>I think OP's linked statement from Apple means that Apple is now also encrypting data stored on the iCloud servers.

From today's announcement (scroll to "iCloud"): Mail and Notes are not stored in encrypted form on iCloud servers. http://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/

From December 2013: Mail and Notes are not stored in encrypted form on iCloud servers. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4865