Apple’s online services struggles continue with GameCenter, iCloud, iTunes outage
Tuesday morning’s outage is the second multi-hour problem Apple iCloud and online services users have experienced in the last two weeks. Read more »
Apple does the two-step: new layer of security added to Apple ID, iCloud
The company introduced two-step authentication for Apple ID and iCloud accounts on Thursday. Read more »
A future iWatch could test Apple’s cloud chops
Like MobileMe and Apple Maps did, a future iWatch could reinforce the notion that Apple isn’t good at web-based services. But — if done right — it could push Apple to get its web-based act together. Read more »
iCloud had a big hiccup this morning, several services still experiencing problems
Apple’s status page showed that earlier this morning there was a problem with all of its iCloud-based services. As of this posting only Photo Stream, Documents in the Cloud and iCloud backup are still affected. Read more »
When iCloud isn’t enough: balancing other cloud storage options
iCloud doesn’t work as a one-stop storage solution the way I’d hoped. Here’s a guide to how I incorporate several online storage solutions to make them work for my needs. Read more »
Fruux’s cross-platform iCloud rival gets team-friendly
The tool, which synchronizes contacts, calendar entries and tasks across most platforms, is now explicitly targeting business users with the new Fruux Team version. Read more »
With 250M users, Apple plans to invest much more in iCloud and other services
Apple added more new iCloud users in the last quarter than it sold new iPhones. The company says it will continue to invest in its data centers that power its growing online services. Read more »
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How tomorrow’s mobile-centric data centers will look
photo: Facebook
The “mobile first” philosophy is under way today. That means a new generation of mobile-centric data centers will arise over the next three years, with chips, servers, and power architectures customized for mobile workloads. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
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Cloud computing 2013: how to navigate without a map
The way the industry will use cloud-computing technology in 2013 will require following the existing adoption patterns and trends into the New Year. Those trends include the rise of standards, big data’s role in the cloud, industry-specific clouds, security, and more. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
During next iCloud outage, check Apple’s shiny new systems status page
It may seem small, but this tool is a good step. Apple realizes and is taking seriously how its web services and their status are crucial to their users’ experience — iCloud, Siri, Mail, iMessage have all had major service disruptions in the last few months. Read more »
Microsoft brings your photos to Xbox 360 via new SkyDrive app
You want to star on your Xbox 360? A new app makes it easy to view your personal photos and videos on the big screen and to manipulate them with Kinect or voice controls. Read more »
When is iCloud going to be more reliable?
The scope of the task before Apple’s internet services division is especially obvious this week. In the midst of news that SVP Eddy Cue would be assuming responsibility for Siri and Maps, the iCloud service he oversees experienced its third outage in a week. Read more »
How much iCloud storage do you need?
Apple just extended a free offer of 20GB of iCloud storage to newly transitioned MobileMe subscribers until next year. But there are some big differences in how data from all your devices — iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — is stored in the new service. Read more »
iCloud 101: Keep track of your iDevices with Find My iPhone
Apple updated its Find My iPhone app last week with some helpful new features. Here’s a primer on how to locate and keep track of all your various Apple devices using the service. Read more »
Seen in the wild: An Apple trade show booth
Apple doesn’t often make a formal appearance at trade shows or conferences outside of its own. But it looks like getting engineers for its iCloud may have preempted that policy since the device maker has a sleek presence at the Surge Conference in Baltimore. Read more »
With iMessage outage, another hiccup for iCloud
Did you have problems sending or receiving iMessages today? You weren’t alone, apparently. About half of iMessage users reported being unable to send messages through Apple’s app. Apple, unfortunately, isn’t a stranger to iCloud outages. Read more »
iCloud 101: Know your family’s Calendar
Knowing family members’ schedules is useful, but it’s also a way to stay connected. There is more than one way to keep an entire family up to date with the various events in our lives. Here are three techniques an iCloud-using family can use. Read more »
Microsoft SkyDrive gets new Android app, facelift
No surprise, SkyDrive in its newest incarnation is starting to look an awful lot like Windows 8. Also new, an Android app joins existing Windows Phone and iPhone versions. Microsoft SkyDrive competes with Apple iCloud and Google Drive for consumers’ digital content. Read more »
Apple scrambles to fix AppleID security. But how will it restore iCloud trust?
photo: Shutterstock / LeventeGyori
Both Apple and Amazon have quickly moved to close security loopholes. But Wired writer Mat Honan’s experience has rightfully freaked people out. Apple has to make long-term security-policy changes, both practical and symbolic, that communicate to users that they can and should trust iCloud security. Read more »
The Apple Roundup: Secure passwords can create a false sense of security
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: Mat Honan’s iCloud hack wasn’t preventable with a strong password, hints about a larger iPhone in iOS 6, the Apple TV moves beyond hobby stage, and more. Read more »
Woz worries about cloud computing
Not everyone is enamored of the notion of cloud computing. Count Apple co-founder and tech icon Steve Wozniak among the skeptics. Woz worries that consumers putting their information into the cloud sign away their rights to it. “I want to own things,” he said. Read more »
iCloud breach highlights some hard truths about the consumer cloud
The hard truth for consumers is that using cloud services means they’re often at the mercy of their cloud providers’ security practices, perhaps even their HR practices. However, unless they’re willing to abstain from the cloud altogether, trusting their providers is often all consumers can do. Read more »
Dropbox: Yes, we were hacked
photo: Photo courtesy Dropbox
Dropbox reports that the recent spam attacks that impacted some European customers occurred when hackers used passwords obtained from outside sites to access some Dropbox accounts. The company promised a new two-factor authentication option and offered other tips. Read more »
Projectbook is the iPad productivity app for the disorganized
The $6.99 app brings access to all documents online and off, and uses natural language technology to automatically make keywords, tags and folders. Projectbook is intended to be a simple way to keep any kind of document, appointment, note, presentation, picture or recording in one place. Read more »
Mac App Store rules drive away more developers, plus 4 other Apple stories to read today
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: the problem of the Mac App Store’s stringent rules; Apple and Samsung brandish evidence that each has copied others’ designs; the case for shared iCloud accounts; and the Facebook-Mountain Lion integration mystery. Read more »
5 productivity tips for OS X Mountain Lion
While Mountain Lion is clearly evolutionary, I’ve found it does a lot of little things to make life easier. Here are five short tips that will help you get the most out of the latest version of OS X. Read more »
Apple plots future of desktop with Mountain Lion iCloud integration
With 150 million users already, iCloud is central to Apple’s strategy for the future. That is why Wednesday’s launch of OS X Mountain Lion, its first desktop OS built with iCloud in mind, is such an important milestone for the company. Read more »
HBO deal ends Fox blackout on iCloud
Those who purchase Fox movies like Prometheus on iTunes can now re-download their films on iCloud, thanks to a deal the studio carved with its pay TV partner, HBO, that relaxes digital restrictions of movies while they’re in the pay TV window. Read more at paidContent »
Apple building another smaller data center in North Carolina
Apple is building another smaller data center, next to its massive iCloud data center, in Maiden, North Carolina, according to local reports. The new planned 21,030 square-foot data center will store clusters of servers; for comparison the current data center onsite is 500,000 square feet. Read more »
What the heck is iCloud again? Plus 4 other Apple stories to read today
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: confusion over iCloud, how EPEAT ratings actually work, Steve Jobs feared Google acquiring Yelp, how the iPhone and Samsung are dominating mobile industry value, and Mountain Lion’s pending release. Read more »
The story behind how Apple’s iCloud data center got built
Apple’s new $1 billion data center — one of the highest-profile new data centers in the world — has put the town of Maiden, North Carolina (population: just over 3,000) on the tech map. But it almost didn’t get built. Read more »
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The evolution of consumer-media cloud storage
Cloud-based storage and cross-device syncing of media content are two of the most competitive areas in consumer IT. Apple, Google and Amazon see cloud-based media services both as a way to increase attachment to their platforms and a means to extend and amplify their broader strategic goals. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
6Wunderkinder: Berlin needs less hype, more focus
Productivity startup 6Wunderkinder made a big noise on the Berlin scene when it launched, but it’s been quiet for a few months. Now CEO Christian Reber explains why other German startups should follow suit and focus on their product — and why he’s worried about Windows 8. Read more »
Why Apple has to iCloud-ify the next version of iTunes
Apple is reportedly going to integrate iTunes with iCloud, which makes sense: iCloud is said to be a core strategy. But it’s clear that Apple doesn’t really have a choice. It has to move iTunes into the cloud to more fully embrace its post-PC worldview. Read more »
Final notice: Make the move from MobileMe to iCloud
If you have an older MobileMe account, you may have held off on the transition to iCloud until now. But the deadline to switch approaches quickly. If you haven’t already, here’s what you need to do before MobileMe goes dark on June 30. Read more »
What to look for at WWDC 2012: Macs, Mountain Lion, iOS 6, maps and iCloud
The banners now decorating Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference venue indicate the event’s tagline is “Where great ideas go on to do great things.” It’s vague, as usual, making it’s hard to pinpoint what this year’s theme will be. Here’s what we’ll be watching for on Monday. Read more »
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Who and what to watch in the new era of the living room
The adoption of tablets, social media and new interfaces and the changing nature of the TV itself mean the digital living room will continue on its path of rapid change, thanks to new ways of creating, viewing, bundling, distributing and selling content. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
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Locating data centers in an energy-constrained world
Changes in the power market are rippling through the Internet industry, altering both the location of data centers and their sources of power. There are many factors in picking a data center location beyond the geographic location, such as how to procure energy and green-energy models. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
How many Apple IDs should your family have?
If your family owns multiple Apple devices and has many Apple IDs, it can be overwhelming or even maddening figuring out where your content is. It doesn’t have to be that way: Here’s a guide to finding the best Apple account management solution for you. Read more »
Looks like iCloud will get some big upgrades at WWDC
The WSJ says iCloud will get new photo and video syncing capabilities, which will be announced at WWDC in June. It’s remarkable how quickly Apple has moved to build up iCloud, particularly for a company that previously hasn’t had much success with networked services. Read more »
