Apple's iCloud: New Details Straight from Steve Jobs

It seems that indeed the skies will grow cloudy for Apple in the near future, and from the first few details shared by Steve Jobs at the Developer's Conference this morning, it would appear that Apple's clouds could make things a little dim for Amazon and Google.

Jobs made his entrance to thunderous applause and cheers. He spoke about the new Mac operating system and of the new iPhone software, but all ears were pinned back awaiting news on iCloud, Apple's entry into the world of cloud data management and storage. Apple's iCloud will be about more than just MP3s.

iCloud will be an attempt to sync up your data across multiple devices wirelessly. As Jobs stated, "...using cables has broken down over the last few years, keeping these devices in sync is driving us crazy!" Apple's intent is to let their cloud share data like your calendar and contacts to your laptop, phone and iPod (or whichever device you use for music).

Of course Apple hopes you'll use their iCloud to manage your music collection as well. In fact, they've perhaps made the biggest step towards convenience with cloud storage services using what's being billed as a "scan and match" for songs. Basically iCloud will take a look at your music collection (no word on whether this includes songs purchased or "otherwise obtained" from sources other than iTunes) and then make those tracks available via streaming to your mobile device without ever having to upload tracks.

For those without insanely large storage options on their phones or MP3 players, this feature could give a boost to the iCloud over Amazon and Google. It will essentially allow anyone to access their entire library of songs from anywhere, freeing them of a need to manage what will fit on their actual device. Assuming iCloud will let you work with songs not obtained from iTunes, this is a master stroke for Apple.

It also pushes the practice of buying physical media for music even further towards the cliff. The advent of portable music has always depended on physical media until the age of the MP3. At first though, tracks had to be ripped from CDs, but now iTunes' dominance has made it almost superfluous to own a physical disc any more. Already the record industry has had to slice their prices for albums in the iTunes age, and if now everything can get sent to you wirelessly, the old way just seems to grow even older.

Do you have a thought on iCloud, or on cloud storage in general? Leave a comment, let me know your thoughts.