Apple has just published an FAQ detailing the MobileMe to iCloud transition. In the post they definitively answer the question of whether or not there will be access to iCloud services on the web.
The FAQ, linked by Techcrunch, answers a lot of questions about the switch from MobileMe to iCloud, but the primary question that has been on people’s minds is whether or not you will have access to iCloud features on the web as well as on iDevices. Apple answers this question clearly.
Will I be able to access iCloud services on the web?
Yes. Web access to iCloud Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Find My iPhone will be available at icloud.com this fall.
In addition to the web app question, Apple states clearly that iWeb, Gallery and iDisk products will not be available in iCloud, effectively rendering them dead.
If you have pictures currently hosted on MobileMe Gallery, Apple suggests that you save copies of all of the photos that you have published there. It links to this article explaining how to download the photos to your computer before the June 30, 2012 cutoff date, when MobileMe will be shut down for good.
Apple gives the same advice regarding iDisk and iWeb, saying that the services will be shut down and that you should download any files that you do not want to lose. In the case of iWeb, Apple says that you can “easily move a site published to MobileMe to another web hosting service and you should do so before that date.”
Although iDisk, iWeb and Gallery will continue to be available up until June 30th, even after you transition to iCloud, other services like keychain, Dock and System Preference syncing will cease to happen as soon as you make the iCloud switch.
Syncing of Mac Dashboard widgets, keychains, Dock items, and System Preferences will not be part of iCloud, but will continue to be available for you to use until you move to iCloud. After you move to iCloud or after June 30, 2012, whichever comes first, those sync services will no longer be available.
An email being received by some iCloud users caused some concern with its revelation that once your storage was full, you would stop getting your email. Apple addresses the iCloud storage issue in the FAQ, stating that iCloud “includes 5GB of free storage for mail, documents, and backup, which should be enough for most users. Purchased music, apps, and books do not count against this 5GB of storage, nor do the photos in your Photo Stream.”
As stated in the email, you will be able to purchase more storage once iCloud is available in the fall.
Apple also provides a link for those looking to request a refund for an unused MobileMe activation code and a link to cancel current MobileMe subscriptions. When you cancel MobileMe you will receive a prorated refund but your account will be shut down, not migrated to iCloud.
The FAQ also gives confirmation that you will be able to continue using a different account for iCloud and iTunes. The iTunes account will be able to be used for iTunes in the cloud and purchases. This should help family members to keep their collections of music and purchases separate so that all of one member’s items aren’t synced to everyone’s devices.
You can read the full MobileMe transition FAQ here.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.