iCloud

In My Humble Opinion
1

Posting here because I’m looking for opinions as well as facts.

  1. What’s the deal with iCLoud? I can’t make heads or tails out of the various web sites I visited (including Apple) as to when it is supposed to be available for laptops like MacBooks. Best I can tell, it’s not available right now, but should be in the near future.

  2. Assuming I’m right in #1, why? I realize that iCloud is more of a plus for using an iPhone, which doesn’t have a huge hard drive, but it’s still a very useful tool for people working or socializing together on a laptop.

  3. Anyone used it so far? What do you think, and how does it compare with comparable services?

2
  1. it’s set to be released this fall, so very very soon. Probably at the same time Apple releases iOS 5. It’s supposed to take place of their former Me.com services, which were cool, but cost about $100 a year. This will be completely free to Mac users (or perhaps anyone with an iTunes acct?), and is merely supposed to store and sync your media and documents from every device you own (including Macs and laptops) that taps into your iTunes account ID.

So, all your music, video, contacts, and whatever docs you want will automatically just be there, on whatever device or mac is tapped into your iCloud.
2) To (sort of) separate the idea that your content needs to be physically installed on every device that can use it. Now it’s just out there in the aether, and will seamlessly just be available to you. No fuss, no muss.

  1. Apple’s usually bolted down like a nuclear silo, so unless you’re a beta tester, or work for Apple, I doubt there’s much out there. But I haven’t really looked.

All that said, pay attention to the iPhone announcement on Oct. 4th. I’m almost positive they’ll touch on the new iCloud, iOS 5 and it’s integration between all their products, computers and handheld devices.

3

Good point about the Oct 5 release date for iPhone 5. On a slightly different topic, from what I’ve read, we won’t be getting a 4G phone yet.

4

A couple of minor points:
The new iPhone announcement is Oct 4, but it isn’t clear yet when the phone will actually be available. I’ve read that iOS 5 will probably be available a few days before the phone.

Also iCloud will be free for all content purchased through iTunes, but there will be a fee to include media you’ve acquired through other means (ie ripped CDs, file sharing sites, etc). I’ve read it will be about $25/year.