Clouding Around - Still, There Are Pitfalls For Cloud Computing

As more folks get used to the mobile computing life, we need to be reminded that the data we access with our mobile devices and smartphones don't always sit quietly in storage waiting to be accessed when the time came.

And recently, Pre owners were given a pretty harsh lesson of that when the Pre profile server crashed, leaving Pre owners without access to their data.  But don't think this is an isolated incident.  Remember when Apple debut push mail for the iPhone?  Yeah, Apple had to apologize multiple times and provide MobileMe users two extra months of free service.

Is that Google fans laughing I'm hearing?  What?  Don't remember the Gmail outages?  A couple of times if memory serves.

This reminded me of an argument with a friend who worked at Yahoo.  I told him it's important to me that I always have a copy of my data and e-mail on my laptop when I don't have access to the Internet.  No Internet access, no webmail or files stored in the cloud.  Right?

So, I'm telling my fellow mobile warriors this:  pitfalls and trials by fire are to be expected as we move boldly forward in shaping the mobile market.  There will be servers that crash.  Services taken down for maintenance that turn into outages.  Denial of services.  Natural disasters.  I'm sure you can name a few other types of incidents that will leave you without your precious mail, contacts, schedules, and wireless Internet.

For mobile users, it's always good to find a way to back up your information.  MobileMe allows you to storage in your information with the Mac or Outlook while Google offers off-line access to data including Gmail.

For folks who rely on cloud storage, it's good to use services like MobileMe and Dropbox that synchs a copy of files to a local folder.

Anyway, Pre owners got their data back and things are fine again.  But it is a sobering experience for everyone.  Cloud services will continue to grow and mature.  Perhaps, we'll one day have enough redundancy with our wireless services that we'll never truly have to worry about losing access to our data.  But until then, it's always good to practice some old school computing.  Keeping a copy of your data locally if you can.

Asustek Shows Apple How its Done

Taking a clue from Apple's iTunes and MobileMe, Asus launched an online service and plans an online store to create demands for its line of EEE laptops.

• EEE Storage:  20GB of online storage
• EEE Downoad:  3,000 free software titles
• Online store planned to sell music and other contends. 
  

This is certainly a take a few PC makers have taken in the last, most noticibly Apple.  Apple offers MobileMe, former .Mac, with 20GB of storage, online services, and online store in the form of iTunes. 

Could Asus follow with EEE mobile handsets as well?  It is likely be studied as the influence of Apple is apparent in this plan.  Furthermore, Asustek will further expand the EEE brand into other electronics like television.

No mention by Asustek if this this free to EEE PC owners. 

Steve Jobs: We Goofed

In an e-mailed made assessible to Ars Technica, Steve Jobs CEO of Apple told Apple employees they've learned from this mistake. What mistake is that? The mistake was trying to do too much at the same time. For the first time, Apple tried to give it all at the same time to its customers and it fell flat. "It was a mistake to launch MobileMe at the same time as iPhone 3G, iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store," Jobs said in the e-mail. He went on to say that Apple has learned a lot about Web services, has a lot more to learn about it, and will continue to learn more about it. Jobs said Apple is very excited about MobileMe and will continue to a better service by the end of the year. Recently, MobileMe turned out not to be "push" as advertised and but continues to call it the "exchange for the rest of us". MobileMe is a line of mistakes made by Apple, something tech observers are unaccustomed to seeing from the maker of the iPod. Note: Beware of rumors that is likely to stem from Jobs statement about making MobileMe better by the end of the year. It's simply a statement to be taken at face value. No new services is likely to be coming. Related articles:

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