Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

Apple is set to announce a new iPhone next week. With the announcement of a new iPhone, Apple should be releasing a new version of their mobile operating system, iOS 5 and the new cloud service, iCloud.

Apple is moving away from MobileMe and iDisk to iCloud, a new way to store files on the Internet. Yet, this new iCloud is still a service and requires a subscription to use if you want more than 5GB. For those who don't trust Apple or don't want another subscription, there are alternatives.

The first alternative to iCloud is to setup a Network Assisted Storage or NAS device. Synology makes a number of good NAS devices like the DiskStation DS410. An NAS is a tiny computer running server software that has multiple hard drives connected to it. This device will store the users files on multiple drives to ensure data survivability in case of the drive failure. All the data can then be accessed on the local network or even the Internet if correctly set up. Basically, an NAS is an inexpensive server that backs up the data. The problem with this device is that it takes skill and lots of time to setup. For many, it is just too complicated.

Another similar device is called the PogoPlug. This device shares whatever files that are on a connected USB drive that is plugged into it. It is easy to set up, just plug in a USB drive and run through the setup wizard. Files can be accessed from anywhere on the Internet using a web browser. Files can also be accessed like a hard drive anywhere on the local network, as well. In addition, PogoPlug has developed iOS applications so files can be accessed from any iOS device like an iPhone or iPad. While this is a quick and easy solution, it does have some negatives. The iOS application needs a lot of work and is missing many features other similar apps have. Other applications can't access files on a PogoPlug either. To improve their mobile capabilities, PogoPlug needs to add Airplay to their mobile app. They also could make it easier to create a WebDAV server for the files, it would be a big difference. The WebDAV protocol is being supported by many mobile developers including Apple. Still, for users who need a quick solution, this might be a good one.

LaCie just came out with their own version of a PogoPlug called LaPlug. It works the same way as the PogoPlug by plugging a USB drive into it. Customers can also plug a postscript printer into it for wireless printing. PogoPlug has the same feature, but adds HP and Epson printers from 2005 or earlier to their list and they can also print from an iOS device. Both devices have four USB ports for multiple drivers. Both work with iTunes and Time Machine for backups and music storage. LaPlug was just released and so far does not have any iOS applications. Time will tell if they compete with PogoPlug or not.

In the next year, iCloud will dominate cloud storage in the Apple ecosystem. For those who don't want to use iCloud, there are two choices: set up a complicated and expensive NAS device or buy a PogoPlug or LaPlug device and use it with a USB drive.

Neither will work well as an iCloud replacement for many iOS applications. Most of these applications use Dropbox to save files and send them to a desktop or laptop computer. It will be difficult for PogoPlug and LaCie to persuade developers to support their products unless they incorporate WedDAV into their system. NAS devices do support the WedDAV protocol for mobile file transfers. Despite the limitations for mobile applications, these iCloud alternatives are great for large media libraries.

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