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Cloud-Based iTunes and Wireless Device Syncing Coming 'Soon'?

I'm not that interested in cloud storage, especially if it is limited to only things bought through iTunes (which is maybe 20 songs out 14,000).

I'm extremely excited about point 2, streaming from my home PC to other devices. This would make it easy to hook the iPad up to my home theater and stream our music. Also would love the wireless syncing as well. Looking forward to this!


Those talking about storing 500 and 900 GB on Apple servers are a little crazy to think that will happen, at least not without a charge. Even with some kind of charge, I doubt there will be an option to store TBs of data. Most of the "free" cloud based storage options out now offer 30 GB or less.
 
RollTide1017 said:
Those talking about storing 500 and 900 GB on Apple servers are a little crazy to think that will happen, at least not without a charge. Even with some kind of charge, I doubt there will be an option to store TBs of data. Most of the "free" cloud based storage options out now offer 30 GB or less.
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The..um media is already on Apple's servers. That's where it comes from when you buy it. One word: streaming. Media you don't buy from Apple would be part of the other component of the report,
2. Streaming music and movies from your home computers to your other computers, remote devices, etc.
Click to expand...

...stating that you could access media stored on your home computer.

Plus, with Apple's new huge datacenter...
 
ryanasimov said:
Some of these comments lead me to believe that some people think that they'll be able to upload their multi-hundred GB library. I'm fairly certain that if this cloud service is indeed rolled out it will be ONLY for media purchased from Apple.
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That's what I'm thinking as well. And I'm not even sure that you'll be able to upload anything to this service. I would imagine that Apple has a list of every customer's past purchases from iTunes, and would just make those songs/movies/books, etc. available from the cloud.
 
ryanasimov said:
Some of these comments lead me to believe that some people think that they'll be able to upload their multi-hundred GB library. I'm fairly certain that if this cloud service is indeed rolled out it will be ONLY for media purchased from Apple.
Click to expand...
Other possibilities include:
  1. Wifi only, as others have said.
  2. Streaming only to authorized Apple devices ("authorized" in the sense that additional computers can be authorized via the "Store/Authorize This Computer" menu pick). I don't know how iPhones and the like would be handled, as these are currently exempt from authorization, but Apple would have to put something in place.
 
rfahey said:
Streaming content to your devices just seems out of place now that the days of "unlimited data" seem to be numbered.
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Agree with you. Most carriers are going to tiered data plans which is going to kill these cloud services for mobile devices.
I dont get the fascination with streaming your media from the cloud anyway. That is what a hard drive is for. I could see backing up your data to the cloud but not worth streaming it.
 
I'd just like a easy way to sync my photos/videos I take with my iPhone 4, like I can with my music thru iTunes.

Why isn't photos/videos treated the same thru iTunes?
 
jsbaugh said:
Agree with you. Most carriers are going to tiered data plans which is going to kill these cloud services for mobile devices.
I dont get the fascination with streaming your media from the cloud anyway. That is what a hard drive is for. I could see backing up your data to the cloud but not worth streaming it.
Click to expand...

I stream all my media to my :apple:Tv's, that way I don't have to worry about setting them up to download movies all the time from my iTunes.
 
I think if this is true, they will introduce it at the September iPod event.

I also predict that the iPod Nano's will get wifi built in, since its only logical to make them be able to sync up with the cloud like iPod touches and iPhones. It also is a new feature that will force people with current iPod nanos to upgrade.

I hope this service is either free or something like $99 a year.
 
fabian9 said:
they're not going to let anyone upload their huge media library to the cloud. why would they keep a million copies of the same song, if one copy can be shared amongst a million customers?
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I can see the logic in what you're saying but what about if you have say some music or movies you made you want in the cloud but it's just for you and isn't for sharing?
 
all is of is good news & with iads coming online, the money from that should make mobile me 'free'.
Seriously, Google are ahead in could based services but their not invincible.
Their UI is dorky and Apple does software much better.

Come on apple, make this service free maybe have a premium service that people can pay for.. Build on what google started, build on Evernotes great work & we'll all be good CareBears :)
 
The "cloud" is less and less interesting as mobile bandwidth gets more and more limited - it only makes sense to me with an unlimited data plan, and those seem to be going away, at least for now.

jtropeano said:
I have my 510 GB music and movie collection stored on my Time Machine drive. Any time I want to sync iTunes with my mobile devices (iPhone and iPad), I have to mount the drive, and launch iTunes. What a mess. It's slow, it's clunky, and it's a hassle.
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If your library is on your TM drive, that means you're not backing it up. That seems like a really bad idea.

And I assume the "cloud" only will let you stream purchased material from iTunes servers - audio from other sources like ripped from CD would have to be streamed from home, meaning you'd still have to have those files available.

Eduardo1971 said:
"Free"? In my opinion why would Apple 'give' away a service that is a steady revenue stream.
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To sell more macs and sell more iPods.

reckless2k2 said:
Anyone that thinks you will not have to pay for storage is silly. They will charge for space.
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Sounds like they won't be providing storage, they'll be providing access to songs via the iTunes servers.

GroundLoop said:
This will most certainly NOT be a free service. The content owners would not allow it and Apple has to pay for that datacenter in NC somehow.
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The content providers and datacenters are paid when you buy the song or video from iTunes. When streaming from your home computer, the content owners don't really get a say and it just requires passing the data along, not storing it.
 
"Thanks to our wireless connectivity, all NS4 robots are continuously updated with the latest software"

I.Robot.jpg
 
I'd be most excited about wireless syncing and audio video streaming (over local wifi) than anything else. Seems like a no brainer to have the option of syncing in your house. Or plugging the iPod/iPhone into the TV and using it to stream video from your computer (whether stored on that machine or coming over the internet).
 
Eduardo1971 said:
"Free"? In my opinion why would Apple 'give' away a service that is a steady revenue stream.
Click to expand...

Not only that, but the new service would have more functionality built in - I can't imagine their building in more functionality and then allowing everyone to use it for free. Not going to happen.

mainstreetmark said:
Why does Google give away almost every consumer thing they create?
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This is easy to answer. Because they can track what you do, who you speak with and email, what sites you surf, what applications you download and use, essentially every element of your online life Google wants to track. They then sell this data about your private life to advertisers who will then try and hock their wares to you. It's all about advertising - it's about nothing else but selling your private data to anyone who will pay.

AgingGeek said:
"Thanks to our wireless connectivity, all NS4 robots are continuously updated with the latest software"
Click to expand...

Except in the case of Android - then you are stuck with your current version, and maybe someday if your telco decides you deserve an upgraded OS you will get one (either that or you have to get down and dirty with your device), as long of course as you have the right hardware. :rolleyes:
 
I really hope there's a home server coming to. Let's face it, the cloud streaming option is for apple-bought stuff only (they may offer "cloud storage" for a fee), but a box that manages and distributes stuff would be awesome. In the same way you sync and stream things now (eg AppleTV) you could sync and stream between the cloud and your house, so if you're really into a film you just bought (from Apple) you can sync it so it stays on the box so if you watch it 5 times a week, you only have to download it once rather than streaming 4 GB 5 times a week. When you get bored with it, you can "unsync" it so when the drive starts to get full, it will be deleted and if you want to watch it again it will stream. The same box could also manage streaming media (including your own personal media) around the house and out over the internet (using your bandwidth) and allow centralised syncing of iTunes playlists, ipods, iphones etc. in conjunction with iTunes X. Then, announce iLife X with media syncing so all your photos, home movies etc are stored on the box and can be synced to all your devices.

Basically a box with an A4 chip, wifi/network and hard drive (1 or 2 TB) and a USB port for backups to external disks, with or without router/Time Capsule support and it's a winner!
 
I hope this materializes... it's probably the one thing I am missing from my mac-itunes-iphone experience. I don't really mind if it takes longer for syncs, I just want to walk in my house, connect my phone to my wireless network and start syncin... I can put the phone down or work on something else while it takes it's time
 
munkees said:
I stream all my media to my :apple:Tv's, that way I don't have to worry about setting them up to download movies all the time from my iTunes.
Click to expand...

So the barrier to market is complete - both for competitors and the user..

Full encryption from the cloud, the stream is encrypted direct to the display chip itself in the TV over HDMI.

So you will not be able to take your movies with you if you want another provider (most likely it will be a monthly access fee). If an upgrade comes to the service the you most likely will have to re-agree to the terms and conditions or find that your access to the service and no access to your purchased media investment.

So it's very likely that this will be rental only with per-view payment.

I suppose because I don't have sky or cable on-demand services that I find this a little sucky. I'm used to having the film and using on the business laptop when travelling (no installation of itunes possible but windows can play DVDs)..

Do I care that I don't own anything? Well not really in the long run as it will certainly save space BUT your viewing is restricted to the Hollywood tripe sub-selection that the studios are attempting to get their RoI (no interesting independent films from France, Asia etc).

Next is the resolution - 720p like the current films? Sorry but not everyone has bad eyesight.. 1080p if you're going todo it.

Lastly ISPs in the UK are going to kill this dead - bad connections, low actual sustained transfers, monthly caps and expensive increases in capacity.

Think the mobile operators are bad enough!
 
I have 1.5TB on 2 drobos, Some work out how long that will take to up load on 400K Crappy British broadband line. And as all the UK networks are tight arses with the data allowance this is surly is a pointless exercise. Currently if i buy a film off itunes it takes 2 days to download. I can drive to the shop buy it rip it watch it on the ATV in less that 4.


Apple spend your time on something else, like a new inter face FFS

Also how about the poor sods over here with a 512K line
 
ProwlingTiger said:
The..um media is already on Apple's servers. That's where it comes from when you buy it. One word: streaming. Media you don't buy from Apple would be part of the other component of the report,


...stating that you could access media stored on your home computer.

Plus, with Apple's new huge datacenter...
Click to expand...

most of my music is from my own CD's and some of it isn't on iTunes, so how would they stream music they don't offer?
 
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