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It just seems to me that companies like SugarSync (and maybe Dropbox - I don't use it) have been doing this for years. I'm confident that Apple will improve som

by jsherry 15y ago

It just seems to me that companies like SugarSync (and maybe Dropbox - I don't use it) have been doing this for years. I'm confident that Apple will improve some of the media streaming experience, but their real genius is in marketing these products b/c this has existed for some time.

danieldk 15y ago
iCloud is not (just) a hard disk in the cloud (as Steve Jobs said during the keynote). More defining is the API that makes it seamless for applications (and consequently users) to sync data to the cloud. In that sense, it's not just another Dropbox. In a year, the average iOS app will automatically sync data across devices using iCloud, while there is no simple knob you can switch to store it in Dropbox instead.
- radarsat1 15y ago
  > In a year, the average iOS app will automatically sync data across devices using iCloud, while there is no simple knob you can switch to store it in Dropbox instead. Which is, frankly, scary: imho, you should be able to easily switch your "sync provider" seamlessly. (For healthy competition, for privacy rights)
  - danieldk 15y ago
    I fully agree, but it easy to fall for comfort, and lose flexibility. It's pretty much the same with iTunes: I can ditch OS X and switch back to Linux. However, I will not be able to play music and movies directly from my media player to the Apple TV2 without much effort. Also, synchronizing music from Banshee or Rhythmbox to my phone is not possible (until libgpod supports iPhone 4). iTunes/iCloud (/Google Apps/Facebook) will be the next Microsoft Office. You will be locked into a platform because your data lives there. It's clever.
- jsherry 15y ago
  I will have to see the full implementation of iCloud to understand the difference. Again, can't speak for Dropbox even though they're the market leader. But SugarSync has this syncing functionality already and has had it for at least 2 years. You can sync to the cloud and access files from the cloud OR you can actually choose files/folders to sync across hardware. For example, if I say that I want to sync my music folder across my Macbook Air and my Thinkpad, any time I make an update on one machine, it flows through to the other machine's hard drive. Similar with documents. If I choose to sync a Word document across machines and I edit it and save on one machine, in seconds it updates on the other machine should I open it there. It's all seamless - happens in the background without me having to push it from machine to machine. Re: the API point, SugarSync has had one since 2010: http://www.sugarsync.com/developer http://www.sugarsync.com/developer. Haven't developed with it at all nor have I used an app that uses it, so can't speak for its flexibility. P.s. I swear I'm not a SugarSync employee - just a very satisfied user since 2008 ;-)
  - danieldk 15y ago
    You can sync to the cloud and access files from the cloud OR you can actually choose files/folders to sync across hardware. There is a huge usability difference between putting a file in some folder, and having it synced, and automatically syncing all relevant data in an application. This is easy to underestimate for us technical people, but it is very difficult to explain my mother that she has to put files in, say, Dropbox on her iPod Touch to be able to access it on her iPad. Do something on the iPod Touch, have it available nearly instantly on the iPad in the same application, she understands.
    - jsherry 15y ago
      Good point indeed. The functionality is already there, but Apple will surely simplify things and cause widespread adoption.
    - WayneDB 15y ago
      Dropbox has an API to allow external programs to use the service. There are no differences or very minor differences between iCloud and Dropbox functionality-wise. The fact that Apple is behind iCloud and they're now going to integrate all of _their_ applications and the OS with it is going to make the difference. Apple certainly didn't invent anything revolutionary here, however it's revolutionary that the maker of a widely used desktop OS is doing it.

by jsherry 15y ago

danieldk 15y ago

iCloud is not (just) a hard disk in the cloud (as Steve Jobs said during the keynote). More defining is the API that makes it seamless for applications (and consequently users) to sync data to the cloud. In that sense, it's not just another Dropbox. In a year, the average iOS app will automatically sync data across devices using iCloud, while there is no simple knob you can switch to store it in Dropbox instead.

radarsat1 15y ago
> In a year, the average iOS app will automatically sync data across devices using iCloud, while there is no simple knob you can switch to store it in Dropbox instead. Which is, frankly, scary: imho, you should be able to easily switch your "sync provider" seamlessly. (For healthy competition, for privacy rights)
- danieldk 15y ago
  I fully agree, but it easy to fall for comfort, and lose flexibility. It's pretty much the same with iTunes: I can ditch OS X and switch back to Linux. However, I will not be able to play music and movies directly from my media player to the Apple TV2 without much effort. Also, synchronizing music from Banshee or Rhythmbox to my phone is not possible (until libgpod supports iPhone 4). iTunes/iCloud (/Google Apps/Facebook) will be the next Microsoft Office. You will be locked into a platform because your data lives there. It's clever.
jsherry 15y ago
I will have to see the full implementation of iCloud to understand the difference. Again, can't speak for Dropbox even though they're the market leader. But SugarSync has this syncing functionality already and has had it for at least 2 years. You can sync to the cloud and access files from the cloud OR you can actually choose files/folders to sync across hardware. For example, if I say that I want to sync my music folder across my Macbook Air and my Thinkpad, any time I make an update on one machine, it flows through to the other machine's hard drive. Similar with documents. If I choose to sync a Word document across machines and I edit it and save on one machine, in seconds it updates on the other machine should I open it there. It's all seamless - happens in the background without me having to push it from machine to machine. Re: the API point, SugarSync has had one since 2010: http://www.sugarsync.com/developer http://www.sugarsync.com/developer. Haven't developed with it at all nor have I used an app that uses it, so can't speak for its flexibility. P.s. I swear I'm not a SugarSync employee - just a very satisfied user since 2008 ;-)
- danieldk 15y ago
  You can sync to the cloud and access files from the cloud OR you can actually choose files/folders to sync across hardware. There is a huge usability difference between putting a file in some folder, and having it synced, and automatically syncing all relevant data in an application. This is easy to underestimate for us technical people, but it is very difficult to explain my mother that she has to put files in, say, Dropbox on her iPod Touch to be able to access it on her iPad. Do something on the iPod Touch, have it available nearly instantly on the iPad in the same application, she understands.
  - jsherry 15y ago
    Good point indeed. The functionality is already there, but Apple will surely simplify things and cause widespread adoption.
  - WayneDB 15y ago
    Dropbox has an API to allow external programs to use the service. There are no differences or very minor differences between iCloud and Dropbox functionality-wise. The fact that Apple is behind iCloud and they're now going to integrate all of _their_ applications and the OS with it is going to make the difference. Apple certainly didn't invent anything revolutionary here, however it's revolutionary that the maker of a widely used desktop OS is doing it.