Apple’s iCloud isn’t as exciting as it seems
The Apple iCloud. It’s not as exciting as it sounds. But that said, you’ve got to take your hat off to Apple for doing what everybody else has so far failed to achieve.
What we have with iCloud is more or less a Me.com rebadge (but with 5GB of free storage). There is no ground-breaking technology or revolutionary ideas, but what Apple has cleverly managed to do, is bring together the technologies of Dropbox, Flickr, Evernote and Picasa under one global canopy.
In typical Apple fashion, pre-existing technology is being taken, and made better. And it will be better – that goes without saying. The finished iCloud will undoubtedly be highly polished, and integrate seamlessly with Apple hardware.
So from a technology point of view, iCloud isn’t exciting at all. Not unless you’re an avid Apple fan. But what’s crucial for Apple is that they’ve done it first. Not even Microsoft has yet attempted to bring together their versions of the same technology with Zune, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE all functioning separately.
Windows Mobile 7 is set up to work with Office 365, but this is a business-orientated feature and hardly competition for Apple iCloud.
What Apple has achieved, is a way to retain customers with a single account method for users to store music, photos, documents and contacts and access them all under the same ID from their iPads and iPhones. The 5GB of free storage will soon be filled, and there will be charges at that point with pricing still to be finalised.
But will users pay it? Of course they will. Will iCloud be a big hit? Undoubtedly. And one thing that is for sure – there will be one heck of a lot of Apple fans out there waiting to try iCloud out this Autumn.
Graham Fern
Graham Fern first took an interest in technology as a schoolboy, completing his O-Level in computing in 1982 working on mainframe systems. In 1986 Graham joined the RAF where he spent 14 years travelling the world handling technical military hardware and software and working on highly advanced computer-driven simulators. He also saw the introduction of GPS into Royal Air Force aircraft for the first time in 1991. Graham left the military in 2000 and went on to work as IT Manager for a national IT company with responsibility for the Manchester area. In 2001 Graham founded Axon IT along with business partner Mike Agutter, a limited budget and zero investment. Within just a few months the company had won major accounts including Tarmac and British Gypsum, and in the nine years since, the business has grown successfully to boast a turnover of more than £800,000 and 12 employees.
Graham Fern first took an interest in technology as a schoolboy, completing his O-Level in computing in 1982 working on mainframe systems. In 1986 Graham joined the RAF where he spent 14 years travelling the world handling technical military hardware and software and working on highly advanced computer-driven simulators. He also saw the introduction of GPS into Royal Air Force aircraft for the first time in 1991. Graham left the military in 2000 and went on to work as IT Manager for a national IT company with responsibility for the Manchester area. In 2001 Graham founded Axon IT along with business partner Mike Agutter, a limited budget and zero investment. Within just a few months the company had won major accounts including Tarmac and British Gypsum, and in the nine years since, the business has grown successfully to boast a turnover of more than £800,000 and 12 employees. ...less info




