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Apple's iCloud.com exits beta

The new cloud services Web portal is open to all users and features revamped Find My Phone and Mail We apps.

Steven Musil Night Editor / News
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Steven Musil
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Apple's iCloud.com is open for business. Apple

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 send a contact number to the phone, so that whoever has the device can contact the owner.

The new Mail Web app also includes a VIP list feature that sends users an alert when e-mails arrive from their chosen contacts.

iCloud replaces MobileMe, a paid cloud sync and storage service plagued by outages that Apple shuttered in June. The new service gives users 5GB for free, though only some files count against that amount. Content such as apps, books, videos, or music purchased from one of Apple's stores and Photo Stream don't count against that limit. However, e-mail, stored documents, settings, app data, and iOS device backups are all counted.

When users fill their locker, additional storage capacities of 10GB, 20GB, or 50GB can be purchased for $20, $40, or $100 per year respectively.

The new service appears to be off to a rocky start as well. Some iCloud users complained yesterday of being unable to access e-mail, an issue Apple acknowledged but said affected only 1.1 percent of users.