Web 2.0 Blog

Apple in the Clouds

Arriving fashionably late on the cloud computing scene, Apple’s new MobileMe service appears to be the answer to integrated and unified information across a user’s Apple platforms. Rather than storing data individually on several platforms, it is kept on a single server or ‘cloud’ where it will keep all interconnected devices up to date with the user’s information. Also, similar to Microsoft’s Live Mesh which I have covered in some detail, MobileMe features an online desktop where the storage and sharing of files is possible and accessible by all deviced connected to the service.

Also similar to Live Mesh, MobileMe incorporates desktop Macs, MacBooks and iPhones together which is an ever increasing trend in web 2.0 technologies in today’s world. Web services aren’t designed for traditional desktop computers, but are intended to be accessed anywhere on people’s mobile devices. The term ‘MobileMe’ only strengthens the idea that the frequency of changing data to make it relevant is primarily designed for mobile computing.

Anyway, the main feature as far as MobileMe is concerned is the Push service which I have already touched upon, a service which keeps constantly changing data relevant on all connected mobile devices up to date. This primarily includes emails, contacts and calendar events. So id I was to add a new event to my calnedar on my iMac, lo and behold it will also appear on my iPhone. Useful, consistent and certainly a step in the right direction of unified and correct data sharing,but it makes you wonder whyit has taken so long for this idea to come to mainstream fruition?

Games consoles are also becoming interconnected. Look at the Wii-DS, PS3-PSP & XBOX360-PC connectivity. Perhaps it won’t be too longer before they’re all talking to each other. Regardless of the competition however, it’s good to see that Apple have created a simple and usable solution in MobileMe and there’s no doubt the loyal fanbase of Apple users will be hooked right in. But with so far limited options and the high prices that have become customary with Apple products, will it have the pulling power to detract from the mainstream and all-inclusive solution soonto be offered by Microsoft and Live Mesh? Time will tell…