We’ve already stated what Apple’s cloud could be for and now, here’s even more definitive proof that it’s coming. Moving from “rumour” to “confirmed,” Digital Daily reports that Apple has indeed purchased the domain iCloud.com. [Digital Daily]
Would Apple see more sign-ups to MobileMe if it were free? Undoubtedly, but lowering it from $US99/year to $US20 will still be advantageous for them. That’s if these latest rumours are correct. The cloud-based “back-up” service we last heard about has been mentioned again and is beginning to sound very likely.
There had been earlier reports that Apple was starting their own streaming music service to compete against the likes of Rdio, MOG and Rhapsody. But anonymous industry sources are telling the Financial Times that Apple has no plans to “cannibalise” their iTunes download service, and that the technology they acquired in their 2009 purchase of Lala will be used for “insurance”.
That massive data centre Apple’s spent the last few years building in North Carolina? As suspected, it’s there to support iTunes, the company confirmed today. That’s a whole lot of storage to be used for anything other than a cloud-based iTunes.
Wouldn’t you know it, but just as Samsung was rebooting its well-received Galaxy S line of tablets and smartphones at MWC, an Apple iPhone rumour arrives courtesy the Wall Street Journal.
There are reports around the internet today that MobileMe—Apple’s paid-for membership to heaps of Mac/iOS4 services—has been blocked in Saudi Arabia. As you know, the Saudi Arabian government has had a hot temper in the last year when it comes to technology, specifically products (like BlackBerry smartphones) and services which are too secure, and keep their data on foreign servers.
In a moment of disgruntled anguish, one MacRumors reader emailed Steve Jobs, asking if the MobileMe service will be improved anytime soon. And apparently Steve replied, pledging that “it will get a lot better in 2011.” Fair Enough! [MacRumors]
We’ve been waiting for MobileMe to go free for a while now so we’re not holding our breath, but could iOS 4.2 really, finally bring a free MobileMe tier to users? MacRumors has found evidence in AppleAccounts.framework that suggests yes.
