iCloud

Motorola cunningly launches tool to migrate iCloud contacts and calendars to Google

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

After an appeals court last month lifted the injunction which has prevented Apple from offering push notifications for iCloud email in Germany, the handset maker Motorola (now owned by Google) wasted no time and was quick to post an interesting iCloud migration tool in the hope of appeasing to iPhone owners who may be switching to a Moto X flagship.

The handy web-based application is part of the Moto X customization tool called Moto Maker.

It's designed to allow for easy migration of your iCloud contacts and calendars to a Google account. As Android is deeply integrated with Google's services, authorizing an Android device to use a Google account automatically makes underlying calendars, contacts and other data readily available...

Apple’s environment lady discusses greener iCloud and Apple Earth

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 16, 2013

In his efforts to help Apple's stalling green initiatives hit the ground running, CEO Tim Cook looked for some outside help and in May hired Lisa Jackson. Formerly the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Jackson is charged with overseeing iCloud data centers and Apple's other environmental projects and reports directly to Cook.

Speaking earlier today at the sustainability conference VERGE in San Francisco, she noted that “Tim Cook didn’t hire Lisa Jackson to be quiet and keep the status quo” and shared a few updates concerning Apple's clean energy strides.

Plus, she detailed what the company's been doing to upgrade its dirty iCloud data centers to cleaner and renewable energy sources. I have the full breakdown for you right after the break...

iCloud push email reinstated in Germany

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

After a German appeals court a month ago lifted the injunction which prevented Apple from offering push notifications for its iCloud email service, owners of the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices in the country can finally again enjoy push notifications for incoming iCloud email messages. The feature has been disabled for German users for about 19 months after it had to be shut down following a legal wrangling with Motorola over patents.

Former MobileMe members lose 20GB free storage, here’s what to know

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 22, 2023

Apple gave former MobileMe members a complimentary twenty gigabytes of free cloud storage upgrade after moving to iCloud between October 12, 2011 and August 1, 2012. The company's been sending email notices ahead of the cut-off deadline a few times now.

Unfortunately, today marks the day when your complimentary storage expires. Yours truly used to be a paid MobileMe member and today my iCloud storage got automatically adjusted to the free entry-level 5GB iCloud tier. Here's what you need to know about the change and how to avoid service interruption...

Apple’s iCloud status page now monitors iOS Device Activation servers

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

This summer, Apple's device activation servers folded under heavy load (or perhaps server issues unbeknown to us) in at least two instances, first in July and again in the following month. It's not a problem until it's a problem - there's nothing worse than wiping your device clean or restoring it from a backup only to be greeted with the dreaded “Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable” message.

At that point, there's nothing one can do but wait until iTunes activation servers come back online, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours - even days in extreme circumstances. To help avoid loss of productivity due to bricked devices, Apple has now added a new iOS Device Activation entry to its iCloud status web page...

Apple pulls ATV 6.0 update following user complaints

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

I was met with disappointment yesterday, when I turned on my Apple TV to download and install the new 6.0 update. The set-top box, which is still running ATV software version 5.3, told me that my firmware was already up-to-date.

And apparently, I'm not the only one experiencing this issue. I guess in addition to support for iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, and iTunes music purchases, the software also included several bugs. Because Apple just pulled it...

Apple TV 6.0 is out: iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, iTunes music purchases, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

Following today's launch of the new iPhone 5s/5c and Wednesday's public release of iOS 7, Apple on Friday issued a major new software update to its "hobby project," the $99 Apple TV streaming set-top box. The company's been testing a companion Apple TV update since announcing iOS 7 at June's WWDC.

We previously caught glimpses of some of the new features such as AirPlay enhancements, automatic device configuration over Bluetooth, custom subtitles and Conference Room Mode for presenters. All of these goodies - and then some - are now readily available to Apple TV owners.

Go past the fold for the full details on iCloud Photos and Videos, iTunes Music Store purchases, Podcasts, AirPlay from iCloud and other Apple TV enhancements...

Apple officially launches iOS 7-inspired iCloud.com

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

On the eve of the official launch of iOS 7, Apple has rolled out a new version of iCloud.com to the public. The redesign, which has been in beta for several months now, brings new icons and other elements inspired by tomorrow's update.

Additionally, every web app has been rebuilt to match its mobile counterpart, including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders and Find My iPhone. And the wallpaper now mirrors the dynamic, slow-moving wallpaper in iOS 7 as well...

Apple removes iCloud Keychain from iOS 7 GM, here’s why

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yesterday, Apple seeded its registered iOS developers with a so-called Gold Master version of iOS 7, which is essentially the same version owners of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices will be getting come September 18.

Unfortunately, it seems the company has quietly pulled the useful iCloud Keychain feature from the GM build. The company did not provide an explanation as to why exactly the feature got yanked.

For what it's worth, it's entirely possible the company leadership didn't feel confident enough to declare iCloud Keychain ready for prime time. We have another theory...

Apple now limiting access to iWork for iCloud Beta due to high demand

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2013

This past weekend Apple launched iWork for iCloud Beta to developers and non-developers alike, who could check out the suite as long as they had a valid Apple ID account set up to use iCloud on iOS devices. The web apps have reportedly garnered lots of interest, so much so that the company on Monday was forced to limit access to iWork for iCloud.

In other words, Apple's online productivity suite has already become too popular, even though it's currently in beta. Attempting to sign up for the service yields an error prompt with the message saying, "We've had an overwhelming response" to iWork for iCloud apps...

Apple opens iWork for iCloud Beta to everyone

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 23, 2013

Previously available only to Apple's registered developers and and later on to some select users, Apple has today decided to open iWork for iCloud web apps to everyone ahead of its September 10 keynote. That's right, you can now log in to the web interface at iCloud.com using your existing Apple ID, regardless of whether you are a developer or a regular user.

The service provides Apple's suite of iWork apps - Pages, Keynote and Numbers - that run in any standard web browser such as Apple's Safari, Google's Chrome and Microsoft's Internet Explorer and support editing functionality...

Multiple iCloud services are down, all over again

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 22, 2013

In what's quickly becoming a worrisome pattern for Apple, a number of iCloud services are down as of this morning. The iMessage system is acting up (all over again), as are Photo Streams, Documents in the Cloud, Backup services and iPhoto Journals, according to Apple's iCloud Status Page.

The downtime started at around 12:30am Eastern / 9:30pm Pacific. None of the services have been restored as of post time.

As things stand now, the affected users have been unable to access the aforementioned services for more than ten straight hours. Fortunately, only a small percentage of users appear to have been affected by Apple's ongoing cloud woes...