iOS 8 Said To Potentially Include TextEdit And Preview Apps For Viewing iCloud Files

Apple is working on iOS versions of both its Preview and TextEdit Mac apps, according to a new report from the reliable 9to5Mac. The new mobile apps are designed for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, according to the blogs’ sources, and are made to help view files synced to iCloud by their desktop counterparts, which got the ability to store files on Apple’s cloud service in OS X Mountain Lion.

These apps are in the early stage of development, the report claims, but are still being targeted for release later this year. They might be included in iOS 8, according to the blog, but won’t necessarily be included in the next major revision of Apple’s mobile OS. Apparently, the mobile version of both Preview and TextEdit are meant to be strictly consumption tools and endpoints for iCloud functionality, rather than editors, with Apple hoping to direct people to apps like iBooks and Pages for modifying and creating new docs and managing PDFs.

Apple is also working on making it easier for developers to work with iCloud storage, according to the report, but those efforts are also characterized as something that may never make it to shipping status. Suffice it to say there will be plenty that’s new in iOS 8, with previous rumors touting a new ‘Healthbook’ application, a standalone iTunes Radio app, and a revamped Apple Maps. New screenshots purport to show some of these app icons in the flesh, but given the source, they could just be mockups based on recent rumors.