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iCloud

File:ICloud Mac OS X Lion.pngiCloud on Mac OS X 10.7.2
Developer(s)	Apple Inc.
Initial release	Developers release June 6, 2011 Public release October 12, 2011
Stable release	1.0.1
Operating system	Mac OS X Lion Windows iOS
Type	Cloud service
License	Freeware
Website	www.icloud.com

iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. announced on June 6, 2011 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The service allows users to store data such as music files on remote computer servers for download to multiple devices such as iOS-based devices, and personal computers running Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows. It also replaces Apple's MobileMe service, acting as a data syncing center for email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, to-do lists, and other data.

History

iCloud is the latest branding of Apple's cloud computing services. It has previously been branded as iTools in 2000, .Mac in 2002, and MobileMe in 2008.

According to an Apple support page, MobileMe will be discontinued after June 30, 2012, and anyone who had an account as of the unveiling of iCloud has been extended to that date, free of charge.

The official website, www.icloud.com, went live in early August for Apple Developers. On October 12, 2011, iCloud became available to use via an iTunes update. iCloud had 20 million users in less than a week. In June 2011 the Canadian bank RBC Capital Markets found that 76 percent of iPhone owners planned to use iCloud when the service launched, and predicted that 150 million people could eventually sign up for iCloud.

Announcement

The first official mention of iCloud from Apple came on May 31, 2011, when a press release announced that it would demonstrate the service at the WWDC on June 6, 2011. A banner hung at the Moscone Center for WWDC revealed the iCloud logo five days before the official launch.

In the WWDC 2011 keynote speech, Apple announced iCloud will replace MobileMe services and that the basic iCloud service will be free of charge.

Features

The cloud-based system allows users to store music, photos, applications, documents, bookmarks, reminders, notes, iBooks, and contacts, as well as serving as a platform for Apple's email servers and calendars. iCloud's storage backend is hosted by Microsoft's Windows Azure and Amazon Web Services.

iOS Device Backup and Restore

iCloud allows users to back up iOS devices (iDevices) online; they can be restored from backup without connecting to a computer.

Find My iPhone

Find My iPhone, formerly part of MobileMe, allows users to track the location of their iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Mac. A user can see the device's approximate location on a map (along with a circle showing the radius depicting the margin of error), display a message or play a sound on the device (even if it is set to silent), change the password on the device, and remotely erase its contents.

Photo Stream

Photo Stream is a service supplied with the basic iCloud service which allows users to store the most recent 1,000 photos on the iCloud servers up to 30 days free of charge. When a photo is taken on a device with Photo Stream enabled, it is automatically uploaded to the iCloud servers; from there, it is automatically pushed to the rest of the user's registered devices. Apple has announced that the service will be integrated with the Apple TV set-top box, allowing users to wirelessly view their recent photos on their HDTV.

Back to My Mac

Back to My Mac, previously part of MobileMe, is now included with iCloud. This service allows users to login remotely to other computers configured with the same Apple ID that have Back to My Mac enabled.

iTunes Match

iTunes Match debuted on 14 November 2011. For an annual charge of $24.99 customers can scan and match tracks in their iTunes music library, including tracks copied from CDs or other sources, with tracks in the iTunes Store. Apple lets customers download up to 25,000 tracks in 256 kbps DRM free AAC file format that match tracks in any supported audio file format such as Apple Lossless and mp3 in the customers' iTunes libraries. Customers can also upload any music that is not available in the iTunes Store for download onto other supported devices or computers. Even if a user stops paying for the service, downloaded music is unaffected as it is in DRM-free AAC format. iTunes Match is currently available in 37 countries, including USA, Australia, Europe, and Canada.

Storage pricing

Each account has 5 GB of free storage; content purchased from Apple (music, Apps, Audiobooks and music videos) is stored separately and does not count towards the free 5GB limit. Any music files purchased via iTunes can be automatically, or manually if preferred, downloaded to any registered device (e.g. iPods, iPhones, and computers). Also, when a user registers any new device, all previously bought iTunes content can be downloaded from the iCloud servers.

On introduction in 2011, 5 GB of storage was available without charge. Additional storage could be purchased in tiers of 10, 20, or 50 GB (50 GB being the maximum) for US$20, UK£14, or €16 per 10 GB per year.

In addition to the free 5 GB, MobileMe members (to be precise, those on "individual" memberships, or the master account user only, not the sub-accounts, for "family pack" memberships) were automatically given the extra 20 GB tier, until the close of the MobileMe service on June 30, 2012.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

System requirements

iCloud requires a device running iOS 5 (or later) or a Mac running Lion to create a new account; synchronising with a PC requires Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) or Windows 7, iCloud control panel,, optionally Outlook 2007 or later to sync Calendar, Contacts and Reminders and optionally Internet Explorer 8 or later or Safari 5.1.1 or later to sync Bookmarks. Online access to iCloud requires a compatible web browser.

Technology

There are an engineer find that iCloud is using Windows Azure Services Platform and Amazon AWS technology. When the user uploads data to the iCloud program, the program will transfer data to a Microsoft server for computing, and then send data to Amazon server for storage.

Name dispute

iCloud Communications, a telecommunications company in Arizona, sued Apple for trademark infringement shortly after Apple announced iCloud. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Arizona and demanded that Apple stop using the iCloud name and pay unspecified monetary damages. iCloud Communications changed its name to Clear Digital Communications in August 2011 and dropped its lawsuit against Apple shortly thereafter.

See also

• Cloud computing
• ASUS Cloud

References

1. "Press Info – Apple Introduces iCloud". Apple. June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
2. ^ "Switched On: Apple's cloud conundrum". Engadget. June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
3. ^ "Fourth time's a charm? Why Apple has trouble with cloud computing". ArsTechnica. June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
4. ^ "4th Time a Charm for Apple? From iDisk to .Mac to MobileMe to iCloud". Wired. May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
5. "Information about the MobileMe transition". Support.apple.com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
6. "iTunes – Everything you need to be entertained". Apple. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
7. "Big mo: In one week, Apple iCloud hits 20M users; 25M use iOS 5". October 17, 2011.
8. "Apple to Unveil Next Generation Software at Keynote Address on Monday, June 6" (Press release). Apple Inc. May 31, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
9. Lee, Daniel (June 2, 2011). "WWDC 2011: OS X, iOS 5, iCloud coins unveiled (PHOTO LEAKS)". International Business Times Hong Kong. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
10. "WWDC 2011 Keynote Speech". Apple Inc.
11. infiniteapple (June 13, 2011). "Apple iCloud Azure use tested, confirmed". Infiniteapple.net. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
12. Apple's iCloud runs on Microsoft and Amazon services
13. "Apple's iCloud Apps, Books and Backup". Apple Inc.
14. "Apple's iCloud Apps, Books and Backup". Apple Inc.
15. "Apple's iCloud Connects People and their Photos". InfoTrends InfoBlog. June 8, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
16. Transition from MobileMe to iCloud,,"Apple.com",12 October 2011
17. "What's new in iTunes". Apple, Inc. November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
18. "iTunes Match pricing on Apple". Apple Inc. June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
19. "iTunes Match: $24.99/Year, Matches Ripped Tunes, Offers Them In The Cloud". MacRumors. June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
20. "iCloud Features: iTunes in the Cloud". Apple, Inc. November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
21. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4914
22. Myslewski, Rik (June 6, 2011). "Apple opens iCloud to world+dog". The Register. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
23. "What is iCloud? (requirements on small print on bottom of page)". Apple Inc.
24. "iCloud Control Panel for Windows". Support.apple.com. October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
25. "Learn how to setup iCloud on Windows". Apple. October 12, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
26. Template:Http://www.redmondpie.com/guess-what-icloud-uses-windows-azure-services-for-hosting-data
27. "iCloud Complaint". Scribd. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
28. ^ "Apple's iCloud Sued for Trademark Infringement – Lessons from its Predecessors". International Business Times. June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
29. "Apple iPhone 5's Potential Ace iCloud Accused Of Infringing On Trademark". International Business Times. June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
30. Arizona company drops iCloud suit, changes name

iCloud storage pricing

1. "Apple.com – iCloud: Storage Upgrade Options". Apple, Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
2. Gurman, Mark (August 1, 2011). "iCloud pricing per year: $20 for 10GB, $40 for 20GB, $100 for 50GB (update: UK and EU prices)". 9to5mac. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
3. Panzarino, Matthew (August 2, 2011). "Apple's iCloud Pricing". The Next Web. Retrieved September 5, 2011.

iTunes Match pricing

External links

• Official website

• Articles created via the Article Wizard
• Apple Inc. services
• Cloud storage
• Cloud applications