Apple announces iCloud services

Apple has finally unveiled its cloud computing services with boss Steve Jobs saying he was "demoting the PC and Mac to just a device... and moving the digital hub, the centre of your digital life to the cloud".

Jobs said content and apps stored on Apple's iCloud, which can be accessed from iPhones, iPads, the iPod Touch and Mac computers, is "seamlessly" updated. Users get up to 5GB of free storage for their mail, documents and backup and these updates are seen on all the user's devices

Apple has slipped in a little additional sweetener for people who buy from iTunes; storage for music, apps and books purchased from the company and storage required by Photo Stream doesn't count towards this total. Apple said people would be able to buy more storage with prices to be announced when the services go live in the autumn.

What is seen as a key element of iCloud is a version of iTunes, called iTunes Match. Apple said this feature will let music bought on one Apple device be accessed on all other gadgets made by the company.

It will also automatically scan tracks that people have ripped from their own CDs and replicate these in a cloud library without the need for the music to be uploaded. This is not part of the free services and Apple said it would cost $24.99 a year in the US but there are no UK prices yet.

Speaking at the annual Apple developer conference Jobs said: "Today it is a real hassle and very frustrating to keep all your information and content up-to-date across all your devices.

"iCloud keeps your important information and content up to date across all your devices. All of this happens automatically and wirelessly, and because it's integrated into our apps you don't even need to think about it – it all just works."