Good news for people wanting to use Apple's productivity software: starting tonight, anyone, with or without a Mac or iOS device, will be able to create an Apple ID and sign in to the iCloud beta website to start using Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for free.
When users visit beta.icloud.com, they will be presented with a banner at the top of the page prompting them to create an Apple ID. Afterwards, in addition to gaining access to Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, the free accounts will also grant 1GB of free cloud storage to users.
This is a great way for Apple to extend its services beyond its own devices, as now even PC users can start using the company's productivity suite. It is important to note, however, that this currently only works from the beta version of the iCloud website. If you'd like to give it a shot, hit up that source link below to get started.
Source: iCloud Beta
Reader comments
iCloud beta now lets anyone create an Apple ID and use Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for free
So much for people that buy their products getting a little something extra.
Sent from the iMore App
Forget extra. All I want is to be able to use my name@icloud.com address as my AppleID. You know, tie an Apple service to an Apple product and all that jazz.
But for some assinine reason I can't, so I'm stuck using my name@apple's-biggest-rival.com as my AppleID instead.
Might as well sell me an iParadox.
same for me..
Which is my pet peeve. I cannot tie 2 accounts together.. I have a ton of content on my old iTunes account.. and I have to maintain a separate iCloud iTunes account email that has only a little on it.. I would love to just move my iCloud email over to my other old iTunes account.. and drop this duel account setup crap...
Since the apple productivity apps were never considers even remotely equal to microsoft's I don't think that people switched to macs because of it.
Sent from the iMore App
"This is a great way for Apple to extend its services beyond its own devices, as now even PC users can start using the company's productivity suite."
I hope you're kidding.
Get 'em hooked with a little iCloud... they'll buy a device next...
Those Web Apps are beyond slow in Internet Explorer 11 (and no, the browser isn't at fault - Apple forums say it's a common complaint on other browsers as well) and unusable offline. .
It's out of beta now.
Get and Create an Apple ID for Free Without iTunes, iPhone, or Credit Card
- http://www.lifethinkist.com/tech/get-apple-id
Want to create an Apple ID without iTunes or an iPhone? Sign up at iCloud.com to get a free Apple ID, 1 GB storage, and access to iWork online. Note that there are a couple limitations with this method, so it might not be what you are looking for. The link talks about them and has an overview and screenshots of how to do this.