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Apple's iCloud: What You Need to Know

Jun 11, 2011 6:00 PM
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Apple introduced its iCloud wireless data sync service at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference last week and the announcement immediately raised a number of questions.

What exactly is iCloud? How does it compare to MobileMe? How much will it cost? We answer these questions—and many more—below. Because much of iCloud won’t be up and running until this fall when iOS 5 ships, there will still be lots of unanswerable questions, but here’s everything you need to know right now.

What is iCloud?

iCloud is Apple’s name for a number of Internet-based services for syncing files and data across iOS devices, Macs, and PCs.

Isn’t that what MobileMe does?

Yes and no. iCloud will offer some of the same features as MobileMe, but not all, and it will add new features, as well.

What does this mean for MobileMe?

MobileMe will be going the way of the dodo. More on that in a bit.

What does iCloud offer?

As with MobileMe, iCloud can sync your contacts, calendars, e-mail, and Safari bookmarks between iOS devices and computers. But it will also offer document storage, photo storage, and music-syncing features, along with backup features for iOS devices.

Will iCloud store and back up any file I want it to?

Not quite. Apple says that iCloud will sync documents created with Apple’s apps (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, for example) as well as any third-party apps that are adapted to take advantage of iCloud. Presumably, most iOS and Mac developers will get on the iCloud bandwagon, but there will be a transition period where some apps will sync with iCloud and others won’t. That means users will need to be careful not to assume that all their files are automatically saved to iCloud, because only some apps will do the job.

How much will I be able to store on iCloud?

There's a Buy More Storage button in the iOS 5 beta.

5GB. That covers mail, documents, and backup. Purchased music, apps, books, and Photo Stream photos (more on that below—won’t count against your 5GB limit.

What if I need more storage? Will there be a way to pay for more?

It looks like there will be. In the iOS 5 beta, buried within the iCloud section of the Settings app is a "Buy More Storage" button. Which makes a lot of sense, since some users will hit that 5GB ceiling rather easily. The Dropbox cloud-storage and file syncing service offers 2GB of storage for free, and charges $10 per month for 50 GB or $20 per month for 100 GB. Apple will probably offer extra storage at similar prices.

How does iCloud compare with Dropbox and SugarSync?

Unlike Dropbox and SugarSync, which are designed to let you sync any file or folder on your computer through their servies, iCloud is focused on integration with apps. So it doesn’t matter where you save that Pages document on your Mac; it’ll be synced with iCloud merely by virtue of being a Pages document. On the other hand, you won’t be able to—at least from what we know so far—use iCloud to sync a document created in an application that doesn’t offer iCloud support.

What about photos?

iCloud includes a feature called Photo Stream, which auto-imports any new pictures taken on an iOS device or added to iPhoto and stores them for 30 days in the cloud. You can view those photos on (and in some cases download them to) your other iOS devices, computers, and even your Apple TV. Because of their size, photo syncing is limited to 1000 pictures on iOS devices, but is unlimited on computers. (Although you obviously can’t run iPhoto on a Windows PC, Apple says Photo Stream will work with those computers as well—you’ll simply choose a folder on your hard drive that you want to use as your “photo library”.)

Only 1000 photos? What about all my other photos?

iCloud stores and syncs your most-recent 1000 photos. But that doesn’t mean you lose older photos. Apple said on Monday that any photos in iPhoto (or, on a Windows PC, to another folder) will be permanently stored on your computer.

Next: iCloud's Music Features