Video of "PC Free" Set Up of iOS 5 with iCloud

[Popeye206]

How else would the average person try the iOS beta? The yearly license, user agreement and 48-72 hour wait is enough to deter anyone.

Also doing instant registrations - brutisboot AT gmail DOT com

As a developer, Beta software is under NDA and not for distribution by anyone other than the publisher. Even though I could get the beta from my dev team, I'm not taking it. Why? It's beta and I'm not taking chances with equipment that I need to have operational. I'll wait.

But... back to point 1... I'm sure Apple would not be happy people are selling access to iOS 5 beta's. It's not cool.

 

[Popeye206]

So what bothers you? That they are "copying" features?

Did Android have a smart phone before Apple?
What about App Store?
Or Music Store?
Tablet?

But I'm sure you are on an Android fan site busting their chops for all that, right?

All of the features announced yesterday I'm sure are features they have planned on adding eventually but have struggled with the idea of HOW they should do it instead of WHEN they should do it. Honestly, I'd rather they take their time and do it right.

Your signature says it all though, you are not a fan of Apple. Nevermind that they are giving us essentially a free cloud, Lion for 29 bucks, and features we've been wanting on the iOS...

He's just upset that Android has wireless updates for the OS, but he never gets any.

 

[samcraig]

As I posted in another thread (I actually started one) - the only "concern" I have is security and what measures are being taken. You just need an email and password and you have access to not only someones music - but apps AND their corresponding data. Now gaming data - who really cares. But there are apps which probably store private information and now that's being uploaded to the cloud and Apple has it.

I'm not suggesting Apple is being nefarious. However - it will be interesting to read the new EULA's to determine who/how ownership of all materials "synced" is handled.

It's very little wonder now that they conceded on the location data "fix" - because with the new OS - it's all moot, right? Because if you're backing up your device - you are sending all that data to Apple anyway - and you've approved it.

So again - it will be very interesting how security plays a role in this new feature of the OS.

Another question I had/have is - so you send stuff up to Apple's servers - say documents, etc. When you log into iCloud - will there be a way to pull everything/copy everything back to your hard drive. Or will it be a walled garden where only apps via APIs have access to directories.

Before I get too "excited" about having no tether... I'll look forward to seeing all the above addressed.

 

[acidblue]

Why PC Free? Not Mac free? Or computer-free?

No matter what else you call it, a Mac is a PC. ;-)

 

[4D4M]

So what bothers you? That they are "copying" features?

Did Android have a smart phone before Apple?
What about App Store?
Or Music Store?
Tablet?

But I'm sure you are on an Android fan site busting their chops for all that, right?

All of the features announced yesterday I'm sure are features they have planned on adding eventually but have struggled with the idea of HOW they should do it instead of WHEN they should do it. Honestly, I'd rather they take their time and do it right.

Your signature says it all though, you are not a fan of Apple. Nevermind that they are giving us essentially a free cloud, Lion for 29 bucks, and features we've been wanting on the iOS...

Well said. Makes you wonder why he hangs around here.

Wait... I think I know. He's the latest in a long line of them.

 

[yugushen]

Cool. I always never want to "sync" my iPad to iTunes on Mac. PC free totally make sense. Can't wait to try it.

 

[chocolaterabbit]

How else would the average person try the iOS beta? The yearly license, user agreement and 48-72 hour wait is enough to deter anyone.

Also doing instant registrations - brutisboot AT gmail DOT com

Uh, the whole idea of the beta is that not everyone has access to them. it's unfinished software and is meant for developers only.
Who's going to be responsible when someone uses the ios 5 beta and loses data? you? Profiteering off this is just plain wrong.

 

[Popeye206]

It seems obvious...

The Death of iTunes.

It seems like one of the things Apple is doing is compartmentalizing iTunes Stores into their own Stores. There's the App Store. The Book Store, the new Magazine Subscription Store.... and soon, I'm guessing iTunes will go back to just being the music store.

This way, with devices all being managed independently and iCloud managing your purchases and content, you can easily trim iTunes back to music only and simplify the content management.

Think about it...

iTunes = Music Only
App Store = Applications for all devices.
Book Store = Books
Newsstand = Subscription Pubs.
iPhoto = Photos.
iCloud brings it all together and keeps it all sync'd.

They just need to acquire Netflxs and video's are done.

It's really cool what they are doing.

 

[yg17]

Game changer.

Smartphones have had PC-less setup since they came into existence in the 1990s. When Apple does it in 2011, it's not new, it's not innovative, and it's not a game changer. The process shown in the video looks nearly identical to what Android has had since day one - go through a wizard, enter your account information, and you're done. As soon as I enter my Google account info on a new Android phone, it instantly starts syncing my contacts, e-mail, etc. It couldn't be easier.

What a revolutionary idea. No one else would have ever done this.

I hope that's sarcasm. If not, see above.

Having used this for a few hours now, I've got to say the last time I saw an update to iOS that felt this important and significant was the introduction of the App Store.

You can hold your iPhones up high. Android has *nothing* on this. Better maps I guess, but that's it.

Android already has it. It also has the deep Twitter integration, cloud syncing (with Google accounts), as well as an excellent notification system that looks just like what Apple implemented.

 

[jonnysods]

I don't think that they wanted to have a PC Free setup until they had a stranglehold on the portable market. Now that they do they don't need to push people towards Macs and iTunes. iTunes and the app store can be accessed sans computer now. And this will give people a choice to give up PC's too, which doesn't hurt Apple's market share!

Pots of money to be made by Apple.

 

[Popeye206]

Smartphones have had PC-less setup since they came into existence in the 1990s. When Apple does it in 2011, it's not new, it's not innovative, and it's not a game changer. The process shown in the video looks nearly identical to what Android has had since day one - go through a wizard, enter your account information, and you're done. As soon as I enter my Google account info on a new Android phone, it instantly starts syncing my contacts, e-mail, etc. It couldn't be easier.

I hope that's sarcasm. If not, see above.

Android already has it. It also has the deep Twitter integration, cloud syncing (with Google accounts), as well as an excellent notification system that looks just like what Apple implemented.

Sounds like total bliss on the Android side. Apple should just give up and go home. Even though they completely changed the smart phone market and everyone went to school on Apple, they should just give up.

I think you fail to see the bigger picture here. While Google gives you lots of nice options because they have always been "cloud" based... they're an internet company and their apps are all based on their on-line services. Heck, I don't have to do anything either to keep my Gmail or Yahoo email in sync... it's all the same account no matter what device I access it on. Big deal. We all have that.

What's beautiful about what Apple is doing is not only allowing all iOS devices to be totally independent, they are keeping them all in sync too. In all ways. Even the OS. Not Android 2.5 on your phone and 3.0 Beta on your Tablet, with updates managed by Samsung or Moto or whoever.

In concept there are similarities, but in deployment they are different.

Yes Apple has been taking the "slow road" in some ways with specific features like improved notifications, but they appear to have a much bigger vision that is far beyond rushing features into the OS.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Game changer.

For Apple yes.

Now all they need is an accessible file system. And they could almost pass for it.

I know i am going to get downvoted for this but at the moment Android is more passable for a PC replacement then iOS. But the gap is closing.

True, and I didn't down vote you. It's too bad that there isn't too much perspective in the forums anymore . . . like it was years ago. Android has had many of these features since it's inception and the tech world is finally giving credit where it's due. Apple has always looked to it's competition for ideas, iOS5 features are the first time Apple has blatantly taken pages from WebOS and Android.

All for good reason of course.

On the other hand, the file system may not be as large a need for a cloud based user. If one were to store all of the files they'd need in the cloud or online then there'd be no need for a thumb drive or a phone with a file structure. One of the millions of questions I still have is whether or not the photo sync thing works in the other direction.

 

[Project]

PC free setup isn't a game changer. But iCloud is. All media, apps and their data, backed up automatically. No other smartphone ecosystem does this.

 

[Eitanhawk]

Will iCloud back up text messages and recent calls?

Hi
I have had alot of experience as an android tech and one of the biggest problem with the android sync was that it didn't back up the whole phone.
Most of the time only contacts and baught apps where backed up.
If I would want to use pc free I would want the iCloud to back up my whole phone!

 

[Sackvillenb]

On the other hand, the file system may not be as large a need for a cloud based user. If one were to store all of the files they'd need in the cloud or online then there'd be no need for a thumb drive or a phone with a file structure.

I don't know how that's true... storing in the cloud just means enhanced connectivity and automatic syncing, but your files are still being stored somewhere... and only access to the file system will give you direct access to those files...

What if you have lots of files you want to organize or categorize? Every computer since MSDOS has had a simple way to do this... called folders... except for ios devices...

What if you want to simply duplicate some files? Sure, some apps let you do this... but some don't. Half the point of a file system (and the program that accomplishes this, like Finder) is that you get independent and complete control over your files. Simple concept. But one that's missing from ios.

And what if you want to open a specific file type with multiple apps? Only some apps let you do this. For others, you need to duplicate that file in multiple apps. Ridiculous! On a real computer... you can open file x with 100 different programs!

For the ios devices to truly succeed in the long run (in terms of competing with real computers and becoming truly independent platforms), they will need a file system someday.

 

[samcraig]

Hi
I have had alot of experience as an android tech and one of the biggest problem with the android sync was that it didn't back up the whole phone.
Most of the time only contacts and baught apps where backed up.
If I would want to use pc free I would want the iCloud to back up my whole phone!

It was my understanding from the preso that you could buy a new iphone and basically re-synch and have everything copied over. Maybe they omitted things like texts, etc. It wasn't deeply discussed. Which is, again, why I bring up the security issue (as posted above)

 

[Project]

Hi
I have had alot of experience as an android tech and one of the biggest problem with the android sync was that it didn't back up the whole phone.
Most of the time only contacts and baught apps where backed up.
If I would want to use pc free I would want the iCloud to back up my whole phone!

I believe it does.

 

[yg17]

I believe it does.

HTC phones with Sense do. I know when I was playing around with custom ROMs on my Inspire and had to wipe and start fresh, it would restore my text messages I had synced with Sense.

 

[dmunz]

Waht about bootlegs?

I have a considerable collection of "unauthorized live recordings" that I ripped from CDs and ported from LPs (records, plastic discs...nevermind) and tapes in my iTunes files. What happens to these when Apple reaches in? Will they slurp them up to the cloud and break all kinds of rules? Or report me to the authorities? Or wipe them from my hard drive? Or just ignor them?

I don't want to to start an ethics debate (although there is, IMHO, a huge difference between traditional bootlegs and pirated music) but these things are out there and this might cause problems for end users.

FWIW
DLM

 

[Popeye206]

For Apple yes.



True, and I didn't down vote you. It's too bad that there isn't too much perspective in the forums anymore . . . like it was years ago. Android has had many of these features since it's inception and the tech world is finally giving credit where it's due. Apple has always looked to it's competition for ideas, iOS5 features are the first time Apple has blatantly taken pages from WebOS and Android.

All for good reason of course.

On the other hand, the file system may not be as large a need for a cloud based user. If one were to store all of the files they'd need in the cloud or online then there'd be no need for a thumb drive or a phone with a file structure. One of the millions of questions I still have is whether or not the photo sync thing works in the other direction.

Okay... let's set the record straight. Statements like "Android had this sense it's inception" is wrong. The first commercial Android based phone, which came out over a year after the first iPhone, was an abortion of a phone. Horrible. It was very half baked. But, like many phone OS makers out there, it changed and everyone went to school on each other and all the phone OS's have been changing and getting better.

So please.... Google and Android was not the phone Demi-god from the beginning. They have done a great job (better than any other phone OS by far) of keeping the innovation going. But, they too went to school on Apple in the beginning.

Now... back to the matter at hand... Apple products... this is the Apple forum you know.

 

[zephonic]

Nice music! who's the pianist?

 

[Andy-V]

No matter what else you call it, a Mac is a PC. ;-)

It is, which is why the Mac vs PC ads made very little sense.

 

[Popeye206]

I have a considerable collection of "unauthorized live recordings" that I ripped from CDs and ported from LPs (records, plastic discs...nevermind) and tapes in my iTunes files. What happens to these when Apple reaches in? Will they slurp them up to the cloud and break all kinds of rules? Or report me to the authorities? Or wipe them from my hard drive? Or just ignor them?

I don't want to to start an ethics debate (although there is, IMHO, a huge difference between traditional bootlegs and pirated music) but these things are out there and this might cause problems for end users.

FWIW
DLM

Apple did not release iCop yesterday.

I'm sure if they can't match a song based on it's metadata, they will just tag it as unknown and leave it alone. Anything more than that would not make sense. They are not scanning each song or recording.

I would guess that if iTunes can match an Album cover to your own ripped songs, they will also be able to match your songs on iCloud with their version. I would guess they will use a similar method for matching.

 

[neuropulse]

I see the cable plugged in.

"Activate and set up your device wirelessly, right out of the box."

I see the cable plugged in.

 

[guzhogi]

Now all they need is an accessible file system. And they could almost pass for it.

I know i am going to get downvoted for this but at the moment Android is more passable for a PC replacement then iOS. But the gap is closing.

Although, you have to remember a lot of people don't necessarily want nor need the iOS device to be a PC replacement. Maybe just a PC complement. A lot of people seem to not understand that.