Every June, Apple aficionados wait patiently for Apple's premier event, WWDC. Something new and exciting is always around the corner. Last three years, it was a new itineration of iPhone. But alas, this time there is no new iPhone with the next iPhone slated to be released on September 7, 2011 (going by some web rumors). The exciting news to come out of WWDC this year is the launch of iCloud and iOS 5 this fall. iOS 5 is a massive update to iOS 4 bringing in more than 200 new features to your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. And boy, the new features do pack quite some punch with Apple fulfilling a lot of iPhone users' wishes this time. Of-course, the naysayers would say that Apple is playing catch-up to other manufacturers using Android platform but even if some features are already available on other phones, it's the Apple's way of implementing such changes which make them irresistible and exciting (remember copy and paste?).
In short, you are going to get a spanking new Notification Centre (assessed by a swipe down on the screen aka Android), iMessage (allowing you free messages to other iOS users), Newsstand (an app to organize Magazine and Newspaper subscription), Reminders (to remind you of tasks, even location based), Twitter integration, huge changes to the Camera & Photos apps, a more better Mobile safari and Wireless sync of your devices without needing a PC or Mac. Many features are already available via a multitude of apps available on itunes App Store but the iOS 5 integration would mean a more slick experience and lesser number of apps on already bloated iPhones. For more details on these juicy features, see here.
iCloud is the new and advanced MobileMe which is actually free (as compared to $99/year for MobileMe). iCloud stores your music, photos, apps, books, contacts, calendars, documents and more. And it pushes these to all your devices automatically including your PC or Mac, keeping all your devices in sync! iCloud offers free 5GB of space and your purchased music, apps, books and your "Photo Stream" does not count towards that. Check more features here.
iOS and iCloud seem to be slated near the release of iPhone 5. Maybe the Christmas is coming early this September!
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One of the drawbacks which has come into light is a lack of streaming from the cloud. It only allows downloading and play. This feature is available on android though.
ReplyDeleteAlso announced was the controversial iMatch feature, which is for converting your illegally downloaded music to legal files for a small fee!! Guaranteed to a big hit..!
Nitin
ReplyDeleteStreaming is missing but then it is Apple. Apple always like to have a tight control on the features and releases them in installments. Streaming is not there because it was never meant to be. iCloud actually cuts the umbilical cord between your iOS device and your computer. iCloud not only pushes your purchased apps, books, video and music to every device automatically, it stores your photos, updates your firmware and stores and restores your device backups. Streaming needs data, and in the time of data capped plans due to congested mobile networks in US, it is going to be some time before this feature is offered.
ReplyDeleteiTunes Match matches your non-iTunes bought (or pirated) music to Apple's servers and keeps a copy of the matched song online for you to download on any of your iPhone devices. The fee is $25/year and it does seem to be an indirect way of legalizing unlimited amount of pirated music at a negligible cost.