Apple’s Version 2.1 finally makes the MobileMe iDisk app useful

July 7, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke

Apple afficionados who have annually forked over $99 for the convenience of MobileMe can breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, they’ll be getting a little more for their money’s worth. In newly released version 2.1, Apple has taken a leap in the right direction by adding some key functionality that was, previously, sorely lacking.

Of course, the update provides support for the recently released iPhone 4 and its multi-tasking goodness. The app is also universal now, meaning it will work and render properly on both the iPhone and iPad. Most importantly, though, the latest version gives paying customers what they’ve long hoped for…some real functionality.

So what exactly does the latest update include? Following is a run-down of the new and improved specs and features:

New, universal design supports iPhone and iPad equally and without the nasty pixelation previously seen in so many iPhone-designed apps
iPhone 4 and 3GS users with iOS 4 can now take advantage of iDisk’s new multitasking support and seamlessly switch from iDisk to another app and back
In a hint of what iTunes could become in a cloud-based form, users can now stream audio from their iDisk contents, in multitasking mode. While this means you can fill up your iDisk with some of the rest of your many-gigabyte iTunes Library that wouldn’t fit on the iPhone or iPad, it will also count against existing data plan limits with every note played
Some document reader apps like iBooks will now have the ability to access and open documents on a user’s iDisk. Users of GoodReader for iPad may already be familiar with this functionality, which is truly a handy one to have.
Users can now choose via which configured email account they want to share files residing on their iDisk. Additionally, shared file URLs can now be copied and pasted, unlike in the previous version.

Even those who don’t subscribe to the service can try it out with Apple’s free MobileMe trial offer. If you like it, you automatically pay $99 at the end of the trial period. If you don’t, you simply cancel before the trial period ends and go on about your geeky business. It may seem pricey at first when there are other cloud-based services available for less (or in some cases, for free), but, for some, the advantages of a paid service with technical support are well worth the cost.

Overall, some might look at the list of improvements and wonder why they weren’t always a part of the iDisk app. With the exception of the improvements that are dependent upon multitasking, they all should have been. Apple has to be given credit for taking a step in the right direction. Now, if we can just get a cloud-based iTunes Library, we’ll be all set….for this week, anyway.

For more information or to download the app: MobileMe iDisk App – By Apple Inc.

MobileMe iDisk app screenshots: (Courtesy of Apple Inc.)