Do iCloud users still need apps stored on the computer?

[stofferdk]

Dear MacRumors users and iCloud users.

I am getting my new iPhone later today, and I finalized an iCloud backup of my 3Gs last night.

I was wondering, do I need to have all my apps stored on my iMac? Or can I delete these and still manage them independently on my iPhone with iCloud?

Thanks

 

[maflynn]

I keep them on my Mac, but then I prefer making sure that I maintain my own back ups.

 

[Wicked1]

Essentially they are stored in iCloud, but you also have the option to sync your iPhone with your computer and or iCloud. I have taken all the apps I had on my Mini and backed them up to an external drive since I sync with iCloud, but it is more of a personal preference to me.

I am starting to think with all the issues around iCloud, I might start backing my iPhone up to my Mini and not syncing anything with iCloud other than email, and even backing that up once in a while as not to lose anything.

 

[r0k]

I like having them in iCloud. But you don't need an iCloud membership just to store your apps. Any iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad user can go to the app store on their device and check the updates tab. From the updates tab, look for purchased items. They are all there whether you ever created an iCloud account or not.

I used to hook up to my Mac and transfer purchases but it's so darned slow I prefer to have my apps backed up in Apple's cloud. If Apple's cloud goes away, there will be a lot more about my iPhone that is not working than just my apps.

 

[hafr]

I don't really get it. One has been able to go in to app store and download purchased items that are no longer on the device for ages, so in what way is this new for iCloud?

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I like having them in iCloud. But you don't need an iCloud membership just to store your apps. Any iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad user can go to the app store on their device and check the updates tab. From the updates tab, look for purchased items. They are all there whether you ever created an iCloud account or not.

I used to hook up to my Mac and transfer purchases but it's so darned slow I prefer to have my apps backed up in Apple's cloud. If Apple's cloud goes away, there will be a lot more about my iPhone that is not working than just my apps.

Yes, but then you think about the VLC app. It was great, but between me losing and replacing my iPhone it disappeared from app store, and I had no copy of it on my computer... I don't know how common it is for great apps like that to just disappear though

 

[richxps]

im glad i found this thread, i was wondering the same thing and now that my apps and data are backed up to the cloud i deleted all the apps from iTunes on my mac and guess what i just got back 18GB...

 

[paulbee]

Yes, but then you think about the VLC app. It was great, but between me losing and replacing my iPhone it disappeared from app store, and I had no copy of it on my computer... I don't know how common it is for great apps like that to just disappear though

I was under the impression that people who had already downloaded VLC were able to redownload it via Past Purchases, once that feature was enabled. Am I wrong about that?