iCloud is cloud service by Apple Inc. it provides cloud storage and cloud computing service to Apple users. By using this service users can store data like music, videos or documents on Apple’s remote servers and access it from different devices such as their iPods, iPhone, iPad or the computers running Mac OS X or even Microsoft. This service has also replaced Apple’s MobileMe and now it is also used to sync calendars, email, contacts, bookmarks, to-do lists, notes and other user data across the Apple’s network.
iCloud’s uses Microsoft’s Windows Azure and Amazon Web Services for its backend storage. Users get up-to 5 GB of free storage to store their data, also the content purchased from Apple store is stored for free. It’s great for syncing all the Apple devices as well; content purchased from Apple is downloaded and synced to any devices registered on it like iPods and PC’s etc. This is also done upon registering a new device and the entire iTunes content and user data can be downloaded to the device.
Another feature of iCloud is that it provides backup and restore features for iOS devices and they can be restored any time without connecting with any computer.
Some of MobileMe features are enhanced, now the location of iPad, iPhone or iPod can be tracked by the user and they can see the approximate location of the device with a small margin of error which is indicated with a circle, they can also erase the content on the device remotely, change password or display a message or sound even if the device is turned silent.
Another service provided with iCloud is Photo Stream, it stores 1,000 recent photos of the user on iCloud free of charge for a month and they are also pushed to other registered devices. Apple has announced that it will also integrate this service with Apple TV set-top box; this will allow the users to wirelessly view their photos on their HDTV.
An interesting aspect of iCloud is iTunes Match, this will allow users to match their music from iTunes store and other sources such as CD’s with one another in the popular formats like mp3, ACC and Apple Lossless, they can also upload music to iTunes library that is not there and push it to other registered devices. With a fee of about $25 Apple allows users to download up-to 25,000 tracks. Users who stop paying this fee won’t be able to match their music anymore. In the beginning the service was only available to US and Brazil’s residents but now after Apple’s negotiating it with music industries of other countries it is available to people in Germany, Australia, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and Ireland too.
With Back to My Mac which was previously part of MobileMe and now included with iCloud, the users will be able to remotely login to other computers which are configured with the same Apple ID and having Back to My Mac enabled.
Any device running iOS 5 or later or Mac running OSX Lion can run iCloud, for PC’s Windows Vista or later is required; it can also sync Outlook contacts and calendar. A compatible web browser is required for online access.
iCloud comes with 5 GB free storage, additional space can be purchased in tiers of 10, 20 up-to 50 GB max, pricing starts from $20.