Apple 'will add photo sharing to iCloud'

Apple will unveil significant upgrades to its iCloud service in June, according to reports.

Steve Jobs talks about the iCloud service at Apple's WWDC event in June 2011
Steve Jobs talks about the iCloud service at Apple's WWDC event in June 2011 Credit: Photo: REUTERS

New features are expected to include online photo-sharing within iCloud and the addition to the online service of the Notes and Reminders apps, presently included on the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The updates to iCloud are expected to be announced at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco next month. The announcements are likely to form part of iOS 6, the next version of Apple's mobile operating system, which powers the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Apple is being cautious about adding new features to iCloud because it wants to be sure it can handle the data, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing "people familiar with the matter".

Announced at last year's WWDC by Steve Jobs, then Apple's chief executive, iCloud stores all kinds of data for users, including their songs, apps and appointments, and makes them available on Macs and iOS devices.

At present iCloud offers a Photo Stream service that stores photos and shares them between devices for up to 30 days.

Last week developers reported seeing changes to the iCloud beta website, which showed icons for the Notes and Reminders alongside the usual icons.

Apple seldom confirms forthcoming products before its launch events so little is known about what will be announced at WWDC this year.

Apple website 9to5 Mac reported last week that Apple is about to overhaul the Maps application within iOS, removing Google maps and replacing it with Apple's own mapping software. Other publications have since quoted their own sources agreeing with that report.

There is also some speculation that Apple will overhaul its iTunes software, which currently carries out lots of separate functions, such as managing music, apps, books, video and more. These functions are divided among different apps on iOS devices.