After the wide availability of new iPhones and iPads and the release of all new software for almost every device, Apple’s added one one thing to this month’s packed upgrade schedule. A new beta version of iCloud is available for users who access their Apple services through a web browser. The new look ditches the icon-based interface for a new information packed look that brings you apps and data to the fore.
If you log into your iCloud account from today, you’ll notice a prompt letting you know of the new version of iCloud that is coming soon. Clicking the arrow at the end of that message takes you to the all new version of iCloud.
As you can see, there’s a lot more information instantly visible. While you still have access to apps via their respective icons, you can see photos, recent email, files synced to your iCloud Drive and your Calendar instantly.
You can jump straight to the beta version by heading to https://beta.icloud.com
There’s no word on when the beta will become the official version and I suspect there will be some further tweaks over time. For example, there’s not a lot of customisation available. You can add new tiles and rearrange them by using the “Customise Home Page” button at the bottom of the screen but you can’t change their sizes and you’re limited to a two column view where the size of each item in each row is one large tile and one small tile. For example, If I wanted Mail, Calendar and Reminders to all be large tiles arranged down one side of the screen, I can’t do that.
Hopefully, Apple will be a little more flexible when the final release arrives.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.