What is iCloud?

Cloud storage is an emerging technology trend. Utilizing cloud computing, these services provide secure, password-protected access to online storage. But what is iCloud? It's Apple's own cloud storage solution.

iCloud is built to integrate effortlessly across all your Apple devices with an internet connection. For example, you can upload photos from your iPhone and view them on your MacBook, transfer music from your MacBook to your iPod Touch, or upload an important document from your Mac desktop and access it on your iPad when you're on the move.

From MobileMe to iCloud

iCloud isn't the first cloud storage service from Apple. MobileMe, its predecessor, provided synchronization services for a yearly fee. The main goal of MobileMe was to sync specific files across multiple devices. This included email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, photo galleries, and iWeb/iDisk services. While MobileMe was designed for Apple products, it also allowed synchronization with non-Apple devices.

Apple transformed MobileMe and integrated it into the iCloud service. iCloud not only replaced MobileMe, but it also introduced new features, greater flexibility, and up to 5 GB of free storage. Furthermore, digital purchases from the iTunes Store are stored in your iCloud account without counting towards the 5 GB limit. Later, we will explore iCloud's features, pricing, and how it compares with other cloud storage options.

Similar to its predecessor MobileMe, iCloud's main benefit is its seamless integration with Apple software. If you use Apple devices exclusively, iCloud is the most convenient cloud storage solution. macOS and iOS apps can sync data to your iCloud space automatically, including contacts and photos.

Now that you're familiar with what iCloud is, let's dive deeper into its features, costs, and how it ensures your data is secure and easily accessible.

Apple iCloud Service

iCloud’s features provide access to your data, from crucial contacts to enjoyable photos, wherever you are connected to the Internet. You can authorize up to 10 devices to use iCloud with your Apple ID, which is an improvement over the iTunes Store's limit of five devices. Additionally, iCloud extends beyond iTunes to include apps that can connect to and use iCloud on those devices. Developers customize each app to use iCloud content in its own way, so check the app’s help pages for details on how it connects. If you’re a developer, find out how to integrate iCloud into your apps via the Apple developer site and its iCloud APIs.

In addition to the app integration options, iCloud offers unlimited free storage for all iTunes purchases. This means that music, movies, TV shows, books, and apps you buy from iTunes don’t count against your free 5 GB iCloud storage. Each iTunes purchase is instantly available for download to any iCloud-authorized device, as long as the content is still offered on the iTunes Store. Simply put, purchase once and access everywhere. This even applies to previous iTunes purchases made with the same Apple ID, as long as the content is still available on the iTunes Store.

The 5 GB free storage may be sufficient for storing non-iTunes files in iCloud, such as documents and photos. However, Apple understands that you might need additional space, so they offer subscription-based plans to accommodate that. As of now, Apple offers the following subscription options to increase your iCloud storage:

Apple iCloud Advantages

One of the biggest benefits of iCloud is its ability to back up and restore data from your Apple iOS devices. iCloud can automatically perform daily backups of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch when connected to WiFi. These are not full device backups but partial backups, storing only the data you've modified. Here’s what iCloud can back up from your iOS device:

In addition to making the backup process easier, iCloud also simplifies restoring your Apple iOS device from an iCloud backup. You’ll likely need to restore your device when you lose important data, reset or replace it, or upgrade to newer hardware.

We’ve covered the features of Apple iCloud. Now, let’s explore some of the challenges iCloud faces and compare it to its competitors in the cloud storage industry.

iCloud's Challenges and Competition

Like other cloud service providers, iCloud faces challenges such as requiring specially designed software to access its services. Although iCloud is available wherever you can connect to the Internet, it still depends on front-end applications to manage the connection between you and your data.

Like other cloud services, iCloud faces the same challenge of requiring an Internet connection. To mitigate this, Apple has limited certain iCloud functions so they can only be performed over a WiFi connection. This helps prevent your device from using up precious 3G data for routine synchronization tasks.

A unique challenge for iCloud began in the courtroom, not the tech world. Just days after Apple's June 2011 iCloud announcement, an Arizona-based voice-over-IP provider, iCloud Communications, filed a lawsuit. The company had held the rights to the iCloud name since 2005. Apple had applied for eleven trademarks and purchased the domain from Swedish company Xcerion. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office noted that iCloud Communications had not registered the name, leaving it available. The Arizona company ultimately dropped the lawsuit.

With other cloud storage options available, how does iCloud compare? Let’s take a look at several competitors and how they stack up against Apple’s iCloud:

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