New Time Capsules Rather Than Apple's Servers to Act as Hub for iCloud Data Syncing?

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Correct, but I bet everyone here would love to put their entire iTunes library on something like dropbox and have the ability to access that everywhere. But to be realistic, the infrastructure is not there yet to support that mostly cost-wise. Hopefully we will all be able to do that 5-10 years down the road... that will be really great

Or, maybe tomorrow if this TC-replacement is actually a centralized iTunes media server that can stream it to all access points within your home AND to you when you are on-the-go away from home. Apple could deliver this tomorrow... many of the piece are in place. And obviously- even within this one thread- we can see a number of people seeming to hunger for this centralized iTunes media solution more than the rest of the related rumors. My guess is that it would be a very big seller if it is "just works" simple and reliable.

 

[iphone X]

forgive me if i'm wrong and being silly, but why are new tcs needed for this? Couldn't this be implemented through a software update on older models?

And doesn't this sound more like 'back to my time capsule' instead of icloud?

+1

 

[jaw04005]

You're underestimating how much data people have. Most people don't delete anything off of their drives and want everything backed up even if they haven't used a file or application in years.

I don't believe that.

For one thing, the Mac App Store allows persistent re-downloading of applications and Lion's setup will likely have an automated process for reinstalling applications downloaded from the Mac App Store. Therefore, applications will not need to be stored on iCloud. And if you're not using the Mac App Store, Apple doesn't care about you.

For another, most people don't bother backing up anyway so to assume they have such high expectations for a backup service (such as backing up their entire 1/2TB hard drive full of applications, system files, etc) is nonsense.

Unlike iDisk, you can expect iCloud to be centrally integrated into both iOS 5 and Lion. If you're an iCloud subscriber, it'll likely be the default save location for Apple's applications such as Pages, Keynote, etc.

They're really going to push this as the easiest/safest storage solution for home users.

 

[OllyW]

Could this be the iTunes server that many of us have been waiting on for a long time?

I've always wanted to be able to sync the iTunes on my iMac, my MBP and my PC and this sounds like it could be the way to do it. It also sounds like I could also sync with iTunes on my work PC which would be a bonus.

 

[bwillwall]

I ****ing hope not, who the hell makes people buy their own servers for a cloud service >: l Apple can't even make free email (mobile me) AND they make you pay for like several TBs of storage and give you like 20 GB or so.

 

[bushido]

but why are new TCs needed for this? Couldn't this be implemented through a software update on older models?

+1

u r talking about apple here

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

but why are new TCs needed for this? Couldn't this be implemented through a software update on older models?

+1

Conceptually, no new hardware should be required for most of the rumors described here. Most of this can be done with some great software on existing TC and/or AEBS with attached hard drive(s).

However, Apple does like to sell hardware. So I am about 50:50 on whether the fullest implementation of a home iCloud will or will not require new hardware. I want to believe my own AEBS and attached storage would be usable with a software upgrade, but we'll all know tomorrow.

 

[Warbrain]

I don't believe that.

For one thing, the Mac App Store allows persistent re-downloading of applications and Lion's setup will likely have an automated process for reinstalling applications downloaded from the Mac App Store. Therefore, applications will not need to be stored on iCloud. And if you're not using the Mac App Store, Apple doesn't care about you.

For another, most people don't bother backing up anyway so to assume they have such high expectations for a backup service (such as backing up their entire 1/2TB hard drive full of applications, system files, etc) is nonsense.

Unlike iDisk, you can expect iCloud to be centrally integrated into both iOS 5 and Lion. If you're an iCloud subscriber, it'll likely be the default save location for Apple's applications such as Pages, Keynote, etc.

They're really going to push this as the easiest/safest storage solution for home users.

You don't believe it because you haven't seen it. I have first-hand knowledge of what people expect out of backup services and they expect their entire drive to be backed up. To ordinary people they don't care about specific data, they just want it all.

 

[strabes]

You can already put your data on a Time Capsule and make it available over the internet.

Once you check those two boxes in Airport Utility, in Finder you just go to Go, Connect to Server, and type in "afp://yourhomeip" and then type in the Time Capsule password and boom the drive is mounted from anywhere in the world. If you don't know your router's IP address just go to www.whatismyip.com. You could also assign a domain name to that IP or use dyndns.org because your IP changes periodically.

I suppose it would be cool if this functionality was merged with the Time Machine backups though.

 

[Warbrain]

Conceptually, no new hardware should be required for most of the rumors described here. Most of this can be done with some great software on existing TC and/or AEBS with attached hard drive(s).

However, Apple does like to sell hardware. So I am about 50:50 on whether the fullest implementation of a home iCloud will or will not require new hardware. I want to believe my own AEBS and attached storage would be usable with a software upgrade, but we'll all know tomorrow.

You know it will.

 

[newdeal]

...

this would be cool but if Apple makes me buy a new time capsule to do this I will be pissed. I am sure they could issue a software update for current hardware that would allow this

 

[manu chao]

FAIL! If iCloud requires everyone to buy Time Capsule for it to work..

People have been clamouring for years for an iTunes Home Server. Now it arrives and those wanting a true cloud server are complaining.

There is apparently no way for Apple to make people happy:
a) Introduce a true cloud service: people with low bandwidth and bandwidth caps complain
b) Introduce an iTunes Home Server: people wanting a true cloud service complain
c) Introduce both: people still complain because Apple is wasting resources on introducing something they do not want and dares to charge for something they want for free

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I ****ing hope not, who the hell makes people buy their own servers for a cloud service >: l Apple can't even make free email (mobile me) AND they make you pay for like several TBs of storage and give you like 20 GB or so.

I bet you won't HAVE to buy a TC for iCloud to work. But I bet renting the space on Apple's servers is priced such that it will make more sense to do so. Furthermore, I bet some desirable benefits (such as home and away access to iTunes media NOT purchased from the iTunes store) will require that you own a chunk of your own iCloud to keep the media company lawyers at bay.

I don't think this (get us to buy TCs) rumor is a pure greed play. I think it is probably the best answer to the legal issue previously described. I just don't see how Apple will be able to win negotiations to scan all of the media in our iTunes libraries and then give us all access to the one master copy of each song stored on their servers. The music industry seems to assume piracy, and any kind of "terms of service" language in which we take full responsibility that everything in our libraries is not pirated is probably still not bullet proof should some of it NOT be legit.

If Apple servers facilities the distribution of that content, they may own some risk they don't want to own. I'm guessing they chose to make the $1XX million deal with the music industry with this solution in mind, knowing the industry will soon move on Google & Amazon variation of this cloud concept. There, content is being stored on Google & Amazon servers. If some of that is not legit, it might be possible for the industry to sue Google & Amazon for facilitating the use of copyrighted materials. I expect that actually.

Thus, since the iTunes piece of the iCloud concept would probably be a bust if it was limited solely to iTunes-purchased media, this hybrid concept is probably seen as the best way to serve everyone's interests and minimize Apple's own legal risk. Don't want to use this new TC? You don't have to, but then the iCloud iTunes benefits are probably limited to only content that Apple can know with certainty has been legally obtained.

 

[YourHerojb]

This takes away the problem of Apple only allowing iTunes purchased songs in the remote cloud.
It looks like if you want all your pirated or cd uploaded music, you have to go buy the new time capsule and have it on a local drive.
It's a good solution I'd say

 

[cube]

I am never buying a Time Capsule and I'm not buying an Airport Extreme ever again.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You can already put your data on a Time Capsule and make it available over the internet. I suppose it would be cool if this functionality was merged with the Time Machine backups though.

Yes, but the meat of this rumor is a bit more than just having access to the files. The central iTunes media server rumor is particularly appealing to many as it would be a far superior option to Home Sharing.

 

[commander.data]

Unlike iDisk, you can expect iCloud to be centrally integrated into both iOS 5 and Lion. If you're an iCloud subscriber, it'll likely be the default save location for Apple's applications such as Pages, Keynote, etc.

They're really going to push this as the easiest/safest storage solution for home users.

The other thing is that I hope Apple encrypts everything and has layers of security in place. Once this thing is up and running and families are saving everything from school projects to expense reports on iCloud, it'll be a huge target for not just identity thief's but also groups who are going to want to hack it just for fun, given its high profile nature. A successful breach could tarnish Apple's reputation and set-back the publics view of the cloud in general for years to come.

 

[AlligatorBloodz]

All will be revealed tomorrow. But if this is true, then dubba-U-tee-EFF...

 

[Warbrain]

This takes away the problem of Apple only allowing iTunes purchased songs in the remote cloud.
It looks like if you want all your pirated or cd uploaded music, you have to go buy the new time capsule and have it on a local drive.
It's a good solution I'd say

Still gets them into an issue where they're allowing you to stream pirated material as it would have to pass through iCloud in some way according to this description.

 

[strabes]

Yes, but the meat of this rumor is a bit more than just having access to the files. The central iTunes media server rumor is particularly appealing to many as it would be a far superior option to Home Sharing.

Yeah that would be pretty cool if all the files were synced between computers, kind of like with Dropbox but with your entire computer. The central iTunes server seems pretty interesting also.

 

[Applepi]

I like the local aspect of this, sign me up.

 

[Icaras]

I hope they make it have the aluminum casing - the white plastic looks so 2006.

Oh how much I disagree with you. Glossy white is just as modern looking as aluminum in my opinion and it matches all of Apple's other peripherals and accessories. I hope they never change it to aluminum.

And black is reserved for living room tech, as evidenced by the Apple TV.

 

[jaw04005]

yes it is and you are wrong, I am using plex and my imac as servers now and there are in excess of 1tb of tv shows, movies, and music, let alone tons of audiobooks and podcasts.

And that makes you "most people"?

TV Shows, Movies and Music = Normal people purchase such things from the iTunes Store, which as already pointed out in an earlier post would not need to be backed up to iCloud

Audiobooks = likely come from the iTunes Store, which again would not need to be backed up to iCloud; as for Audible content, Audible already stores those for you

Podcasts = are on Web servers already and normal users don't collect podcasts that can be re-downloaded at any time

iCloud is not going to be a service targeted at DVD/Blu-ray rips or torrent collectors.

 

[Warbrain]

And that makes you "most people"?

TV Shows, Movies and Music = Normal people purchase such things from the iTunes Store, which as already pointed out in an earlier post would not need to be backed up to iCloud

Audiobooks = likely come from the iTunes Store, which again would not need to be backed up to iCloud; as for Audible content, Audible already stores those for you

Podcasts = are on Web servers already and normal users don't collect podcasts that can be re-downloaded at any time

iCloud is not going to be a service targeted at DVD/Blu-ray rips or torrent collectors.

You're running with the idea that all of these things are stored online for people but most people don't think that way. They think that it exists in only one place - their computer or device that it's on.

 

[YourHerojb]

Forgive me if I'm wrong and being silly, but why are new TCs needed for this? Couldn't this be implemented through a software update on older models?

There is rumors of Apple adding new processors to the time capsules and having them run a dummy iOS
If it is required to get the new TCs I'm sure it's for good reason.
It may help devices to run the cloud service more seamlessly, seeing it as an iTunes database rather than a bunch of files.