Is iCloud totally worthless?

Have tried allmost anything, even with technican skills, spent two days for getting Icloud, to do what it actually has to do! - pushing data between three simple apple units. - seems not to work in perfection.

- Same apple ID - all options is set to 'ON' in Icloud.

- Port 80, 443 is open for data sharing between

Icloud pushing between Iphone, Ipad, Macbook... Mail, music, contacts doesn't work, only Calender shows up with some simple scheduels info's, but not even all of them!?

Waiting desperatly for IOS6 - Wake up Apple...

😐

Seems like this thread has been bumped. I updated my Mac to Mountain Lion, which is great, no issues yet.

I like iCloud, and it's really cool, particularly with iWork. iCloud Mail is just annoying when you already have each account setup. Notes and Reminders need a bit of work.

I will say this, is that I still think it's bad to RELY on iCloud for anything. You should ALWAYS have a physical backup of anything you find important. I just feel like I could wake up one morning, and all of my spreadsheets and docs are gone because either the Cloud is down, I don't have wi-fi, or someone stole my iDevice, wiping out my iCloud storage.

@Korkyk, I'm in the same position as you. I use various devices of Apple which I bought over the years.

iCloud seems to be like Catch #22. First, my iPhone 3 was not compatible with iCloud, then MacMini was not compatible, now I have the new iPad, which is compatible, but it is not fully compatibe with MacMini nor iPhone 3. It drives me insane.

It looks like you have to buy all devices in one go to make sure they actully can work together. We can say whatever we like about MS windows, but at least it stays backward compatible for a very long time (exept networking which is a nightmare also.).

So, currently the only thing I can sync are photos and music, which are of the least importance to me.

@KingSalmon, that truly sounds like a nightmare. I think Apple should create an import-export file feature that turns contacts and iCalendar content into a simple .csv file that can be loaded into any device.

iCloud can be used for consumer stuff, but for contacts etc, we need a simple, bullet proof solution.

rudolf2 wrote:

snip

@KingSalmon, that truly sounds like a nightmare. I think Apple should create an import-export file feature that turns contacts and iCalendar content into a simple .csv file that can be loaded into any device.

iCloud can be used for consumer stuff, but for contacts etc, we need a simple, bullet proof solution.

Contacts already has an export option, look on the file menu under Export.

But Julian, iCloud DOESN'T automatically sync between calendar, contacts, etc. You are accessing the files that are stored in iCloud - that is different than syncing. You are using iCloud as a server and if you lose connection with that server - you won't have access to your calendar or contacts. I've been running into that problem right now and it is absolutely unacceptable.

If I'm in a doctor's office and need to input a new appointment, I need to be able to input that appointment and have it update in iCloud and then on my other devices. As it is now, if I can't get an iCloud connection, I won't be able to save the appointment on the calendar correct calendar, because it's on iCloud and I don't have access to it. I CAN create a new event in the calendar on my iPhone, but THAT won't sync with iCloud and to my other devices. That's a big problem! Apple DOES need a system similar to dropbox whereby you have access to all your calendar events, reminders ALL THE TIME - not just when you can get access to iCloud.

kjs

Kathleen J Sargenti1 wrote:

But Julian, iCloud DOESN'T automatically sync between calendar, contacts, etc. You are accessing the files that are stored in iCloud - that is different than syncing. You are using iCloud as a server and if you lose connection with that server - you won't have access to your calendar or contacts. I've been running into that problem right now and it is absolutely unacceptable.

Also untrue, your description is correct but you missed that contacts and calendars are cached locally, if you lose your connection you will continue to be able to view and change your contacts and calendars. Changes will be made when next you are online.

As I pointed out in another thread, this is not correct.

Well, then the apple support rep doesn't know what she's talking about AND there is something operating wrong on my particular iPhone 5 because it is NOT working that way for me. If it did, I wouldn't be complaining...

As I earlier explained, when I open calendar, I see the list of calendars on my iPhone, but the list on iCloud shows only two of the eleven I have there. And if I look at the calendar itself, none of the events from the missing calendars are showing up. Nor can I create events for the missing calendars. According to the Apple Rep, she stated this IS the way the program is designed to operate - if WiFi connections drops off, the calendars from iCloud will not show up on your device. If you can point me to the place where I can confirm that she's wrong, I'll be happy because then it's fixable.

But Julian, iCloud DOESN'T automatically sync between calendar, contacts, etc. You are accessing the files that are stored in iCloud - that is different than syncing.

Yes, I'm quite aware of how iCloud works thank you (although it seems you are not). I fully understand the technical process of subscribing to CalDAV and CardDAV acounts on remote servers, which is what iCloud does behind the scenes.

I used the word "syncing" because for people who don't care about the technicalities, to the end user the result is that iCloud keeps your contacts and calendars "in sync" (i.e. the same) across multiple devices and computers.

You are using iCloud as a server and if you lose connection with that server - you won't have access to your calendar or contacts.

You're 100% wrong. All your Contact and Calendar data is cached locally. Try putting your phone into Airplane mode and your data does not disappear. Obviously without a network connection, any update you make on the device or other devices will not propagate, but you'll still have access to the data as it was before your network connection disappeared.

if I can't get an iCloud connection, I won't be able to save the appointment on the calendar correct calendar, because it's on iCloud and I don't have access to it.

Again, you are wrong. You can still add an appointment to an iCloud calendar, even when offline, it just won't get uploaded to the iCloud server (and propagate to other devices) until you have a network connection again.

Apple DOES need a system similar to dropbox whereby you have access to all your calendar events, reminders ALL THE TIME - not just when you can get access to iCloud.

What are you talking about? Dropbox doesn't work "ALL THE TIME". It also requires a network connection to access data stored on the Dropbox server - exactly the same as iCloud. On mobile devices Dropbox does not automatically cache the whole contents of your Dropbox account locally for times when you have no network connection.

iCloud caches all of your contacts and calendars locally on your mobile devices, automatically, without any action on your part. So in that respect its better than Dropbox.

Seems you have a fundamental misunderstanding of how iCloud actually works in practise.

Apparently I do have a fundamental misunderstanding and that is due to what the Apple Rep told yesterday. Until I called and talked with her, I thought there was something wrong with either my account or my iPhone 5. After her telling me that the problem must be that my phone was dropping the WiFi connection and that's why I couldn't access my calendars,contacts, etc is when I wrote my email.

As to the dropbox issue - certainly it requires a connection to sync, but my point was that the data resides both locally and in the cloud. So if the connection is broken, while syncing isn't possible, one can use the local files and the syncing will begin again after connection is restored. And because of what the Apple Support Rep told me, I didn't think that my iCloud calendar, events, reminders were stored locally on my device. And... on MY phone, they aren't - despite the fact that they should be. So, I need to go back to apple support to figure out why my iPhone5 (and my Dad's) aren't operating correctly.

Thanks for the feedback to help me figure this out. I love Apple - bought the very first 128k Mac model and pretty much every new product since then. The only thing I don't have YET - is the iPad. Have very rarely been unhappy with any of my products, so frankly, I'm very happy to learn that I'm wrong. Thanks again for your feedback

KJS

Kathleen J Sargenti1 wrote:

As to the dropbox issue - certainly it requires a connection to sync, but my point was that the data resides both locally and in the cloud.

And so does iCloud data, you are still misunderstanding.

I do now understand that the iCloud data is suppose to reside locally and that my problem is specific to either my own iCloud account or my iPhone 5. And again, I thank you for helping me with this. I can now go back to Apple support for help. Before, from what the Apple support rep told me, I thought there was no problem - was told it was operating the way it was designed to operate. And that answer didn't sit well with me.

I guess rather than try the phone support, I'll make an appointment to go into my local store so I can show them what's happening. Again, thanks for your help

KJS

You're welcome.

Persisten people get things done.

Yes. iCloud is ONLY good for syncing contacts, mail and calendar and a few documents. iDisk/.MAC HAD actual storage space you coud drag your stuff from the office to home and back or drop HI RES photos/videos to your parents/friends house..so when you got there..it was somewhere online.

Your presentations, photos, movies and music take up WAY too much space for your iOS devices...so syncing is not viable solution for these heavy files. Especially when you dont' actually have the Hard Drive space to download them to.

The other VERY IMPORTANT question you need to ask yourself is.... WHERE IS MY BACKUP files for Contacts, Mail, and Calendars? because....There is NO BACKUP resource in syncing...if something goes really haywire..it goes haywire EVERYWHERE INSTANTANEOUSLY. You MUST to do manual backups from inside those apps on an actual Mac Computer. FILE/EXPORT/...blah blah blah. Every day or week or month..depending on how important your data is.

This makes iCloud only good for syncing everyday 'text' with low file size items.

Dropbox/Cubby/BOX...sites will take your heavy files and can even use FTP programs like Cyberduck, Transmit etc and drag and drop..you can even connect these drives like a regular drive onto your desktop..and drag and drop..but these are buggy. For no reason they will reject some files..so these servers don't like the way your file is named or the size..it will reject it. They don't act like regular loaded backup drives. So far Cubby has been the friendliest on using FTP programs (uses Webdav protocols)..but still has bugs like I mentioned above.

But yeah..iCloud is kind of worthless for any REAL BACKUP. It's a syncing package. Works GREAT as long as you have internet access. If you are an underground subway commuter or going long distances on Amtrak....you can kiss that all goodbye. Your device only becomes a gaming device ..so long as it doesn't rely on wifi or 4G access.

This is why I bought an ANDROID Tablet. It has SD cards and will take 128 GB USB sticks with an adapter through it's charge port along with it's built in 64GB micro SD slot!!! **** Yeah...No Really...and you can REALLY TRULY have all your data on your person. It's the way to go for a Doc sharing/media/game playing devices. Outsurpassing iOS device's ability to access your crap when you need it...anytime...anywhere. No Cloud or Syncing service can do that...only Android has swappable" added hard drive" storage ability.

Yeah..use my iPhone for cool apps and business..but when traveling or not in WiFi or 3G/4G spot...I can get ALL MY Shyte!