<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12680" src="http://www.pinstripemag.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/icloud.jpg" alt="icloud" width="399" height="400" />

Apple chief executive, Steve Jobs strode back into the spotlight to unveil the iCloud, a service that will transform the way people listen to music and demote the computer. He said that the free service would replace the <a title="personal computer" href="http://www.pinstripemag.com/2011/05/smartphones-save-money-replace-gadgets.html">personal computer</a> as the central hub of people’s digital lives – storing photos, music and documents.

He said that trying to keep the iPhone, Macbook and other devices in sync was turning out to be more complicated than helpful, because media files would have to be individually loaded on each device. But with the iCloud, it understands already previously loaded applications on each device and automatically uploads them to each respective device that the iCloud connects with another. Steve Jobs said that the main purpose of this idea was to not treat the PC as the most important device but the iCloud as the most important digital hub.

At the introduction of the iCloud, a new version of iTunes was also launched, which will enable users to <a title="download music" href="http://www.pinstripemag.com/2010/12/black-eyed-peas-love-you-long-time.html">download music</a> which they have purchased on any device. Songs that were not purchased from iTunes can be added for $25 a year in the US.

The iCloud also works with documents, apps and photos through a new service, Photo Stream. In cloud computing, data and software is stored on servers and devices get  access to it through the internet. Over the decades, the physical copy needed to play songs has been getting even smaller. From, Vinyl, to CDs, to a file held on personal computers. The iCloud threatens to eliminate the need of having to own that physical copy of a track ever again.

The downside to the iCloud is that it is just not safe enough for working. A <a title="wireless connection" href="http://www.pinstripemag.com/2010/03/up-in-the-air-how-to-fly-right.html">wireless connection</a> means the capacity for all personal media files to be open to other wireless users. It seems a little pointless as the iCloud so far has only proven its worth in terms of a closed wireless connection like within the same house.