In Part 1 I explore Apple iCloud and share my findings.
In Part 2, I dig further into the functionalities, or lack of thereof... Apple has a lackluster cloud storage solution for the advanced user.
I get it, most people will be happy to simply log-in, pay the fee, and let Apple decide whatever to do with their iCloud, and Apple is all for that! I'm not that person, I want CONTROL and OPTIONS and FEATURES.
One thing that's exasperating is the fact that there can only be ONE iCloud / Drive - linked to ONE Apple ID.
If you happen to use 2 Apple ID or more, you're out of luck as far as sharing iCloud Drive(s). No way to connect different Apple IDs to the same iCloud / Drive. Thinking of using Family for your multiple personas? Sure, only they are entirely walled off. Back to square one.
This means that you must connect all your devices to the same iCloud to enjoy a true shared cloud space. Some people do not want that. They want a space for their phone, and a different space for their personal computer, and a third space for their work computer for example. And they want to be able to selectively sync, share and access these spaces however they see fit.
Can't do that with iCloud/Drive. There is a single Drive and everything is synced, period. Same with the other apps: Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Invites, Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Find My. Basically all or nothing, not exactly true, but in essence yes, it is all or nothing.
The only app for which this rigid and immutable configuration is a benefit for is Find My. That is the only one for which it makes sense, and is not a limitation.
If you have 3 devices, you have to either share everything under one common iCloud, or buy 3 different iClouds that won't talk to each other.
There is only ONE Drive in iCloud, there is no second or third or Nth drive that one could use to compartmentalize, or sync separately as they see fit. Fine, only a few cloud storage providers offer that function.
There is no selective sync. This my friend is HUGE. Being able to select what folders you want to sync to your devices instead of the whole Drive is a power feature. Not with iCloud.
This is also what Microsoft OneDrive does unfortunately, single drive, all or nothing synced, no selective sync. I dont know who copied who in this case, but they are both fairly basic.
OK, back to iCloud, how about sharing a folder with x number of people? Yes you can do that, only they have to SIGN-IN (or UP) to THEIR OWN iCloud, and the folder is then ADDED TO THEIR iCloud Drive. No way to access the folder anonymously.
What? That's forcing other people to use iCloud, I will never do that. That a big NO Apple.
Compare this failing to OneDrive impeccable anonymous sharing (by default): And with OneDrive you can even allow anonymous people to edit:
How about sharing a single file with iDrive then? That at least must doable without signing in... Yes it is, when selecting share with Anyone with the link, and Can view only:
Finally a direct, anonymous link to download the file.
Again, you cannot do this with a folder. The recipient must sign-in into their iCloud account.
Do you think you can batch share files with iCloud? NOPE. If you select more than one file, the share option is greyed out in the menu. You cannot drag files to the permanently featured Shared folder either.
Again Microsoft beats Apple as OneDrive does have batch sharing:
Apple why are you so lame?
I realize this Part 2 only deals with things that do not work. Sorry Apple, that's how it is, my opinion.
