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dangonay · 08-08-2011, 10:29 AM

iCloud continued....

The key difference between iCloud and other cloud services is the focus. Typical cloud services are centred around documents and storage. iCloud is centred around the user status.

Think of it this way: You leave your machine at work and go home to continue working. Your machine at home is in a state that matches where your machine was at work. It would be the same as if you had a laptop, put it into suspend, took it home and then resumed exactly where you left off. Only iCloud performs this function across multiple physically different devices. Suspend on one computer, resume on another.

Unlike typical cloud services which allow access to documents from multiple devices, iCloud preserves your state. This includes everything about what you were doing - settings, options, preferences - everything is preserved. You can use multiple devices but they will behave as if you were only carrying a single device around.

Now back to Firefox. FF sync does pretty much the same thing by allowing you to start browsing on one device and change to another and continue browsing right where you left off. The first problem is that FF does this using its own system. They have their own servers set up that store information relating to how you set your browser up, your history and so on. When you switch to another machine, FF looks up this data on their server and uses it to put FF into the same state it was on your last machine.

The second problem with how FF does this is that their system only works on their application - it's proprietary. There are other developers who are also writing Apps that have some of this same functionality, but they are also proprietary. Apple has built the concept of preserving your state into the operating system, where it belongs. So does this mean that any App running on iOS or Lion will work like this? No.

Apps have to be written to take advantage of the ability to have their "state" preserved in iCloud. But it's now easier to do this. A LOT easier. Apple has introduced a complete set of iCloud API's which are designed to allow the developer to add this "preserve the state" functionality to their App. The developer no longer has to worry about all the little details and housekeeping (where to store this information, how to ensure it gets passed from device to device, security for the user...) that go along with it. It's now VERY EASY for an App developer to implement this ability.

If the App Store (and iOS user base) was the cake that drew in developers then iCloud is a big fat layer of icing on top. I predict a whole slew of killers apps will soon appear after iCloud is launched once developers see the potential.

For example, my own App is related to engine/vehicle performance tuning. One thing I'm using iCloud for is to store datalogged information from a vehicle while it's driving. Another user could then see this datalogged information from anywhere, even as it was changing/updating. To implement this on my own would have added a large amount of extra work to my project - now it's all handled for me via iCloud. It took me about two days to code this ability (anyone who programs knows this is a lot harder to do than it sounds).

Another potential use for iCloud? Widgets. Although it hasn't been talked about or the term "widget" used, iCloud has provisions built in that are ideally suited to form the foundation of a "widget" type system to present information. I don't know of Apple's plans for "widgets" but the fact iCloud has API's that can so easily implement them is very interesting.

Apple has also taken extra steps to increase security for your data stored via iCloud. Every App gets its own virtual disk (sandbox) to store its data (if you have 50 Apps then you'll have 50 virtual disks in iCloud). An App will have a unique ID that is required to access this storage. The real kicker is that only an App has permission to modify. delete or otherwise affect data stored in the sandbox. If a malware App somehow made it through Apple's checks and ended up on your phone, it will have no access to any of the data stored/used by your other Apps. If someone got your Apple ID and used the web page to log into your account they also cannot screw up your App data stored in iCloud simply because only the App that created the data (and the virtual disk) has the ability to modify the data. Imagine if someone got your Google or Dropbox ID and logged in with the intent to do as much damage as possible.

App data apparently also doesn't count against your 5GB iCloud free storage. In fact, there's so much free storage for various items I'm starting to wonder what a user would need to do to use up their limit. We'll have to wait and see exactly what counts to your storage, but it seems Apple is including a lot of things for free.

If I remember anything else, I'll post updates.

08-08-2011, 10:29 AM	#102
dangonay Ready to be Man handled by RS! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Burnaby Posts: 1,798 Thanked 1,502 Times in 506 Posts Failed 418 Times in 151 Posts	iCloud continued.... The key difference between iCloud and other cloud services is the focus. Typical cloud services are centred around documents and storage. iCloud is centred around the user status. Think of it this way: You leave your machine at work and go home to continue working. Your machine at home is in a state that matches where your machine was at work. It would be the same as if you had a laptop, put it into suspend, took it home and then resumed exactly where you left off. Only iCloud performs this function across multiple physically different devices. Suspend on one computer, resume on another. Unlike typical cloud services which allow access to documents from multiple devices, iCloud preserves your state. This includes everything about what you were doing - settings, options, preferences - everything is preserved. You can use multiple devices but they will behave as if you were only carrying a single device around. Now back to Firefox. FF sync does pretty much the same thing by allowing you to start browsing on one device and change to another and continue browsing right where you left off. The first problem is that FF does this using its own system. They have their own servers set up that store information relating to how you set your browser up, your history and so on. When you switch to another machine, FF looks up this data on their server and uses it to put FF into the same state it was on your last machine. The second problem with how FF does this is that their system only works on their application - it's proprietary. There are other developers who are also writing Apps that have some of this same functionality, but they are also proprietary. Apple has built the concept of preserving your state into the operating system, where it belongs. So does this mean that any App running on iOS or Lion will work like this? No. Apps have to be written to take advantage of the ability to have their "state" preserved in iCloud. But it's now easier to do this. A LOT easier. Apple has introduced a complete set of iCloud API's which are designed to allow the developer to add this "preserve the state" functionality to their App. The developer no longer has to worry about all the little details and housekeeping (where to store this information, how to ensure it gets passed from device to device, security for the user...) that go along with it. It's now VERY EASY for an App developer to implement this ability. If the App Store (and iOS user base) was the cake that drew in developers then iCloud is a big fat layer of icing on top. I predict a whole slew of killers apps will soon appear after iCloud is launched once developers see the potential. For example, my own App is related to engine/vehicle performance tuning. One thing I'm using iCloud for is to store datalogged information from a vehicle while it's driving. Another user could then see this datalogged information from anywhere, even as it was changing/updating. To implement this on my own would have added a large amount of extra work to my project - now it's all handled for me via iCloud. It took me about two days to code this ability (anyone who programs knows this is a lot harder to do than it sounds). Another potential use for iCloud? Widgets. Although it hasn't been talked about or the term "widget" used, iCloud has provisions built in that are ideally suited to form the foundation of a "widget" type system to present information. I don't know of Apple's plans for "widgets" but the fact iCloud has API's that can so easily implement them is very interesting. Apple has also taken extra steps to increase security for your data stored via iCloud. Every App gets its own virtual disk (sandbox) to store its data (if you have 50 Apps then you'll have 50 virtual disks in iCloud). An App will have a unique ID that is required to access this storage. The real kicker is that only an App has permission to modify. delete or otherwise affect data stored in the sandbox. If a malware App somehow made it through Apple's checks and ended up on your phone, it will have no access to any of the data stored/used by your other Apps. If someone got your Apple ID and used the web page to log into your account they also cannot screw up your App data stored in iCloud simply because only the App that created the data (and the virtual disk) has the ability to modify the data. Imagine if someone got your Google or Dropbox ID and logged in with the intent to do as much damage as possible. App data apparently also doesn't count against your 5GB iCloud free storage. In fact, there's so much free storage for various items I'm starting to wonder what a user would need to do to use up their limit. We'll have to wait and see exactly what counts to your storage, but it seems Apple is including a lot of things for free. If I remember anything else, I'll post updates.