[JohnR]

Thanks, wilsynet, for the explanation

[jqp]

 

The future may see no media stored in your house, just streaming devices.  No CD players, turntables, DVD players and devices that can capture and record a digital stream may be illegal.

I don't think so - not in a world where we are free to be audiophiles and videophiles, or musicians, or homeowners.

[jrebman]

As far as the mobileme account and email addresses, it looks like the me.com domain will only continue for another year and then will go away, though it's not clear if the domain will change to icloud.com or some other thing, bt keep your personal address.

Fortunately I have not really used my me.com email and only use for syncing contacts, etc.  If I will get that for free, great and then we'll just have to see what happens with the email accounts.  As for the music sharing, for loewr quality, on-the-go availability, even if it has to be downloaded, well, could be decent, but the devil will be in the details so not sure I'll go there when it becomes available.

It does kind of annoy me that they are going to pull the me.com email address tho9ugh.

-- Jim

[skunark]

There's nothing stating that they are going to pull the @me.com email address.   For those that remember the transition from .Mac to MobileMe, you have both @me.com and @mac.com email addresses.  There's no downside for Apple to keep those around and the existing .Mac and MobileMe users will have their original email addresses and a new email address.

[ctviggen]

Apple is putting in a HUGE data center about 15 minutes from my office.  There is all sorts of speculation on what the place will be hosting.  The iCloud could be part of it, but most speculation revolves around a NetFlix competitor that is yet to be announced.  My guess --> Apple is working on a new streaming model that allows you to purchase a movie/song/book/whatever and never take physical delivery.  They will store it in their iCloud system and let you use it when you like.  What is not included is a streaming service of digital media that you choose from for a flat fee, but never own.  This setup keeps Apple in good graces with the content publishers, who get paid when media is purchased (old school model). 

This brings up a host of questions.  Do you want the ability to read a book more than once?  Do you watch movies multiple times?  I listen to music multiple times, no question.  My kids occasionally trash an iPod and if it was not synched, you lose your music but not your apps.  The iCloud will help with this problem.  Love NetFlix because of all of the movie choices and no dealing with physical media or purchasing something that may only be viewed a few times. 

The future may see no media stored in your house, just streaming devices.  No CD players, turntables, DVD players and devices that can capture and record a digital stream may be illegal.

That's the way a lot of the companies want you to go.  Younger folks are definitely heading that way, too.  Why have physical media?  Even I've been ripping my DVDs to a drive because of the convenience factor (and of course my music's been there for years).  I just can't see storing it to the cloud.  Certainly syncing multiple devices with one set of music/videos/movies/whatever would be nice.  But I personally can't stand the iTunes control system. For instance, why can't I hook up a drive to my iPad and put my pictures or home movies on there?  Why do I have go through iTunes? 

I also can't see putting any of my personal info in the cloud.  Upload a picture via Twitter, and they take the copyright. 

http://paidcontent.org/article/419-in-lawsuit-wire-service-afp-says-twitter-pictures-are-free-for-taking/

It's only a matter of time before iCloud and other cloud based services request the same.