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OS X Mountain Lion's Documents in the Cloud Simplifies File Access Across Devices
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What I would really like to see is the ability to email someone a link to a specific document in iCloud, so I don't have to email a huge attachment. This should be built into Mail. It would be way more convenient than YouSendIt and the likes, and more convenient than MobileMe's file sharing mechanism via iDisk, too.
On MobileMe the sharing links expire after a default time of 30 days, which the user can change. An iCloud file sharing facility should, in my opinion, in addition, delete the shared document after a default period.
On MobileMe the sharing links expire after a default time of 30 days, which the user can change. An iCloud file sharing facility should, in my opinion, in addition, delete the shared document after a default period.
"Document in the Cloud" will become preferred way of dealing files to be sure. And most folks are better of not managing files.I'm not a doom and gloom kind of guy... but the writing's on the wall here
But I won't go as far and say local file system will be entirely off limit to end users. There are many specialized apps and use cases that will require file system:
- Application development.
- Workflow that requires files to be used by several apps, such as creative work (video, photo).
- Web development and publishing.
After using Mobile me for years, being patient with it's foibles and truly trying to like it, the bottom line revealed I was in denial by putting up with it's issues. Even SJ admitted MM was a bad job on Apple's part.
Having paid up until MobileMe's final expiration date, I've purposely decided to try the alternatives. That was over six months ago. Currently I'm completely disconnected from my active MobileMe account and using Google, Dropbox, Catch, and Sky Drive. I've chosen this many to test them and see which ones I prefer.
As a result I now have a very stable, fast and reliable way of syncing all my devices, computers, and enjoyed the trouble free experience.
As MobileMe's drop dead date draws near, and I've not migrated to iCloud... I am seriously considering sticking with the setup I have.
Yet given a compelling and reliable reason to migrate to iCloud I would probably try it. At this juncture I'm following the experiences of others and giving iCloud a long look before I decide to leap.
Having paid up until MobileMe's final expiration date, I've purposely decided to try the alternatives. That was over six months ago. Currently I'm completely disconnected from my active MobileMe account and using Google, Dropbox, Catch, and Sky Drive. I've chosen this many to test them and see which ones I prefer.
As a result I now have a very stable, fast and reliable way of syncing all my devices, computers, and enjoyed the trouble free experience.
As MobileMe's drop dead date draws near, and I've not migrated to iCloud... I am seriously considering sticking with the setup I have.
Yet given a compelling and reliable reason to migrate to iCloud I would probably try it. At this juncture I'm following the experiences of others and giving iCloud a long look before I decide to leap.
You know, alot of us live in areas where the best we can get is cr*ppy DSL, complete with a data cap to boot. Until Apple uses part of their pile of money to pressure service providers like AT&T to scrap their silly data cap policies, users like me will not be utilizing any cloud services.
I used dropbox to do this after moving from MobileMe to iCloud. now however i use droplr, Simple drag/drop of any file, address book contact, web page or open ps document and the file is automatically uploaded and the link copied to clipboard ready to send. I would LOVE to see that method integrated into iCloud as it is much faster than working with any other cloud storage system with file sharing.
Rest assured, they will be. Apple has already shown their hand. Internet access or not, all your files will be stored in their respective apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. iCloud is nothing more than the service that syncs app files from one device to another. iCloud is fantastic to be sure, but it's not requisite for this kind of file management. It's just a matter of time before they remove the finder completely.
Unfortunately, it's a completely stupid approach to file management.
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Exactly
Personally, I'd rather focus on doing real work than organizing files. Simplicity is anything but dumb.
Hm, haven't checked that. Still, even if they killed that it shows that there is a local copy. You aren't working purely from an online copy (iCloud document sync on iOS proves that you can access these documents while offline so the idea that iCloud = online only is FUD).
Got your point, BUT iCloud isn't (and never was meant to be) a backup solution for your files. There are hundreds of other services out there that can do that great or even better. It's a syncing service in first place. The new iCloud features in OSX 10.8 make absolutely sense cause they combine your mac with your idevices. That's the big feature for someone using both (iOS and OSX) to create documents.
You're assuming they won't have some sort of replacement if they do remove the Finder. They might as well just remove it now if we go with your assumption.
If we don't run with your assumption, you could instead see this as Apple providing a choice just like they are with the Mac App Store.
Simply said, stop predicting the absolute worst case scenario that would actually hurt Apple. Just because you can think it doesn't mean it will happen, especially when all evidence so far points to OS X remaining it's own beast instead of Apple slowly porting iOS to Mac hardware.
In this extremely early preview -- sure.
Perhaps s/getting rid of/moving away from/ and these comments would make more sense to literal interpreters? It's clear that iOS and OS X are converging and as OS X becomes more like iOS power-user features like navigating a filesystem & firing up a command shell will have no place. Hell, just look at the most recent Airport Utility update.
Why the hell don't they bring back iDisk? Seriously, call it iCloud but stop gimping it. This is still half baked and my guess will be until 10.9; then of course it will be revolutionary.
This iCloud bandwagon has got the dust flying up around so many they can't remember they were just standing in a MM stadium. All they did was change the name, open a data center, and remove what we payers once had.
Everything else added could have easily been added to MM.
This iCloud bandwagon has got the dust flying up around so many they can't remember they were just standing in a MM stadium. All they did was change the name, open a data center, and remove what we payers once had.
Everything else added could have easily been added to MM.
Are the files encrypted in the cloud? I'm still googling it....
This would be a must. Maybe I could encrypt on my side (store a sparsebundle in the cloud)?
Update:
I found my own answer, just pasting here for anyone else wondering:
http : // support . apple . com /kb/HT4865
This would be a must. Maybe I could encrypt on my side (store a sparsebundle in the cloud)?
Update:
I found my own answer, just pasting here for anyone else wondering:
http : // support . apple . com /kb/HT4865
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They can't completely remove it until most apps are updated to support it. In Steve Jobs' last presentation he said he has been working for a long time to "get rid of the file system". It's very clear that Apple feels like the current method of organizing files (finder) is an antiquated system. Files being stored exclusively in their respective apps is the future for Apple products.
For those worrying about the Cloud...
This is already happening - every time you create an iWork doc on an iOS device, the document syncs to your iCloud linked Mac (currently hidden in your library)
The only reason you can't use them at the moment is the OSX versions of the apps cannot read the format.
So don't worry about the cloud, the docs will still be stored on your devices - just synced by and a copy held in iCloud.
This is already happening - every time you create an iWork doc on an iOS device, the document syncs to your iCloud linked Mac (currently hidden in your library)
The only reason you can't use them at the moment is the OSX versions of the apps cannot read the format.
So don't worry about the cloud, the docs will still be stored on your devices - just synced by and a copy held in iCloud.
We have to see something new for iWork soon. Using iWork apps on the Mac and iOS show some of the most glaring inconsistencies between the two platforms--and that's what this new update is supposed to be about fixing right?
For example, if I create a Keynote on my Mac using 3D graphs, I can't display that on my iPad. It doesn't support those features. Or if I create a document using 3rd party fonts on my Mac, those fonts aren't supported on the iPad.
Worse yet, if I open one of those documents and the iOS version makes changes for compatibility, it saves those changes to the document stored in the cloud, thus ruining what was previously created.
What would not surprise me at all would be to see iWork become more iOS focused--with updates coming on that end to create a unified application, then moving forward from there.
There really is no alternative. Further advancements in the desktop version of iWork that aren't supported in the iOS version makes very little sense. That's not necessarily a bad thing of course. Greater capabilities are coming to iOS with more powerful processors and graphics that will allow it to support anything these apps would throw at it. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.
Those two and a third:
3) It's transparent.
The Dropbox folder is just like any other folder, with the added benefit that it's synced to the cloud. With this ML preview, there's a clear distinction between files in iCloud and those "On My Mac". Why the separation?
I have no idea why they ditched iDisk. It was basically Dropbox, but years ahead of its time.
They only needed a few tweaks and you'd have had it integrated with iOS.
Synching only iwork files is pointless too, who only uses iWork? I certainly don't. I think merging OS X and iOS is a bad move personally.
Those interfaces in notes, reminders etc look bloody awful! It just proves that their once PRO element has gone all too CONSUMER.
They only needed a few tweaks and you'd have had it integrated with iOS.
Synching only iwork files is pointless too, who only uses iWork? I certainly don't. I think merging OS X and iOS is a bad move personally.
Those interfaces in notes, reminders etc look bloody awful! It just proves that their once PRO element has gone all too CONSUMER.
that's why my experience with icloud lasted 5 minutes, i tried to upload a file, say a pdf, oh, it's impossible, ok yet another crippled useless feature. trash.
what's your work experience on a computer? a word letter? or a keynote presentation?
when it comes to huge work with dozens of file from several programs, efficiency is everything.
i need to be able to recreate the patterns in my mind onto the computer, that means folders, icon arrays, filenames, etc. you simply can't solve everything with a spotlight search...
No I wasn't. This is a sign of things to come. The file system as we know it is slowly being taken away from us, one piece at a time. I actually can't wait. I'm sure Apple will kinda cock it up at first, but they (or somebody) will get there in the end.
Y'see, unlike the 20+ folks who downvoted me, I thoroughly despise the filesystem. Why present me with literally 1million+ hierarchically stored files and folders when all I want to do is load a jpeg I saved 5 seconds ago from a different app. Loading and saving files and navigating between folders in a dozen different apps is the biggest waste of time I encounter in my computer related duties.
What does a file system do that's so great? Who actually spends time 'using' a filesystem, and isn't there something better they could be doing with their lives? It's just files, sitting around doing nothing other than being badly organised in some archaic tree structure. How should I lay out my files? Keep 1 folder for every project I work on (Project A Project B), or one folder for every kind of file I store (Photos, artwork, invoices)? Huh? It's 2012 and I still have to DECIDE between those two equally vital organisational methods?
It's time to go. Dump all the files into hidden system folders and give me a UI that spares me the torture of having to wander back and forth between essentially meaningless and gigantic folder structures and actually just present me with the small set of files that I'm overwhelming likely to want, by nature of the fact that I've been opening the same three frickin' files for the last month, or maybe by nature of the fact they're the only files that my current app can actually open.