iCloud
During the iPad launch in 2010 Steve Jobs noticed that three product lines, namely iPods, iPhones and Mac (laptop) computers made Apple the largest mobile device company taking into account the revenues received. Considering Apple device popularity there was a clear need for users to seamlessly exchange the data like contacts, calendar events, music playlists, bookmarks across all the devices. In 2011 iCloud was announced but its origins are decades earlier.
In 1985 AppleLink was a service primarily available to Apple employees and dealers. It had tools to manage remote files, a set of public bulletin boards and the email network. The revolutionary fact - the system had been used to send the first e-mail from space, aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. AppleLink was superseded by eWorld - a subscription based information service available to Mac users from June 1994 to March 1996. It included various services such as email, news, software downloads, and a bulletin board system. Despite its innovative design, eWorld struggled due to high costs, limited marketing, and competition from other online services like AOL.
As a part of the newly formulated Internet strategy, a free collection of “revolutionary” Internet-based software and services free of charge for Mac computer users, named iTools were launched in 2000. The package included:
KidSafe - a service to protect children online by allowing access only to approved websites.
Mac.com Email - provided users with a unique email address and supported standard POP email clients.
iDisk - offered 20 MB (!) of personal internet-based storage for easy file sharing and transfer.
Home Page - enabled users to create personal websites quickly and easily, with templates for photo albums, resumes, and more.
The newly redesigned Apple.com web site also featured iReview, a collection of web site reviews selected and rated by Apple as well as iCards, an electronic greeting card service allowing users to sent and view greeting cards via standard email. These services showcased Apple’s commitment to enhancing the internet experience for Mac users. Many users appreciated the seamless integration of services like iDisk and Mac.com email, which made file sharing and communication much easier. The ability to create personal websites with HomePage was also a hit among users who enjoyed the simplicity and ease of use. Other services like iReview and KidSafe were closed fairly quickly.
As costs rose, most particularly due to iDisk storage space, the wide demand for @mac.com email accounts, and increasing support needs, iTools was renamed to .Mac in 2002, as a subscription-based suite of services with a dedicated technical support team. The suite included Backup, a personal backup solution that allowed users to archive data to their iDisk, CD or DVD. The service also had the ability to share calendars from Apple’s iCal software with colleagues, friends and family members.
In 2008 Apple announced the .Mac would be replaced by MobileMe. It was designed to provide anywhere access to Mail, Contacts and Calendar with a unified interface that allowed users to switch between applications with a single click. However, the ambitious vision for MobileMe was not matched by its initial performance. The launch of MobileMe in 2008 was plagued by several issues, including service interruptions, unexpected preauthorization charges, and extended email outages. The transition from .Mac to MobileMe was also problematic, causing additional confusion and frustration. These challenges ultimately tarnished MobileMe’s reputation prompting Apple to replace it with iCloud, which was introduced in 2011 as a more robust and user-friendly solution.
iCloud lets users to store and back up essential data, like photos, documents, and passwords (using Keychain) and keep them in sync across all Apple devices. iCloud automatically backes up data on Apple devices daily when connected to Wi-Fi, ensuring the data to be always safe. iCloud improved MobileMe service Find My iPhone with more accurate location tracking and additional functionalities, later expanded to simply Find My. The cloud service introduced the ability to share purchases, subscriptions, and storage plans with family members. Apple's iWork suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) were also moved to the cloud.
iCloud employs robust security measures to protect user data. It uses end-to-end encryption for sensitive information, ensuring that only the user can access their data, even in the event of a data breach. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a verification code in addition to the user's password. iCloud also offers Advanced Data Protection, which enhances security by allowing users to retain sole access to their encryption keys.
Despite all the encryption and security measures there were notable iCloud security breaches. One of the most infamous incidents was the 2014 celebrity photo leak, where hackers gained access to private photos of celebrities stored in their iCloud accounts. The hackers used phishing attacks to obtain login credentials, rather than exploiting a direct vulnerability in iCloud's security. These scams trick users into providing their login credentials on fake iCloud websites and then the obtained credentials are used to access the real users’ iCloud accounts.
Presently iCloud serves Apple customers making sure that their photos, documents, contacts, and calendars are always up-to-date, secure and accessible from anywhere. By simplifying data management and enhancing connectivity, iCloud has become an essential tool for millions of users. This was achieved over years by trial and error via services like AppleLink, eWorld, iTools, .Mac and MobileMe that are barely remembered today.