“If Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, gets his way, the PC could be on its last legs,” Nick Bilton reports for The New york Times.
“On Monday, during a presentation in San Francisco to showcase its new software and services, Apple finally began giving people the option to bypass a PC altogether,” Bilton reports. “‘We are going to demote the PC to just be a device. We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud,’ Mr. Jobs said.”
Bilton reports, “Once these new services begin later this fall, people who buy an iOS device can fully get by without a computer. They will no longer need to plug an iOS device into a PC to activate it; iCloud will automatically sync and backup people’s photos, music and documents. All software will be updated over the Internet. With Monday’s announcement’s, Apple is reiterating the irrelevance of the personal computer that Mr. Jobs helped invent 30 years ago.”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple is not “reiterating the irrelevance of the personal computer.” Bilton needs to watch the video of today’s WWDC keynote presentation.
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks because that’s what you needed on the farms… PCs are going to be like trucks… They are still going to be around…they are going to be one out of x people… This transformation is going to make some people uneasy…because the PC has taken us a long ways. It’s brilliant. We like to talk about the post-PC era, but when it really starts to happen, it’s uncomfortable. – Apple CEO Steve Jobs, JUNE 1, 2010
“We are going to demote the PC to just be a device. We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud,’ Mr. Jobs said.”
I wonder how Ballmer and his overlords in business feel about this. hehe
Apple makes the Google Chrome PC irrelevant.
Awesome!
“Apple is reiterating the irrelevance of the personal computer that Mr. Jobs helped invent 30 years ago.”
Apple finally agrees to knife the baby. On its own terms.
INCORRECT! Go watch the keynote and see!
My concern is that he said they will save only 1000 of your pictures for 30 days. That means you can’t just have an iPad/iPhone.
Yes, you can! What he said is that the last 1000 are automatically backed up for free to give you a chance to sync them across all devices and decide what to do with them long-term.
This is in case you forget something. This is IN ADDITION to the 5GB you get FOR FREE as part of the service. Apple does this on its own space!
So, anything you want long term…
1) move it into your 5GB space.
2) move it into an album on your device — you might have a 32 or 64 GB device.
3) Use DropBox or similar, from the device
4) Use a photo service like Flikr
Between all of these, all readily accessible from your iOS device alone, you have gobs and gobs of GigaBytes to play with.
Correct; 1000 of pictures limit on the cloud is irrelevant since pictures there are need only for syncing, with full picture library stored on actual devices.
Nope. Here’s how I understood it to work: Your iOS device keeps the last 1000 synced photos no matter how long ago they were taken. The cloud holds photos for 30 days as available for syncing. When you take a photo it goes into the cloud space. Access your “Photo Stream” on another device within 30 days and it pulls down.
But if you want to save permanently just drag the photos you want into an album and its saved. to that device.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!”
Bill Cosby
“With Monday’s announcement’s, Apple is reiterating the irrelevance of the personal computer that Mr. Jobs helped invent 30 years ago.”
I CALL SHENANIGANS!
This is NOT NOT NOT what Steve Jobs said ! ! !
SHAME on Nick Bilton!
Uhhh, I think MDN is quoting Nick Bilton there, not Nick Bilton quoting Steve Jobs.
I quoted Nick Bilton. You lost coherence.
Apple is not interested in killing the PC – the Mac is a PC. Apple is simply removing the need for PCs to be the hub (or the emphasis placed on it by Microsoft), and also make it so that mobile devices do not have to be packed with memory.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED:
The ‘PC’ (which means Mac, Windows, Linux or whatever box) is no longer required to be ‘The Hub’. You can go entirely iCloud ‘if you choose to’.
SHENANIGANS on anyone who says different.
WATCH THE KEYNOTE AND SEE.
You have been VERY NAUGHTY Nick Bilton! Picture me putting you over my knee and spanking you 1024 times! You’ve been a bad bad boy.
The problem is that Bilton might really LIKE that…
Shenanigans?
‘Shenanigans’ = South Park reference.
Ah. Missed that one.
The analogy is bullshit. Your data is still tethered to a computer- just not YOUR computer.
The computers at Apple’s data center are NOT PCs. That’s for sure.
Mmmm… Big Iron. Drool. I’d love a tour of that place.
I thought that’s where all the Performas went.
Servers are not PCs (personal computers) hence post PC. The iPad/iPhone/iPod has truly become a post PC device. They are all of course computers.
Here comes the “Terminator” network!
Maybe not real soon.
@Derek:
You knew what I meant, Derek. But I will take you up on the spanking.
I promise to use a soft cushion.
That’s gay!
Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
“soft cushion” = Monty Python reference.
I want the comfy chair!
I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition 🙂
=:~)
Don’t have a thrombo. Everyone knows that’s what Steve meant. And I don’t see much discord between the SJ quote referenced in the MDN take and Bilton’s phrasing of it. As long as cars are plentiful, and we have no need to haul lots of stuff around, trucks will indeed become irrelevant to most (not all) people.
The message of the day was not “kill the PC”. The message was – “we’re going to give you the tools to kill the PC”.
The Keynote this afternoon already has me wondering if I could live without my iMac. As of right now, the only thing I can think of that would stop me from ditching my iMac is my vast video library that I stream to my AppleTVs. I did not hear anything during the Keynote about video – and I completely understand why when movies chew up 1-2 Gb each. Maybe the rumored iOS empowered Time Capsule might be able to solve that problem in the near future …
Last legs? Oh, please…
Apple upgraded the status of iOS devices to be “peer” computing devices next to laptop and desktop personal computers. That hardly makes PCs irrelevant. Some of these same “experts” were saying desktop computers were going to largely disappear after laptops became more popular.
Didn’t happen… Why? Because desktop computers provide benefits not available on laptops, such as much larger screens, more local storage, faster processors, better graphics hardware, and less design restrictions on internal space, heat generation, power consumption (etc…).
It’s the same now, with tablet computers. In fact, Apple has intentionally NOT tried to make iOS devices into everything for everyone. Many tasks work great on iOS devices. But many other tasks are better suited for traditional computers that use keyboard and mouse (or equivalent), and have significantly more processing power, as well as terabytes (not a few dozen gigabytes) of local storage, and one or more super-sized displays.
I’ve been trying to think of tasks all afternoon that would require a desktop – the only thing I came up with was video because of the storage issues. Other than that, I can’t think of anything. I do my Personal Finances, Online Banking, Spreadsheets, Word Processing, Presentations, online shopping, books, magazines, blogging, social networking, email, contact management, calendars, project management – all on my iPad. Storing and streaming video was all I could think of.
I’m just curious what other tasks people NEED a desktop for.
Perhaps everyday “consumer” tasks can largely be handled on iOS devices. But many tasks performed as a “profession” are better-suited for a traditional computer. You mentioned video editing and production. Also, music/sound recording, editing, and production. Graphic art. Even tasks that could potentially be done well on an iOS device, such as using a spreadsheet or writing, would be better served on a regular computer if it’s your job to do those things all day long. Do you think an accountant would want to give up their keyboard and large screen for a small touch screen? I can’t imagine writing a 300-page novel on an iPad.
Basically, a “professional” can do most repetitive tasks (where mobility is not a factor) faster and more efficiently on a regular computer. And time is money…
Aperture, gaming, web development, video editing…
I think what SJ sees is a transition where you don’t need your PC handling your social life, work communication, or your media.
He figured out the most efficient way of handling this while emphasizing Apple hardware.
Maybe I was dreaming but I could have sworn that the first third of the keynote today was about a major new version of a computer OS. That doesn’t sound like a death knell to me. Now Windows 8, different story.
I swear journalists don’t study the subjects they write about.
hate to be the naysayer, but there isn’t anything that’s free. i don’t give a care who’s cloud is on sale today or tomorrow, our data is hosted locally and securely. Having MS or Apple or Google host our information for us makes no sense whatsoever — unless of course you want to buoy the stock price of Apple and rent access to your own data.
The purpose of the “cloud” is to piss on the customer. Apple’s cloud might be less painful than many, but in the end it’s the same business model, hooking up zombies to rent-as-you-go terminal computers.
I just don’t get this iCloud business at all. If I am to use external hard disk space – whether I pay for it or not – I will decide what I can and can’t upload to it… NOT Apple. And I certainly wouldn’t go anywhere near a company who took it upon themselves to delete my files if I hadn’t opened them for 12 weeks.
Much of today’s announcement came across to me as a glorified reinvention of the Filofax (who the f*ck has to type himself virtual sticky notes to remember to phone his wife?).
And all this ‘syncing’ stuff… is it REALLY so hard to organise which files you want on which devices? Surely there’s a bit of simple freeware floating around somewhere that will do that for you from a Dropbox account (or there soon will be)… and WITHOUT Apple increasingly policing your activities.
I can’t help feeling this isn’t the Great Apple of yesteryear… perhaps Mr Jobs is reaching the end of his remarkable career and the company is, likewise, exhausted of true innovation?
Network computing (even half-baked network computing) is an old, old idea… the reason it never took off isn’t because the technology wasn’t there… it is because people don’t want their private stuff off-site in the controlling hands of some faceless large organisation (no matter how ‘chummy’ they like to sell themselves as), and end up having to pay for the ‘privilege’ (one way or another).
Slowly, but surely, ‘the pirates of Silicon Valley’ is taking on a whole new meaning.
First, iCloud is a free value-added service for Apple’s hardware customers. It’s up to you to use it or not use it. And they just saved me $99 a year going forward.
Second, this is NOT about storing ALL of your personal data on the web. Apple only provides 5GB of space for “miscellaneous” data. iCloud is MORE about making data accessible across multiple devices immediately, without any need to manually “sync” the devices.
Other companies, such as Google and Amazon, are making “the cloud” the central point. It’s all about how they are going to offer cloud-based services. In contrast, Apple is making iCloud a service that will largely disappear into the background and quietly makes using your multiple Apple devices easier and more efficient. iCloud is just a facilitator. The “stars” of the show are still iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac.
Nicely put.
“I just don’t get this iCloud business at all.”
You sure don’t.
I would also like to over-react to Nick Bilton’s over-reaction.
Setting aside the erroneous tech journalism:
I am extremely concerned about what happens with the rest of MobileMe. Apple posted a statement today saying that all current MobileMe users have full access until the end of June 2012. Kewlness! 😀
But then what ❓
Here is what is apparently being lost with the death of MobileMe:
1) Your Public folder. No more sharing with others of anything. 🙁
2) Your website. This includes the web page for your Public folder AND any website you may have running within your MobileMe space. 🙁
3) 15 GB of web space. iCloud only gives you 5 GB. Yes, you don’t have to waste your 5 GB on photos and iTunes. But how about VIDEO and your massive hard drive BACKUP and the backups of bookmarks etc. from other apps. Apparently there is no option to even guy further space. That means you’re kicked out the door, seek web space elsewhere. 🙁
4) Your iDisk. It could hold ANYTHING with full control of the directories. Entirely gone. 🙁
5) Your Gallery No more pictures and videos to share with grandma, or the grandkids, or anyone else. This is besides the loss of your Public folder. 🙁
6) Your Groups Not that I personally care, but so long to that option! 😕
Thankfully, I’ve got my own dedicated 24/7 server running on the Internet using Mac OS X Server. I can make up for the loss of all of the above on my own at home. 😎
But how many other people have their own Internet server? Isn’t this Apple CHASING AWAY customers? Aren’t they FORCING people to look elsewhere for these services?
IMHO: Bad move Apple. Please take the next year to change your mind. Please provide an option to preserve ALL of the above. Or better yet, just let us know that you ran out of time at the keynote to tell us that none of the above is in danger. Please prove me wrong. I like being wrong about bad stuff!
@Derek C. …..
>> 1) Your Public folder. No more sharing with others of anything.<> 2) Your website. This includes the web page for your Public folder AND any website you may have running within your MobileMe space.<>3) 15 GB of web space. iCloud only gives you 5 GB. Yes, you don’t have to waste your 5 GB on photos and iTunes.<>5) Your Gallery No more pictures and videos to share with grandma, or the grandkids, or anyone else. This is besides the loss of your Public folder.<<
See point 1.
……. Do you really think Apple wants to screw all their MobileMe subscribers? Steve APOLOGIZED for MobileMe in the presentation. It's obvious that iCloud will only ADD functionality. Not diminish it.
” It’s obvious that iCloud will only ADD functionality. Not diminish it.”
Um, what?!
I agree that Apple aren’t screwing anyone over. My inclination is the think that they are quietly admitting defeat to the various other, usually FREE, services that can replace everything I listed.
What’s bad is that they haven’t said a word about all the lost services, as of yet. And yes, all of the services I list are GONE, obviously. Look elsewhere. Get out of here.
At least everyone with MobileMe has a year to find alternatives. I can’t complain about that.
I remain an optimist.
I’ll miss those things too, if they don’t end up getting covered somehow with iCloud.
But, I host my little “family and friends” website on Ultrasurge, which is $12/year. I have a Public folder on Dropbox. I’ll manage. Nobody else can offer what iCloud is offering though, and definitely not at the price.
I dont think they sounded the death knell, they juat gave a lots of folks a few less reasons to use their deaktoo computer.
I use my home desktop a lot less than I used to.
The primary parts of iCloud that i find interesting ive already got on my phone so i doubt im a customer but its cool too see another option show up the consumer wins hell yeah.
Cool to see the ipad and iphone get cut loose from the desktop!
Woot
What REALLY happened is that iOS users are no longer wire tethered to their PCs:
1) iOS devices can now sync to PCs (which includes Macs) via Wi-Fi.
2) iOS devices can skip Wi-Fi tethering too and use the free iCloud service instead.
That’s ultra-kewl. No ‘death knell’ BS required.
Meanwhile: No way am I dumping my Macs for a mere iPad. Sorry kids. I have professional work to do, and the iPad don’t cut it.
Professionals like your self represent a minority of the population like say…I don’t know…truck drivers? Has that analogy been used yet? It is the death knell of the PC being the thing everyone has, of being the dominate kind of computer. Eventually most people won’t have a desk top PC. People like your self will continue to use PCs. I will also be one of those with a desktop/laptop for gaming and programing. I can see my mom not needing a desktop to do her light word processing, emailing and web surfing.
I think this is all great and all, but if something goes wrong with the cloud, Apple will be setting itself up for some interesting PR circus.
They are taking a lot of responsibility for a lot of information. I don’t know if cloud services have been taken this deep into this territory as where Apple is headed. They better brace themselves for some heavy clouds. I can already see giddy with anticipation.
Oh yes! Witness the ongoing SONY HORROR. And the hackers are so titillated with their dramatic success that they have moved on to OTHER serves as well!
It’s a hacker party in the cloud!
If you ONLY backup your stuff to the cloud, consider yourself screwed. Backing up requires TWO locations:
1) At your computer site. The most popular method these days is onto an external hard drive.
2) Away from your computer site. The cloud qualifies nicely.
The concept is that if you lose one backup, via hacking, fire, nukes, etc., you still have another backup to save your skin. Two backups or die!
Funny, I didn’t notice your post until I finish writing my novel, I mean my post below. I totally agree with you… (read below)
This is pretty exciting. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the entire presentation. Here’s my thing…
Remember all those films from back in the day which portrayed the future as a time when we wouldn’t have any privacy, and our lives would be exposed to the world, therefore risking access to it by people other than ourselves? Well, It looks like we are beginning to live in “the future” after all.
Look at how every day Facebook is further integrated in our everyday lives. Look at how you can tag your location, and “check in,” letting everyone know where you are.
Then you have Apple, who was keeping a record of your gps location through your iPhone. And well, now all of our contacts, pictures, emails, and so on will be going through a data center every single time it’s entered in our devices. So basically, our entired lives will be going through the web.
Between this, and the Patriot Act we’re totally screwed. The fear, which I personally never had, of the government tracking down our every move is finally beginning to materialize. To make matters worse, it’s not just the government who wants your information, now others are as well. People with bad intentions.
Look at what’s been happening with Sony and the Playstation Network. Time after time hackers have proven that they can break into it. The personal informations of users were exposed. Millions of people. Now this information only contained the names, addresses, billing information and such. Now imagine if the information also includes everything that is stored on your phone, iPad or computer? That’s A LOT of information about someone. If anyone else wanted to, they could really wipe you out.
So yeah, perhaps I’m getting a little ahead of myself, but after seeing what Sony has been going through, people should really stop and give this a second thought. And hey, at lot of us here are geeks enough to have noticed that everything we’ve seen in futuristic films are beginning to happen in real life. Technology is increasing rapidly, and before you know it we’ll be in “the future.” We’re beginning to see it now, the amazing benefits of technology, but also its perils…
Anyhow, I’ll end it here. This should’ve been on a blog, but I figure that I can express myself like this with you guys.
With that said, I can’t wait for Lion, iOS 5, and the iCloud!
Sorry guys, I didn’t proof read. I did write it on my iPad after all…
I don’t use Facebook. No interest.
As in my above reply, “Terminator” network is coming.
You do realize that was a fictional movie right? As a computer programer I can tell you, real actual artificial intelligence is next to impossible. I know the movies make it seem like it’s so achievable, it’s not. Maybe some day in the very very distant future and thats a big MAYBE.
Even then, this idea that a computer that achieved some level of sentience would instantly become evil is laughable.
Judging by the comments on the iCloud Jobs was right about one thing. The Post-PC era is going to make a lot of people feel uncomfortable. I like it. I like it a lot. I barely sync anymore because its a pain. Most of all I don’t like being “tethered” to homebase. The PC has already been in the demotion process for a long time. As for file sharing etc. in the iCloud the possibilities are endless. Too many times do I watch people in meetings fight over their laptops for 40 minutes trying to get a file from one laptop to another so they can show a presentation. Too many times have I seen sales people on their phone to their secretaries and ask if they can send a previous version of a file to their client so they can show them some further data. Too many times have I have seen people on the phone trying to explain to a secretary/colleague where they saved a certain file and in what folder and what name is what saved under – pricing_matrixv.2.34JD etc. – Heaven help me! We’ve all been there but for what ever reason we put up with the fight for files and where we store them.
To me the biggest announcement next to the iCloud was the documents over file structure. This will save us in the next 20 years and fully demote the PC to “another device”.
Cloud Schmoud. I don’t trust anyone but ME to store and keep track of my data.
I like wireless syncing and automatic software updates on all my iOS devices. Checking for updates is a pain. Although wired syncing is a good excuse for battery charging.