I don't get it - it's been half a year since iCloud was introduced. Why do so few apps still fail to integrate iCloud? It's potentially a huge feature. Of all my apps, only the Apple apps, Goodreader and Infinity Blade 2 use iCloud. What's the deal here?
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Why do so few apps utilize iCloud
- Thread starter thelookingglass
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For app developers, there needs to be motivation.
All of our new apps will at least sync the iPhone and iPad versions through iCloud, however I'm not sure we will go back and update many of the past apps. A few yes - and some we have already - but unless the users start to demand it, we likely will just ignore iCloud for most of them.
When we can easily integrate with OSX apps, or write into an iCloud shared directory, we might have more motivation.
What sort of integration are you looking for?
All of our new apps will at least sync the iPhone and iPad versions through iCloud, however I'm not sure we will go back and update many of the past apps. A few yes - and some we have already - but unless the users start to demand it, we likely will just ignore iCloud for most of them.
When we can easily integrate with OSX apps, or write into an iCloud shared directory, we might have more motivation.
What sort of integration are you looking for?
Apple has always struggled with the cloud. MobileMe by Jobs own admission was a failure. Therefore iCloud is bound to struggle. It was launched with the typical Apple smoke & mirrors hype machine that sets unrealistic expectations.
The real question is will Apple ever "get it" and turn their words into actions that result in a usable compelling cloud solution. At this point their so busy bragging about how many people are using it, the focus is on boasting instead of improving.
The real question is will Apple ever "get it" and turn their words into actions that result in a usable compelling cloud solution. At this point their so busy bragging about how many people are using it, the focus is on boasting instead of improving.
I would like to see more iCloud integration, too. I hope it happens soon, but at latest with the release of OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 6
I'm concerned about iCloud recently ... especially the last few days. It seems very sporatic. I'm getting duplicate photos or no photos, email doesn't sync all the time between my iPh4 and iPad2 (this is getting chronic in the last week or so).
Earlier, it was working just fine. Not sure what's happening.
Giving Apple the benefit of the doubt I'd like to think they'll soon begin to take iCloud seriously and work diligently to provide what they've advertised. Yet their track record of silence, hesitancy to listen to feedback submitted through proper channels, is discouraging.
Knowing Apple well, despite my eagerness to embrace iCloud, I've followed my common sense & avoided it entirely. I'm taking a wait & see approach.
Meanwhile I created a personal cloud strategy using a variety of other proven, full featured cloud solutions that offer features Apple cannot.
Hopefully Apple will not fall too far behind, deluded by their own boasting of how many are already using iCloud.
Many of the apps that I use daily and on multiple devices (iOS and OS X) have already included iCloud support for syncing. Game devs don't seem to be really motivated to include it though.
Well, to put it simply, syncing. I want apps to do what the iWork apps do. I want to play a game on my iPad and pick up where I left off on my iPhone. Stuff like that. I know some apps do already provide iCloud integration, but nowhere near what I was expecting.
I completely agree with this thread, it's incredible it's not widely supported, what do you have to do, add a reference to one file?!?!?! it can't be THAT hard.
Gotcha. I would say Apple's iCloud page is misleading in that it sounds like it's describing what you want, but in fact is only talking about iOS. There is one blurb about Documents in the Cloud for Apple software (linked page). I suppose you could say the framework is in place and waiting for developers but there's a little to much marketing on Apple's site for my taste. You have to understand it and really read it before you get the true picture.
From what I understand from a personal friend that is also an iOS dev he says it's not as easy to implement as you'd think. For him it was a matter of his customers wanting the feature before he'd put the time into implementing it. I guess he sees it as a lot of work for little usage.
I'm with most of you though, if it's a universal game just bloody implement iCloud syncing. Sometimes that pushes someone over to tap the buy button and input their password. Really, it does.
I know it's annoying, I want to move Cut the Rope 2 and Cover Orange to my iPad because I want my iPad to be the gaming device. Put I already got really really far in both. I complete everything in Cut the Rope 2 actually. It's makes me ever more frustrated because Cut the Rope 1 has iCloud but the second one doesn't.
i think its because iCloud is clearly an unfinished product and no one knows where it will end up at this point. it has potential and all but who knows what will go on with it. How many 'cloud' products does this mean that apple has transitioned to? too many and its made app developers weary.
Using iExplorer you are able to move game files between unbroken iOS devices. Generally there is a file with your progress, high scores, etc. I moved some of my Angry Bird progress to a different iOS device.
I doubt this.
Very few iOS developers ever invested in Apples earlier cloud based endeavors using OSX. It's simply a case of customer demand.
I've read that the documentation for developers is pretty bad and/or nonexistent and so developers have to do extra work to dig around to figure out how to incorporate the service into their code. If this is true, why go through all of that trouble when popular syncing services like Dropbox are available and is already incorporated into your code?
For us it's really the issue with dropbox being a more popular option with customers, so we use our development time for that. Also, the integration with Mac OSx and iCloud just isn't seamless enough for most people to actually use it. If demand/use goes up and stability of icloud increases, we'll implement it.
The documentation is fine. Integration is not that difficult to do, but again, if you are not getting requests from your users, why spend the time and money adding an unwanted feature.
Tweetbot just added iCloud syncing in their latest update. Haven't had a chance to try it out though since I only have an iPhone 4S.