SAN FRANCISCO - Apple CEO Steve Jobs ushered his company - and, by extension, the global computing industry - into the "cloud" era on Monday.
"We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud," Jobs said.
The new iCloud service replaces Apple's MobileMe document-sharing offering, which costs $99 a year. The new iCloud service is free, Jobs said.
With iCloud, content such as music and documents is stored on large servers instead of on personal hard drives - and is accessible from anywhere through the Internet.
The new iCloud service is Apple's seal of approval of what many experts believe is the next major iteration of the digital world.
All of Apple's devices now "have communications systems built into them," Jobs said. "They can all talk to the cloud. Everything syncs without us having to think about it. We don't even have to take it out of my pocket."
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Perhaps the biggest star of the iCloud service is the new iTunes function that lets people download songs to as many as 10 devices, instead of five, at no extra cost.
"This is the first time we have seen this in the music industry - no charge for multiple downloads for different devices," Jobs said. "Any song I buy on any device will automatically be downloaded to all my devices."
And in a "one more thing" moment, Jobs said Apple also is offering iTunes Match - software that will scan all the non-iTunes music in a library and allow users to access it through iCloud for $24.99 a year.
The iTunes part of iCloud is available with an iOS 4.3 update, with other iCloud features coming in the fall.
The iCloud service also includes automatic backup functions for all devices. It also allows iPhone owners to update the device with all of the data and the ability to start reading a book on an iPad and picking it up later on the same page on an iPhone.
The service works with documents created on various devices. Documents can be updated on all devices when changed on any of them. Apple will provide 5 gigabytes of free storage on iCloud for mail, documents and backup.
The new PhotoStream service will allow a person to take a photograph on an iPhone, upload it to iCloud, then download it to all devices, from the iPad to a Mac to Apple TV, Jobs said. Photos will be stored for 30 days on the service, and devices will store the last 1,000 photos taken.
Apple vs. Google vs. Amazon
iTunes in the Cloud by Apple Inc.
• Price: Free to add purchased iTunes songs, $25 per year to scan your hard drive for songs acquired elsewhere, which are then added to your iCloud locker.
• Music sales: Through the iTunes store.
• Availability: Now as a "beta," or test version. Hard-drive scanning, known as iTunes Match, coming in the fall.
• Licenses with recording companies: Yes.
• Devices: Up to 10 - Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad or Wi-Fi capable iPods.
• Stores content besides music? Broader iCloud service, which is free, also syncs contact, calendar entries, photos, documents and other files.
• Play music you own but didn't upload? Yes, as long as iTunes can match it with one of the 18 million songs in its music store. If it's not on iTunes, you can upload it.
Google Music Beta by Google Inc.
• Price: Free "for a limited time." No pricing announced.
• Music sales: No.
• Availability: Currently by invitation only.
• Licenses with recording companies: No.
• Devices: Up to eight - Mac, PC or Android smartphones or tablet computers that run Flash (no iPad).
• Stores content besides music? No.
• Play music you own but didn't upload? No.
Amazon Cloud Drive and Cloud Player from Amazon.com Inc.
• Price: Free up to 5 gigabytes, yearly plans range from $20 a year for 20 gigabytes to $1,000 for 1,000 gigabytes. U.S. customers qualify for free 20 GB storage with an album purchase through Amazon.com.
• Music sales: Through Amazon.com.
• Availability: Open to anyone; requires an Amazon account.
• Licenses with recording companies: No.
• Devices: Up to eight - Mac, PC or Android smart phones.
• Stores content besides music? Documents, photos and videos.
• Play music you own but didn't upload? When you buy a song on Amazon, it can be transferred directly to the cloud and played immediately.
Jobs emerges from leave
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, emerging briefly from medical leave, took the stage at Moscone Center in San Francisco Monday for the kickoff of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. As Jobs strolled on stage, he basked in the applause as one audience member shouted, "We love you."
"Thank you. It always helps, and I appreciate it very much," Jobs said.
