Apple announces OS X Lion, iOS 5, iCloud

Engadget ^ | 6/6/11 | Engadget

[ctdonath2]

Apple introduced OS X Lion, iOS 5, and iCloud today. Lots of articles at the link and elsewhere.

[ctdonath2]

Thanks to the Japan tsunami of late, Apple has learned to not rely on one supplier in one country for parts. IIRC they’re now outsourcing duplicate production to Brazil.

The affects the “make it in the USA” mantra (which, yes, I’m sympathetic to): a company that big wants redundant assurance that nothing - including sociopolitical events - disrupts production. They’ll manufacture in several countries just to ensure at least one line stays running.

[ctdonath2]

One relevant under-discussed factor: they can’t move the money here. Apple has been telling the feds that they want to move many billions of $$$ into the US from their foreign operations, but since the incoming tax rate is ~33% they just won’t (paying $1 to bring in $2 is stupid). Until either that rate is lowered, eliminated or amnestied, all that cash will stay outside the US, re-invested back into foreign operations.

[Mr. Blonde]

So is it essentially identical (in this part) to the Google Music service. The first time you play a song it is streamed to your device and then recently played items are cached on the device along with any songs you select to keep on the device permanently?

[antiRepublicrat]

The first time you play a song it is streamed to your device and then recently played items are cached on the device along with any songs you select to keep on the device permanently?

Listen-while-download and streaming are two different things, although in some use cases this can effectively be a distinction without a difference. The Apple method downloads the music.

[antiRepublicrat]

I think some arm twisting had to go into it too. Remember, Apple had to drag the labels screaming and kicking into the digital age even with the dollar signs right there to see. They’re so paranoid, so controlling, they can’t see profit right before their eyes. This is the same group that wanted mix tapes to be banned. I have bought probably a few hundred CDs and tapes based on mix tapes I’ve received. One tape alone was so good, it got me hooked on bands resulting in about a hundred purchases. But the MAFIAA is too blind to recognize free and effective promotion.

On the other hand, as you reminded with Amazon, it’s a good idea not to just blatantly piss them off and look greedy. Jobs has been good at putting a choke collar on the MAFIAA execs and leading them to profit. They may find it initially painful, but they sure like the results they get later.

[ctdonath2]

I’m sure of the negotiations included the observation that the farther they can entice the non-compliant into the walled garden, the more likely compliance - and profit - will rise.

As others noted: Apple won because they figured out how to monetize music piracy. Charge a pittance for adherence, make pirates face the nice-for-a-price civilized world vs. gritty-and-annoying free-for-all, and watch them succumb. Kinda like Leftists making socialism so attractive, so easy to join, so hard to live without ... for just a small overhead cost.

[ctdonath2]

Yes, it caches it locally. #104 was observing that you can start playing what is in the process of being cached (assuming it’s getting the data faster than you can listen to it).

Apple’s breakthrough is being able to glance at the music on your PC, recognize that you’ve ripped CDs which are available on iTunes, and instead of making you upload the CDs you bought (which is redundant, as they already have a copy) just go ahead and download/cache the iTunes copy onto your iPhone. Google & Amazon would require you upload the CDs first, which for some of us could take _weeks_.

[Revolting cat!]

You’re right, sorry. There is more about it in this morning’s WSJ.

[Sprite518]

I watched the presentation today on the Apple website for OS C Lion, iOS 5 and the iCloud.

I like OS C Lion and iOS 5 and think they are great. The iCloud and how it works is nice. However I still have two very big concerns.

1) How do you know that someone can not hack your information from that is stored in the iCloud?

2) What happens to the iCloud if a virus hits it? How would they prevent an attack.

Perhaps if the iCloud just remains with non import things like music, movies and photos then it will not matter too much. However, when it comes to banking and documents then I do have a security concern.

I have an iPhone 4 and love it. I also have a Dell Inspiron and love it. After watching this long video today I’m very tempted to pick up an iPad II. Nonetheless, I’ll probably hold off and pick up iPhone 5. My guess is that the iPad is probably 3 years from becoming Mainstream and PCs will be thing of the past. Just a guess?

[kevkrom]

Ok, correcting myself here. I was not able to see the Mrs.’ downloads - she had gotten the same apps (free) for my son’s iPod, which is linked to my Apple ID.

[TXnMA]

"So, if it’s encrypted, then that means if someone hacks it they won’t be able to know your info? So, if it’s encrypted, then that means if someone hacks it they won’t be able to know your info?"

In theory", it makes it near-impossible for anyone without the supercomputer power and esoteric knowledge of some organization like the NSA.

For most people, (and most nations) your personal (encrypted) data are simply not worth the trouble and effort required to decode it/them...

[TXnMA]

The anti-apple wankers are making noises as if cloud computing is new risk that only Apple is engaging. Not so.

Here is an article from a technical business newsletter that I received from IBM very recently:

Cloud security: Risks vs. reality

"Cloud may seem new, but the fact is companies have been outsourcing services and technology for years. Providers already deliver hosted technology offerings that are located offsite with client access via the Internet."

There is much more to the article, but, suffice it to say that a company that has invest gigabucks on a new data center like the new Apple one in NC:

"The two circled dots on the roof are people..."

...is not going to make it easy for anyone to muck around with your (and their) data...

[F1reEng1neRed]

“So now we’ve gone from “what’s the big deal? All the cloud services already do this” to “a year from now ...” I wouldn’t hold my breath. Ten years on, we’re still waiting for the “iPod killer” (*cough* Zune *cough*).”

The fact that you just brought up that red herring is pretty much proof that you know it to be true.

“Because you use a circular definition by which anyone impressed with Apple’s services is an “Apple zombie.””

“Because I use a definition by which anyone who gushes over any and everything Apple and constantly overstates it importance.”

There, fixed it for ya.

[F1reEng1neRed]

I’m only using Samsung as an example. You can take any of the other manufacturers that are killing Apple in market share. It’s none of those other other phone manufacturer’s faults that Apple makes 1 phone a year.

[F1reEng1neRed]

“(to wit: what percentage of Android users wouldn’t notice a difference if it was running anything else, or practically no serious OS at all?”

LOL, I’m POSITIVE that if a majority of phones were running iOS you wouldn’t be trying to downplay in the success and surge of Android.

Prediction: A year from now, Google’s market share will be higher than it is now and you’ll still be here touting the wonders of Apple wondering how the heck it is the appeal of Android continues to grow. I guess when you’re used to being told what you can do with your phone, you can’t possible fathom it.

[brytlea]

I would worry about storing my own personal important stuff *out there* too. But to be honest, I think a lot of our personal info is kind of out there now, if not in *the cloud*. :( I don’t care about things like music (altho I think I would want a copy of at least what I had somewhere that I could have it so the files could be rebuilt just in case).

[brytlea]

Well, most of my data is probably of no interest to anyone anyway. :)

[kevkrom]

And every single one of those manufacturers would kill to be making Apple’s profits. Market share means little when you’re making diddly-squat on each unit.

[ctdonath2]

Good evasion.

Now answer the question.

[brytlea]

Well, the State of TX put SS #s of teachers out to public access for over a year and a number of businesses allowed email addresses associated with names to be hacked recently. I realize this is a little different, but frankly, our information is already out there and not completely safe anyway. Peoples stuff gets hacked today, right now.