iCloud

Apple has revamped its online status page to include more detailed information on what's working and what isn't, following a number of recent outages of its Web-powered services.

The new page (pictured above) breaks down Apple's services, online stores, and specific features within iCloud. Also included is a "detailed timeline" which shows you a full day's worth of activity, and a rundown of any outages or issues with specific services.

The system replaces one Apple used specifically for iCloud features, which showed checkboxes next to items that had been fixed. The newer system uses … Read more

Apple may be gearing up to launch the next-generation iTunes 11 software "within the next days," according to a report by MacRumors, citing a German music distribution service.

Germany-based Feiyr emailed artists to submit high-resolution imagery for the music player's new layout, saying Apple will release iTunes 11 in the coming days. "Users have the possibility to view picture and galleries to every artist in iTunes," says the email.

While the email isn't a direct communiqué from Apple, it's possible that Apple is warning music distribution firms and … Read more

Apple's iMessage service has again been experiencing issues, the third major disruption in the past two months.

The proprietary text messaging platform used between iOS devices, as well as Macs, on Sunday was not allowing some users to send or receive messages from other users.

Apple's support status update from 1:34 p.m. PT said that "some users are unable to use iMessage" and promised a quick solution but did not go into further detail about the scale of the issue. The same status page also … Read more

Steve Jobs would surely be pleased.

A year after his death, the company he co-founded and brought back from near-ruin is on a tear. With its top executive team still in place, Apple is set to close out its most profitable year ever. Its stock, now up 65 percent for the year, gives Apple a market value far more than Google's and Microsoft's combined. The iPhone 5 is selling at a record pace, and fans continue to line up and even camp out for a chance to be one of the first with a new Apple product.

Now … Read more

An apparent glitch in the iCloud account system has resulted in some accounts showing extended storage space with renewal dates years in the future.

iCloud's use of online storage as a syncing medium lowers the overall requirement for online storage, so Apple has reduced the base level to 5GB. However, Apple offered existing MobileMe customers a temporary extra 20GB of storage to accommodate user data during the transition to the new service. Apple originally offered this extra storage for a month, but increased this timeframe to September 30 and has been notifying users of this upcoming change.

On September … Read more

In an e-mail sent out to its iCloud subscribers who have kept with the service in its transition to iCloud, Apple is reminding users that their complimentary 20GB of extra storage from the MobileMe transition will be revoked on September 30.

Through the years of its cloud-based offerings, Apple has steadily increased the storage level offerings for its users, allowing them more options for distributing storage for various account services including iDisk and e-mail. The storage level for a basic account peaked at 20GB for a free MobileMe account and could be split among its e-mail and iDisk services depending … Read more

Apple today began notifying former MobileMe customers that their free 25GB iCloud accounts will be reduced to 5GB as of Sept. 30, MacRumors reports. Customers have to free up space or pay for 20GB of additional storage, which costs $40 a year.

Apple earlier this year shuttered MobileMe in favor of its new iCloud storage. The service allows users to back up and store their documents and media on the cloud.

All iCloud users automatically receive 5GB for free, and all music, movies, TV shows, apps and books … Read more

Apple is apparently having trouble getting its iMessage across.

IMessage is Apple's proprietary instant messaging services for iOS and Mac OS. Users have outlined their issues in several Apple support forum discussions (here and here), where they complain about being unable to send or receive messages. The problems appear to affect users across the globe, suggesting that the problem is on Apple's end as opposed to that of a service provider.

Apple introduced iMessage as part of iOS 5 last October, offering users on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad a way to communicate with one another for free … Read more

Apple today launched its cloud services portal iCloud.com to the public.

Previously available only in beta form to developers, the updated site is now available to all iCloud users, allowing them to share content across multiple devices. The site features icons for the Notes and Reminder apps that sync with their iOS and Mac counterparts, as well as Find My Phone and iWork on a Mountain Lion-like background.

The site includes a revamped Find My Phone app that features a "lost mode" that allows a user to lock a device if it's lost or stolen and … Read more