Article first published as Why the iCloud Won’t be My Cloud on Technorati.
Talk of “cloud computing” and “cloud services” has been in the air for years, but (despite the remaining ambiguity in the minds of consumers) recent developments have garnered a little more of the consumer electronics limelight for this burgeoning technology. Over the past few months, both Amazon and Google have made a push for their cloud-based services, and following suit, Apple announced their version, the iCloud, at their keynote speech on June 6 (watch the full keynote here).
Similar to Amazon’s Cloud Drive and GoogleMusic (along with Google’s host of other services in the cloud), the iCloud seeks to simplify the life of multi-device users by making file management and “sync”-ing the data on these various devices a more streamlined, if not automatic, process. Based on the available information, the iCloud will sync registered devices automatically, which will make it a very useful feature for owners of Apple products.
But there is the crux of the issue. The iCloud will be a great service for owners of Apple products. However, if your devices are not Apple products, the iCloud is of no use. Moreover, the iCloud requires not only one Apple device; for any benefit from its functionality, any device you want to use with this cloud must be Apple-made.
As a current MacBook- and former iPhone-owner, I appreciate the quality of Apple’s products, but I’m not about to sell all my stuff and replace it with Apple devices. I love my HTC EVO and my Ubuntu desktop/server too much to return to the ranks of Apple elitists. Because of this rigidity in the Apple model, the services of Amazon, Google, and several open source options will remain the gateway into the cloud for myself and anyone else that is not on the Apple bandwagon.
[Update] iCloud has some limited functionality with Windows. Brian Chen from Wired.com wrote that the iCloud works with: “Macs and iOS 5 (Windows PCs get PhotoStream and some basic features only).” Later in the article Chen writes, “iCloud offers 5 gigs of free space, too, but most of the neat features are exclusive to iOS and Mac customers.” So, yes, there is basic functionality with Windows, but most features require an Apple product.
Totally agree that Apple has yet to get it. Not everyone loves Apple and is devoted to Apple in every way.
I have a Macbook Pro a Nexus 7 and a Windows phone. Hey the Windows phone was cheap! What can I say. Anyway, as you said the problem with the iCloud is unless your married to Apple its a joke. I would say almost the same thing about Google’s cloud system although you can work with it a little better then Apple’s.
Microsoft’s Skydrive is not much better then Apple’s and this is the real problem. These companies don’t get that they will never convince everyone to enter into that closed garden of Windows hardware or Apple’s.
For me I just continue to use a local drive for backup’s and store on my Macbook Pro. I have the same problem with my Windows phone as all my documents, pictures or other saved items get stored in the Skydrive. I really find it ridiculous to have to update my Windows phone through Zune software? I would think this is Microsoft’s ideal of trying to save a dinosaur like Zune that should just fade away. I advice anyone that truly wants a cloud storage solution to seek out a third party that has a App or software for the devices you have. Because what good is storing information in the cloud if you have it scattered in many clouds?