Apple follows Amazon, Google into cloud computing

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple chief executive Steve Jobs  ushered his company — and, by extension, the global computing industry — into the "cloud" era.
"We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud," Jobs said.
The new iCloud service replaces Apple's MobileMe document-sharing offering, which cost $99 a year. The new iCloud service is free, Jobs said. With iCloud, content such as music and documents is stored on large servers instead of on personal hard drives — and is accessible from anywhere via the Internet.
The new iCloud service is Apple's seal of approval on what many experts think is the next major iteration of the digital world.
 All of Apple's devices today "have communications systems built into them," Jobs said. "They can all talk to the cloud. Everything syncs without us having to think about it. We don't even have to take it out of my pocket."Perhaps the biggest star of the iCloud service is the new iTunes function that lets people download songs to as many as 10 devices, instead of five, at no extra cost.
"This is the first time we have seen this in the music industry — no charge for multiple downloads for different devices," Jobs said. "Any song I buy on any device will automatically be downloaded to all my devices."
The iTunes part of iCloud is available today with an iOS 4.3 update, with other iCloud features coming in the fall.
Apple will provide 5 gigabytes of free storage on iCloud for mail, documents and backup.
Jobs, who has been on medical leave, took the stage at Moscone Center for the kickoff of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. As Jobs strolled onto the stage, he basked in the applause as one member of the audience shouted, "We love you."
"Thank you. It always helps, and I appreciate it very much," Jobs said.

Scott Forstall , Apple's senior vice president of  iPhone software, said 25 million iPads have been sold and more than 14 billion apps have been sold through the App Store. He introduced iOS 5, the latest operating system for the iPhone and iPad. The new software, which will ship in the fall, allows owners to set up and activate their devices without being connected to a computer. Software updates will be available "over the air," Forstall said.
"We are living in a PC-free world. With the iPad, we are ushering in the post-PC world," he said. "If you want to cut the cord, you can."
Hours before the event, thousands of developers ringed the city block around the Moscone West building. Mimes dressed in colorful full-body suits performed in front of the waiting engineers. Free coffee was offered to the chilly faithful, some of whom camped out overnight.
"It's a bit of a cult — maybe more than a cult," said Martin Roth, chief technology officer of music-app developer Reality Jockey.
Roth had flown in Saturday from London and hoped to be in line early enough to be among the fortunate few squeezed into the auditorium with Jobs.