8th Jun 11
Apple boss Steve Jobs unveils iCloud service
by Natasha Redman
Back on the Job: Steve Jobs returns from medical leave to unveil new Apple tech
Back on the Job: Steve Jobs returns from medical leave to unveil new Apple tech
Apple has unveiled its highly-anticipated iCloud service during its annual developers’ conference.
Steve Jobs, the Apple boss, returned from medical leave in order to reveal the web-based service’s features. He explained that iCloud was necessary as the PC was not the digital hub of consumers’ digital lives anymore. The service aims to co-ordinate and synchronise the key content which users store and share through their devices.
Calendar, mail and contacts applications have been re-written meaning that an alteration to one propagates to other versions on different devices. This re-writing will result in the company’s MobileMe service ceasing to exist.
Anyone purchasing an app, music track or book for one device will have it replicated on other Apple devices which they own. Similarly, bookmarks will be shared on all gadgets. Mr Jobs said that iCloud was not simply a hard disc in the sky. He explained that they are demoting the Mac and PC to be a device only and transferring the digital hub centre to the cloud. The move will end the present frustration of keeping content like songs and photos synchronised.
He said that one of iCloud’s key elements was iTunes, Apple’s music store. He explained that now this has an iCloud element meaning music purchased on one device is able to be propagated across all the gadgets which a user owns.
One of the cloud-version of iTunes’ parts, called iTunes Match, will scan songs which users have ripped from their CDs. This will recreate the cloud’s library without needing to upload the music. The service will be provided at a yearly cost of $24.99 in the US. Prices in the UK have not yet been given.
The iTunes Cloud release pits Apple against Amazon and Google which have both revealed their new web-based music storage services. But both of those do not have the record labels’ involvement and the ability to copy an existing library.
Apple also mentioned updates planned for the iOS operating system which runs on iPads, iPod Touches and iPhones. It revealed that it had sold over 200 million iOS devices. One of the novel features integrates Twitter into photo and camera apps to make it easier for users to share pictures with followers. iOS5 also has an auto-focus feature which allows a user to zoom in on a specific part of the picture they are taking.
Apple said it also intended to introduce a system which will update iOS devices without needing to connect them to a Mac or PC. This new version will go on sale in the autumn.
Our Stories
- Sandwich labels misleading shoppers
- Unemployment drops unexpectedly but worse still to come
- Tesco store managers see annual bonuses cut
- Royal Mail: half London sorting office to be sold
- Panasonic announces £3.4bn loss
- Thomas Cook attacks government over holidays at home promotion
- Clinton Cards falls into administration
- Wet April sees high street spending fall
- Five tough years ahead for UK jobs market
- Deal struck to save Thomas Cook
- Discount battle leads to sales decline at Morrisons
- Wetherspoon founder: pubs plans to be hit by taxes
Popular Topics
afghanistan al qaeda amazon Apple ASDA bank of england barack obama BBC british airways china david cameron Debenhams Egypt facebook george osborne Google India ipad iphone ivory coast japan Libya London M&S Marks & Spencer Morrisons nhs North Korea Office for National Statistics pakistan protests russia Sainsbury’s South Korea terrorism Tesco Tunisia UK UK retailers UK retail news UK shopping us Waitrose Wikileaks x factorArchive
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- January 2009
