/article-new/2013/09/icloud_icon.jpg?lossy){kind=icon}
Apple may be expanding iCloud in iOS 8 by releasing iOS versions of Preview and TextEdit that use iCloud for document retrieval and storage. It also is developing tools that will make it easier for developers to create iCloud-based applications. These improvements are expected to arrive later this year, reports 9to5Mac.
Apple is developing versions of the Mac operating system’s Preview and TextEdit applications that are optimized for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The applications are said to not be designed to actually edit PDFs, images, or text documents. Instead, the apps are built to serve as tools to view Preview and TextEdit files stored in iCloud by OS X. Apple added iCloud synchronization for Preview and TextEdit with OS X Mountain Lion, but has not yet released iOS counterparts to actually view the synchronized content.
These new Preview and TextEdit apps will be document viewers only and won't include editing functionality. iPhone and iPad owners will be encouraged to use iWork applications to edit common document types and iBooks to manipulate PDFs.
These changes reflect a new development strategy championed by Apple Senior VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi. Instead of two separate teams with one focusing on iOS and the other dedicated to OS X, Federighi has merged the teams so the same group of developers work on both the iOS and OS X versions.
Apple also is exploring ways to make iCloud app development easier for developers. Details are sparse, but Apple may provide new iCloud storage tools that allow developers to use iCloud as a file system for sharing data across iOS and OS X platforms.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)I mean, seriously.
Also, sharing files between iOS and OSX via iCloud? How about just make AirDrop work? It's ridiculous that I have to use DropBox just to share a file between two devices sitting on the same desk. The data travels thousands of miles to go 1 foot. But Apple's solution is to send my data thousands of miles to their servers instead of someone else's.
On a semi-related note, the dialog the pops up when you first launch Textedit sucks! It increases the amount of time the application takes to open, and it adds steps between launching the app from spotlight and entering text. I've switched to Sublime but will be looking for fixes.
</rant></firstworldproblems>
EDIT: If anybody else hates this, read this reply to my post! (https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=18878320)
Hope to see a big bump in free storage space and the inclusion of home videos into photo stream to go along with this
No joke. 5 free GB of storage for 2 macs, an iPhone, and an iPad is not conducive to a good user experience. I bought 10 extra GB, but I'm pushing the limits on that storage space. And the absolute most you can get is 55 GB? Is this 2005? Where is my unlimited option?
Until iCloud uses client-side encryption with client-side keys, I'm not touching it with a ten-foot pole. They can add all the features an integration they want, but it's worthless to me until I have control over my own data.
iBooks to manipulate PDFs
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!Why would you do this. PDF management in iBooks is horrible. Unless it's a PDF of a book I don't want it in iBooks.