14 DAY TRIAL // iCloud.com now offers the ability to locate a lost or stolen Mac via the well-known Find-My feature that Apple is now extending to Macintosh computers.
Accessible only by registered Apple developers until iCloud’s public debut this fall, Find My Mac allows those who’ve misplaced, or had their laptop stolen to play a sound, send a message, lock the screen or erase the hard drive.
The service is technically compatible with desktop Macs as well (i.e. for locating a desktop Mac), but there are fewer scenarios in which Find My Mac needs to be used to pinpoint the location of a non-portable Mac.
After all, how often can you misplace your iMac, or Mac Pro workstation?
The function is migrated from iOS. Apple first introduced Find My iPhone as part of MobilMe and iOS 4 in 2010 with the purpose of locating a lost / stolen iPhone.
It now works with iPod touch devices, as well as iPads and doesn’t necessarily require a cellular signal to triangulate the device’s position.
It does, however, require some form of Internet connection in order to locate the lost unit, such as WiFi. Find My Mac works using the access points last tapped by the computer.
iCloud is the replacement of MobileMe, Apple’s suite of Internet services including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and cloud storage.
iCloud will be available as a free service to all Apple ID holders this fall. With 5GB of free space, users will be able to sync most of their personal content between their Mac, iPhone, iPad and even Windows PC without having to connect these devices through wires.
Plans for additional storage will be set in place, starting with 10GB of additional storage for $20 a year. For 20GB of extra space customers can choose the $40 plan. For 50GB, the price is $100.