First Look Video of iCloud.com Beta

happyicloudApple launched its iCloud.com beta tonight. The beta is intended for developers to test their iCloud syncing functionality, though there has been some confusion about who exactly had access. Early on, it seemed that Apple inadvertently allowed access to more than just developers, but we now hear that Apple has started shutting out these non-developer users.

iCloud is Apple's upcoming syncing and storage service for both iOS 5 and OS X Lion. iCloud (the service) stores your music, photos, apps, calendars, documents and keeps it in sync across multiple devices. iCloud.com (the website) represents Apple's MobileMe website replacement that gives users online access to their Calendar, Email, Address Book, Find My Phone and iWork data. The entire interface borrows heavily from iOS and Lion and incorporates many nice graphical flourishes and animations.

This quick walkthrough video by helpfulmactips2010 shows the different pieces in place:


Apple has also revealed the pricing for additional iCloud storage. iCloud comes with 5GB of free storage, and the additional pricing is as follows:

• 10GB Additional, $20/year
• 20GB Additional, $40/year
• 50GB Additional, $100/year

Apple has said that purchased music, apps, and books, as well as Photo Stream, don’t count against your free 5GB storage.

Much more about iCloud should be revealed as the launch nears. Apple has promised that iCloud will launch this fall alongside iOS 5. OS X Lion will also need an update to fully support iCloud.

Top Rated Comments

viperGTS Avatar
166 months ago


I'm finding it hard to care, I'm not paying apples prices for music. Amazon and the used record stores have helped me accumulate my 110 gb's of music. My iPod video does a very good job of playing that music. Call me old school but I dont feel like paying at least 100 bucks a year to store my music hat I already own and have stored in three places.
Ok, first of all:
It costs $25 a year, not $100, to store your music in iCloud. Stop being so ignorant.
Secondly, if you have 3 places to put your music, then that's all good. iTunes Match isn't for you. Its meant to make your music iCloud compatible. If you don't find the service to fufill your needs, don't complain about it. No one said you had to get it. :rolleyes:
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nuckinfutz Avatar
166 months ago
Gotta love how so many are willing to jump on the "convienence" of paying apple to rent 100 gigs of space when 2TB can be had for that price, forever minus the convienence.
Huh? iCloud is a sync tool that leverages storage. We all know we can buy local storage cheaper but that's not going to keep our data in sync now.

I think people are getting confused. iCloud's focus is on sync and using cloud storage to cache metadata and handle conflicts. It's not there to put up your entire music library or porn collection.


This would have been great a couple of years ago. Today I use gMail, Google Calendar+Contacts, and Spotify.
Which is essentially saying I use crappy web apps because they are free.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cinch Avatar
166 months ago
Only with OSX Lion

If iCloud works only with OSX Lion, then I'll stick with Dropbox for now. Wirelessly syncing photos and music at night while my phone is charging is enough for me.

Still using my MacBook 1st generation (Core Duo) for 5+ years, and running Snow Leopard just fine!:D
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wayfarer Avatar
166 months ago
Oh glorious day.

Happy mac is BACK!



Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
monaarts Avatar
166 months ago
I think music match for $25/year will prove to be a dud. With wireless syncing, do you really need music match? I think with the 5GB free iCloud service, Apple will give Dropbox, Google and others some competition. I think the vast majority of us will take advantage of this free service and only a small percentage of us will pay for the service, and with competitions heating up, you never know what service will be free in the future, especially when Google is involved!

I am planning on paying the $25/yr for 3 reasons. #1, it is more clean with all the correct information and cover art for all the music. #2, it is an upgraded sound for most of my library. #3, if I ever happen to lose all of my music from my mac I can just legally download it all from iTunes again! (HUUUGE plus in my opinion!)


- Joe
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DavidLeblond Avatar
166 months ago
WOW, revolutionary!

It looks just like MobilMe with out the things I liked best, Photo Gallery, and Idisk!

If people didn't like MM why in the hell would they go for this, probably because they will be forced to.

Kind of sucks, Apple giveth and Apple taketh away.

Uh because it's free?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

ipad pro 2022

Apple Event Rumors: iPad Pro With M4 Chip and New Apple Pencil With Haptic Feedback

Sunday April 28, 2024 6:19 am PDT by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman outlined some of the new products he expects Apple to announce at its "Let Loose" event on May 7. First, Gurman now believes there is a "strong possibility" that the upcoming iPad Pro models will be equipped with Apple's next-generation M4 chip, rather than the M3 chip that debuted in the MacBook Pro and iMac six months ago. He said a ...
apple id account

Apple ID Accounts Logging Out Users and Requiring Password Reset

Saturday April 27, 2024 12:41 am PDT by
There are widespread reports of Apple users being locked out of their Apple ID overnight for no apparent reason, requiring a password reset before they can log in again. Users say the sudden inexplicable Apple ID sign-out is occurring across multiple devices. When they attempt to sign in again they are locked out of their account and asked to reset their password in order to regain access. ...
iOS 18 General Notes Feature 2

iOS 18 Rumored to 'Overhaul' Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness Apps

Sunday April 28, 2024 6:44 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that iOS 18 will "overhaul" many of Apple's built-in apps, including Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness. Gurman did not reveal any specific new features planned for these apps. It was previously rumored that the Notes app will gain support for displaying more math equations, and a built-in option to record voice memos, but this is the first time we have...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Rumored to Add These 10 New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday April 24, 2024 2:05 pm PDT by
Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, so the software update is a little over six weeks away from being announced. Below, we recap rumored features and changes planned for the iPhone with iOS 18. iOS 18 will reportedly be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, with new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features, a more customizable Home Screen, and much more....
top stories 27apr2024

Top Stories: Apple Announces 'Let Loose' Event With New iPads and More Expected

Saturday April 27, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
New iPads are coming, and Apple is holding a virtual event to introduce them! While it appears likely to be a relatively short video event, we should be seeing new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, some new accessories, and perhaps some additional surprises. Other Apple news and rumors this week included word that Apple is FINALLY planning to introduce a native Calculator app for the iPad later...
iPad Pro OLED Feature 2

Apple to Use 'Best OLED Panels on the Market' for Upcoming iPad Pro

Monday April 29, 2024 10:04 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPad Pro models will feature "by far the best OLED tablet panels on the market," according to Display Supply Chain Consultants. Set to be announced on May 7, the OLED iPad Pro models will feature LTPO (a more power efficient form of OLED), a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, and a tandem stack and glass thinning that will bring "ultra-thin and light displays" that support high...