Apple’s .Mac website currently states:
Due to scheduled maintenance, .Mac members might be intermittently unable to access some .Mac services from 10am to 12pm PDT on 08/07/2007. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Apple’s media event is scheduled to begin at 10am PDT on 08/07/2007.
.Mac’s message to users here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Geoff” and “Phil” for the heads up.]
As MacRumors mentions, Steve Jobs had hinted that .Mac would see a refresh in the near future during a recent interview with Walt Mossberg at D:All Things Digital:
Walt: .Mac… you guys didn’t really develop it.
Steve: I couldn’t agree more, and we’ll make up for lost time in the near future.
Steve Jobs and Walt Mossberg at D5 Conference (1:07:00):
I ditched it last May because I could do everything it offered far cheaper elsewhere. In addition, the lack of domain hosting was the final breaking point. The only thing I couldn’t do elsewhere was the syncing but even when I considered that, it was only of value to me once in a while. I simply could no longer justify the expense.
People keep saying it’s not a value for what you get, but can’t spell out where you can get something similar that’s as integrated with the OSX experience as .Mac is for less.
There are free services out there, but you get what you pay for.
MDN Magic Word – Bring
I’d love for someone to “bring” some serious competition against .Mac, but it just ain’t happening.
I think that it is retarded that the Canadian .Mac is $139CAD and in the US it is $99. The exchange is about 1.05CAD to 1USD so really it shouldnt be more than $110CAD.