk solution. At least I apparently have a year to do so.
Of course $29 has nothing to do with it. I won't update because 1) there are always problems when an existing system is upgraded, things break; and 2) my systems do everything I need them to do, so why should I go to that trouble.
In any case I see nothing about iCloud that interests me so it doesn't matter.
It's Magical & Revolutionary like every other development that Apple lays claim to.
Nothing to see here.
Well, actually, icloud won't be free. It looks like it is available to OSX Lion users
. So you have to pay for the Lion update (of course it's cheaper than mobileme was. Mobileme was overpriced imho, even for the Amazon price).I'm not sure I want Lion on my computer. So I'm happy they are extending my mobileme. I can take my time and decide if I want to upgrade or not (they might get me with that though once mobileme goes away, it's a small thing but I'm totally addicted to my calendars and contacts updating as I enter them on all my devices. IT's really the only thing I got mobileme for. I get a tiny bit of use out of idisk and find my iphone and I don't even use the email address at all).
Adds photo stream, music, apps and documents as well.....all free too. Apple is trying to add what worked for android to what worked for Apple so it can keep Apple and eat Android too.
The way Apple is trying to make amends is by making iCloud FREE. Jobs is right. Make them free and people will come. Bet you every Apple sales person is taught now to "help" new buyers get a new Apple ID and email address since it's free now.
^This
It's downright insulting for current MobileMe subscribers. I have 20 GB right now. I guess the price of hard drives must have gone up after all these years since I'm now expected to make do with five. I mean I have that beat with the tiny flash drive on my keychain right now (8 GB, faster read/write than iDisk, doesn't require internet access to use).
You can only toggle back and forth on the device (I assume you're talking about the button at the bottom of the iTunes and App Store main views) if the account you're switching to is in the same country. When signing in with an Apple Id of a different country it'll say the credit card isn't valid and also various things like the Postcode/zipcode format.
If you need to switch between accounts at different stores you can only do it my doing the signout-signin dance in iTunes on your Mac/PC. I'd love to be proven wrong on this.
For all the previous posters who are wondering about how iCloud will work for families that share accounts, spare a thought for those families like mine that have multiple accounts in different countries.
You can back up anything there too...
How do you back up ANY document off your iPhone with Dropbox? With an App right?
With the iCloud API devs of any app will be able to allow access to any kind of document for any program or for other programs to be backed up.
The iCloud solution will be superior to Dropbox.
5 gigs is free in iCloud, 20 gigs is $99 a year in Mobileme.
I am not sure I am following your comparison.
They might make additional space available in iCloud for a price... You don't know that.. but to somehow claim that $99 a year for 20 gigs is somehow a better deal than 5 gigs for free... well it is not working.
Breathe.
1. Purchased Music, Apps, books, and photos don't go towards your 5 GB.
2. iCloud is free.
3. You can purchase more space if you need it.
4. Your flash drive doesn't sync automatically. This is a syncing service, not a storage service.
Feel better now?