On WWDC 2011
Overall, did okay with my my predictions, mostly because of stating the less likely stuff as “possible” or “long shot,” namely Apple TV apps and Time Machine in the cloud.
I won’t rehash the entire keynote but just point out what was personally significant:
- Lion: Liked the multitouch stuff, Mission Control, but especially the auto save, version control, and Resume. Not needing to save files and different versions removes one big reason for understanding the file system (where did I save that file?).
- Cutting the iDevice cord and ending reliance on iTunes to sync content. The iPad may now be a great “computer” for an aged relative who still hasn’t got a handle on how to use a desktop computer — and its file system — let alone iTunes.
- Improved notifications: Should be a huge time saver, less screen-unlocking and tapping to call up various apps.
- Deep Twitter integration: Could have been you, Facebook.
- iMessages: iChat on your iDevice. Significant to bypass the carriers’ expensive text message plans.
Then there’s iCloud.
Definitely agree with Apple’s vision of a “post-PC world.” My hardware purchases over the last few years have drifted toward the cheapest Macs (currently a Mac Mini) and a bunch of iDevices as opposed to one expensive MacBook or Mac Pro.
But the biggest problem with multiple devices is keeping all your content in sync. The current answer is syncing everything to some online service. Right now I’m using mix of DropBox, SimpleNote, Notational Velocity, MobileMe, streaming services like Netflix / Pandora, and manual syncing, but it’s definitely too complicated for casual users — particularly those aforementioned aged relatives. it’s got to be dead-simple (say, as simple as accessing a file on a local drive), totally reliable, and have a significant benefit before the masses sign on.
Apple’s iCloud tries to address all three. Simple: “push” notifications of content with no awareness of where files are saved or how they get anywhere — it “just works” with “nothing new to learn.” Reliable: Apple’s building huge data centers. Significant benefit: buy an app once and it’s available for all your devices, less content management in iTunes, but also — the content we care about; music, books, apps, and photos.
iCloud tries to balance doing everything in the cloud and storing stuff locally. You can download content to your local device. There’s no Google-y absolutist talk of doing everything in the browser and streaming everything (Chrome-book, Google Music). Imagine owning a MacBook that ran only Safari — you wouldn’t have access the vast majority of the stuff in this keynote. Apple’s “end run” around the browser in favor of apps continues, and their vision of the future is notably non-browser centric despite the reliance of the web to move all this content around.
And ultimately, if successful, iCloud further strengthens the Apple ecosystem in a way competitors can’t touch. We’ll buy more iTunes content knowing it will be always available in iCloud, therefore more devices.
Lastly: super generous pricing. MobileMe was a $99 annual fee, more than Lion and iTunes Match combined.