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Is iCloud email worth it?
- Thread starter Kendo
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I think it's worth it. I've used Gmail and Hotmail (now Outlook.com) back and forth over the years and I've always run into issues with getting them to play nice with other mail clients (like the one built into OS X and iOS, and even the Outlook client on Windows).
Gmail's label system winds up in a lot of duplicates appearing in a traditional mail client because of everything being organized as folders, and Outlook always seems to throw warnings when sending e-mail at times where you have to log into the account through a browser and verify yourself unless you pay for a premium account.
I've had none of these headaches with iCloud e-mail, or .Mac/MobileMe back when I used those services years ago.
Gmail's label system winds up in a lot of duplicates appearing in a traditional mail client because of everything being organized as folders, and Outlook always seems to throw warnings when sending e-mail at times where you have to log into the account through a browser and verify yourself unless you pay for a premium account.
I've had none of these headaches with iCloud e-mail, or .Mac/MobileMe back when I used those services years ago.
This can't be any further from the truth. iCloud uses the standards based IMAP protocol so you can use it basically ANYWHERE. Gmail uses a proprietary messed up implementation of IMAP. If there is any email service that bonds you to a certain company it's gmail. Because it's so proprietary, all sorts of email clients have problems with it when they don't have problems with iCloud and other proper IMAP email services.
You basically have to use just Google's apps or websites with it or find some app that has figured out workarounds for it's proprietary crappy IMAP implementation.
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This is entirely untrue. iCloud uses proper IMAP which means you can uses it basically anywhere. Google's gmail is the one you can't really use in most places unless you're fine with weird issues happening due to their proprietary IMAP implementation.
iCloud sync is pretty crap, to be honest. I get my emails sometimes on time, and when I delete them and close the app, they re-appear when you re-launch the app. This and 500 million other bugs has made me just give up on it.
In order to do push now, I'm using forwarding from my Gmail to my Outlook account, and I'm currently using Microsoft's excellent Exchange to get my new emails and it has never failed me.
In order to do push now, I'm using forwarding from my Gmail to my Outlook account, and I'm currently using Microsoft's excellent Exchange to get my new emails and it has never failed me.
For me, iCloud works the best of all the mail services I use--Gmail and my POP RR mail. Not sure why some have problems with the sync, but mine syncs accurately with my iPhone, iPad, and Mac--and works the best for lock screen notifications. I am slowly changing my most important email contacts from RR mail to iCloud--will still keep Gmail but I probably won't add many contacts to it.
I say keep them both. You can set up the mail app to show you all of your gmail mail as well. I understand the want to have a single email to use everywhere, but honestly, its probably better to have multiple accounts that you can easily view in one place.
I have 6 email addresses that I currently set up to show in my mail app
AOL is what I use to register for things I dont care about; usually the go to email for people I dont want to give my email to, but wont leave without one (aka SPAM R US)
Hotmail is pretty much the same story; this is my oldest one, and I have it because it is my main email for international contacts.
Gmail is what I use for most of my site registrations for the things I use more often, such as this sire.
University email is what I like to use when I feel like none of the other ones are appropriate, such as if Im looking for some professional help (lawyers, doctors, etc.)
Work email is for work.
iCloud email is what I treasure most, yet use less often. This is the one I put on my resumes, tax related items, more official uses.
In turn, I find the iCloud very reliable. Ive really had any issues with it. But still I do not turn to a single address for all of my needs.
I have 6 email addresses that I currently set up to show in my mail app
AOL is what I use to register for things I dont care about; usually the go to email for people I dont want to give my email to, but wont leave without one (aka SPAM R US)
Hotmail is pretty much the same story; this is my oldest one, and I have it because it is my main email for international contacts.
Gmail is what I use for most of my site registrations for the things I use more often, such as this sire.
University email is what I like to use when I feel like none of the other ones are appropriate, such as if Im looking for some professional help (lawyers, doctors, etc.)
Work email is for work.
iCloud email is what I treasure most, yet use less often. This is the one I put on my resumes, tax related items, more official uses.
In turn, I find the iCloud very reliable. Ive really had any issues with it. But still I do not turn to a single address for all of my needs.
I honestly can say I haven't had any real issues with Gmail. But it'll probably be going when I get rid of my iPad 2. While I still get Gmail on that device, I can't remember my password anymore and Gmail's password recovery system isn't working for me. And there doesn't seem to be a way to talk to a real human at Google. If there were, I could tell them to just send the password to my Gmail address. So it'll just become an abandoned account before long.
The people who claim icloud mail costs money and can't be used on any platform have GOT to be android trolls or something as neither is even remotely true. Maybe you guys should try actually using icloud mail first before making claims that are so far from false it's not even funny.
iCloud Mail is IMAP based and there are tons of choices on any platform to use it. Even iCloud calendar, contacts and tasks can be synced (by 3rd party apps) and used on Android.
I would suggest you have a better look before posting.
Why are you quoting me? I called out the ******** post. Heck if anything it is google that utilises proprietary protocols. As you say, iCloud is just IMAP, carddav and caldav. All open source and standards and accessible from any platform.
iCloud supports IMAP protocols, so it shouldnt prevent you from switching, if you ever want to. The only issue you might have is push support, but that is also platform dependent.
One thing no one mentioned here yet is the fact that Gmail is paid for by advertising and data collection. iCloud is an accompanying service of the hardware product you bought and further subsidised by paid accounts (e.g. extra storage).
I have to side with Gmail though when it comes to the web client, iCloud.com is one clunky and slow piece of software. By contrast, as mentioned here before, Gmail doesnt support IMAP properly and thus runs best on the Gmail app, which is only available on Android and iOS, but not Windows Phone, BlackBerry 10 or any other platform.
One thing no one mentioned here yet is the fact that Gmail is paid for by advertising and data collection. iCloud is an accompanying service of the hardware product you bought and further subsidised by paid accounts (e.g. extra storage).
I have to side with Gmail though when it comes to the web client, iCloud.com is one clunky and slow piece of software. By contrast, as mentioned here before, Gmail doesnt support IMAP properly and thus runs best on the Gmail app, which is only available on Android and iOS, but not Windows Phone, BlackBerry 10 or any other platform.
I don't use iCloud mail because of there is not enough space. You get 5GB to share between your iCloud backups, iCloud documents and iCloud mail. I don't even have enough space for my backups let alone email. Gmail gives you 15GB and Yahoo, Outlook.com give you unlimited storage. I know you can buy extra iCloud storage but it's expensive compared to other providers. If I had to start out with a new email address today I'd go with outlook.com. The exchange active sync provides the best push capabilities across all platforms.
I I like my iCloud email a lot and I use it for friends and family. I used Outlook for my Apple ID, banking, and other stuff. I dropped Gmail for Outlook because Outlook web UI seems so clean and easy compared to Gmail.
I think its worth it on the iPhone or iPad, but the browser Internet version of iCloud sucks beyond belief. Incredibly slow.
Icloud email is pathetic
I have to agree 100% The platform is totally unreliable: it frequently shuts down in mid-mail composition...sometimes it cannot load the mail...lots of times it cannot mail the document. Many times it "savfes" the document and interrupts composition. I've used it with Explorer, Chrome and now Firefox: I regularly maintain the drive and do everything I can to ensure peak performance in an older Dell. Nothing works. Yahoo gives me no such problems. I'm going to forward all my icloud emails to a gmail account. Picking icloud as a business and professional email was a big mistake. I cannot believe that Apple has created such an inept email platform!
I have to agree 100% The platform is totally unreliable: it frequently shuts down in mid-mail composition...sometimes it cannot load the mail...lots of times it cannot mail the document. Many times it "savfes" the document and interrupts composition. I've used it with Explorer, Chrome and now Firefox: I regularly maintain the drive and do everything I can to ensure peak performance in an older Dell. Nothing works. Yahoo gives me no such problems. I'm going to forward all my icloud emails to a gmail account. Picking icloud as a business and professional email was a big mistake. I cannot believe that Apple has created such an inept email platform!
I have been using iCloud since it was mobile me and never ever lost a mail.
Having said that I prefer using Microsoft Exchange since I am a Microsoft Pro...
Why would you choose to use the browser interface anyway? It integrates with any mail, calendaring, contact client. I really don't see the point for the web interface.
I've tried it multiple times. Most of the time it works great. I want to workvbecause it would be one less account I'd have to worry about. I am currently giving it another shot, forwarding my gmail to iCloud. Unfortunately this morning I found an email that was in my gmail but not in my icloud account. I've had this occur a few times along with some lost sent items. I've docummented this in previous posts. It's a huge disappointment really. I guess I just can't walk away from gmail because it always works (for me). Maybe I'll give outlook.com another shot or continue to give iCloud more chances.
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None that you know of
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My primary reservation is Gmail's support for industry standards. Google dropped support for Exchange ActiveSync last year or two and words have it that IMAP maybe dropped in the near future as well. If that happens, the only way to access Gmail would be Gmail.com website and Google's Gmail client (and perhaps few 3rd party apps that use Gmail API).
I've tried it multiple times. Most of the time it works great. I want to workvbecause it would be one less account I'd have to worry about. I am currently giving it another shot, forwarding my gmail to iCloud. Unfortunately this morning I found an email that was in my gmail but not in my icloud account. I've had this occur a few times along with some lost sent items. I've docummented this in previous posts. It's a huge disappointment really. I guess I just can't walk away from gmail because it always works (for me). Maybe I'll give outlook.com another shot or continue to give iCloud more chances.
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None that you know of
Why not use your own domain name. They are so cheap and you can choose your own provider or move it around without the need for forwarding etc.