{"id":22286,"date":"2014-06-03T14:15:04","date_gmt":"2014-06-03T14:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=22286"},"modified":"2014-06-03T14:15:04","modified_gmt":"2014-06-03T14:15:04","slug":"apple-takes-on-dropbox-and-whatsapp-with-integrated-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/06\/apple-takes-on-dropbox-and-whatsapp-with-integrated-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple takes on Dropbox and WhatsApp with integrated apps"},"content":{"rendered":"
Apple has taken on Dropbox and WhatsApp with a series of software upgrades that mimic the rival apps’ services.<\/p>\n
At its annual conference for software developers, the firm unveiled iCloud Drive, an internet-based storage app, which works on Apple systems and PCs.<\/p>\n
In an effort to keep customers using all its technologies, Apple improved integration for calls and messages across its devices.<\/p>\n
It also unveiled new mobile and desktop operating systems.<\/p>\n
Apple’s iMessage app was given extra features, some of which are similar to rival service WhatsApp, recently acquired by Facebook for $19bn (\u00a311.3bn).<\/p>\n
Users will be able to easily create and modify group messages, send voice clips with a single swipe, and even create and exchange short video clips.<\/p>\n
The ability to send and receive text messages across all Apple devices was also introduced.<\/p>\n
Jan Koum, WhatsApp’s co-founder, reacted to Apple’s announcement by tweeting:<\/p>\n
“Very flattering to see Apple “borrow” numerous WhatsApp features into iMessage in iOS 8 #innovation”<\/p>\n
Apple also introduced HealthKit software that works with third-party wearable health devices.<\/p>\n
A parallel app, called Health, measures users’ personalised healthcare statistics, and even contacts their hospital directly if it notices irregularities.<\/p>\n
“The announcements represent an ambitious move to diversify the Apple ecosystem into a number of new segments,” said Geoff Blaber, an analyst at the CCS Insight consultancy.<\/p>\n
“Critics will complain of no new devices but the Worldwide Developers Conference creates the foundation for the products [Apple chief executive] Tim Cook is promising in the second half of the year.”<\/p>\n
iCloud Drive allows users to save any type of file on the firm’s remote servers and then access it via an iOS device, Mac computer or Windows PC.<\/p>\n
Users do not have to pay an extra fee unless they want use more than five gigabytes of storage.<\/p>\n
That is more than Dropbox’s 2GB sign-up allowance, but less than Google Drive’s 15GB provision, Microsoft One Drive’s 7GB limit and Box’s 10GB cap.<\/p>\n
Apple’s service includes the ability to email attachments of up to 5GB, something also offered by Dropbox and HighTail – a specialist data-sharing facility.<\/p>\n
However, Apple made no mention of iCloud Drive being accessible via Android, unlike the other services that offer apps via Google’s Play store.<\/p>\n
“iCloud drive [is a] big shot at consumer Dropbox, if it works well,” tweeted Benedict Evans<\/a>, an analyst at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz – a nod to the fact that Apple has faced problems with its online services in the past.<\/p>\n