Posted by: Chris Barylick
Dated: Wednesday, October 9, 2019, 03:01
Category: Apple, Developer, HomeKit, iCloud, iOS, iPhone, Mac, MacOS, Mobile, News, Services, Siri, Software
Sometimes a project takes a little longer than expected.
Apple has quietly informed customers that its iCloud Drive shared folder feature, which would have competed directly with Dropbox, has been pushed back to 2020.
Prior to Tuesday, the macOS All Features page included an asterisk for iCloud folder sharing indicating that the add-on would arrive later this fall. Overnight, the text was replaced by "coming this spring".
The Communication Limits function for the screen duration has also been pushed back.
The iOS 13 page All the corresponding features have not yet been updated to reflect the new timeline. It seems almost certain, however, that it will also be pushed back in the spring.
The iCloud Drive system has been revised during the beta period of iOS 13, adding new features such as folder sharing and the ability to pin files to stay downloaded. Unfortunately, a number of beta testers have reported problems with data loss and data corruption. Apple, in turn, restores the iCloud Drive daemon to its previous version prior to the latest version and iOS 13 updates.
Shared folders would have allowed an Apple user to share a folder once with friends and have everyone see the contents of that folder as they change. Shared recipients could also add and edit files in the folder. This has been a key feature of Dropbox for years. Apple's current iCloud Drive system only allows users to share and edit single files, not entire directories.
Other features that have been demonstrated but may have to wait include Announce Messages with Siri, HomeKit Secure Video, AirPlay 2 speakers in the automations, Image Capture API and HomeKit enabled routers. It seems that these features could arrive via iOS 13.2.
Stay tuned for more details as soon as they are available.
Via 9to5Mac and Apple
