iCloud Finally Looks Like It's Useful (Updating)

While all the hullabaloo at WWDC is focused on what iOS and OSX look like, we should be more concerned with whether or not they actually work. The late Steve Jobs did say over a decade ago that Apple focuses on not just the aesthetics of its products but also how they actually work: "It's not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." So you've got to wonder if Apple has finally fixed iCloud.

So far Apple has rolled out iCloud Keychain, a new calendar, Maps and revamped Notifications for OS X. But the big thing has to be iWork for iCloud, a full-fledged browser-based version of Apple's office suite.

iCloud Keychain will remember all your passwords in Safari, in addition to credit card numbers and is 256-bit AES encrypted. However, iCloud Keychain won't remember your credit card's security code. The new feature will also suggest passwords across devices. And yes, it's a little like Google's Chrome Sync.

Notifications on the desktop have also been improved to include iOS notifications. You'll be able to reply to notifications, like email, FaceTime and Messages directly on the desktop. Apps will also update in the background.

A new calendar app sans leather is also in the works for Mavericks. It's "flat" as they say and includes weather and location information in previews for appointments, for instance.

Speaking of Maps, Apple is bringing the not-so-popular Google Maps replacement to the desktop. You'll be able to push directions from your Mac to iPhone. Developers will be privy to a new SDK to add mapping functions to their apps soon.

Image courtesy Engadget

iWork for iCloud will work on both Macs and PCs. If you recall, there was a version of iWork for the browser a while back. Well, it's back. Again. You'll be able to drag and drop Office files directly into the browser and edit on the fly. This is even't a neutered version either. It's a full-fledged version of iWork for the browser! A developer beta launches today with a public beta coming later this year.

And as had been rumored since last year, you can now share videos directly to iCloud's Photo Sharing feature. Your friends and family can now comment in your photo streams, too.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/icloud-finally-looks-like-its-useful-updating-512271540

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