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MobileMe to Become a Free Service?
- Thread starter bowlerman625
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MobileMe - how can they get away with this?
From time to time, I take the opportunity and give MobileMe a 60 day trial. This is the last time that I tried. With two iPhones an three Macs, running Snow Leopard and Leopard, I finally realised that MobileMe is a waste of time and resources.
Why?
1. For what it is, it is ridiculously expensive. Free storage with better facilities are available. If you want a professional package; for marginally more, you can have all sorts of services.
2. No PHP, no MySQL?! How do people create decent Contact Us forms? iWeb, that eye candy uselessness must be the last thing on Earth not using any of these. You cannot have Wordpress?! It's pathetic!
3. Find your iPhone - yeah, in a ten mile radius! That's what my trial displays. Now it covers an area with about 20-30.000 other people. I think I'm lucky that I haven't lost my iPhone yet. Ironically, this page was created with Flash even a few weeks ago. What a hypocrisy!
4. God, this thing is slow! It took a whole night to upload a smaller site with around 100 pictures. I tried other servers, some of them were pretty bad overall. But MobileMe beats everything that I tried before - it's the slowest thing.
5. I'm sure that with some people, its integration in OS X goes down well. Personally, I hate to lose any sort of control over my computer. If I want to upload something, I'll do it my way. Apple says 'NO'.
MobileMe should either become a free service supporting Macs and iPhones/iPads, or it should grow up. Currently, everything about it stinks. Maybe that's unfair - everything stinks, but at least it looks nice. Is that enough?
From time to time, I take the opportunity and give MobileMe a 60 day trial. This is the last time that I tried. With two iPhones an three Macs, running Snow Leopard and Leopard, I finally realised that MobileMe is a waste of time and resources.
Why?
1. For what it is, it is ridiculously expensive. Free storage with better facilities are available. If you want a professional package; for marginally more, you can have all sorts of services.
2. No PHP, no MySQL?! How do people create decent Contact Us forms? iWeb, that eye candy uselessness must be the last thing on Earth not using any of these. You cannot have Wordpress?! It's pathetic!
3. Find your iPhone - yeah, in a ten mile radius! That's what my trial displays. Now it covers an area with about 20-30.000 other people. I think I'm lucky that I haven't lost my iPhone yet. Ironically, this page was created with Flash even a few weeks ago. What a hypocrisy!
4. God, this thing is slow! It took a whole night to upload a smaller site with around 100 pictures. I tried other servers, some of them were pretty bad overall. But MobileMe beats everything that I tried before - it's the slowest thing.
5. I'm sure that with some people, its integration in OS X goes down well. Personally, I hate to lose any sort of control over my computer. If I want to upload something, I'll do it my way. Apple says 'NO'.
MobileMe should either become a free service supporting Macs and iPhones/iPads, or it should grow up. Currently, everything about it stinks. Maybe that's unfair - everything stinks, but at least it looks nice. Is that enough?
.Mac Days
Was it not the case in the very early days of .Mac (That was what was called before the rebranding to Mobile Me for those who don't know) that the email was free and the iDisk etc formed the paid service? So it wouldn't be a huge surprise.
Perhaps we should think of Mobile Me in the context of a great service that can facilitate better use and integration of Apple devices, an extra selling point that will give Apple the edge over Android?
Was it not the case in the very early days of .Mac (That was what was called before the rebranding to Mobile Me for those who don't know) that the email was free and the iDisk etc formed the paid service? So it wouldn't be a huge surprise.
Perhaps we should think of Mobile Me in the context of a great service that can facilitate better use and integration of Apple devices, an extra selling point that will give Apple the edge over Android?
I'm not really locked in to GMail. I used to use Yahoo before Gmail, and it was not a terribly difficult transition. I had it set up to forward all incoming messages to my new Gmail account, and I made my email address the same thing as it had been before but just @gmail.com to make it easier for people to remember/make the switch. Should I want to come from MobileMe to something else, however, I doubt I can set it up the same way to forward messages from my @me.com address to my new address. Plus, even if I could, that would mean I have to continue paying the $100/year for a service I no longer use. At least when I have no money invested, it's much easier to make a transition.
Maybe I'm one of these consumers with a flippant attitude, but I don't care. I don't have confidential information I don't want people to see. I don't have communications with important business clients. It's my personal address, I have personal communications that multi-million dollar corporations couldn't care less about. So they target ads at me, big deal. The ads are unobtrusive, and nothing's forcing me to click on them. I don't even notice them half the time.
I never said they would.
Between my family, we have five Macs and four iPods. Somehow, we've still managed to get by without wireless sync. Go figure.
Apple needs more online content that the public can use. Going free with MM is the fastest and cheapest way.
Makes perfect sence.
Expect to see free iWork apps at some point also..
Check out godaddy.com. $30 a year for 10 accounts and unlimited storage.
The disk storage is $30 a year for 100GB
Thank you sir, Can I have another!!
I can see Apple allowing users to have an account for free with every device for the duration of the three years extended warrantee. Than giving paid users a whole new collection of things. It would not be a good idea for Apple to allow any idiot have an account.
However by allowing it to be free to any individual (Not a family pack) that gets a new Apple device that can access it, would allow Apple to control it. Free accounts should have a bandwidth limit, reduction of Gigage on iDisk and a monthly usage cap. Does not forward email to another address or alias emails. Does not allow home made web sites to be posted, only websites that are created in iWeb. To cut down on the idiot and abusive factors. Blocking a free user form making a iCal calendar public.
Paid users should get iTunes Library data syncing. I hate it when I move to another computer and I need to rebuild my playlists and give out stars to my songs. This information should be something that is carried over with Syncing (Possibly only when Shared libraries is turn on). It would be nice if a paid user can make a login user account hosted on the iDisk, This way not only does my basic prefs, email, bookmarks and addresses carry over but the entire user folder. So if I save something on my desktop of my laptop, I will see it on the desktop of my iMac as well. Most importantly, All of my prefs will carry over.
In the end I can see Apple allowing users to have an account for free with every device for the duration of the three years extended warrantee. Than giving paid users a whole new collection of things. There is no reason for Apple to let go of the revenue MobilMe generates, on top of the cost of the new building and server farm. Use the free accounts to attract more paid account.
I can see Apple allowing users to have an account for free with every device for the duration of the three years extended warrantee. Than giving paid users a whole new collection of things. It would not be a good idea for Apple to allow any idiot have an account.
However by allowing it to be free to any individual (Not a family pack) that gets a new Apple device that can access it, would allow Apple to control it. Free accounts should have a bandwidth limit, reduction of Gigage on iDisk and a monthly usage cap. Does not forward email to another address or alias emails. Does not allow home made web sites to be posted, only websites that are created in iWeb. To cut down on the idiot and abusive factors. Blocking a free user form making a iCal calendar public.
Paid users should get iTunes Library data syncing. I hate it when I move to another computer and I need to rebuild my playlists and give out stars to my songs. This information should be something that is carried over with Syncing (Possibly only when Shared libraries is turn on). It would be nice if a paid user can make a login user account hosted on the iDisk, This way not only does my basic prefs, email, bookmarks and addresses carry over but the entire user folder. So if I save something on my desktop of my laptop, I will see it on the desktop of my iMac as well. Most importantly, All of my prefs will carry over.
In the end I can see Apple allowing users to have an account for free with every device for the duration of the three years extended warrantee. Than giving paid users a whole new collection of things. There is no reason for Apple to let go of the revenue MobilMe generates, on top of the cost of the new building and server farm. Use the free accounts to attract more paid account.
No, I won't read this whole thread! Who's got time? I'm tired.
Free would be good for this. The ONLY reason I pay is to sync calendars and contacts between devices. I know there are other solutions for this, but I haven't found one that doesn't require more hassle.
iDisk is cool, but then you can't sync there either like Live Mesh, which so far is working very well for me, and it's free. Gallery is sucky. You know.
So yes, free, or keep it paid if it's going to get enhanced and add value above and beyond what IS free out there, besides the contact sync.
Free would be good for this. The ONLY reason I pay is to sync calendars and contacts between devices. I know there are other solutions for this, but I haven't found one that doesn't require more hassle.
iDisk is cool, but then you can't sync there either like Live Mesh, which so far is working very well for me, and it's free. Gallery is sucky. You know.
So yes, free, or keep it paid if it's going to get enhanced and add value above and beyond what IS free out there, besides the contact sync.
My theory is that Apple will announce a free version of MobileMe at WWDC. Because the new iPhone will have a front-facing camera, it will perhaps include an iPhone OS version of iChat. The app will probably allow users to register and log in with their free MobileMe account to use the chat/voice/video service with any other iPhone or Mac version of iChat. The free MobileMe account will include the basics with free email and sync and then they'll maintain the pay version (perhaps lower the price) with iDisk and the more premium stuff.
Free Isn't Always Best
First, why is my experience so much different from what I see here? The over-the-air synching is great, iDisk works fine, and when I recently had a problem their support was A+. Sure, I think it's a bit expensive and who doesn't want "free"? But Google's email and calendar are cluttered and I'm willing to pay a few bucks a month to just have my information available.
I agree that they'd better greatly improve performance if they create a free service; I do find iDisk a bit sluggish and hate to think what happens if MobileMe's usage increases 500%.
I would love to see a two-tier offering as many have suggested. Free, maybe with less storage and forum based support. Paid accounts get more storage and AppleCare type support - plus of course no ads in the MobileMe interface.
Finally, I also think that many of us on these forums forget the vast majority of users aren't Mac experts. The MobileMe service provides a (relatively) easy to use, all-in-one interface for synching information with your phone and computer. The piece meal alternatives are simply too difficult for the average person, thus the value of MobileMe.
First, why is my experience so much different from what I see here? The over-the-air synching is great, iDisk works fine, and when I recently had a problem their support was A+. Sure, I think it's a bit expensive and who doesn't want "free"? But Google's email and calendar are cluttered and I'm willing to pay a few bucks a month to just have my information available.
I agree that they'd better greatly improve performance if they create a free service; I do find iDisk a bit sluggish and hate to think what happens if MobileMe's usage increases 500%.
I would love to see a two-tier offering as many have suggested. Free, maybe with less storage and forum based support. Paid accounts get more storage and AppleCare type support - plus of course no ads in the MobileMe interface.
Finally, I also think that many of us on these forums forget the vast majority of users aren't Mac experts. The MobileMe service provides a (relatively) easy to use, all-in-one interface for synching information with your phone and computer. The piece meal alternatives are simply too difficult for the average person, thus the value of MobileMe.
Couldnt agree more, I would just add the ability to use your own domain email address with the paid "top tier" service
If it is made free, and your sub just previously renewed, would Apple have to re-imburse you the difference ?
MobileMe might be free soon. Does Apple give refunds?
I really like the MobileMe service, but i haven't bought a subscription yet. If I purchased a year and they followed through and made it a free service, wouldn't Apple refund a prorated remainder of the paid unused time?
MobileMe for free
I really like the MobileMe service, but i haven't bought a subscription yet. If I purchased a year and they followed through and made it a free service, wouldn't Apple refund a prorated remainder of the paid unused time?
MobileMe for free
I think the free rumors have been semi-discounted. Check the front page of MacRumors for their thing on the MobileMe mail beta. Edit: okay, maybe the article I'm thinking of was at tuaw.
If it really does go free, which I'm doubting, they may have a very short grace period for refunds. Basing this on the iPhone early adopters who got credits.
If it really does go free, which I'm doubting, they may have a very short grace period for refunds. Basing this on the iPhone early adopters who got credits.
This should be posted in the MobileMe forum 
If it does go free, I would suspect you would get an appropriate refund, however, I can't see it becoming free myself.
If it does go free, I would suspect you would get an appropriate refund, however, I can't see it becoming free myself.
It's still too expensive! Considering you do get alot of disk space it's still quite expensive. I don't know if it will be FREE but lowering it to about $30 a year is reasonable.
>$30 is really not a good deal in my opinion.
$30 is not reasonable for a service that doesn't base their revenue/Profits on advertising and offers a suite of services under a single sign in.
It is true that for people who aren't going to use the many features of MobileMe it won't represent a good value but it's not going to be a service for everyone. Those that want to use what MobileMe offers fully will likely be pleased with what's there for as low as $6 a month.
I think it is a pretty darn good deal for 20GB of space, plus the other features. I host a small company website with A Small Orange and have 750MB of space and 15GB of bandwidth for that price.
Maybe they're trying to compete with Google Docs or something. Plus they bought that server farm in, I think, North Carolina.