No iCloud on Snow Leopard? THIS IS A JOKE, APPLE!

Cheers!

I will look into it.

Thank for the feedback link - this thread topic definitely gets a +1 vote of disappointment from me.

Have sent the following to the Apple team:

I'm writing to express my disappointment with lack of support and abandonment of owners of not-so-old systems. My first generation MacBook Pro (which therefore only has an Intel Core Duo CPU) does not support Lion - and hence does not support iCloud.

I am assuming this lack of support boils down to a business decision rather than a technical one, yet honestly a six year old laptop is not that old. As a previous paid user of mobileMe who relied on cloud and synchronization services, it's a disappointment that Apple could so quickly implement a new incompatible system and turn its back on long time supporters.

This sort of practice commonly fueled unpopularity of PC systems. Sadly, as an Apple user for over ten years (before, even, its recent successes as a global brand) I am seeing similar patterns in Apple practices, and this is frankly disappointing.

It's laughable that I can use iCloud sync services on a PC running Vista - yet not a six year old Intel MacBook Pro. It's equally amusing that I could not activate my iPhone on a six year old Mac ... but could do so a 10 year old Windows XP system.

Surely, this is not the way forwards...?

Very emphatic well written, Terence!

By "Apple Team", I assume you mean Apple Support, because Apple people do not read this forum, but they claim they do read the feedback.

I totally agree with your writing; I am in same boat with a perfectly good six year old MacBookPro, unable to support Lion.

I agree with Terence and with geoMH. I have a MacBookPro that does not support Lion and have resorted to going into Safari and getting into iCloud that way.

I had 4 Macs, this will be my last, I payed twice for a computer and now the support is half the time a Windows Machine has!?

Snow Leopard has no:

No iCloud update

No iPhoto update

No iMovie update

No Aperture updates

and I could

get the list going...

Disapointed more so on lack of Calendar support.

I can deal with being ripped off on the other apps -

but our need for basic daily life - a calendar runs your world.

*

The calendars used on Yahoo - and MSN for the last 14 years have always worked regardless of changes to their OS.

*

My mistake was not using them fully, thinking Apple would perfect a basic process.

No Apple alert has ever come across my mail to instruct an alternative 3rd party alternate.

*

I did the mobileme to icloud for mail alternative - but they have to be kidding me to not have calandar included.

All I get now is warning at Calandar - iCal will not connect to cal.me.com.

*

Now what?

I have no idea what to use if LION is not applied. I have no plans to upgrade on current gear.

My system is barely 3 years old.

The intent of Lion to only simulate iPad/iPhone really dumbed down the OS from what I have seen.

*

If there is link/s to show how to deal with this - for basic apps to still function - I'm all ears.

Thanks

I'm in the same boat and as frustrated, disappointed, and on and on and on, as you are, if not more so.

Apple has essentially rendered my MBP obsolete.

Apple Care support finally told me how to sync my MBP w snow leopard to my iPhone. First update to 5.1 or 5.1.1 iOS, and in iPhone settings > iCloud > turn OFF contacts, calendars and reminders. Then in computer, open iTunes, and with the cable connect iPhone to computer USB. In iTunes click on sync. No dupes and calendars will then be same in both!!!! I first had dupe contact entries, till they told me to turn off those in iPhone settings, because we cannot get Lion, which is necessary for iCloud wireless syncing, like I used to do with MobileMe account. Generally, I click to get my iPhone app updates, and they get synced at same time. Unfortunately, it requires the wired connection.

If you have trouble, call Apple Care; because I paid for Apple Care with my iPhone, I called numerous times!!!

There IS hope!... wireless hope for your MacBook Pro! Just don't expect ANY help to come from Apple. There are entries within this thread that give instructions on WIRELESSLY syncing your NON-LION Mac's Calendars and Address Book Contacts to your iPhone through Google. There are also links within Google searches that will help you repair every wireless syncing issue that you might likely come across. The ONLY thing I am aware that iCloud is doing for me is keeping my me.com email address alive. That's it. I, like countless others, have turned all the rest off, and I am syncing well with no cables, using iCal (with all 9 of my calendars) and Address Book (synced seamlessly and usually instantly with my Google Contacts) and Mail (handling numerous various email accounts for me) and all on my Snow Leopard MacBook Pro and my iPhone 3GS. Start by setting up a gmail account (which is free) and then proceed to change the sync settings on your devices to point them to Google servers, but ONLY after backing up everything just in case you have a problem. There are some scary points along the way when it asks if you really want to delete all of the calendars from your iPhone or replace the Address Book on your Mac with your Google Contacts. Merging may leave you with the task of deleting duplicates, but it is still doable. You can decide at that point if you want to risk losing info or deal with the duplicate calendar entries and/or contacts later.

I am not prepared to post all the instructions, since I worked out these wireless syncing issues over the course of the past several months -- and most of my information came from some very well-informed people from within this thread. It takes a lot of patience, and the time it takes will serve to make you even more angry with Apple as you go through all the necessary steps, at least it did with me.

I am still just as frustrated and angry with Apple as ever. Apple was scoffed at in its early years as being just a toy when PC's were considered the only serious work computers. And just as Apple became commonly accepted as a serious business tool, they came out with an operating system that is geared once again towards kids with pricey toys who are not disciplined enough to save their work as they go. Apple Support will tell you they are sorry, but Apple is only sorry that we are not falling in line and drinking their Kool-aid. They have now left a HUGE void in the personal computer realm, with no more support for Snow Leopard -- only the hugely expensive downgrade to Lion.

But Cheers to Google! They are offering free support for those of us who were dropped by Apple. There are likely others, too. I just don't know who they are. But as long as Google works, I will be their cheerleader, just as I once was for Apple. Thank you, Google!!!

Similar here. Using only one me.com email account and Find My Phone. Google sync on iPhone 4 works ok - use exchange to set up, NOT gmail

MacBook syncs ok there too

1st upload address book to Google, set up sync with Mac

Then set up phone

using itunes and cable, keeping SELECTED photos synced, apps, etc.

gracias a Google

still hoping Apple finds its way and build in sync with cloud for SL

For all thoughs who like jeff have found other ways to do things and have turned of icloud but e-mail to keep there me.com address.

Why not over time migrate compleatley over to other services like gmail (name@gmail.com) (becouse as you can see below it's invoved and something you dont you don't want to do over and over. That is why I say use some thing like gmail or yahoo.

You can start slowly first setup your new account run the two accounts side by side, send the change of address to friends and make shoure that all is working, then start sending "my e-mail address as changed" email's change the e-mail address on your websites and other e-stuff then change the e-mail on all new advitising and buseness cards.

The more people that do NOT use iCloud the more it shows Apple what people think!

I'm going to give this a go;

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photosync-wirelessly-transfers/id415850124?mt=8

Iv'e been using Gmail for a couple years - when you have family/ friends around the world - it's a no brainer - w/chat - just like we are chatting now to Okinawa.

The one thing I don't like about Gmail/Google - Is it likes to read your mail - and throw up ad's related to what it see's in your mail.

Doing a google search - you could be followed at every link/browser with ad's related.

A little spooky at first.

Yes Steve, that was my initial plan... right up until I was told that I would not be able to EVER change my iTunes account login and would have to manage TWO iTunes accounts. I seriously considered dropping iTunes and using other services, but I was told that without that original iTunes account, I would have to repurchase my Apps or, at the least, would not receive updates for those Apps any longer. But yes, I have changed everything I can away from my Mac.com connections, but the iTunes thing was the one thing that appeared to have no reasonable workaround. This issue only affects those with Mac.com iTunes accounts. Anyone else is free to change their iTunes login at their leisure. Apple did not have to do it this way. Regardless of Apple's future successes, they have been forever diminished by the decision to alienate their devoted supporters.

And thanks for the wireless photosync link, Steve! Once that is functioning, I think the only reason for USB will be to backup my iPhone info, if it is still even needed for that. Thanks for all your helpful tips to get me as far from Apple as possible. I am hoping that by that time I need and can afford a new laptop, a trustworthy company will emerge with an operating system that is at least as stable as OSX and still lets the user be in control of their own workspace and software, as opposed to the condescending and money-grabbing insults called Lion and iCloud.

Folks, just remember that Apple support people do not read these posts here.

It's been suggested to wrote on Apple Feedback pages, where they do read.

However, thanks for all the valuable posts here.

I moved back to PC several months ago actually. Still use my mac for when I absolutely have to, but nothing is purchased by Apple any more. My Ultrabook is fast enough, the Windows thing is obviously a massive problem, but everything else is great. On our Macs I use DrobBox for files and image storage/sharing, Amazon for music, Google for calendars and mail. And every time someone emails me at my .mac account gets a proper explanation how I was - as a serious user - forced out by Apple.

Now I just get all these emails every day from Apple's discussion forums (for months and months now) with people also deeply let down by the way we have all been treated. Oh, and don't listen to the stuff about Apple not reading this. Even the stuff they are supposed to read they ignore. And if you call them they just tell you how deeply sorry they are you feel this way. It is important for people to know they are not alone in choosing to move away from Apple. Unfortunately right now, it is the sensible choice.